Organic Soil Management

To Register: http://www.spec.bc.ca/farmer-field-school

Healthy soil is the root of all successful farms and gardens. A good understanding of basic soil science will help you make important decisions about choosing the right plants for your location, improving your soil's drainage and water retention, and increasing fertility. This class will cover the challenges and benefits of our regional soils, fertility and amendment, drainage, mulch, compost, and soil types and textures, quality assessment, and urban concerns such as contamination and compaction.

Learning Goals
Soil structure: Soil formation, drainage, etc.
Soil Chemistry: Fertility, testing, laboratory analysis
Biological: Organic matter, the soil food web etc.
Instructors
Lis Thomas Lis is a horticulturist and community educator who has been teaching people about growing food in cities for the last 6 years. She is currently finishing an MSc in soil science at UBC.

Alisha Hackinen is a long time student at UBC having completed her BSc in Global Resource Systems there in May 2009. While in her undergraduate years, Alisha had the opportunity to intern with several small local scale organic farms which drove home the message that soil management is foundational to the health of our community and our planet. She is currently pursuing her M.Sc. in Soil Science in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, under the supervision of Dr. Maja Krzic. Alisha’s research will combine two fields which she is passionate about, soils and education, by examining teaching methods in sustainable soils management.

Course includes 3 sessions: May 7th, 14th & 21st

6-9pm

Cost: $117