Frequently Asked Questions
Soil Genie is a mail-in soil test kit that helps you understand what’s happening beneath the surface of your garden. You collect a soil sample from your garden, send it to our lab, and receive a detailed report showing nutrient levels, mineral content, and soil pH — along with clear recommendations on what to do next.
No. Soil Genie is not an app.
It’s a physical soil test kit paired with professional laboratory analysis and expert interpretation of your results.
Your soil report includes:
- Major nutrients (like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium)
- Secondary nutrients (such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur)
- Micronutrients (like iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron)
- Soil pH
Together, these values give a clear picture of your soil’s fertility and balance.
Every garden is different. Even two beds right next to each other can behave very differently.
Testing your soil helps you:
- Avoid over-fertilizing
- Fix deficiencies accurately
- Improve plant health and yields
- Build healthier soil over time
- Stop guessing and start growing with intention
Soil Genie doesn’t just give you numbers.
We interpret your lab results and translate them into clear, customized recommendations, including:
- Application rates
- Product suggestions
You don’t need to be a soil scientist — we do that part for you.
No special tools are required. A small hand trowel or garden shovel works perfectly. The kit includes clear instructions so you know exactly how and where to sample.
Results are typically ready within 6-8 days. You’ll be notified as soon as your report is complete.
After your soil is analyzed, Soil Genie interprets the results and provides:
- A plain-language explanation of your soil health
- Customized nutrient application rates
- Product recommendations tailored to your soil’s needs
Yes. Recommendations are based directly on the sample you submit, including nutrient levels, mineral balance, and pH — not on averages or assumptions.
Your garden gets guidance based on its actual conditions.
No. You’re free to use whatever products you prefer.
That said, Soil Genie recommendations are optimized for Just Good Soil products because they’re designed to work together as a regenerative soil-health system.
Yes. Soil Genie works for:
- In-ground gardens
- Raised beds
- Greenhouses
- High-tunnel beds
- Compost Piles
Most gardeners benefit from testing:
- Once per year for maintenance
- Up to three times per year if actively rebuilding soil or correcting deficiencies
Soil changes slowly — consistency matters more than frequency.
Yes. Your report includes customized application rates based on your soil results, helping you apply the right amount — not too much and not too little.
The test itself measures nutrients and minerals — it doesn’t judge your practices.
However, Soil Genie is designed specifically to support organic, regenerative, and soil-first gardening approaches focused on long-term soil health.
No. Soil Genie focuses on soil chemistry and nutrient balance. While healthy soil supports healthier plants, the test does not diagnose diseases, insects, or pathogens.
You’re not expected to.
That’s why Soil Genie interprets the data for you — translating lab results into practical guidance you can actually use in your garden.
No. A pH test shows only acidity or alkalinity.
Soil Genie provides a full nutrient and mineral profile, giving you a much deeper understanding of what your plants can (and can’t) access.
Soil Genie is ideal for gardeners who:
- Want better harvests
- Care about soil health
- Prefer data over guesswork
- Are tired of one-size-fits-all fertilizer advice
From beginners to experienced growers — if you grow plants in soil, this helps.
The Soil Supplement Protocol is a three-part soil supplement protocol designed to activate soil life and enhance nutrient uptake over time. It includes Magical Microbes, Super Seaweed, and Mighty Microalgae - each powerful on its own, but intentionally designed to work together as a regenerative synergist that couples with the Essential Nutrient Protocol. Think of the Soil Supplement Protocol as the biology layer that brings soil to life.
The Soil Supplement Protocol is designed to supplement the Essential Nutrient Protocol and work alongside the Soil Genie Test Kit.
- Soil Genie tells you what your soil needs
- Essential Nutrient Protocol builds long-term soil health
- Soil Supplement Protocol helps the soil use the inputs efficiently.
Together, they form a regenerative, science-backed system for biohacking your soil.
The Soil Supplement Protocol is designed to supplement the Essential Nutrient Protocol and work alongside the Soil Genie Test Kit.
