We will explore the realm of soil biology, its web of interdependence that creates soil ecology, and how a healthy soil ecosystem builds the foundation of whole ecosystem health and resilience. Emphasis will be made on the relationship between soil biology, physical properties, and chemistry. Soil and landscape stewardship practices and their impacts on soil biology will be introduced.Instructors will provide a soil biology assessment work sheet and review key observations that indicate soil ecosystem health.

Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the ground up a holistic knowledge of soils that will enable students to understand how and when to choose soil stewardship techniques and most importantly why they work based on soil science.