We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pasquale Caccavella. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pasquale below.
Pasquale, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The Story Behind Salem Soil Solutions
The idea for Salem Soil Solutions didn’t come from a traditional business plan—it evolved naturally, driven by curiosity, passion, and a deep appreciation for soil as the foundation of all life.
It started years ago when I was in college studying Packaging Science at Clemson University. While my coursework focused on engineering and materials science, my personal interests took me in an entirely different direction. During that time, I developed a deep love for exercise and nutrition, which led me to question everything about the food I was eating.
I already had a strong foundation in whole foods, thanks to my health-conscious mother, but I wanted to go deeper—what was truly the best way to fuel my body? That’s when I had my first major realization:
-The best food you can eat is the food you grow yourself.
So, I started gardening. At first, it was just a fun hobby, but as I saw the results, I became obsessed with optimizing plant health, growth, and yield. Then came another key realization:
-The best food you can grow yourself comes from living soil.
The deeper I dug into soil science, the more I realized how fundamentally broken modern agriculture is. I learned that most soil today is biologically dead, stripped of its natural microbial life by synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and poor land management. Instead of working with nature, we’ve been trying to control it, often at the expense of long-term soil health.
The Turning Point
Once I understood how essential healthy, living soil is to nutrient-dense food, resilient plants, and ecosystem stability, I couldn’t turn away. I was hooked. This wasn’t just about gardening anymore—it was about regeneration.
In 2021, I took my passion further by enrolling in Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School, where I learned how to analyze soil microbiology and restore its natural balance. What I discovered was mind-blowing:
-Most people (even farmers) have no idea that their soil lacks the biology necessary for plant health.
-Compost, if made correctly, can completely restore soil biology and eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizers.
-We don’t need to keep fighting nature—we just need to support it.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
We (as a human race) don’t have a choice—we have to restore our soil. The soil is being lost and degraded at an alarming rate every year.
-The available nutrition in plants has decreased by more than 50% over the past 100 years.
-We are running out of topsoil to feed ourselves, with an estimated 60 years of topsoil left if we continue at the current rate of degradation.
-We are creating a vicious cycle of sick soil, sick plants, and sick people—and it all starts beneath our feet.
-We cannot afford to ignore the health of our soil any longer. If we don’t act now to rebuild soil biology, restore microbial diversity, and move away from synthetic inputs, we are setting ourselves up for a food and environmental crisis.
Why I Knew Salem Soil Solutions Would Work
I saw a huge gap in the market. There were plenty of companies selling fertilizers, synthetic amendments, and generic compost, but very few offering truly biologically complete compost, vermicompost, and microbial-rich amendments. Even fewer were offering biological soil testing, which is critical to understanding what’s actually happening in the soil.
Most soil tests only look at chemical properties (NPK levels, pH, etc.), but they completely ignore the biology—the microbes responsible for nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and soil structure. This is where Salem Soil Solutions is different.
At Salem Soil Solutions:
-We don’t just sell compost—we sell living biology.
-We don’t just test soil chemistry—we analyze its microbial life.
-We don’t just recommend inputs—we help people rebuild their soil from the ground up.
What Excited Me Most
What truly excites me about this work is that it actually changes the way people interact with their land. Whether it’s a homeowner who’s never gardened before, a landscaper trying to transition away from synthetic fertilizers, or a farmer looking to improve soil fertility, I love seeing that “aha” moment when people realize they can restore their soil naturally.
That’s why I started Salem Soil Solutions—to help people understand and rebuild their soil’s biology, to bring soil back to life, and to prove that regenerative practices aren’t just possible, but necessary.
To me, this work isn’t just a business—it’s a mission. Healthy soil is the foundation of everything, and if we can restore it, we can regenerate landscapes, grow healthier food, and create a more sustainable future. That’s why I believe this work is worth its weight in gold.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
About Me & Salem Soil Solutions
I embarked on my journey into soil biology seven years ago, initially fueled by a profound interest in mycology. Over time, my passion expanded to embrace permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and soil health, leading me to enroll as a student at Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School (SFWS) in 2022. I’m now a certified Laboratory Technician with SFWS, specializing in the biological analysis of Soil Food Web microorganisms.
My company, Salem Soil Solutions (salemsoilsolutions.com), is dedicated to regenerating soil health through biological soil testing and high-quality soil amendments. Salem Soil Solutions provides comprehensive soil testing services alongside biologically complete compost, vermicompost, compost teas, and extracts, all designed to rebuild soil microbiology and support healthier plant growth. Beyond my professional work, I actively contributes to my community though organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Winston-Salem Permaculture Collective, and the Piedmont Environmental Alliance.
My Journey into Soil Health
While I studied Packaging Science at Clemson University and built a career in the industry, my personal interests gradually pulled me toward something much deeper—soil.
It all started with a passion for fitness and nutrition. While in college, I became deeply invested in understanding what the best foods were for optimizing my health and performance. Thanks to my health-conscious mother, I had a strong foundation in whole foods, but I wanted to go further. That journey led me to a simple realization: the best food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. That’s when I fell in love with gardening.
But as I learned more, I had another revelation: the best food you can grow yourself comes from living soil. The soil is alive with microbes, fungi, and countless organisms that create the foundation for healthy, nutrient-dense plants. That curiosity pulled me deep into soil biology, and I’ve been down the rabbit hole ever since.
In 2022, I joined Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School, where I learned how to analyze and restore soil biology using composting and regenerative practices. Since then, I’ve dedicated my time to studying, experimenting, and applying what I’ve learned—not just in my own gardens, but for others who want to restore the health of their soil, grow stronger plants, and regenerate their landscapes.
