FAQs

Why are organic fertilizers better?

Like the human gut, soil needs a combination of microbes to function at its best. Microbes (fungi, bacteria, nematodes and protozoa) play a crucial role in soil function, once being they allow plant roots to take up a diverse range of the bioavailable nutrients they need to thrive, naturally.

Chemical based fertilisers are applied to the top of soil and can upset the chemical balance in the soil, disrupting the microbes’ function, thus making plants more reliant on chemicals and less resilient to stress. Not to mention synthetic chemicals do not absorb well and cause huge environmental damage in local waterways and eventually reach the ocean and coral reefs.

Food2Soil is not only 100% natural, but it’s also made using otherwise waste materials in every step of the way.  It’s a win/win for the soil, plants and the planet

Why do you use food waste?

There is so much excess food waste! Did you know, if you were to take all the commercial food waste (so that’s only from businesses) in Australia and stack it on pallets, those pallets would reach the international space station and back 14 times !!! and that’s only for 1 year. 

Food waste in landfill is a huge problem, it cannot decompose as it would naturally and instead creates methane gas (25 times more potent than Co2). And the irony is, food waste is one of easiest waste streams to recycle and repurpose.

Food waste is also full of valuable nutrients, we want to return those nutrients back to soil, so it can grow more food for us to eat. These ingredients are also perfect for the fermentation process required to make a biologically alive Food2Soil.

How does Food2Soil smell?

It smells a little like earthy coffee, spiked with a fermented wine smell, with a rich molasses undertone. Some people say it smells like you can drink it, but we don’t recommend it.

My soil seems to be lifeless, will Food2Soil help?

Yes, as a natural & organic biological fertiliser Food2Soil will definitely help, it is full of goodies just waiting to bring your soil back to life. Often newly purchased soil is microbially dead (its sandy dirt, not soil), so adding ‘life’ in the form of composts or microbially rich products like Food2Soil is essential to getting plants to growth and prosper.

Likewise, soil that has been subjected to poisons, herbicides, pesticides or large amounts of synthetic fertilizer are stripped of their organic matter and will have lower levels of microbial activity and need a boost.

Is it locally made? 

Yes, it’s made on Ngunnawal country/ Canberra region

How are living organisms important for improving soil fertility?

In healthy soil there is a whole ecosystem including bacteria, fungi and larger living organisms (like worms and grubs) that live in harmony with each other.  Like the human gut, soil needs beneficial microbes to function at its best. These organisms perform different functions that allow soil to breath, eat and cycle nutrients. Without these living organisms’ soil is biologically dead and anything that is planted will struggle to grow, not to mention be heavily reliant on fertiliser inputs, and be susceptible to disease and pests.

How do I know it is really alive?

Food2Soil has been comprehensively tested by several private lab services and by Microbiologists at University Southern QLD. A full nutrient and microbial analysis was performed (see details on the product information sheet on the website). There will often be signs of microbial life with ‘floaties’ on the top of the product. The bottle has a vented lid to allow for release of natural gases to ensure it will not explode with too much microbial life!

What is the growth on the top of Food2Soil?

Food2Soil is a natural biological fertiliser which means it contains tiny but ‘alive’ microbes. Growth in the bottle are signs of life, so don’t worry, give it a shake and use.

Is Food2Soil good for all plants?

Yes, Food2Soil has proven to be beneficial for a wide variety of plants, as an all round organic plant feed. However, we have not tested it on every living plant (yet).  We have observed one negative reaction on a Staghorn Fern. These plants receive nourishment from the air, so it’s possible the application was too rich. We suggest avoiding using on these types of plants, until further research is completed.

If you are unsure, and you think your plant is delicate, try a little on one set of leaves and wait 10 days to see if there is any negative reaction.

Why is Food2Soil more expensive than other products at the hardware store?

