Improving Soil Health

Soil is so much more than dirt. Join us for a hands-on workshop about soil to learn what makes healthy soil, what it is, and how to achieve it. We’ll show you some simple tests you can do at home and discuss the pros and cons of do-it-yourself home soil test kits and available professional soil testing.

Ever wonder how much of that Santa Clara County clay you’ve got in your soil?  Dig down into one of your garden beds and bring a sample of your garden soil (1 cup in a sealed plastic bag) and we’ll test its pH (and if we have time, its nutrient content) and have a contest to see who’s got the most clay in their soil. This class is suitable for adults and teens. Please bring gardening gloves if you have them.

Instructor Bio

Sharon Erickson has been a Master Gardener in Santa Clara County since retiring in 2019. Master Gardeners are trained by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Division to extend research-based information on home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscaping practices to the residents of California. In addition to gardening in her own Palo Alto backyard, Sharon regularly volunteers at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden in Eleanor Pardee Park, and at the Guadalupe River Park Orchard in San Jose.