From the Ground Up: Soil Health Basics for Urban Growers

In Part 1 (May 7, 2025), we’ll dive into the basics of what makes up soil health and soil testing— helping you understand what’s happening beneath your feet. We'll cover the fundamentals of soil health, focusing on essential components like soil structure, organic matter, and more. You'll also leave knowing how to properly test your soil and interpret results to make informed decisions about your soil’s health.

In Part 2 (May 14, 2025),  we’ll build on this foundation by exploring practical soil amendment strategies, conservation practices like reduced tillage and cover cropping, and how to apply these techniques in your garden or farm.

Both webinars will feature interactive Q&A sessions, providing the perfect opportunity to get your soil-related questions answered by experts. Whether you're just getting started or an experienced grower looking to deepen your understanding of soil health, this series is for you! Speakers: Dr. Nicole Tautges is Research Director at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Dr. Tautges completed her Bachelors degree in Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin Madison and earned her PhD at Washington State University, completing a project on soil fertility, weed, and soil microbial management in semiarid organic wheat production systems. She went on to work on Kernza research at the University of Minnesota, and worked at the University of California Davis on soil microbial ecology and soil health outreach in processing tomato systems. At Michael Fields, her research focuses on soil fertility and nutrient cycling in food grade grain systems, where she works mostly with rye, wheat, Kernza, oats, and buckwheat.

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