Please be sure to check the event organizer’s website for any last-minute changes or cancellations prior to attending.
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Enhancing Life in the Soil
Healthy native plant communities depend on soils that are biologically active, structurally sound, and contain required organic matter. In this full day, hands-on class, explore the living world beneath your feet and learn how soil organisms—from microbes to insects to larger fauna—create the foundation for resilient ecosystems. Demystify the fundamentals of soil science, including the physical, chemical, and biological properties that influence plant health, and examine why organic matter is essential for soil structure, nutrient cycling, and long-term fertility.
Throughout the day, the class incorporates interactive activities designed to keep energy high and reinforce key concepts to gain practical skills for building and maintaining high quality garden soil using sustainable methods.
🥬Observe soil microorganisms up close and develop a deeper appreciation for the diversity and abundance of life in healthy soil in an interactive microscopy lab.
🥬Learn how to interpret soil test results and how to amend soil to improve structure, increase organic matter, and support a thriving soil food web.
🥬Learn how to make and apply compost, vermicompost, and compost tea
By the end of the class, you’ll understand why biologically rich soils reduce or eliminate the need for purchased fertilizers and how to apply these principles in your own garden.
Participants will rotate between short lectures, hands-on demonstrations, small group discussions, soil testing exercises, and microscope sessions. These varied learning formats help break up the day, support different learning styles, and ensure that complex information is absorbed in a meaningful and memorable way. Lunch is included with registration.
🥬 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available
This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Thursday, August 6, 2026.
About the Instructor:
Mark Highland received an MS from the Longwood Graduate Program, focusing on compost and potting soil. He is the founder and president of The Organic Mechanic Soil Company, LLC, a local supplier of organic, peat-free soils. Mark is the author of the recently published Practical Organic Gardening: The No-Nonsense Guide to Growing Naturally.
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