workshop description

This workshop will cover everything that you want to know about what goes on below the surface of your garden.

Curious about the different components that make up soil? Concerned about your garden’s fertility? Considering using a soil test but not sure how to use the information once you have it?

Ethan Smith, Operations Director, and Emily Kern Swaffar, Community Gardens Director, will lead this in-depth discussion about the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, and the role you can play in improving each of these important soil attributes. The workshop will cover the benefits and limitations of soil testing, the importance of picking the right soil amendments, and the value of timely tillage.

This workshop is a must for understanding your garden’s fertility, productivity, and overall health.

about your instructors

Ethan Smith has worked for Garden City Harvest since 2006, including a dozen seasons managing the soil at the PEAS Farm in the Rattlesnake.  He has taught Agroecology and Applied Ecology as an adjunct instructor for the Environmental Studies program at the University of Montana.

Emily Kern Swaffar is our Community Gardens Director and provides tremendous insight as an instructor for our garden workshops. With a degree in Landscape Architecture, her Permaculture Design Certificate, and a business focused on edible and native landscaping, her roots run deep in the world of growing your own food.  

sliding scale

Accessibility is central to the mission of Garden City Harvest. For this reason, our workshops are available on a sliding scale. A limited number of scholarships may be available for each workshop. If interested, please email alex@gardencityharvest.org.