Regenerative Soil: Microscopy, Testing & the Future of Farming with Matt Powers
Hi, y’all! Johanna here from the TX Soil Sisters.
(The podcast media player is below w/ links to things we talk about. Or listen here.) This podcast conversation was recorded on August 22, 2025.
What if you could actually see what’s happening in your soil—and use that to grow healthier food and more resilient farms?
MATT POWERS is a bestselling author, an educator, citizen scientist, and family guy who is helping gardeners, small and large scale farmers and ranchers work with the soil, plants, microbes, and microscopy in new and regenerative ways that can be tracked and proven.
regenerativesoilscience.com
On this episode of the Soil Sisters Podcast, meet bestselling author, educator, and citizen scientist Matt Powers and explore the soil science behind regenerative agriculture—and how it’s being taught from classrooms to farms around the world.
Matt is the author of the textbook, Regenerative Soil, that we purchased for area schools with funds from our TX Soil Sisters fundraiser last year.
Matt shares how his unexpected journey through public education led to the creation of his K–12 “seed to table” curriculum, now used by everyone from homeschool families to colleges. His work connects biology, chemistry, and ecology through hands-on, project-based learning that helps people of all ages understand soil in a practical, measurable way.
This conversation dives into the living biology of soil—and how farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and even consumers can better understand the systems that grow our food. You’ll learn how tools like microscopy, DNA testing, and mineral analysis can reveal the full story of your soil—and how even simple at-home tests can help you start improving soil health today. Matt also shares his vision for a more transparent, community-driven future in agriculture, where growers can compare results, share data, and identify what’s truly working in regenerative systems.
Whether you're producing food or simply want to better understand where it comes from, this episode offers a powerful look beneath the surface.
🎧 In this episode, we cover:
What regenerative soil really means (beyond the buzzword)
How soil health impacts plants, animals, and people
Simple and advanced ways to test your soil
Why microscopy is a game-changer for growers
How education is shaping the future of regenerative agriculture
The role of community and data-sharing in improving farm practices
Take advantage of this FREE webinar from Matt: “Breakthroughs in Regenerative Soil Microscopy” - a free online webinar series with a FREE Soil Biology Poster download
Happy farming and healthy living, y’all.
Jo (and Crystal) ❤️
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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE:
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Time Stamps & Links
00:00 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast
00:28 Meet Matt Powers
02:08 Teaching Without a Curriculum
04:20 From Subbing to Full-Time Teacher
05:43 Who Uses Matt's Coursework
08:39 Project-Based Soil Learning
11:31 Soil Microbiome and Health
14:34 Data-Driven Regenerative Farming
17:30 If We Don't Look, We Don't See
19:03 Simple Soil Tests
21:32 Microscope Setup Tips
23:51 Scaling Up and Cutting Noise
27:40 Creative Breakthroughs in Microscopy
29:06 Teaching Kids Soil Wonder
29:59 Seeing Water Biofilms
31:14 Meditation Driven Epiphanies
32:54 Writing the Regenerative Soil Textbook
35:23 Visualizing Soil Cycles
38:50 Research Library
39:33 Microscopy Kickstarter Leap
41:42 Practical Soil Testing and Timing
47:27 Mycorrhizae Glow Method
49:56 DIY Learning Community
53:55 FREE Webinar And Poster from Matt Powers
55:16 Connect with Matt Powers