Microbial Earth Farms is an Austin-based business dedicated to educating the public about soil restoration through the use of beneficial soil microbes and other natural soil amendments, such as Mycorrhizae, Azomite and calcium.
Microbial Earth is a local company dedicated to our Central Texas Community.
We operate our business with these guiding principles and goals:
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Produce products that help save natural resources & expenses.
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To ensure quality, our products are tested by independent labs.
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At our facilities we are researching ways to put more microbes into the soil — naturally.
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To reduce the negative impact on our environment, we package our products in reused or recyclable containers.
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Synchronized techniques and controlled ingredients produce humified compost, not waste reduction compost.
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We brew and produce our own Efficient Microbes (EM) & Bokashi for maximum freshness and reliability.
Patrick Van Haren started in 2008 with a mission to improve the soils of central Texas through the use of microbes. Our journey has led us to master the production of high quality compost (humifed) and the incubation of microbes. This understanding is central to the restoration of the soil and our understanding of the local ecology. We have learned to extend this knowledge to zero-waste lifestyles and compost systems for indoor and outdoor composting systems.
Meet Patrick, the business owner:
Patrick has a Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Business and Economics from Canada and was fortunate to be selected to attend a 2 year federal leadership development program for National Leaders. In 2001, he completed a 1 year intensive MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College with a focus on disruptive innovations. His work experience involves growing up on a family farm. He was lucky to work for 5 years in a large European farmer owned busienss developing joint ventures in Spain, Italy, Denmark, Canada and the USA. He then returned to Canada for 5 years to help develop the family business, which was ultimately closed due to pressure from large integrations. He has since worked in renewable solar thermal energy, biomass energy and project finance. Microbial Earth is a key aspect of the vision to incorporate grazing systems and bioenergy to restore the central Texas ecosystem services such as the production of food, feed, fiber, fuel, fertilizer, fresh water and fresh air.
Emily Fitzgerald promotes her deep love of the natural world through education, advocacy and research. With a focus in organic gardening, renewable energy and urban compost solutions, she has educated school children both at home and abroad for the past 7 years. She taught organic gardening in Bali, installed an urban garden in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and built solar-powered model cars with Keep Austin Beautiful students. She received her permaculture design certificate in 2010 from Earth Activist Training in Northern California. With a background in art and ecology, she couples her passion for environmentalism with a career in portrait photography. Emily Fitzgerald is currently working as Education and Media Director for Microbial Earth from her home in Austin, Texas.
Emily is responsible for our communications, education and creativity, and can be reached at: emily@microbialearth.com
