Soil Life

What Soil Life does

Soil Life Organics is a privately held, founder-led soil biology consultancy headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, founded and operated by Allen Skinner. The company assesses soil health across its three pillars — physical structure, chemistry, and biology — and helps customers in agriculture, urban/CSA gardens, turf, horticulture, and cannabis transition from conventional chemical-input programs to organic biological management. Its core technical method is the Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy technique developed by Dr. Elaine R. Ingham, used to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of soil, compost, and mulch biology (the complete soil food web) on-site.

The company's offerings comprise four service lines: soil assessment services, custom biological products (custom composts and amendments, fungal-dominant wood chip mulch, and compost extracts/teas), full-service consulting solutions (site assessment, program design, implementation, and customer training in compost production), and education (workshops, lectures, and the 'Soil Biology Matters' course). All engagements are quote-based and customized to customer goals and crop types; no pricing is publicly listed. The company is a Certified Soil Food Web Consultant through Dr. Elaine's Soil Food Web School, an NACD Soil Health Champion, and a partner of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District and the Northeast Chapter of the FNGLA.

Soil Life generates revenue through professional services (assessments, full-service solutions, and education) and product sales (custom biological inputs), delivered primarily through direct on-site engagement in Northeast and Southeast Florida. Its go-to-market motion is community- and education-led, relying on workshops, conference presentations, publications, and partner referrals rather than paid advertising. Customer acquisition is driven by Allen Skinner's credentials, published research (including a USDA NRCS-funded study at White Harvest Farm, 2018–2021), and relationships with conservation and trade organizations.

Name

Soil Life

Legal name

Soil Life

Website

https://soillife.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Soil Life Organics is a Jacksonville, Florida soil biology consultancy that assesses soil health using DIC microscopy and helps agricultural, urban, turf, horticulture, and cannabis customers transition from chemical to organic biological management through assessments, custom biological products, consulting, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Soil Health Consulting

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730), Compost Manufacturing (325315)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Health & Biological Testing Services (Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, Respiration) (AFACAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA), Manure, Compost & Organic Amendments Testing Services (AFACAKAJ), Soil Testing, pH Adjustment & Soil Amendments (Lime/Gypsum/Organic Matter) (HSAIAGAC), Microbial/Enzymatic Soil Conditioners (Decomposer & Soil Health Consortia) (AFABADAK), Organic & Eco-Friendly Lawn Treatments (HSAIAGAH)

Keywords

• Soil biology consulting
• Biological farming services
• Soil health assessment
• Custom compost production
• Regenerative agriculture education

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Soil Assessment Services: Fees charged for comprehensive soil assessments covering physical, chemical, and biological analysis of soils across multiple industries (agriculture, urban/CSA gardens, turf, horticulture, cannabis). Provides quantitative and qualitative analysis of soil, composts, and mulches for complete foodweb analysis.
2. Custom Biological Products: Preparation and sale of custom biological products including custom composts and amendments with desired biology, fungal dominant wood chip mulch for woody shrubs and trees, and compost extracts/teas for customer growing applications.
3. Full-Service Consulting Solutions: Site soil assessment, budget and program design, implementation of soil optimization programs, and onsite conversion from conventional chemical fertilizer/herbicide/insecticide programs to organic biological programs. Includes training customers on compost production and applications.
4. Education and Course Delivery: Revenue generated from hosting and delivering the 'Soil Biology Matters' course and other agricultural education workshops and lectures on soil biology, thermal compost, vermicompost, and mulches.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Soil Life Organics provides soil biology assessment and biological soil management services for agriculture, urban/CSA gardens, turf, horticulture, and cannabis operations. Core offerings include on-site soil assessment using the Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy Method, custom biological products (composts, amendments, fungal dominant wood chip mulch, compost extracts and teas), full-service consulting for conversion from conventional chemical programs to organic biological programs, and educational courses including 'Soil Biology Matters.'

