Class One: Landscape for Life and the Role of Soil in a Sustainable Garden

Shanna Ciano & Ginny Frederick

February 18, 2014

Cibolo Nature Center & Farm

Location

Class One: Landscape for Life and the Role of Soil in a Sustainable Garden

Instructor

Date

a dynamic balancea dynamic balance

Sustainability & Conservation

Class Discussion: What is a Sustainable Garden?

A sustainable garden maximizes environmental and human health benefits for current and future generations.

What is the ultimate objective of a sustainable landscape?

A beautiful landscape that protects or restores the benefits nature provides to humans that are essential to our everyday life.

Provide Clean Air and Clean Water

Build Healthy and Fertile Soil

Capture and Stores Water

Control Erosion and Sediment Runoff

Mitigate the Urban Heat Island

Provide Habitat

Support Human Health and Well-Being

Why is sustainability important?

By the year 2030, humanity will need the capacity of two Earths to absorb CO2 waste and keep up with natural resource consumption (WWF 2010).

The human population has grown exponentially over the last hundred years, increasing from 1.6 to 7 billion

Conventional vs. Sustainable

Requires regular application of potable water.

Minimizes potable water use in the garden.

Conventional Landscape Sustainable LandscapeGarden trimmings are disposed of in the landfill.

Garden trimmings are composted and/or used as mulch.

Conventional Landscape Sustainable LandscapeFertilizers are needed to support healthy plant growth.

The natural soil food web and on-site organic matter promote healthy plant growth.

Conventional Landscape Sustainable LandscapeThe reuse of site structures or materials at the end of a project life is not considered.

Landscapes are designed to minimize waste.

Conventional Landscape Sustainable LandscapeThe layout and design of landscapes are “cookie cutter” configurations

Design solutions are unique to the area and building site.

Sustainability Requires Stewardship

The Mission Reach: 2010 The Mission Reach: 2025

Class Discussion

• How can you be a good steward of your home garden?

• How can you be a good steward of landscapes in your community?

Questions or Comments

Class Break

Lesson 1.2: The Role of Soil in a Sustainable Garden

What is Soil?

• Weathered rock

• Mineral particles

• Organic matter• living• previously living

• Absorbs rainfall and mitigates flooding

• Removes pollutants and cleanses water

• Stores water for plants, wildlife and people

• Provides nutrients and oxygen for plants

• Stores atmospheric carbon

• Provides habitat for a variety of microbes, plants and animals

The Role of Soil in a Sustainable Garden

Conventional vs. Sustainable

The Importance of Soil

Soil: a living, healthy ecosystem

Soil can easily be damaged by everyday activities

Soil Structure: the key to healthy soilHow readily soil particles cling together to form aggregates.

The key to good structure is organic matter and thriving communities of soil organisms.

Soil CompactionWeight from a single intense force or small repeated forces pushes soil particles together causing them to compact .

Compacted soils:• Contribute to erosion and runoff

• Restrict plant growth

• Limit the soil’s ability to absorb water

• Decrease the soil’s biological activity

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Construction and maintenance equipment

Repeated pedestrian and animal traffic

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Rainfall on bare soils

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Continually removing organic matter such as leaves or lawn clippings

from the landscape

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Walking on, compressing or digging in soil while wet

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Repeated tillage

Common Causes of Soil Compaction

Unhealthy Landscape Sustainable LandscapeSoils are exposed to sunlight, rain and wind

Soils are protected by vegetation and mulch

Class ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structureHow to determine soil texture and structure

Common Soil Characteristics for the Region

Soil Types in Boerne

Shanna’s House: North Boerne Ginny’s house : East of Boerne

8—Doss silty clay,Typical profile 0 to 17 inches: Silty clay17 to 80 inches: Bedrock

10—Eckrant-Comfort association Typical profile0 to 5 inches: Stony clay5 to 40 inches: Bedrock

Soil Types in Boerne

16—Oakalla silty clay loam Typical profile

0 to 62 inches: Silty clay loam

Herff Farm, Boerne

Class Activity:How to Determine your Soil Type

• Texture

• Structure

• pH

Class ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structureClass ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structure

Class ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structureClass ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structure

Class ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structureClass ActivityHow to determine soil texture and structure

Soil pHMeasure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil

Soil pH affects:• The availability of nutrients and minerals to

plants• Activity of soil microorganisms

How to Determine your Soil pH

• Home test kits

• University extension labs

• Commercial labs

Site Assessment

Class AssignmentSite Assessment

• Create a basemap• Footprint of

buildings and all paved surfaces

• Utility lines• North arrow• Scale

Class AssignmentSite Assessment

• Soil• Areas of erosion

and compaction• Areas that are

commonly wet• Exposed rock• Shallow soils• Areas where the

soil abruptly changes texture and structure

Class Wrap-UpClosing questions or comments