‘Teaming With Microbes’ podcast: Superheroes in the soil

The team digs into more science about fungi and other superheroes in the soil.

Welcome to our weekly podcast with longtime Anchorage Daily News garden writer and author Jeff Lowenfels and co-host Jonathan White. It’s a companion to Jeff’s weekly ADN gardening columns and his popular series of books.

This week Jeff and Jonathan discuss more scientific studies. First, they consider how fungi and bacteria impact water freezing.  These “ice nucleators” are what cause ice crystals to form into snow and hail.

Next, the team discusses plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).  These superheroes of the soil are nitrogen fixing bacteria that include phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZPK).

Finally, the duo wraps up the episode with a chat about how global warming is affecting plant hardiness zone maps.

Have a question? Ask Jeff and Jonathan at teamingwithmicrobes@me.com

Sponsored by Number 2 Organics, Big Foot Microbes and Down to Earth Fertilizers

Hosts: Jeff Lowenfels and Jonathan White. Produced by Evan Phillips.

This podcast is a collaboration between the hosts and Anchorage Daily News.

Feedback: teamingwithmicrobes@me.com

Read Lowenfels’ weekly columns on gardening and growing at ADN.com.

Read Jeff’s books: “Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web,” “Teaming with Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition,” “Teaming with Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae,” among others.


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Jeff Lowenfels

Jeff Lowenfels has written a weekly gardening column for the ADN for more than 45 years. His columns won the 2022 gold medal at the Garden Communicators International conference. He is the author of a series of books on organic gardening available at Amazon and elsewhere. He co-hosts the "Teaming With Microbes" podcast.

Jonathan White

Jonathan White is the co-host, with Jeff Lowenfels, of the "Teaming with Microbes" podcast. He's an Anchorage small business owner, gardener and former journalist.