- Soil Genie tells you what your soil needs
- Essential Nutrient Protocol builds long-term soil health
- Soil Supplement Protocol helps the soil use the inputs efficiently.
Together, they form a regenerative, science-backed system for biohacking your soil.
Yes. Each product can be used on its own and will provide benefits. However, they were designed to be used together to create synergy between soil microbes, plant roots, and nutrients. Using all three consistently deliverers the most noticeable and resilient results.
- Magical Microbes - A diverse blend of beneficial bacteria and fungi that increases microbial diversity and helps colonize depleted or “dead” soils
- Mighty Microalgae - A biological superfood that feeds soil microbes, boosts resilience, and supports soil regeneration with organic matter
- Super Seaweed - A concentrated seaweed extract that feeds both plants and microbes while supporting stress tolerance and root signaling
Together, they build a thriving underground ecosystem.
Healthy soil biology helps:
- Unlock nutrients already present in the soil
- Improve nutrient uptake efficiency
- Support stronger root systems
- Increase plant resilience to stress (heat, drought, transplant shock)
Healthy plants start with healthy soil - not just more fertilizer.
Apply every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing season. Regeneration is more about timing and consistency than one-time applications. Think of this like healthy snacks more than a hearty meal, but we need both for a healthy “soil diet”.
Use ½ to 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water per product, every application. If using all three products together, as recommended, each product gets its own measured dose in the same watering can.
Each bottle is highly concentrated so don’t let the small size fool you - there are multiple applications in each bottle. Each bottle contains 16 or more doses when carefully measured. Avoid pouring directly into the watering can or onto the soil, but use a measuring spoon to proportion the products accurately.
No. These ingredients are gentle and do not require precise measurement or application techniques. This is soil biology, not chemistry. Simply sprinkle the diluted solution on the soil surface around each plant with a light application. Soil life will distribute and consume the ingredients naturally. That said, some care should be taken to measure the dose into your watering can to ensure the bottles last. Remember, these are concentrates and each bottle contains multiple applications.
No. Always dilute first. These products are designed to be used as light, repeated applications, not heavy single doses. Plus, these small but mighty bottles last longer and cover more garden space when diluted properly and applied lightly to the soil around each plant.
Because soil health is built over time. Just like you don’t improve gut health by eating yogurt once, you don’t regenerate soil with a single application. The Soil Supplement Protocol works best when it becomes part of your “soil’s diet”.
Soil microbiology is like the human gut microbiome.
Eating one yogurt doesn’t fix gut health - you need consistent intake and supportive foods. The Soil Supplement Protocol couples with the Essential Nutrient Protocol and works the same way: regular supplementation with light-touch applications builds diversity, resilience, and function over time.
Yes - this is one of its strengths. Magical Microbes helps re-colonize low-biology soils, while Mighty Microalgae and Super Seaweed feed and stabilize the emerging microbial community. Over time, this can dramatically improve soil performance. For best results, be sure to also use the Essential Nutrient Protocol since they are designed to work together as a system for regenerative soil health.
Absolutely! We designed it specifically for vegetable gardens but the Soil Supplement Protocol can be used alone, or in combination with the Essential Nutrient Protocol to boost soil health safely in all areas of your garden. Safe for:
- Vegetables and herbs
- Ornamentals and flowers
- Raised beds and containers
- Lawns and landscapes
If it grows in soil, Just Good Soil can support it.
Many products focus on adding organisms. The Soil Supplement Protocol focuses on building a living system - feeding microbes, supporting diversity, and creating the conditions where biology thrives naturally.
That’s the difference between applying inputs and regenerating soil.
It is not required to use Soil Genie to test your soil before applying the Soil Supplement Protocol because this protocol will not meaningfully change the nutrient composition of your soil. This part of the Just Good Soil Regenerative Gardening System is for activating and enhancing soil life, and is suggested for all gardens regardless of background soil nutrient levels. That said, we recommend a soil test at least at least once a year for maintenance, and more often if problems are discovered in the report.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol is a three-part regenerative gardening system designed to rebuild soil health and support productive plants through the entire growing cycle. It works by replenishing organic matter for tilth and moisture retention, delivering targeted organic nutrition for sustainable growth, beneficial soil microbes for nutrient availability and plant resilience, and humic substances to help improve nutrient uptake.
