SOIL HEALTH AND COMPOSTING ~ resources

Here are resources to compliment SGN's "Soil Health and Composting" workshop that took place on Feb 2, 2024.
This workshop empowered educators and schools with practical knowledge and skills to implement effective vermiculture waste-to-compost programs, reducing reliance on landfills for food waste disposal. Providing a ground-level introduction to soils, compost, carbon cycling/sequestration and localized sustainability.

Resource list

LINKS

Where to get worms local to Sonoma? 
-Terra Vesco Farm- https://terravesco.com/
Where to source compost local to Sonoma?
​-Synergy- https://www.synergyagpro.com/

Google drive folders

book list

The Soul of Soil: A Soil-Building Guide for Master Gardeners and Farmers, 4th Edition
by Joseph Smillie (Author), Grace Gershuny (Author)​
​"Soil is the basis not only for all gardening, but for all terrestrial life. No aspect of agriculture is more fundamental and important, yet we have been losing vast quantities of our finite soil resources to erosion, pollution, and development."
​Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web
by Jeff Lowenfels, Wayne Lewis
​"Teaming with Microbes offers an alternative to this vicious circle, and details how to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web. You’ll discover that healthy soil is teeming with life—not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. This must-have guide is for everyone, from those devoted to organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy plants without resorting to chemicals."
Teaming with Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition
by Jeff Lowenfels​
"Teaming with Nutrients will open your eyes to the importance of understanding the role of nutrients in healthy, productive organic gardens and it will show you how these nutrients do their jobs. In short, it will make you a better informed, more successful and more environmentally responsible gardener."
Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System, 2nd Edition
​by Mary Appelhof ​
"A new edition of the definitive guide to vermicomposting--a process using redworms to recycle human food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants. Author Mary Appelhof provides complete illustrated instructions on setting up and maintaining small-scale worm composting systems. Internationally recognized as an authority on vermicomposting, Appelhof has worked with worms for over three decades. Topics include: bin types, worm species, reproduction, care and feeding of worms, harvesting, and how to make the finished product of potting soil."
The Worm Farmer’s Handbook: Mid- to Large-Scale Vermicomposting for Farms, Businesses, Municipalities, Schools, and Institutions
by Rhonda Sherman 

"The Worm Farmer’s Handbook details the ins and outs of vermicomposting for mid- to large-scale operations, including how to recycle organic materials ranging from food wastes and yard trimmings to manure and shredded office paper. Vermicomposting expert Rhonda Sherman shares what she has learned over twenty-five years working with commercial worm growers and researchers around the world. Her profiles of successful worm growers across the United States and from New Zealand to the Middle East and Europe describe their proven methods and systems."

Video list

  • Andrew Millison YouTube Channel
    • "Andrew Millison is a permaculture teacher and practitioner, media maker, and gardener. This is his personal channel for the videos he produces, as well as some produced by Oregon State University, where he is an instructor in the Horticulture department."
  • Chinampas of Mexico- Most Productive Agriculture EVER? YouTube
    • "Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to the legendary chinampas of Mexico City, known as the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco. We visit Lucio Usobiaga, who heads up the Arca Tierra project, which is restoring the health and viability of the chinampas while introducing contemporary concepts like Syntropic Agriculture, Agroforestry, and Permaculture. The chinampas are the last vestiges of the ancient agricultural system of the Aztec and pre-Aztec civilizations. This video examines the situation, and explores what can be learned from them."
  • Discover Permaculture with Geoff Lawton - YouTube Channel
    • "Our mission is to inspire people to care for each other and the earth through permaculture design, education and demonstration. Geoff Lawton is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer and teacher. Geoff leads this team as we share our knowledge of permaculture, science, design, and ethics in ways that inform, educate, inspire and entertain." 
  • Rotifer Feeding II - YouTube
    • "Another rotifer feeding at higher magnification. The digestive tract as well as the 'wheels' of cilia as clearly visible."
  • Tardigrades- Chubby, Misunderstood, & Not Immortal - YouTube
    • "We know these cute little water bears can survive the vacuum of space but are they actually immortal? We'll explore that and other misconceptions about tardigrades in this week's journey!"
  • The Man Who Planted Trees (1987) - Full Movie (English) - YouTube
    • "The story of one shepherd’s long and successful singlehanded effort to re-forest a desolate valley."
  • The Weedy Garden- YouTube Channel
    • "Being a travel photographer, Covid lockdown has turned everything on it´s head for me. Instead of travelling, I have been using my camera gear at home since the lockdown started, putting it to good use to fuel a deep love that I have for nature and our wonderful Earth. I am fulfilling a life long dream of having a garden where I can enjoy my own wonderful, colorful, natural, fresh organic food. A survival garden to enrich my health, my soul and my connection with Earth."

A big THANKS to Stefan Stehling from ROOTS Solution LLC for sharing his knowledge at our Soil Health and Composting Workshop! 

Click to access all of  Stefan's presentation slides from this google drive folder.