06/07/2026
Back in May I had the chance to attend an inspiring workshop at UBC Farm: “Soil Health Basics + Liquid Bioblends” with the wonderful Jo Tobias of Root Shoot Soils. 🌲🪣
From the moment I stepped onto campus, lush greenery, tall pines, greenhouses full of life, I knew it was going to be special. Discovered a sweet little community garden (Greenway) on the way in, then dove into the yurt for a practical session on making living compost extracts.
Jo showed us a simple, powerful method: metal mesh filter in a 5-gallon bucket + Kelp Grow + Wild Fish Hydrolysate. Game-changer for any gardener or aspiring farmer!
Worth it for the quality of experience and real-world knowledge Jo shares. She’s an absolute gem, passionate, generous, and brilliant at making soil microbiology accessible and exciting.
Biggest takeaways still guiding me:
• Metal mesh = must-have cheap tool
• Soil isn’t dirt, it’s a living ecosystem full of microbes
• This directly fuels my microgreens experiments and bigger regenerative dreams
The highlight? Jo gave me a ride afterward and shared her journey from tech/programming to permaculture and building her business. So inspiring!
Jo, if you see this — thank you. I’d love to learn from you as a mentor and collaborate someday. 🙌
Full detailed reflections on my Substack “Zayas City to Farm” (link in bio)