The system includes:
- Sprout_01 - Early-season granular soil nutrition
- Rise_02 - A fermented liquid plant food and nutrient-availability catalyst
- Replenish_03 - End-of-season, manure-based soil recovery
Together, these products support healthier soil biology, better nutrient cycling, and more resilient gardens over time. These help avoid boom-bust nutrition cycles with sustainable organic nutrition for your soil.
First, this is Soil Food, rather than traditional fertilizer. It contains many more benefits to the soil ecosystem than plant nutrients alone. That said, gardens don’t have a single nutritional need all year long. Soil biology, nutrient demand, and plant growth change with the seasons.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol mirrors how healthy soils work in nature:
- Quickly-available nutrition when plants are getting started and actively growing
- Microbial stimulation to unlock and cycle soil nutrients
- Slow-release mineral replenishment after harvest for long-term soil building
Using the right input at the right time improves efficiency, reduces waste, and builds soil health rather than just feeding plants. Each “product” has multiple soil-life benefits in each formula making this a synergistic protocol for building soil health.
Sprout_01 is a granular organic soil food designed for the beginning of the season or anytime your plants need a boost during active growth.
Key benefits:
- Made with upcycled meat and bone meals for faster nutrient availability and microbial establishment
- Provides the early-season energy plants need to establish roots, leaves, and flowers
- Supplies concentrated organic matter to improve soil moisture management and tilth
Sprout_01 is ideal for spring planting, transplanting, and mid-season recovery when plants are working their hardest.
Rise_02 is a liquid plant and soil booster made from fermented ingredients.
Think of Rise_02 as a catalyst:
- Feeds and stimulates beneficial soil microbes
- Enhances nutrient bioavailability in the soil
- Helps release and activate nutrients from Sprout_01 and Replenish_03
Rise_02 doesn’t replace granular nutrition - it amplifies it by accelerating biological processes in the soil.
Replenish_03 is a manure-based granular soil food designed for end-or-season soil recovery.
After harvest, nutrients leave the garden with the produce you’ve grown. Replenish_03 helps:
- Replace minerals removed during the growing season
- Add slow-release nutrition for long-term soil health
- Rebuild organic matter and soil structure
Manure is an excellent source of slow-release minerals, making it ideal for restoring balance to worked soils. This step is a smart investment in your garden’s long-term soil health.
Although Replenish_03 is double-cooked during granulation to further reduce pathogen risk, it is still a manure-based product.
Applying it at the end of the season:
- Further minimizes any potential pathogen concerns
- Gives soil microbes time to process nutrients before spring
- Allows minerals to integrate into the soil profile
By the time plants are actively growing again, nutrients are stabilized, available, and biologically integrated.
No. Each product is designed for a specific role and timing.
Recommended timing:
- Sprout_01 - Early season or mid-season boosts during active growth
- Rise_02 - Every 2-4 weeks throughout the active growing season
- Replenish_03 - End of season or dormant period only
Using them together at the same time reduces effectiveness and works against the natural rhythms of soil biology. It likely won’t hurt your plants but it can overload the system with too much nutrition all at once, creating boom-bust cycles for soil microbes. We want steady nutrition throughout the growing season instead.
Apply Rise_02 every 2 to 4 weeks during the active growing season. There are multiple applications in each bottle - be sure to dilute before using. Measuring the dose helps ensure the bottle will last all season.
Regular applications:
- Maintain microbial activity
- Improve nutrient cycling
- Increase the efficiency of your granular inputs
- Boost plant growth to recruit symbiotic bacteria
Rise_02 works best as a consistent, light-touch biological activator rather than a one-time treatment.
