Will went straight from agricultural boarding school into science, frustrated by how little in farming made sense. He set up a lab on a biodynamic farm while attending the local land-grant college to hone his analytical skills. Albert Schatz, later emeritus board member, took notice of Will’s early work, particularly an op-ed he wrote in a Philadelphia newspaper criticizing conventional ag scientists for applying a one-way standard to judge their work. Will went on to study microbiology and agronomy with graduate internships in Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany before returning to integrate empirical agronomy in organic farming research, with a thesis on comparing corn (maize) production under differing soil management (chemical vs organic) regimes (photo). Together with Bob, he helped establish a parallel track to conventional ag science, focusing on potentially bio-available soil nutrients and organic matter recycling, strengthening the case for solid organic farming practices.

Bob famously turned down a promotion in astrophysics at General Electric to return to the land. Using his physics skills, he approached the 'good life' by applying the precision of weights and measures. The result was brilliant, infusing refreshing logic into the often vague claims of organic living. He met Will Brinton at a local MOFGA chapter, then a fledgling organization for organic growers, where Will aimed to provide scientific support to members embracing natural methods. Bob and Will instantly hit it off, formulating a guiding principle: 'Test belief through hard science, then return to belief, to inform clearer understanding.' In 1990 Bob authored a definitive guide on interpreting soil fertilizers for organic production. It was Bob’s wish that the book be available as OpenSource in Creative Commons: “Fertile Soil”. This work became a cult favorite among organic practitioners, coming close to the popularity of his earlier work, Canoeing the Jersey Pine Barrens."

Words hardly capture Albert’s remarkable rise in science. As a young post-doc at Rutgers University, he discovered the antibiotic properties of soil-borne streptomycin in controlling tuberculosis, for which he shared the Nobel prize with Waksman - both famously insisting that it not be patented so the greatest benefit could reach humanity. Albert later moved to Washington University (WU), where he serendipitously met Will Brinton, who was visiting to design a Master's program in comparative agriculture, inspired by the groundbreaking WU CBNS study that demonstrated organic farming's validity. Albert and Will designed a study program that extended into Europe, creating a scientific skill set to support the paradigm shift toward alternative farming. Albert remained an active, unwavering force on the Board, advocating for new scientific approaches to support the alternative agriculture movement.

Stuart Hill is one of the pioneers, if not the first, to present a Ph.D. (1969) on whole ecosystem studies, focusing on the interrelationships of community and energy flow in agriculture. A clear and compelling voice in the 70s and 80s, he spoke at numerous conferences and events within the growing natural-farming movement, captivating large audiences of young people returning to the land and helping them understand the complexity and elegance of natural cycles. He served on the Institute’s board for over a decade, offering thoughtful critique and encouragement as he untangled and reassembled the soil-plant-animal relationships that inspired the Institute’s research to ground organic theory and practice in sound science—without compromising its holistic principles. Stu is still active on our Board!

Win was an extension agronomist in New England who, early in his career, reached across the aisle to invite organic farming advocates to be recognized and even speak at official agronomy events, during a time when organic farming was often dismissed out of hand. In recognition of his efforts, NOFA presented him with an award for being a key figure in advancing organic agriculture in New England. For the young Woods End Institute, Win was an invaluable Board member and a challenging advocate, always striving to balance the viewpoints of conventional science extension with the interests of growers embracing new farming trends. He insisted that no perspective be left out simply for not fitting conventional wisdom. Win was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences."

Bob is another one of the early voices in the field, with his 1978 Ph.D. thesis becoming the foundation for the widely recognized textbook Organic Agriculture: Economic and Ecological Comparisons, published by Wiley and favorably reviewed in Science in 1979. He introduced new economic models to explain the social and marginal costs of changing farm practices, aligning with the groundbreaking CBNS study at Washington University, which demonstrated the enhanced economic efficiencies of organic farming—challenging the popular dogma of the time. As a welcome member of the Board, Bob played a key role in encouraging testing and defending unconventional theories in economics and biology, supporting the alternative agriculture movement.

Mary was a visionary scientist known for her remarkable ability to "think like a microbe." She left Hahnemann University Medical Microbiology to join the Woods End Institute and lab team, pioneering new methods for what she affectionately referred to as “weird microbiology.” The early struggles in developing reliable compost microbiology tests, led Mary to address deep challenges such as non-culturability, microbial mutation, heat survival mechanisms, and plasmid-borne pathogenicity in compost systems. These insights shifted our understanding of microbe behavior and influenced our direction to soil health, a misunderstood field. Mary’s curiosity about aerobic versus anaerobic pathways helped redefine standards for compost quality - resisted bythe industry. Her work also contributed to Brinton’s Ph.D. on semi-anaerobic processes in composts—a critical reexamination of the myths surrounding “aerobic” methods. Mary’s technical expertise with agars also facilitated the development of the Solvita gel system for detecting microbial gases.

Joseph Forgacs was a pioneering mycologist and iconoclast. In a 1966 Science article, he revealed that tobacco-curing methods allowed Alternaria mold spores and mycelia to proliferate and once aerosolized as fungal smoke caused emphysema and other lung diseases in mice, i.e. lung effects from use of tobacco could be attributed to fungi. In 1974, Will Brinton sought Joseph’s help investigating sudden chick death linked to feeding organically-grown grains. Together they developed cultural methods to identify the presence of mold spores and to extract any mycotoxins present. This groundbreaking work was a wake-up call to the burgeoning organic grain world ahead of its time. Joseph’s mentorship inspired Will to work on grain harvest and storage conditions and contributed to his studies on grain respiration leading ultimately to Will’s invention of a quick-gel test to detect and quantify early mold contamination in grain—an innovation realized 20 years later.

Henri Bortoft — physicist, philosopher, and educator - bridged science and philosophy. His University of London thesis, "A Non-reductionist Perspective for Quantum Theory," and his influential book, Wholeness in Nature, proposed a comprehensive and holistic approach to science that complements traditional reductive methods. Henri’s perspective drawing on other great works like Goodwin and Bohm addressed a critical gap in modern science, offering a methodology for deeper understanding rather than outright rejecting established principles. Henri and Will Brinton met at a Columbia University colloquium and established Over the next decade, Henri led summer retreats in New England, guiding participants in exploring emergent properties, relevant to describing soil health, rather than only using mechanistic tools. His insights deeply shaped the Institute’s research direction, inspiring new pathways for science that embrace interconnectedness and expand its potential. Henri’s legacy continues to influence the future of scientific inquiry.