Reducing Water Use with Healthy Soils

Come along for an interactive session and practical demonstration of water infiltration and soil compaction testing; live viewing of soil microbes from samples in compost and from the garden.

By the end of this session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how healthy populations of soil microbes can reduce water use. They will also have information to help them enhance populations of soil microbes as they go about their daily lives.

The workshop covers the following topics:

• The role of a healthy soil in management of water – the carbon sponge effect.
• Assessing the sponge effect through water infiltration and soil compaction testing.
• The role of soil microbes in building a healthy soil
• Viewing these microbes – bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes
• How microbes help build soil structure – implications for water use.
• How microbes extend the plant’s root system to gather water.
• How do you know if you have a healthy population of soil microbes
• What harms soil microbes.
• How you can enhance the diversity and quantity of soil microbes in your area
• Questions and answers.

This workshop is proudly organised by the Town of Cambridge in partnership with Switch Your Thinking.