Regen Soil for Home Gardeners: UC Experts, May 9, 2026

Hosted by UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, this workshop delivers a practical implementation guide from recognized extension experts on regenerative soil techniques adaptable from home-scale to community garden settings. Scheduled for May 9, 2026, it covers specific methods including composting, mulching, cover cropping, vermicomposting, and sheet mulching (also known as lasagna gardening), all aimed at building resilient soils that enhance water retention, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity. Participants gain hands-on knowledge of composting basics: layering green and brown materials in a 1:2 ratio, maintaining moisture like a wrung-out sponge, and turning piles weekly for aeration to accelerate decomposition into humus-rich soil amendment. Mulching techniques involve applying 2-4 inches of organic materials like straw or wood chips to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and feed soil life as they break down. Cover cropping details strategies such as sowing legumes like crimson clover or fava beans in off-seasons to fix nitrogen, prevent erosion, and add biomass when chopped and dropped. Vermicomposting focuses on setting up worm bins with red wigglers processing kitchen scraps into castings, ideal for small spaces in community plots. Sheet mulching is explained step-by-step: soak the area, layer cardboard to smother grass, add 6-8 inches of compost and mulch, then plant directly into the system for no-dig bed creation. These methods are regenerative because they rebuild soil structure, sequester carbon, and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, making them perfect for community gardens facing urban soil degradation. The workshop provides actionable details like material sourcing from local waste streams, timing plantings to climate zones, troubleshooting common issues such as pests in mulch layers, and scaling up for group plots. Attendees learn to measure success through soil tests showing increased organic matter and earthworm populations. This expert-led session equips practitioners with concrete tools to transform degraded lands into productive, resilient ecosystems, directly applicable to community regenerative projects for long-term sustainability and food production.