Keisha Ernst
Keisha Ernst is dedicated to advancing microbe farming and soil health. As an owner at Catalyst BioAmendments for six years, Keisha creates specialized compost recipes using microscopic data and environmental factors. She also consults with farmers, compost producers, and home gardeners to enhance microbial content in their practices through the consultation company Soil Matters.
An accomplished speaker and educator, Keisha has led workshops across the US and Canada and has played a key role in developing compost lots nationwide. Her mission is to empower others to harness the benefits of soil microbes for sustainable agriculture.
Casey Ernst
Casey Ernst discovered his passion for natural systems through a transformative reforestation project in the Andes Mountains of Southern Ecuador. Over seven years, they developed expertise in permaculture design, terraforming, and constructing natural systems, which sparked their drive to create a broader impact on soil and agricultural communities.
This drive led to the creation of Catalyst BioAmendments and Soil Matters. As an owner and operator, Casey specializes in compost lot management and consultation. They possess extensive experience in designing and managing windrows, developing tailored compost recipes, and optimizing material resourcing.
Casey is dedicated to solving complex challenges in composting and soil health, delivering innovative solutions to enhance soil fertility and support sustainable practices.
He's a Compost Hotshot!
Brian Vagg
With a scientific background, Brian embarked on a journey from high-tech enterprise to regenerative agriculture. Brian's expertise lies in orchestrating data-driven strategies that amplify agricultural productivity while bolstering profitability.
He seamlessly integrated his love for soil health, microorganisms, and sustainability into his consulting practice, ensuring client well-being remains paramount. His homesteading lifestyle fuels a deep connection to soil and the intricacies of nature.
Brian collaborates with Keisha and Casey on his soil consultancy business, Soil Matters.
Raleigh Latham
Raleigh Latham is a producer, educator, and soil consultant in training. His passion for ecological entrepreneurship, soil biology, and water cycle restoration led him to co-founding three different online schools over the past 7 years, The Soil Foodweb School with Elaine Ingham, Water Stories with Zach Weiss, and the Sustainable Design Masterclass with Neal Spackman.
Raleigh teamed up with Keisha, Casey and Brian because he saw the need for more practical, real world training for Biological Compost across the world.
Our Mission...
To lead the way in scaling microbe-focused growing operations and empower people of all backgrounds to regenerate soil ecosystems with fun, accessible, and effective methods.
Basically, we want to show everyone how to make effective, soil-foodweb rich compost anywhere on earth.
Team Background
Building on the work of our mentor, Dr. Elaine Ingham, our team has spent the last decade working to optimize biologically complete composting processes, and training farmers and growers how to restore degraded soils. We have combined our collective expertise into a training format that anyone can use to restore their soils.
Biological Soil Restoration
Brian Vagg, and Keisha and Casey Ernst work with farmers and growers worldwide to regenerate degraded soils. They show clients how to use on site produced compost to scale soil restoration treatments, even on large acreages. This approach allows growers to produce more while cutting chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides.
Composting at Every Scale
Keisha and Casey have worked with both small and large scale compost producers across the U.S. to show them how to tweak their composting methods to produce valuable, biologically complete compost. They have build serious expertise in turning low-grade compost into biological wealth, and produce their own high-value compost.
Effective Training
Keisha, Casey, Brian and Raleigh bring together a decade of experience creating online training and in person workshops that are effective and practical. We use our diverse scientific and technical backgrounds to create training that is understandable, effective, and actionable.
Join the Pioneer Program
If you're ready to start your own journey to creating Biologically rich compost and restoring degraded soils, join our waitlist for the Compost Academy Pioneer Program, launching in early 2025. You'll also get access to free resources, webinars, and courses.
