Frequently asked questions

Yes. Earth Medicine is non-toxic to pets and wildlife, and safe to use around dogs, wildlife, and natural landscapes. There is no odor, dust, or mess.

It can even help rehabilitate areas affected by dog urine or waste, supporting the return of healthy vegetation and microbial activity.

No. Earth Medicine is not a traditional compost product. It is a microbial fertilizer derived from compost through a specialized biological process.

Compost primarily adds organic matter. Earth Medicine is a concentrated microbial fertilizer designed to activate soil biology and nutrient cycling. We begin with aerobically composted dairy manure, then process it through our patented Earth Medicine Chamber, which creates an ideal environment for beneficial microbes through controlled turning, moisture, oxygen, and heat.

Third-party testing showed only trace-level glyphosate residues, and our biological process reduces them further:

This demonstrates a substantial reduction during the Earth Medicine biological processing stage.

The dairy cows supplying the manure are fed a conventional diet, including grains and forages that may have been treated with herbicides or pesticides. They are not fed exclusively organic feed.

The process, step by step:

1. Manure collection — collected promptly to preserve biological quality.
2. Aerobic composting — oxygen supports beneficial microbial growth and natural decomposition.
3. Natural biological breakdown — microorganisms break down organic matter while reducing pathogens and residual compounds.
4. USDA composting compliance — follows USDA guidelines for manure handling and processing.
5. Earth Medicine Chamber — the compost is transferred into the patented chamber, which rotates while carefully introducing heat and moisture.
6. Microbial multiplication — microbial populations multiply rapidly, forming stable granular particles.
7. Finished product — the granules are shelf-stable until watered into soil, where the microbial coating reactivates.

Standard feeding rate: 1 tablespoon per foot of garden row or bed. Top dress along planting rows when seeding or transplanting.

Soil amendment rate: ¼ cup per 100 square feet, mixed into soil before planting.

Seasonal plan: apply during planting, mid-season, and again in the fall to replenish soil biology.

For soil amendment: 1–2 cups per raised bed, to support overall soil biology and nutrient balance.

For established healthy soil: 1 tablespoon along each row of seedlings or seeds, repeated twice per growing season.

Amendment rates help correct soil imbalances and rebuild biology; lower rates primarily target plant feeding and root development.

Preparation rate: 1 pound per 200–250 square feet. (A 208 sq ft bed needs about 1 pound for pre-plant prep.)

Before planting: broadcast 1 pound evenly, lightly rake into the soil surface, and water thoroughly.

After seeding or transplanting: apply an additional 1 pound around seedlings and planting rows.

No, you really cannot realistically overapply Earth Medicine. A generous amount is fine. Just avoid overwatering afterward, which can cause product runoff.

Yes. Earth Medicine can be used on virtually any plant grown in soil, including houseplants and Christmas cactus varieties.

Yes — fruit trees, citrus trees, shade trees, and ornamental trees all work. Apply around the drip line and water thoroughly after application.

Earth Medicine is primarily designed to feed soil biology, so it performs best in garden beds, raised beds, outdoor containers, and traditional soil.

In moss, coco husk, or tree fern fiber, results can be more limited, since those substrates contain little organic matter for microbes to feed on.

In water propagation, we've seen especially good results — a few small pebbles of Earth Medicine in propagation water produced faster root establishment, thicker roots, and more vigorous early growth. Note: it won't fully dissolve, some sediment is normal, and green algae may appear if the water isn't changed regularly (it didn't harm plants in our observations).

Yes, it works well in established native gardens and mulched beds. Pull mulch slightly away from the plant base, apply around the root zone, water thoroughly, then replace the mulch.

On Bermuda grass: healthy soil benefits all plants, including aggressive grasses, but it also makes your desired plants more competitive. Keep up thick mulch layers and regular management for suppression.

Yes. You can absolutely use topsoil or raised-bed soil from stores like Lowe's, Home Depot, or local garden centers — that's how many gardeners get started. Mix Earth Medicine thoroughly into the topsoil during setup and water well after planting.

You don't necessarily need a separate compost + topsoil combo. With good-quality soil, proper drainage, and organic material in your Hugelkultur layers, Earth Medicine serves as your biological soil amendment, microbial inoculant, and nutrient-cycling support. For Hugelkultur specifically, build the bed as usual and use Earth Medicine as a top-dressing microbial boost through the season.

Not at this time. Earth Medicine currently ships within the United States only, due to import and regulatory restrictions in other countries. We do not have Canadian retailers yet and are unable to ship directly into Canada.