Soil class coming to Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A class on soil fundamentals will be held Nov. 1-3, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day, at Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinely Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio.

The class is taught by Elaine Ingham, a world-renowned soil microbiologist and Rodale Institute’s chief scientist.

Ingham has helped thousands of individuals and companies improve their agricultural practices through a deeper understanding of what soil health really means. Ingham’s teaching style makes it easy to comprehend how important biology is to healthy soil.

This class will illustrate nutrient cycling, taking participants beyond NPK and beyond organic to examine the biological agents of plant nutrient cycling in the context of chemistry, biology and scientific data produced by land grant universities.

The class will give you the knowledge necessary for a comprehensive understanding of complex forms of life in the soil, their interactions and importance for agriculture.

The class is recommended for professionals working with vegetables, grains, orchards, landscapes, turf, hydroponics, etc. as well as agricultural advocates who wish to gain a greater understanding of soil health. It is considered a prerequisite for students who intend to take Rodale’s compost, compost tea/extract and soil microscopy classes.

To register online go to www.growyoungstown.org/lifeinsoil.html or call Elsa Higby, 330-286-0688.Tuition is $300 and does not include lunch. The host organization provides a locally sourced lunch at $10 per person, per day.