Dec '25 • General discussion
Redox - The Electrical Undercurrent of Life
In my adventures in Soil and biological health, there are two concepts that battle in my mind for the "Most Important Discovery" in the last century.
Those are Rhizophagy and Redox.
(If you want to read about Rhizophagy, you can find that here: https://www.facebook.com/dharmalanden/posts/pfbid034eMXBfwwvGryah1VL7Jn2SvhQcdSr9GTKmbWAqmgaxn2bFk6Uh9bHBJ8Ahf72X9jl )
Rhizophagy in many ways is more fun, intuitive, and directly applicable to our garden and farm endeavors. It's the way plants EAT! It directly connects us to our plants and the cycles we participate in with them.
In contrast, Redox is so fundamental, so core to *Everything*, and so in your face in every moment that it was entirely missed - until about 10 years ago. (Which again, is the blink of an eye in the pursuit of scientific truth.)
So what is Redox?
Redox is the measurement of the electrical charge found in every natural system. Your body, your plants, the atmosphere, the soil, the ocean - they all have what we call a "Redox Potential".
Redox is a compound term for Reduction vs Oxidation.
At its root, it's the quantifiable balance of Electrons and Oxygen.
You may have heard about "Oxidative Stress" in human health or soils. That's Redox.
It balances on the fundamental premise: A gain of an Oxygen atom is a loss of an Electron (energy).
This is the most clear example I know - When you eat food, it gives you energy. Then you go for a run. You breathe heavily during your cardio workout. You intake a lot of Oxygen. At the end - you have *Less Energy*.
You brought Oxygen into the system of your body, and used up the Electrons your body had available. Now you're tired and need more food - which provides more Electrons.
Everything works on this orienting axiom.
-When you till the soil, you add oxygen to it. This causes a *release* of energy, which plants can catch some of, but by the end of the season the soil is "spent". This is because the tillage lowered the overall energy of the soil system.
-Your plants are pumping photons into themselves and the soil - these photons convert to electrical energy for all of Life. They're a *Redox Pump*. This raises the overall energy. This is why cover crops are our most effective soil builders.
Why do plants respond so well to rainwater? It's the lightning! That electrical energy (and bacteria to hold it) is stored in the raindrop. Your plants are getting a Redox boost - and you can SEE it in the plant response!
Redox helps us quantify what we already knew. Why do plants like living compost more than mineral supplements? Why are cover crops so effective? Because we're harnessing the living, breathing, pulsing electrical forces of Life itself! Life is the Electric Engine of our very Existence and Redox is our acknowledgement of that Reality!
A final food for thought - pH and Redox are complementary pieces of a whole. One is the measurement of Hydrogen and the other is the measurement of Oyxgen. The two central elements to all of Life! (They do make water afterall.)
The pH of your Soil creates the landscape for soil interactions. Redox is the horse that pulls the cart up the hill.
Most soil interactions are influenced by pH but *Driven* by Redox!
Redox is the binding concept to tie Biology, Chemistry, and Physics into a cohesive and holistic approach to Soil.
I know - Big concept, tiny particles. How do we make use of it?
At this time, for most people, just opening awareness to these processes happening all around us will unlock so much. Tune into that pulsing Truth of your own Life Force and that of the living beings you care for. When you see Life moving, know that it's electrical impulses driving that dance.
Look at where energy comes in to your garden, your body, and your environment. Look at the push and pull of Life and know that energy is real, quantifiable, and interactive. Ask yourself how you can feed energy into a system rather than extract from it.
Minimize how much you Oxidize your soils. - Tillage, disturbance, and synthetic fertilizers.
Give all living things living foods. - Vibrant compost and liquid microbe mixes for soil. Freshly picked produce for humans. Use that rainwater.
The most important energy you can feed into Life? Your love, care, and attention.
Happy Growing!
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Redox - The Electrical Undercurrent of Life
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