The DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Steuben County SWCD, and DeKalb and Steuben County Purdue Extension are on a health kick for soil!  The Districts and Extension have joined together to form a new working group, “Soil Guardians of DeKalb-Steuben.”  The Soil Guardians will focus on urban soil health and help educate and advocate to improve soil health on urban and small-scale agricultural land and gardens.  Please view this short video for more information about the Soil Guardians.

On May 21, the group will be hosting a program call-out meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Waterloo Grant Township Public Library (300 South Wayne Street, Waterloo, Indiana) to share information about the new working group, volunteer opportunities, and to discuss soil health and why soil health management systems are key to conservation and growing healthy food.  If you grow food or other specialty crops – this meeting is for you!

The Soil Guardians are developing this new urban soil health program to include soil sampling, technical assistance, host workshops, and establish educational materials .  We hope to involve community gardens, home gardens, school gardens, church gardens, hospital/ governmental gardens, and any other specialty growing operations.  If you grow in an urban setting and would like to network with other small farmers and gardeners, please join us!