Introduction to Soil Science

Come on out to Welland Orchard and join us for a FREE soil science workshop to kick off our 2024 workshop series!

This workshop will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to understand soil tests, both how to take accurate samples and how to interpret the results. As well as how to amend and care for your soil, with a special focus on the soil food web and holistic management. Learn about the difference between soil structure and texture, what the cation exchange capacity of soil means, and the best strategies for improving your soil health!

Please come dressed for the elements as this workshop will be held outdoors at the Welland Orchard. As there is limited parking available at the orchard, please bike, walk, bus or carpool if possible.

This workshop will be followed by a chance to hangout and socialize in the orchard from 12-1pm, and an Orchard Mulching Work Party from 1pm-4pm to do some practical soil care, so bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a full day out! As always you are welcome to come for a bit, or stay the whole time. We will take a break to enjoy some tea, cookies and company at 2:30.

Can't make it out for May 12th? Keep your eyes open for more workshops at Welland Orchard this year, including Irrigation 101, Fruit Tree Pruning and Printmaking. Or come out for one of our work parties, now happening every monday from 9am-12pm and the second and last sunday of each month from 1pm-4pm.

About the Instructor

River (they/them) works for Lifecyles Project as the Welland Orchard Coordinator, as well as running their own landscaping buinsess, Nightingale Gardens. They are passionate about increasing the resilience of urban and suburban landscapes through utilising plants native to these territories, increasing food security through integrating edible perennials and fruit trees into the landscape, and helping to increase connections to land through making gardening more possible and accessible.
Their background is in agriculture, with five seasons spent working on small-scale organic farms, as well as a Landscape Horticulture Certificate (Red Seal levels 1 and 2) from the Pacific Horticulture College. They have also spent several years facilitating group learning and activities, for both kids and adults, in a variety of environments.
Their family is primarily from Ireland, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and England. They were raised on kʷikʷəƛ̓əm territories (Coquitlam BC) and have been living on W̱SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən territories for the past 10 years. Their work is grounded in intersectional queer feminism, disability justice, and decolonization. They are queer, trans, and neurodivergent, have a lifelong love of fruit trees and are a huge nerd about soil.

Host or Publisher Welland Community Orchard