Yes. The Essential Nutrient Protocol is built around regenerative principles:
- Organic nutrient sources
- Upcycled inputs that reduce waste
- Soil-microbiome-first nutrition
- Long-term soil building instead of short-term feeding
The goal isn’t just plant growth - it’s treating the soil as its own crop. It’s resilient, living soil that improves year after year.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol is ideal for:
- Home gardeners focused on soil health
- Regenerative and organic growers
- Raised beds, in-ground gardens, and containers
- Gardeners who want better flavor, vigor, and consistency from their harvests - for more abundant, nutrient-dense produce
Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, or ornamentals, the protocol adapts to your garden’s seasonal needs.
Using all three products at the right time:
- Improves nutrient efficiency
- Reduces the need for excess inputs
- Builds healthier soil biology
- Creates more predictable, repeatable results
It’s not about feeding plants harder - it’s about helping soil do what it already knows how to do, better.
No. As long as you follow package directions and stick to standard application rates, these organic ingredients are gentle and will not burn plants. Unlike conventional fertilizers that can sometimes burn foliage when applied, this system is designed to avoid boom-bust cycles and provide steady soil nutrition all season long.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol provides organic inputs that are gentle but powerful, and leverages microbe-mediated nutrient release that improves soil fertility. This is fundamentally different than salt-based synthetics from other gardening brands.
Compost is an excellent source of organic matter and microbial diversity that we highly encourage you to use in your garden. But, the nutritional quality of compost varies a lot based on what has been composted, time of year, and other factors. This can create imbalances if core nutrients are not supplemented along with it. That’s where the Essential Nutrient Protocol comes in:
- Compost = organic matter + diversity
- Essential Nutrient Protocol = precision, concentration, timing, and bioavailability
- Compost feeds soil eventually, this feeds soil intentionally
The Essential Nutrient Protocol and compost should be considered “best friends” rather than competitors - they’re highly compatible and both important components of building regenerative soil health.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol is the foundation for building soil health. It’s designed to be different from traditional fertilizers, but it does provide plant nutrition as well. So, yes - this system works as a replacement for traditional fertilizer and you might not need anything else. Before adding any other fertility inputs, we highly recommend using our Soil Genie Test Kit to understand what is needed before guessing. Gardens evolve over time, and their inputs should as well.
Yes - the Essential Nutrient Protocol is designed for food crops and it is safe to use. It also works on all plants in your garden because it’s designed for the soil and to improve soil conditions under your favorite crops.
Many gardeners will see results in a few short weeks, but soil health is built over time rather than all at once. With consistent application of the protocol, you can expect the following results:
- Short-term: vigor, color, growth response (everything seems to be growing better)
- Medium-term: better nutrient efficiency, plant resiliency against adverse conditions
- Long-term: soil structure improvements, better moisture management, more abundant nutrient-dense harvests, and delicious flavor.
It is not required to use Soil Genie to test your soil in order to start building soil health with the Essential Nutrient Protocol. However, gardens evolve over time and soil conditions can change. We always recommend soil testing so that you’re not guessing and potentially wasting inputs or creating imbalances. This should happen at least once a year for maintenance, and more often if problems are discovered in the report.
The Essential Nutrient Protocol is the foundation for soil health and is chock-full of intentional ingredients to help improve your garden. The Soil Supplements Protocol is an enhancement package designed to activate and nurture the soil microbiome to further enhance the effects of the Essential Nutrient Protocol. They work together, along with Soil Genie, as a regenerative gardening system. For best results, use all three products to diagnose what we can’t see, provide functional building blocks for soil health, and biohack your soil’s microbiome for the productive, organic and regenerative garden of your dreams.
The JGS Regenerative Gardening System consists of three products, each of which have multiple benefits for your soil:
- Soil Genie Test Kit
- The Essential Nutrient Protocol
- The Soil Supplement Protocol
Test - Amend - Activate. We always recommend starting with a soil test to understand what you can’t see by looking; its background nutrient levels and any areas of concern. Along with the test results, you also receive guidance and product recommendations for fixing underlying issues. The Essential Nutrient Protocol and Soil Supplement Protocol work together synergistically to provide essential nutrition and enhance bio-availability of those minerals for uptake. In our own gardens, we use the protocols with other regenerative gardening practices such as adding compost, avoiding tilling, and utilizing regenerative planting techniques.