Day 5 Course Outline - Soils and Life

Introduction to Soil

Life in soil

• organisms, micro guilds, pests

Design

• Objectives and directives
• Design for risk events
• Elements of a design project

Agriculture, horticulture and soil

• Soil building in nature
• Patterns of soil building
• Succession
• Soil as a growing medium
• The importance of “ edge” in soil

Lunch

Observation and Pattern

• observation walk/exercise

Soil structure 

• what makes a good soil?
• Carbon stores and losses
• Composition of soils
• Classification and testing
• Soil variations across climate zones
• Impact of cultivation - cultivation strategies

Polycultures in zones 1 and 2

• Home gardens, market gardens, small livestock