California Soil Health Network

Climate Solutions in the Soil – National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Strip Tillage in California’s Central Valley – UCANR

To participate, or for more information on demonstrations, workshops, trails or hubs in your area, please contact Jeff Borum, our Network Coordinator at 951-790-8639 or by email at soilhealth@eaststanrcd.org.

• November 2016, including an edited version : Statewide Compost Trials
• October 2016 : Happy Halloween & Upcoming Events
• September 2016 : Upcoming Harvest, New CA Law, and Healthy Soils
• August 2016 : Soil Health Practices, Cover Crops & Pasture Diversity

The California Soil Health Network brings together the diverse agricultural systems in our state through a producer-led network to share success and challenges in soil health practices.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has defined Soil Health as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans…Only ‘living’ things can have health,so viewing soil as a living ecosystem reflects a fundamental shift in the way we care for our nation’s soils.” Our soil has billions of bacteria, fungi, and microbes that create an entire ecosystem just under our feet. A healthy ecosystem within soil will flourish and diversify to sustain itself; a healthy ecosystem within soil will provide essential nutrients to plants for optimal growth and health and improve the soil’s ability to hold water in the root zone.

There are many conservation practices that have been identified as having a positive effect on this living ecosystem within soil, including reduced tillage, cover cropping, composting, riparian restoration, and building habitat for pollinators. These practices have been used throughout many years, but are not necessarily part of standard operating procedure, at least on a wide-scale basis. However, this is changing.

The California Soil Health Network aims to partner with farmers, local agencies and agriculturists to gain a better understanding of our soil and best practices for maintaining its health. Through trials, workshops, demos and more, we bring you the most up to date information on how to keep your soil at its best.