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From Dirt to Gold: The Science of Composting and Soil Health, July 30, 2024 9:00AM

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Item details

Date

July 30, 2024

Location

Phipps Conservatory

Name

From Dirt to Gold: The Science of Composting and Soil Health

Description

2024 Summer Short Course
From Dirt to Gold: The Science of Composting and Soil Health
Tuesday, July 30
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Special Events Hall at Phipps Conservatory

Join Phipps and Penn State Extension for a fun day of learning about soil and compost. Perfect for the backyard gardener looking to understand the world beneath their feet.

Schedule:

8:45 – 9:15 a.m. Registration

9:15 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions

9:30 – 10:45 a.m.: Composting Principles for Organic Plant Production | Lily Means and Jesse Barrett

Composting is one of the most crucial aspects for organic plant and crop production. The act of composing returns valuable nutrients to the soil and diverts organic waste from landfills where those nutrients are lost. This presentation will address the processes of producing and harvesting compost to be used to increase the health of your soil and the health of your plants.

10:45 – 11 a.m.:  Break

11 a.m. – Noon: Soil Texture, Soil Structure, and Compost | Margaret Sams

Soil health depends on the interaction of microbes, invertebrates, plant roots, and fungi with soil mineral particles and organic matter (as compost) to create a healthy soil structure so plant roots can access water and nutrients.  Good soil structure allows for better air exchange, and the infiltration and drainage of water.  Developing good soil structure can improve growing conditions in any type of soil, whether it is high in clay or sand.  How does soil structure develop, and how can we speed along that process?  

Noon - 12:15 p.m.: Community Composter School | Dora Walmsley

In partnership with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Grow Pittsburgh runs a 6-module series on all things compost! Community Composter School is an opportunity for individuals or organizations who work with an existing compost site (often at a community garden) to become advanced compost managers and skilled compost educators. Learn more about this innovative program.

12:15 – 1 p.m.: Lunch | Book Sale

1 – 2 p.m.:  Digging into Common Contaminants in Urban Soils | Hayly Hoch

Learn about characteristics of urban soils, common contaminants found in urban soils with an emphasis on heavy metals, soil testing options, as well as mitigation and remediation strategies for minimizing risk of exposure when working with contaminated soils before an open Q&A. The presentation will also give an overview of Allegheny County Conservation District’s Urban Soils Program impact across Allegheny County through free heavy metal screening services, outreach, and research.

2 – 2:15 p.m.: Break

2:15 – 3:30 p.m.: Using Compost | Dr. Elsa Sánchez

Compost is a fantastic soil amendment that can improve soil quality and provide nutrients for your garden plants. However, over-applying compost can cause unwanted consequences, including contributing to poor plant health and negative environmental impact. Join us as we discuss how to use compost to make the most of this amazing material.

3:25 – 3:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

Attendees are welcome to explore Phipps Conservatory on their own until 5 p.m.

 

BIOS

Jesse Barrett has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from William Paterson University of New Jersey. Soon after college, Jesse spent over fifteen years as a high-volume kitchen and farm-to-table, fine-dining restaurant manager. His experiences as a restaurant manager led him to the realization that there were major flaws in how our food system operates. Passionate to make a change, Jesse is now a Farm Operations Specialist, and looks forward to improving our local and national food system through regenerative organic agriculture. Most recently, Jesse has been training as a compost production specialist for Rodale Institute. This includes the management of the compost yard and maintaining the compost production in accordance with the National Organic Program standards.

Lily Means is the assistant farm manager at the Rodale Institute, a non-profit organization whose focus is to conduct agricultural research and improve soil health through the implementation of regenerative organic farming practices. At Rodale, Lily works with several research projects, as well as the on-site composting operation. She has been farming in the south eastern region of Pennsylvania for 10 years, with a focus on organic vegetable production.

As Allegheny County Conservation District's Natural Resource Outreach Educator, Hayly Hoch manages the Urban Soils Program and provides Urban Grower Technical Assistance in the Pittsburgh region. Her background in urban agriculture, green infrastructure, youth education, and community development provide a solid foundation for working to protect, restore, and preserve Allegheny County's soil and water resources. 

Margaret Sams holds a masters degree in soil science from Penn State University, and is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist.  While working at an environmental consulting firm to revegetate strip mines and landfills, she was asked by the firm's archaeologists if she could determine the relative age of soil profiles in areas where they were finding Native American artifacts.  This resulted in the marriage of two disciplines - archaeology and soil science, to identify soils with a high potential to hold prehistoric occupation sites, which has kept Margaret busy since 1985. Thirty-three years later, she wanted to get back to the basics of actually growing plants, so she joined the Washington County Master Gardeners in 2018 and has climbed back into the science of gardening!  

