Great soil is the foundation of any
beautiful and successful landscape. It needs less fertilizer and chemical
treatment, has better water retention and is part of a dynamic and functional
ecosystem. This course will teach you the key concepts of healthy soil and show
you how to improve your soil to make it produce fantastic vegetables, vibrant
flowers and vigorous plants. You will learn about:
- Soil organisms and soil structure
- Analyzing soil conditions
- Water retention
- Amending soil
- Weed control
- Pesticide reduction
- Prepping soil for winter
The course will focus on practical application of
concepts to help you develop a plan to make your soil work for you. This course
includes a free soil test kit and a voucher for a free cubic yard of compost
from Cedar Grove Compost. A portion of each of the three classes will be taught
outside, so dress appropriately. Come prepared to learn, dig and have fun!
IMPORTANT NOTE!! For the first class, you will need
to bring approximately one-quart of relatively dry soil from your lawn and
garden. From that quart you will remove 1 cup during class to be used as a soil
test sample. The remainder will be used for the jar test. To collect your
sample, follow these directions:
Soil composition can vary from one spot to another,
even in areas that look uniform. This may be due to uneven application of
fertilizer in previous years, or simply due to natural variations. To ensure
that your samples are representative of your yard, garden or field, take at
least 5 samples from the area to be tested and mix them to form a composite. If
your garden or field has areas with different soil texture, color or
fertilization history, they should be sampled separately.
1. Scrape off surface residue/litter.
2. Sample from the soil surface to the depth of
tillage, usually 6-8 inches for cultivated crops and 3 inches for turf.
3. Collect a minimum of 5 samples and combine them
in a clean container. One common sampling method is to sample in a
"W" pattern, with a sample at each point. Mix the soil thoroughly
with a trowel.
4. Place about 1 quart (4 cups) in a clear, glass
one-quart jar. Mark it with your name.
This is a 3 part course. All classes will be held
at 21 Acres from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.
Class #1: Soil Basics, September 18
This class will examine soil organisms and their
functions. We will discuss soil structure and texture and what this means for
your soil's water holding capacity, which is the key for proper irrigation and
storm water retention. You will learn what makes "great soil" so
great. Outside, you will establish test plots to learn the benefits of various
types of soils and mulches, such as leaves, compost, arborist chips and
composted bark. You will discuss the soil sample from your property and it will
be packaged for analysis. You will perform a jar test on part of your soil
sample to learn about its structure.
Class #2: Beginning Your Soil Improvement Action
Plan, September 25
You will discuss the jar test results from the
previous week and chart each result on the soil triangle. These results will be
compared to the soil test results that will be discussed in the last class.
Outside you will examine and discuss different methods and techniques to amend
soil with compost and you will consider whether some methods better than
others. You will learn about building berms on soils that are too difficult to
amend. From this class you will have the understanding to begin creating your
soil improvement plan.
Class #3: Finalizing Your Action Plan, October 2
You will review the results of the analysis of your
soil sample. You will pinpoint areas for different soil building techniques,
learn winter soil preparation and begin creating the garden of your dreams. The
test plots will be examined for soil building progression. You will receive
instructions on finalizing your action plan.
Student Take-Aways from the Course:
- Familiarity with soil composition and how it
affects plant growth.
- Ability to assess the quality of your garden
soil.
- Understand soil amendments that create
invigorated plant beds.
- Strategies to eliminate or sensibly limit the use
of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
- Soil building techniques.
- Winter soil preparation principles.
Relevance to features, services at 21 Acres:
- Sustainable gardening and resilient ecosystems.
- Water efficiency.
- Building soil quality using local biotic
resources and without the use of chemical fertilizers.
- Managing storm water runoff.
Faculty bio: In 1994, Ladd Smith co-founded In
Harmony Sustainable Landscapes out of his lifelong passion for protecting the
environment. In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes is a provider of organic-based
landscape services in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Ladd has been a
regular presenter for King County's highly successful Natural Yard Care
Neighborhoods program for the past ten years as well as the Cascade Water
Alliance Savvy Gardener program.
Graham Haroldson is currently service supervisor,
landscape diagnostician, and much more with In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes
where he has worked for close to eight years. He is a conscious and passionate
I.S.A. Certified Arborist with a love of plant pathology and tree biology.
Graham also spent seven months at the Bullock's Permaculture Homestead on Orcas
Island where he learned a vast amount of skills and earned a permaculture
design certificate. He has a growing resume of public speaking and an
infectious enthusiasm for plants, which he loves to share with anyone.
In Harmony has received numerous awards, including
the prestigious Washington State Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention, the
Northwest Environmental Guide's Environmental Achiever of the Year Award, and
WSNLA Environmental Excellence Award. In Harmony is a King County 5-Star
EnviroStar, and its work has been featured in many publications including
Sunset Magazine, Northwest Home and Garden Magazine and The American Gardener
Magazine.
Registration:
Register early to prevent class cancellation due to
low enrollment. Full payment for fee-based classes is required for
registration. Please contact deb@21acres.org to inquire if spaces may be held
for later payment. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless
otherwise requested, enrollment constitutes agreement to hold harmless 21 Acres
officers, staff, and volunteers, except in cases where such injury or damage
shall have been occasioned by the sole negligence of 21 Acres. Your
registration also acknowledges that we may photograph the class and your
picture may be used for advertising.
Class Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If a class is cancelled due to low enrollment,
students will be notified and a full refund will be mailed or a credit issued
on the credit card used.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students:
21 Acres admits students of any race, color,
national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and
activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin
in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship
and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Provided by Cascade Water Alliance.
Class fee: $44- $49, register online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/451884.