● Programs
Hands-on soil education delivered to gardens, marae, composting projects, schools, market gardens, and small farms. Using live microscopy and a practical site assessment, we help people better understand the biology beneath their feet and build the confidence to work with living soils.
We bring the lab to you.
Mobile Microscopy & Soil Health Training
● Workshop Overview
See, understand, assess, apply.
The microscope is where the journey begins. By exploring the biology living within your own soil and compost, participants discover the hidden relationships that drive healthy plants, nutrient cycling, and resilient growing systems.
From there, we step back into the field. Together we'll learn a suite of practical soil health assessments that require little more than curiosity and a spade. By connecting what we observe under the microscope with what we see in the soil itself, participants leave with a practical framework for understanding and improving soil health long after we've packed up the microscopes.
Our goal is not simply to show you what is happening beneath your feet. It is to leave you with the knowledge and practical tools to keep observing, assessing, and responding with confidence.
● Workshop Details
How it works
Growing Point's team arrives at your site with two microscopes and a suite of practical soil health tools. We begin with live microscopy and an introduction to the Soil Food Web, exploring the biology within your soil and compost. The learning then moves into the field, using simple assessments to observe soil health through touch, sight, and practical testing.
Half-day and
full-day options
8-Week
Sessions
Start May 31
See
Observe the hidden world beneath your feet through live microscopy using samples collected from your own soil and compost. Discover the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microorganisms that form the foundation of the Soil Food Web.
Understand
Learn how soil biology drives nutrient cycling, plant health, and resilient growing systems. We'll connect what you see under the microscope with what is happening above ground, helping you better understand the relationship between healthy biology and healthy plants.
Assess
Build confidence using simple field assessments that reveal the health of your soil without specialist equipment. These practical techniques complement what you've seen under the microscope, helping you monitor biological health, identify limitations, and make informed decisions over time.
Apply
Take what you've learned back into your own growing system. Participants receive printed resources and a site-specific soil health assessment protocol, making it easier to monitor change over time and respond with confidence. Workshops can also include collaboratively building a Bio-Complete compost pile to increase on-site microbial diversity.
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Average cost $1000. Includes two Growing Point soil specialists and two microscopes. Travel outside Auckland may incur additional costs. Contact us for an accurate price.
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Average cost $1900. Includes two Growing Point soil specialists and two microscopes. Travel outside Auckland may incur additional costs. Contact us for an accurate price.
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Contact the team to discuss your needs and budget.
Practical Tools & Assessments
Pricing
By the end of the workshop, participants will be confident using a range of practical soil health assessment tools, including:
Water infiltration testing
Soil profile analysis
Worm counts
Soil aggregation tests
Compaction assessment
Spade spits
Ideal for
Our workshops are well suited to:
Community gardens
Marae
Schools
Composting projects
Market gardens & small farms
Regenerative growing groups
Every workshop is tailored to your site, experience level, and learning objectives.
Get in touch
If you'd like to host a workshop or discuss how the Mobile Microscopy Unit could support your project, we'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch and we'll tailor a workshop to suit your site and your goals.