Registration is Open for Soil School 2026

Presented by: Michael Donoghue, Washington County Master Gardeners

Learn about the value of composting and the various methods and tools that can be used to fit your situation and your garden. First, we’ll dig a little into the biology and chemistry of composting, but nothing too painful! We’ll also look at various composting structures and tools, and the pros and cons of each. Finally, we’ll compare “hot” vs. passive composting and spell out the benefits of each. If there is time we will point you in the right direction on Vermiculture: worm composting.

Presented by: Michael Karnosh, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Indigenous people are the original stewards of the land and its plant communities, going back to time immemorial. Traditional management techniques rely on applied knowledge and practice at the landscape level. In modern times, Tribal management has adapted to deal with changed land use patterns. Yet many of the key aspects of traditional management have remained through time despite these changes. This presentation will be a non-comprehensive starting point for the curious, will include actions landowners can take to support Tribal traditional habitats, and will recommend resources people can use who want to learn more. The Tualatin Band of Kalapuya (also known as the Atfalati), a member tribe of Grand Ronde, will be the focus of this talk, but most of the concepts can be applied throughout the Willamette Valley.

Presented by: Erica Hernandez, PhD Candidate at Portland State University

In this talk about fertilizers and soil health, Erica will discuss the science behind some commonly used fertilizer and soil amendments. She will also guide attendees through several simple assessments that they can do in their own gardens at home, and talk about symptoms to watch out for that soil health might be in trouble.

Presented by: Cuauhtemoc Villa, Ground Culture PDX

The discussion will introduce the relationship between soil and plant roots. We’ll explore how photosynthesis is the power source for biology and the transmission of electrons through living systems. The class will gain an understanding of light under the soil and how that relates to restoring healthy soil – native plants capture light and distribute life giving energy to ecological systems. Students participating in home gardens and ecological restoration will develop the skills to build soil and plants with resilience and an immune system that can survive and thrive.

Presented by Washington County Master Gardeners

This garden tour will take visitors through each section of the master garden (certified at the Gold Level for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program), sharing the process used for planning, site preparation and garden installation. The Master Gardeners will highlight native plants, gardening for wildlife strategies, and strategies used to help manage the soil and characteristics of each garden section. This tour will also include irrigation example demonstrations and climate-resilient gardening choices.

Presented by Marissa Theve, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Three different soil health demonstrations will be performed—a rainfall simulator, slake test, and slump test—to demonstrate how soil biology and vegetation can affect soil-water relations within the same soil type. An emphasis will be placed on how management decisions can affect water infiltrationInfiltration Water absorbs into the ground instead of running over the surface, soil water holding capacity, and water quality.

Presented by: Miriam Latzer, Portland Community College

Simple kits from a garden supply store will offer a rough glimpse at Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium and pH. For a more sophisticated snapshot of your soils over time, sending samples to a local lab will offer more information and recommendations – even for chemical-free growers. Join this session for a hands-on demonstration of soil sampling for your farm or garden.