Soil Atlas Program

Light Forager Soil Atlas Curriculum

Two-Session Community Soil Course (2 × 1 Hour) — Practical soil education and introduction to a community soil mapping and regeneration initiative.

Program Overview

This two-session course introduces participants to soil as a living system and equips them with practical tools to assess, improve, and track soil health over time. The program also invites participants to be active contributors in the Light Forager Soil Atlas, including participation in a structured cover cropping regeneration trial (2 × 6-week cycles using native seed mixes) applied to a defined test patch. The program will be led by Dawn Scheirer Yeung and Daniel Ardila with expert guest speakers.

Soil biology Field assessment Carbon systems Cover crop trials Community science Regenerative practice

Session 1 of 2

Soil as a Living System & Microbial Ecology

◷ 1 Hour ⚖ Soil biology, microbial systems, regeneration trial introduction

Session Content

Soil composition & structure: sand, silt, clay, aggregation, porosity
Soil biology: microbes, fungi, organic matter decomposition, microbial networks
Fermentation as a lens: microbial transformation in soil systems
Nutrient cycling: microbial breakdown → plant-available nutrients
Indicators of living soil: smell, structure, biological activity, root interaction
Urban soil variability: why soils differ across sites
Regenerative principles: disturbance, cover, diversity, living roots
Why soil mapping matters: baselines + tracking change

Cover Cropping Module: Introduction

Why cover crops matter

Continuous root activity feeds soil biology
Protects soil surface and reduces erosion
Improves structure and water retention

Trial structure

Participants designate a small test patch
Commit to 2 sequential 6-week cycles
Use native/adapted cover crop seed mixes

What will be tracked

Soil structure and moisture changes
Root development
Surface coverage and biomass

Session Outcome: Participants understand soil biology and commit to a small-scale regeneration trial using cover crops.

Expert Participants

Scotty Sheridan
Perspective: microbial systems as an accessible entry point into soil biology

How microbial transformation processes take place in healthy soil
The role of microbes in breaking down organic matter and unlocking nutrients
Practical ways to think about "feeding the soil biology," not just the plant

Representative from Urban Harvest
Community garden perspective: soil variability, constraints, and real-world challenges

Session 2 of 2

Soil Assessment, Carbon Systems & Regenerative Application

◷ 1 Hour ⚖ Field methods, carbon systems, executing regeneration trials

Field Assessment Techniques

Texture: jar test
Structure: aggregation / compaction
Infiltration: water absorption rate
Visual and biological indicators

Carbon in Soil Systems

Role of carbon in structure, water retention, microbial habitat
Transient vs. stable carbon

Regenerative Interventions

Compost and organic inputs
Mulching and soil cover
Biological amendments (e.g., frass)
Carbon-based inputs (biochar)

Baseline → Improvement Framework

Establishing initial conditions
Tracking measurable changes over time

Cover Cropping Module: Execution & Tracking

How to implement the 12-week trial

Site selection (small, controlled test patch)
Seeding approach and timing
Minimal disturbance during growth cycle

Two-cycle structure

Cycle 1: Establishment + early biomass
Cycle 2: Root depth + soil structure improvement

What participants record

Germination success
Soil moisture retention changes
Root penetration and soil looseness
Visual soil improvement

Integration with Soil Atlas

Log each cycle as a trial entry
Upload photos and observations
Compare before/after conditions

Session Outcome: Participants can assess soil, implement cover cropping trials, and contribute structured data to the Soil Atlas.

Expert Participants

Tabor Teachout
Perspective: carbon systems, biochar, and long-term soil structure

How biochar functions as a stable carbon scaffold in soil
Impacts on water retention, microbial habitat, and nutrient holding capacity
Biochar as a complementary strategy to compost and organic inputs
Role of carbon sequestration in regenerative soil systems

Light Forager Team
Soil Atlas walkthrough and participant onboarding

After the Course

Soil Atlas Integration

Upon completing both sessions, participants become active contributors to the Light Forager Soil Atlas network.

Participant commitments

Register their site as a Soil Atlas node
Submit baseline soil observations
Participate in cover crop regeneration trials (2 × 6-week cycles)
Track interventions and outcomes over time
Contribute to a shared dataset across participating gardens

What the Atlas provides

Public mapping interface showing regeneration progress
Site-level reports and recommendations
Network-wide trend analysis
Structured data framework for tracking soil improvement
Community of practice across participating gardens

Program Outputs

Trained participants

Individuals capable of soil assessment and regeneration, equipped with field methods and practical knowledge.

Standardized soil data

Comparable observations collected across multiple sites using a shared protocol and data framework.

Active cover crop trials

Distributed regeneration experiments across participating gardens, generating real-world performance data.

Measurable improvements

Documented changes in soil structure and function, tracked through repeat observations and trial records.

Foundational dataset

A growing body of soil data supporting long-term mapping, analysis, and citywide regeneration planning.

Community network

Connected participants, gardens, and organizations working toward shared soil health goals across Houston.

Partnership Opportunity

We are seeking to collaborate with Urban Harvest as a principal partner to pilot this program across its garden network and scale a city-wide Soil Atlas initiative. Urban Harvest’s network of 160+ community gardens provides the ideal foundation for launching a distributed soil education and regeneration program across Houston.

Get involved

Whether you are a garden leader, educator, community organization, or potential partner, we welcome your participation in building Houston’s soil regeneration network.

Join the Program Contact Us