Many so-called natural fertiliser products on the market are powders that have water added to make them sprayable, then bottled for sale. In contrast, Food2Soil is naturally fermented for a minimum of four weeks, then bottled by hand, with each step of the process being meticulously scrutinized to ensure its environmental footprint is as minimal as possible and that it is ALIVE, full of the good stuff for your garden.

We like the following analogy- ‘When you buy a jar of homemade jam from the markets, you are buying quality fruit/ingredients and the additional time, skill and love that went into making a delicious, high-quality product. It’s similar to Food2soil, each batch is hand crafted by us and monitored over time to ensure its quality’.

What is the difference between Food2Soil and Bokashi bins?

The main difference between the two is processes impacting shelf life. A Food2Soil brew takes up to four weeks to develop, and become a concentrated liquid that is stable and won’t ‘go off’ quickly. It undergoes a process called hydrolysis, which breaks down the proteins into absorbable amino acids and peptides, as well as containing a range of nutrients from the food waste and a concentrated amount of good fungi and bacteria. Bokashi tea does not go through this process and therefore is faster to go rancid. Bokashi bins are a great solution for those home gardeners that want small amounts of liquid fertiliser, but many people don’t have the ability to make their own composts or fertilisers.

We are a solution for the reuse of coffee grinds and food waste on a large scale, it’s why we started the business, to be a ‘better business, for a better world’.

Can Food2Soil be used as an organic fertilizer for vegetable gardens?

Yes. Food2Soil is terrific for vegetable gardens and is 100% organic.  It encourages healthy plant growth and builds resistance to pests, climate stress and disease. This is especially important for plants like tomatoes that are susceptible to disease. We recommend using Food2Soil with seaweed for fast growing fruit and vegetable plants for optimum results. However, Food2Soil original also works extremely well on vegetable gardens. 

Is Food2Soil good for natives?

As a natural biofertiliser Food2Soil perfect for natives, as it is lower in phosphorus than most fertilisers, not to mention it has natural live bacteria and fungi that plants need to thrive. From our experiments, we recommend Food2Soil original for natives, it proved to give better growth outcomes than the seaweed blend, assuming its related to the fact Australian soil does not need excess sodium (salt),

How do I know it is safe to use? 

By the time Food2Soil is bottled, it has gone through a long fermentation process that kills off any nasties and its low pH, naturally kills pathogens (such as listeria, salmonella & E. coli).

What pH is Food2Soil? 

Food2Soil has a pH of 3.5- 4.5, However when diluted as recommended, its pH is closer to neutral (pH 7) and is fine for plants and soil.

Can I use it in a spray backpack?

Yes, Food2Soil is great to use in a pressurized spray backpack for fruit trees, shrubs, lawns etc. We use a 15ltr hand pump that’s easy to use. It’s a great way to cover large areas fast and get good coverage on higher up plant foliage. Also, if there is any thick Food2Soil at the bottom of your container, best avoid using this in the spray pack- keep this for use in the watering can.

Ensure the backpack and spray arm are rinsed out with fresh water after use.

How often do I use it?

Apply monthly (even fortnightly) in the growing season, and less during the colder months season. Best applied in the cooler parts of the day. Use diluted product within 2 days.

How long does it keep?

We recommend using food2soil within 12 months of purchase. Studies have shown it is effective for up to 2 years but that would depend on storage conditions. We feel it is safer to recommend 12 months to get optimum benefit from the product. Post 12 months we can not guarantee the quality and quantity of microbial life.

Is it harmful to any insects or reptiles?

No, Food2soil is 100% natural (made from organic ingredients) and safe for pets and wildlife. At full concentration it may irritate skin and/or eyes of animals, so best not to allow pets to drink it straight (but on the rocks would be fine 😊).

How much do I dilute Food2Soil?

Normal usage is at a rate of 1:100, or 100ml into 10 litres.  The average watering can is 9 litres, so use 90ml of Food2Soil, which is the same as 4.5 tablespoons. This will cover 6m2.

