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Free Workshop: Building Soil Naturally

Saturday, May 3, 2014
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Evanston Ecology Center

Free. Space is limited.

Register to reserve your seat

“Building Soil Naturally” is a free Edible Evanston workshop to help gardeners enhance and build up their topsoil for optimum production and longevity. The workshop will discuss “Soil Basics,” “Enhancing Soil Structure,” and “Frequently Asked Questions.”

There will be ample time for interaction with other gardeners, and for discussion about how good topsoils in our region are developed.

The main presenter, Ken Kastman, is a professional geotechnical engineer, a co-leader of Edible Evanston, and is president of the Evanston firm Earth-Whys, LLC.

Syllabus

Soil Basics –

Good topsoil is a mix of physical, chemical and biological components
• Soil types
• Organic Matter
• Nutrients
• Microbiology
• Moisture

Enhancing Soil Structure

Balance nutrient ratios, increase organic matter, and improve the soil food web
• Compost, leaf mulch, “lasagna” sheet mulch, and cover crops
• Fertilizers
• Structural components
• To till or not to till

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does good topsoil look like?
• Do I need to test my soil?
• When is soil ready to be worked?

 

 

Questions?
Send an email to education[at]EdibleEvanston[dot]org