Frequently Asked Questions

Healthy soil is more than dirt. It is a living system made up of organic matter, minerals, air, water, and countless microorganisms that help plants access nutrients, build strong roots, and withstand stress.

At Dancing Spirits Farm, we focus on supporting that living foundation. Our worm castings are rich in beneficial biology and organic matter, making them a gentle, effective way to improve soil health for gardens, farms, landscapes, and container plantings.

Worm castings are the biologically rich material created as worms break down organic matter. At Dancing Spirits Farm, we describe them as a soil conditioner or soil amendment, rather than a fertilizer, because their value goes beyond a simple nutrient analysis.

High-quality worm castings help support the living soil system around your plants. They can improve soil structure, support beneficial microbial activity, help with moisture retention, and create conditions that encourage stronger roots, steadier growth, and more resilient plants.

When soil is functioning well, the results often show above ground too: healthier foliage, stronger establishment, improved vigor, and visibly better plant performance over time.

Biochar is a carbon-rich soil amendment made by heating organic material in a low-oxygen environment. Its structure is highly porous, almost like a microscopic sponge.

In soil, those tiny pores can help hold water, air, nutrients, and beneficial biology. Rather than feeding plants directly, biochar helps create a better habitat within the soil - giving moisture, minerals, and microorganisms more places to gather and remain available.

Biochar performs best when it has been charged before use. Charging simply means allowing those sponge-like pores to absorb nutrients, moisture, and biology before the biochar is added to the soil. Uncharged biochar may temporarily tie up nutrients while it fills those pores.

That is one reason we pair biochar with biologically rich worm castings in our VermiChar 50/50+ blend. The worm castings help charge the biochar, while the biochar helps hold onto the benefits of the castings - creating a living soil amendment that supports stronger establishment, improved resilience, and visibly better plant performance over time.

 For garden applications, biochar performs best when it is mixed with nutrient- and biology-rich materials before being added to the soil. Raw biochar has a highly porous structure, almost like an empty sponge. If it is added to a garden before those pores are filled, it can temporarily tie up nutrients and moisture while it “charges” itself in place.

That can be useful in certain remediation settings, but in a growing garden, we want biochar to support plants right away. Mixing biochar with worm castings, compost, or other organic inputs helps fill those pores with moisture, nutrients, and beneficial biology first - turning it into a more plant-supportive soil amendment.

 VermiChar 50/50 PLUS is our signature soil conditioner blend made with worm castings, biochar, and carefully selected soil boosters.

The worm castings bring beneficial biology, organic matter, and plant-supporting compounds. The biochar provides a porous habitat that helps hold onto moisture, nutrients, and microbial life. Together, they create a balanced amendment that supports healthier soil structure, stronger root establishment, and improved plant resilience.

The “PLUS” comes from added mycorrhizae, azomite, kelp powder, and humic acid - ingredients chosen to support nutrient availability, strong roots, trace minerals, and overall plant performance. It is designed to help plants establish strongly while supporting the living soil system around them.

 Technically, no. VermiChar 50/50 PLUS is not a fertilizer - it is a soil amendment and conditioner designed to support living soil.

While it does contain naturally occurring nutrients, minerals, and beneficial soil-building ingredients, its main purpose is not to force-feed plants. Instead, VermiChar helps improve the soil environment so plants can better access the nutrients already present in the soil or provided through an existing fertility program.

A little goes a long way. The worm castings help introduce beneficial biology and organic matter, while the biochar helps hold onto moisture, nutrients, and microbial life over time. This creates a longer-lasting soil reservoir that supports stronger roots, improved nutrient efficiency, and better resilience through establishment and seasonal stress.

Because VermiChar is not a loaded fertilizer, it can also complement many fertilizer programs without the same concern for burning plants. It works alongside your soil care routine by helping the soil hold and cycle nutrients more effectively.

Our soil products can be used almost anywhere you are planting or improving soil. VermiChar 50/50 PLUS and our worm castings can both be mixed into planting holes, blended into garden beds, top-dressed around established plants, or incorporated into raised beds, containers, and other growing media.

For new plantings, mix a handful or two into the loose soil around the planting hole, then backfill and firm the plant in place. For established plants, spread a light layer around the base of the plant and gently work it into the soil surface when possible. For larger areas, incorporate it into the top few inches of soil before planting.

After applying, water as usual. Moisture helps settle the amendment into the root zone and supports the beneficial biology in the blend.

Because these are soil conditioners rather than conventional fertilizers, they are flexible and easy to work into many planting routines. Whether you are planting flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees, or refreshing tired soil, they help support the living soil system around the roots.