We have also done trials of 1: 150 and 1:200, in particular with grasses and it has worked well. There is more research to be done at higher concentrations but certainly still effective.

As a seed drench, a stronger 50:50 dilution is advised, as we want the seed to be in contact with as many nutrients and microbes as possible. At full strength it may be too acidic

Can Food2Soil be used to organically and naturally fertilise lawns?

Food2Soil is your year-round, all-purpose organic soil and plant booster, especially for vegetables, lawns, fruit trees and fast-growing plants. Full of live bacteria, fungi as well as nutrients and minerals for your plants and soil. We have done various trials on lawns (including Buffalo & Canberra Blend) and have found it worked well compared to chemical-based products, and without the chemical run off. It also helps lawns to be less reliant on synthetic feeding as it feeds the soil, not just the lawn

Can I pay via direct deposit instead of credit card?

Yes, you can pay for your Food2Soil order with direct deposit, in our Bendigo Bank acount below:
Name: Food2Soil Pty Ltd

BSB: 633 000

Account: 175 452 747

Payment Reference: Customer’s Full Name

What if I want a refund?

We think you will love our product, but for ease of mind we have a money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied, get in touch via info@food2soil.com.au within 28 days and we will return the cost of the product to you, no fuss.

Why does shipping cost so much?

Food2Soil is very dense, so therefore heavy. We would like to make the shipping costs cheaper however we are governed by standard Australian shipping costs per weight.

The more orders, the cheaper the shipping can be. So, if you are happy with the product, tell friends, family and anyone interested in soil, gardening, food waste and making a difference to a struggling planet.

If I am local, can I pick up so I don’t have to pay postage? 

Yes, we can arrange a pickup time and/or delivery when possible. Watch the website for changes to the Food2Soil shop front or stockists.

Will you accept the bottles back? 

Yes, we’d love to. Just email us at info@food2soil.com.au and if you live locally, we will make arrangements. Otherwise, if you live interstate and are passionate about waste, you can mail back your bottles, however at this stage we are not able to cover the postage cost.

How long will postage take before my order arrives?

Most customers choose ‘standard post’, and from feedback it usually arrives within 1 week. However, this can vary to 10 days depending on outside influences, such as a pandemic.

What if I don’t receive my order in the post?

If you have not received your order within 10 days of delivery, please contact us. We keep all the tracking numbers of postage on file so we can investigate what is happening. If it gets lost in the mail, we will resend your order ASAP.

Can I make a change to an order I already placed?

If your order has not been shipped yet, you most certainly can make a change. We recommend you email us info@food2soil.com.au as soon as possible after your online payment and we will call you to discuss your options.

Why don’t you use something ‘greener’ than a plastic bottle?

Being extremely waste aware, we almost sent ourselves crazy looking at packaging options! Ideally, we would use a recycled bottle already in existence, that is light and durable. However, it was impossible to find one within our budget. Glass and metal are too heavy and bamboo was not cost effective.

As yet, Australia does not make recycled plastic bottles we can use (with vented lids) and the CO2 emissions from buying recycled plastic bottles overseas was not a logical solution.

It is our mission to continue to source the most planet friendly packaging possible, however in the meantime, please recycle or reuse the bottle, or send it back if you’d like. We re-use them when possible.

What evidence do you have that Food2Soil works?

Scientists have been researching the effects of micro-organisms (the live stuff in our product) for decades now, with the knowledge becoming more and more mainstream. If you are a soil nerd, check out Dr. Teruo Higa’s work on ‘BENEFICIAL AND EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS FOR A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT’

We have had Food2Soil samples tested by independent soil scientists, Universities and have had pot trials conducted by a qualified horticulturist, as well as doing our own.

Most importantly, we have happy customers telling us all the time how much they observe the benefits of Food2Soil and how much they love it!

Can I get a Food2soil Gift Card?

Yes! It’s a fabulous, usable, eco-friendly gift to give. Contact info@food2soil.com.au and we will arrange a gift card to be emailed to you.