UC Santa Cruz- Soils as Living Systems

Soils as Living Systems: Soil Health Practices and the Ecosystem Services they Provide
Soils are the basis of all terrestrial life, providing a multitude of ecosystem services – services that determine the health of our watersheds and our communities. Come learn about soil health and how building soil health can help us build a healthier society. We will talk about soil health principles and the ecosystem services they provide – from carbon sequestration to water conservation and some of the research being conducted in your backyard on how shifts in our agricultural system could contribute to a healthier watershed. In particular, we will focus on cover cropping and the importance of this practice for improving water provisioning and quality on the Central Coast of California.

After Dr. Waterhouse’s presentation we will hear from UC Master Gardeners who will provide instruction about how you can conserve and protect soil in your own backyard through cover cropping. All in-person attendees will leave with cover crop seed for 100 square feet of garden space.