Class 1: Soil Health 101
🗓 Saturday, October 25
🕙 10:00 – 11:00 AM
🎤Presenters: Josh Bilbao, JSWCD and Nan Xu, OSU Extension
📍 JSWCD District Office, 89 Alder St. Central Point, OR 97502
Soil is more than just dirt—it’s a living, breathing system full of microbes, fungi, and organic matter. This foundational class covers how healthy soil supports plant growth, stores water, resists erosion, and cycles nutrients.
You’ll learn:
- What makes soil “healthy” (structure, texture, biology, organic matter)
- How to recognize early signs of soil problems like compaction, poor drainage, or bare ground
- How simple changes—like keeping soil covered and reducing disturbance—can make a big impact
- Tools and tests you can use at home to assess your own soil
- Includes a hands-on soil demonstration to visualize soil function and water movement.
Class 2: Regenerative Land Care: Weeds, Water & Soil Health
🗓 Saturday, November 1
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🎤Presenters: Josh Bilbao, JSWCD and Rhianna Simes, Cultivate Oregon
📍 Starts at JSWCD office (89 Alder St. Central Point, OR 97502), then moves to an outdoor site
Note: Includes a field portion—please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather.
This hands-on session brings soil health practices to life. We’ll start with a brief indoor overview, then head outside to see how to implement these strategies on your own land.
You’ll learn:
- How no-till and reduced-till practices protect soil structure and microbial life
- The role of cover crops in improving water retention, suppressing weeds, and building organic matter
- How grazing (when done right!) can regenerate soil, increase plant diversity, and reduce bare ground
- How to avoid compaction, overgrazing, and poor recovery with thoughtful livestock management
- We’ll tour a local site using regenerative techniques so you can see the principles in action.