Dr. Elsa Sánchez’s extension program is focused on the production of vegetable crops with a particular focus on environmental sustainability. The goal is to develop and disseminate science-based information to assist gardeners in making informed nutrient decisions. She works in both organic and conventional vegetable systems. Her focus is on studying production issues including cultivar evaluation, nutrient management with organic nutrient sources, and cultural pest management strategies.

As Grow Pittsburgh’s Director of Community Projects, Dora Walmsley supports the Community Projects team in starting new and supporting established community gardens while working to protect land use in our region for the long-term. Dora's work over the past two decades has largely focused on food security, community development, and entrepreneurship. She currently serves as co-chair to the Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative Steering (TRALI) Committee and is an appointed board member of the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County (RAAC).

Cost
Registration costs $95 on or before Sunday, June 30.  After June 30, the cost is $105.

Short Course registration includes morning coffee, as well as a lunch buffet with vegetarian and gluten free options. If you have additional dietary requests, please contact us to ensure we can meet your needs.

Continuing Education Credits
This conference counts for Master Gardener Continuing Education credit, Phipps Ecological Gardening Certificate and Landscape and Garden Design Certificate elective. Approved for 4.0 total CEUs for landscape architects by LA CES.

Cancellation Policy
In order to receive a full refund, less a $10 administrative fee, you must cancel by Tuesday, July 16. After this date, there will be no refunds.

Notes

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Additional information

I hereby grant to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Inc. (“Phipps”) the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission in respect of photographic portraits, editorial or any pictures Phipps had taken of me or in which I may be included with others, to copyright the same; to re-use, publish and republish the same in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographs, and in conjunction with any printed matter, in any and all media now or hereafter known, and for any other purpose whatsoever, for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever with restriction as to alteration; from time to time, or reproductions thereof in color, black and white or otherwise made through any media. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished products or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it may be applied. I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless Phipps, its legal representatives or assigns and all persons acting under its permission or authority, from any liability in connection with the use of the photographs as aforesaid or by virtue of any alteration, processing or use thereof in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, as well as any publication thereof. I understand that the photographs taken by Phipps will be included into stock files. I agree that the photographs, the transparencies thereof and the rights to copyright the same shall be the sole property of Phipps, with full right of lawful disposition in any manner. I hereby grant permission to Phipps to use the photographs in audio-visual-web page and printed materials without compensation or approval rights. Please call 412/441-4442 ext. 3925 or email with questions.
Adult Education Class Photo Release
I hereby grant to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Inc. (“Phipps”) the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission in respect of photographic portraits, editorial or any pictures Phipps had taken of me or in which I may be included with others, to copyright the same; to re-use, publish and republish the same in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographs, and in conjunction with any printed matter, in any and all media now or hereafter known, and for any other purpose whatsoever, for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever with restriction as to alteration; from time to time, or reproductions thereof in color, black and white or otherwise made through any media. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished products or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it may be applied. I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless Phipps, its legal representatives or assigns and all persons acting under its permission or authority, from any liability in connection with the use of the photographs as aforesaid or by virtue of any alteration, processing or use thereof in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, as well as any publication thereof. I understand that the photographs taken by Phipps will be included into stock files. I agree that the photographs, the transparencies thereof and the rights to copyright the same shall be the sole property of Phipps, with full right of lawful disposition in any manner. I hereby grant permission to Phipps to use the photographs in audio-visual-web page and printed materials without compensation or approval rights. Please call 412/441-4442 ext. 3925 or email with questions.
Adult Education Class Photo Release
Will you use the information in this class for professional purposes?

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Phipps Adult Education Policies

  • All times are Eastern Time Zone.
  • Cancellation Policy:
    • Contact edu@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-441-4442 ext. 3925 to cancel a class registration.
    • Up to two weeks before the class (or the first class date, for a multi-session class), you may receive a full refund minus a non-refundable $10 administrative fee.
    • In order to receive a full refund, less a $10 administrative fee, you must cancel by Tuesday, July 16. After this date, there will be no refunds.
  • Phipps Adult Education classes are for individuals 18 years of age and older. Minors over age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a paid attendee of the class. Minors under age 16 are not permitted.
  • Phipps reserves the right to substitute instructors when necessary.
  • Mask and COVID-19 Policy: Masks are optional and welcome in Phipps classes when the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level in Allegheny County is in “Low” (green) or “Medium” (yellow). You can check Allegheny County’s current status here. Masks will be required when the level is “High” (Red). People with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should refrain from attending classes.

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