Soil School 2022

Get ready to learn what soil actually IS and how it actually WORKS and what that means for civilization (and your garden) going forward! SOIL!!!

Presenter: James Cassidy, Oregon State University

James Cassidy has been a Senior Instructor at Oregon State University teaching Introductory Soil Science and Sustainable & Organic Agriculture for over 15 years. He is also the founder and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club – OSU’s student farm which began in 2000. Coming from a non-traditional background (he was in the music industry for over 35 years) he is passionate about soil and is a popular instructor and speaker. He’s been speaking at Soil School since it began in 2012!

This session will be an introduction to the principles of soil health. We will explore how minimizing disturbance, maximizing diversity, maximizing soil cover, and maximizing continuous live roots increases soil function and we will talk about various gardening practices that can be used to implement these principles.

Presenter: Katie Chambers, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Katie Chambers is a Resource Soil Scientist in Salem, Oregon. She provides regional technical guidance for natural resource management, farm bill compliance and is an educational resource for soil information in western Oregon. Prior to her current position, she worked as a NRCS Soil Scientist in the Klamath Falls, OR, Soil Survey office. In addition to her experience with NRCS she has worked with the US Forester Service and a private strawberry nursery. She received a M. S. in Soil Science from North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota and B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minnesota. One of her favorite endeavors is talking about soils and educating others about the world beneath our feet.

ABOUT THE FILM : Narrated by and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that presents regenerative agricultural practices as a viable solution to our climate crisis. The film explores how regenerating the world’s soils can rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. Kiss the Ground has captivated audiences around the world and is positioned to catalyze the widespread adoption of soil health practices that will balance the climate and secure our species’ future.

Presenter: Dr. Elaine, Soil Food Web

Dr. Elaine Ingham uncovered the Soil Food Web nearly 4 decades ago and has been pioneering research about Soil Food Web ever since. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist, she’s passionate about empowering people to bring the soils in their communities back to life.

Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web Approach has been used to successfully restore the ecological functions of soils on more than five million acres of farmland all over the world. The courses offered by Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web School have been designed for people with, or without, a science background – making them accessible to individuals who wish to learn and to begin a meaningful and impactful career in an area that will help to secure the survival of humans and other species.

• B.A., Biology and Chemistry, St. Olaf College
• M.S., Microbiology, Texas A&M University
• Ph.D., Microbiology, Colorado State University
• Founder and President, Soil Food Web Inc.
• Director, Soil Food Web School

Billions of organisms live below ground and are critical to support plant, animal, and human health above ground. This session aims to unravel some of these unseen mysterious life forces and explain how they contribute to soil health. Learn not only what they are doing for your soils, but also what you can do to support them. By shifting our view of soils from an inert growing material to a biologically diverse and active ecosystem, we can help create more sustainable farms, ranches, gardens and forests to provide the food and fiber for our rapidly growing population while protecting land, air and water resources for future generations.

Presenter: Jen Moore, Agricultural Research Service

Jennifer Moore recently joined (March 29, 2021) the USDA Agricultural Research Service as a Research Soil Scientist in Corvallis, OR. Her research will focus on soil health and soil carbon in forage, grass, and cover crop seed production systems in the Willamette Valley. Jennifer has over 25 years’ experience in soil science research including work in multiple cropping systems and natural landscapes across the country. Before joining the ARS, Jennifer has held positions as the Climate Initiative Director at American Farmland Trust, the Western Soil Health team leader with the NRCS Soil Health Division, and as an associate professor of soil and environmental microbiology at Texas Tech University. She holds a B.A. in biology and environmental studies from Binghamton University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in soil science from Iowa State University and Oregon State University, respectively.

Learn the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) decision making method. IPM examines the benefits and risks of control methods to determine the best action(s) for the situation. It emphasizes preventing pest and weed problems in the first place. Apply the IPM method to example problems such as yellowjackets, mice, common weeds, and invasive plants. Get a preview of OSU’s forthcoming Solve Pest Problems website intended for the public.

Presenter: Weston Miller

Weston Miller serves as Community and Urban Horticulturist for OSU Extension Service. Since 2007, he has managed the popular Master Gardener™ program in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. Weston is the program manager for Solve Pest Problems for OSU and is working with OSU and stakeholders to plan and initiate this state-wide outreach program. Weston serves as elected Director and Treasurer for West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and hiking with his family in SW Portland.

This fun workshop will include an overview of regenerative growing principles, the science of living soils, and tangible examples about how to implement these ideas on your farm or in your garden.  You will leave this class with a better understanding of how to implement regenerative ag. and gardening by planting seeds and letting roots do most of the hard work!

Presenter: Rhianna Simes, Cultivate Oregon

Rhianna Simes, M.S.Ed., grew up on her family’s 100 acre farm and vineyard in central Texas. Rhianna recently retired from 10 years as an instructor at the Oregon State University Extension Service, where she developed several programs, and also coordinated the Master Gardener program. She has a Master’s of Science in Education and Botany from Southern Oregon University. Rhianna is the co-director for Cultivate Oregon, and lives with her husband and two young children outside Talent, OR where they operate their own 1 acre, urban mini-farm called Verdant Phoenix.