Product overview

Soil Life Organics provides soil biology assessment and biological soil management services for agriculture, urban gardens, turf, horticulture, and cannabis. The core offering includes soil assessment using the Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy Method developed by Dr. Elaine Ingham, combined with custom biological products (composts, amendments, extracts, teas, and fungal dominant mulch). Services are delivered through assessment-only engagements, full-service solutions with program implementation, and educational offerings including the 'Soil Biology Matters' course. The company helps customers optimize soil structure, minerals, and biology to achieve better plant outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soil Assessment Services Complete assessment of soils for agriculture, urban/CSA gardens, turf, horticulture, and cannabis operations covering physical analysis (compaction, soil type), soil chemistry, and soil biology using the Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy Method. Includes preparation of a customized report with recommendations for soil structure, chemistry, and biology improvements based on customer plant type goals.
• Full Service Solutions Comprehensive soil management service including site soil assessment, budget and program preparation, program implementation, conversion from conventional chemical fertilizer/herbicide/insecticide programs to organic biological programs, scheduled development and application of composts, extracts, and teas, and team coaching with customers on how to perform their own compost production and applications.
• Custom Composts and Amendments Custom-prepared composts and amendments with desired biology specifically designed for the customer's plant type and growing needs, based on assessment results and end goals.
• Fungal Dominant Wood Chip Mulch Fungal dominant wood chip mulch designed for woody shrubs and trees including blueberries, azaleas, and fruit trees.
• Compost Extracts and Teas Compost extracts and teas prepared as needed for customer growing applications to deliver beneficial soil biology on a scheduled basis.
• Soil Biology Matters Course Educational course led by soil biologist Allen Skinner covering microbial diversity, nutrient cycling, soil health assessment, mycorrhizal associations, and biocontrol/bioremediation. Structured with lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises, and interactive discussions. Open to students, farmers, researchers, gardeners, homesteaders, and nature enthusiasts.
• Soil Biology Education Presentations and Lectures Presentations and lectures on soil biology and proper methods for making thermal compost, vermicompost, and mulches, available by scheduling a speaking engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Biological farming plots produced consistently higher yields than conventionally managed plots, offsetting the additional cost of biological inputs once target microbe populations were achieved.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Eat Your Yard JaxminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 January 2025Soil Life Organics hosts its 'Soil Biology Matters' course at Eat Your Yard Jax (6500 Utsey Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32219). The venue partnership enables in-person course delivery to participants enrolled through the Eat Your Yard Jax platform.
• Dr. Elaine's Soil Food Web School (soilfoodweb.com)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Life Organics is a Certified Soil Food Web Consultant through Dr. Elaine R. Ingham's Soil Food Web School. The company uses the Soil Food Web methodology and DIC Microscopy Method for soil biology assessment. This is a foundational partnership that underpins the company's core service methodology.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Life Organics is designated as an NACD Soil Health Champion, recognizing the company's role in promoting soil health practices. NACD supports conservation districts across the U.S. and the partnership elevates the company's credibility in the conservation community.
• Duval Soil and Water Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Life Organics is partnered with the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District in Jacksonville, FL. The district promotes soil and water conservation in the local community, aligning with Soil Life's mission to improve regional soil health.
• Northeast Chapter of the FNGLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Life Organics is associated with the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, a trade organization for horticulture and nursery professionals. This partnership provides industry networking and credibility within the Florida horticulture sector.
• Clara White Mission / White Harvest FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Life Organics partnered with White Harvest Farm (operated by the Clara White Mission) on a 3-year USDA-funded research project (NR193A750008G006, October 2018–September 2021) to transition the 4-acre no-till farm from conventional organic to biological farming. Allen Skinner served as soil biologist on this project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Concentric Ag Corporation: Developer of microbial and biological crop-input products paired with agronomic support; partial overlap with Soil Life's biological amendment offering but more product-led and less assessment-led than Soil Life's services.
• MyLand Company: Soil health company focused on in-field microbial activation and biological soil management services for agriculture; comparable mission around restoring soil biology, though using different (proprietary) delivery technology.

Direct peers

• Soil Foodweb Inc. Founded by Dr. Elaine R. Ingham, Soil Foodweb operates the Soil Food Web School that trains and certifies consultants including Soil Life's founder. It is the source methodology provider and offers overlapping training and lab services, making it the closest direct peer in soil biology assessment.
• Tainio Biological Center: Long-standing biological farming company providing compost teas, microbial inoculants, and consulting to farms and turf managers; closely comparable to Soil Life's custom compost extracts, teas, and on-site program implementation.
• Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA): A regenerative agriculture consulting and biological-products firm serving row crops, specialty crops, and turf with soil and plant tissue testing combined with custom biological programs; highly comparable service model and customer base to Soil Life's full-service biological farming transition offering.
• AgriGro: Manufacturer and supplier of biological soil and foliar products marketed to conventional and organic growers transitioning away from synthetic inputs; comparable focus on biological soil amendments and customer overlap with Soil Life's compost tea and amendment products.
• Soil Savvy: Direct-to-customer soil testing service for homeowners, gardeners, and small growers; comparable soil testing service but focused on conventional chemistry rather than Soil Life's biological foodweb methodology.

Regional players

• BioAg Pty Ltd: Australia-based biological fertility and soil-health company offering microbial products, compost teas, and agronomic consulting; functionally analogous service stack to Soil Life but operating across Australia and New Zealand rather than the U.S. Southeast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/soillifeorganics
• Instagraminstagram.com/soillifeorganics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soil-life-organics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soil Life