What Salem Soil Solutions Does & What Sets Us Apart
At Salem Soil Solutions, we offer:
Biological soil testing – We analyze microbial life in soil to determine its health and provide solutions for rebuilding its natural ecosystem.
Premium living soil amendments – Including compost, vermicompost, compost teas, and extracts with a balanced, living soil food web, that restore essential microbial life.
Regenerative soil consulting – Helping homeowners, landscapers, and farmers transition to biologically based soil management without reliance on synthetic inputs.
Unlike conventional soil tests that focus solely on chemistry (NPK levels, pH, etc.), our approach focuses on biology, ensuring that soil has the beneficial microbes it needs to naturally cycle nutrients and support plant health.
The Problems We Solve
Most people—homeowners, landscapers, and even farmers—don’t realize that their soil is biologically dead. Years of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and poor land management have wiped out the natural microbial communities that plants rely on to access nutrients and defend against pests. This leads to compacted soil, nutrient deficiencies, and an endless cycle of dependency on chemical inputs.
At Salem Soil Solutions, we help break that cycle. Through biological soil testing, compost, vermicompost, compost tea, and custom microbial inoculants, we focus on restoring soil biology so that plants can thrive naturally. The result? Healthier plants, stronger root systems, and more resilient landscapes—all without synthetic chemicals.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I take pride in being able to help people reconnect with their soil. Whether it’s a first-time gardener learning about compost tea, a landscaper looking for a natural way to improve soil structure, or a farmer making the transition to regenerative practices, I love seeing the impact that healthy soil can have on an entire ecosystem.
I’m also proud of the community I’m building through Salem Soil Solutions. We are not just a company—we are part of a growing movement to regenerate soil, restore ecosystems, and educate people about sustainable land management. Through my work, I’ve met incredible people who share a vision for a healthier planet—gardeners, farmers, landscapers, and regenerative agriculture advocates. I want to continue educating and raising awareness about soil regeneration and its role in environmental sustainability.
What I Want People to Know
Soil is alive. Healthy soil isn’t just dirt—it’s a thriving ecosystem that supports plant life.
You can rebuild your soil. No matter how degraded, soil can be restored using biological approaches.
Compost isn’t just compost. The right compost, made properly, is full of beneficial microbes that create a self-sustaining system.
You don’t need synthetic fertilizers. Nature already has the perfect system in place—if we support it correctly.
At the end of the day, Salem Soil Solutions is about regeneration—not just of soil, but of the way we think about growing food, landscaping, and interacting with the natural world. If you care about soil, want to grow healthier plants, or just want to learn more about how soil biology works, I’d love to connect.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My Journey Through Injury & Into Soil
In 2021, an MRI confirmed that the peripheral nerve pain running down both of my legs was caused by a herniated lumbar disc, further aggravated by multiple disc bulges in my lower spine. At the time, I felt like my life was over. I was reduced to sitting at work, teetering between being an unproductive warehouse employee and simply enduring the day. When I got home, I could do nothing but lay on the floor, trapped by pain and unable to engage in the active lifestyle I once loved.
Ironically, it was during this forced stillness that I began my deep dive into soil research. While physically grounded against my will, I became mentally and spiritually connected to the ground in a way I never had before. What started as an attempt to pass the time in my debilitated state quickly turned into an obsession—one that has since shaped my entire career.
I slowly regained my mobility and strength without surgery. Since October 2021, I have committed to a daily physical therapy routine—1,229 days and counting. My motivation? Regenerative agriculture. The same discipline, patience, and long-term investment required to heal my body mirrors what it takes to heal the soil.
I also find it ironic that, despite my passion for agriculture, I could never fully committed to farming full-time—if I had, I wouldn’t have started a soil company. My injury, which I once saw as a restriction, ultimately became the cornerstone of my niche. It forced me to dig deeper (literally and figuratively) and led me to create Salem Soil Solutions.
And in the end, I like to say: The worms give me the leverage that my back doesn’t allow.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Balancing a Career & a Calling
I’m currently a full-time employee at a large, privately held packaging company in the southeastern United States. My path into this industry was largely shaped by family connections—my father has worked for my current employer for 30 years. With a formal education in Packaging Science, I always planned to follow in his footsteps and build a career in packaging. But as life unfolded, I realized my heart had other plans.
Right now, my work in packaging supports both myself and my business, Salem Soil Solutions. But the decision to sacrifice my after-hours, weekends, and, at times, even financial security has been one of the biggest shifts in my life. What I had once envisioned for my future in my early 20s looks nothing like my reality today.
One of the toughest aspects of this journey has been the lack of support from my family. They don’t understand the importance of my work or the deep passion I have for it. To them, soil regeneration and biological agriculture seem like an unconventional and uncertain path. To me, it’s the most valuable and meaningful work I could pursue.
Because of Salem Soil Solutions, I’ve had to make huge pivots—as an employee, as a business owner, and in my overall career and life trajectory. In many ways, this has turned my world completely upside down. But the older I get, the more I realize:
-This work is the only thing I have that truly feels worth living for.
So to me, the chaos, the confusion, and the unknown—it’s all worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://salemsoilsolutions.com
- Instagram: @salemsoilsolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salemsoilsolutions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pcaccav/
- Twitter: @Dirty_Squal
- Youtube: @SalemSoilSolutions
Image Credits
Maria Davis @mtdphoto.co