Native plant communities are supported by healthy, balanced soils that contain a vast array of living organisms including microbes, insects, and other fauna. Learn the basics of soil science, the value of organic matter and its role in soil structure and nutrition, and the importance of soil organisms. Learn how to make and use compost and compost tea, and how sustainable gardening practices contribute to creating high quality garden soil. Go home with a greater understanding of the life in your soil and knowing why you won’t need to buy fertilizer ever again. Dress for the weather. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center three Tuesdays: 9/3 through 9/17. About the Instructor: Mark Highland received an MS from the Longwood Graduate Program, focusing on compost and potting soil. He is the founder and president of The Organic Mechanic Soil Company, LLC, a local supplier of organic, peat free soils. Mark is the author of the recently published Practical Organic Gardening: The No-Nonsense Guide to Growing Naturally.