Know & Improve Your Garden Soil

Know & Improve Your Garden Soil

Saturday, March 7, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

or

Sunday, March 22, 10 AM-12 PM

Transform your understanding of what's happening beneath your garden's surface and learn how to build truly healthy soil.

What You'll Learn

This hands-on workshop provides a practical foundation in soil science, teaching you how to analyze and improve your own garden soil. Led by Professor Emeritus Wes Jarrell, co-founder of Prairie Fruits Farm, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to assess soil health and make informed decisions about amendments.

Bring soil from your own garden and learn to evaluate it through simple tests you can repeat at home. This isn't abstract theory—it's practical knowledge you'll use every growing season.

Topics covered:

• Soil texture (sand, silt, clay) and how to assess it by feel

• Soil structure and what it means for plant health

• Color analysis for estimating organic matter

• pH testing and how to amend for optimal growing conditions

• Reading conductivity and managing soil salts

• Evaluating composts (from poor to nearly perfect)

• Aggregate stability and water infiltration

• Biological activity—testing for active soil microbes

• How to amend your specific soil for better productivity

What's Included

• Hands-on soil analysis of your own garden sample

• All testing materials and equipment

• Expert instruction from UIUC Professor Emeritus

• Reference materials for future use

• Practical amendment recommendations

Before the Class

Collect a representative soil sample from your garden:

• Take a trowel-full of soil to 4 inches deep from at least 5 different locations in your growing area

• Mix all samples together in a bucket

• Bring approximately one pint of the mixed soil to class in a container

About Your Instructor

Wes Jarrell is Professor Emeritus in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois and co-founder of Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery. With decades of expertise in soil science and sustainable agriculture, Wes brings both academic rigor and practical farming experience to this workshop. His approach makes complex soil science accessible and immediately useful for home gardeners.

Event Details

What to Bring: One pint of mixed soil from your garden (see collection instructions above)

Format: Interactive workshop with hands-on soil testing

Experience Level: All levels welcome—no prior soil science knowledge needed

Location: Prairie Fruits Farm Classroom

4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, IL

Tickets: $25 per person