Fungi are among the 7 life forms in the complete soil microbe biome. They help decompose organic matter, and release nutrients from soil particles and rock that can be highly beneficial to your garden or urban forests across Central Texas. In fact, some experts estimate that a tablespoon of forest soil contains 6 billion microorganisms -- including 25,000 species of fungi!

In this workshop learn more about the science and potential of the soil food web with Austin Community College professor of horticulture, Ellen Beaman, scientist Andie Marsh from Rhizos, and Gabriel Miller from CTMS. Together they’ll explore the intimate dance of the soil food web, its benefits for ecosystems in Central Texas, and how it is connected to human food systems. Members of CTMS will also discuss a newly launched community science effort called Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees which aims to better understand effective and accessible treatments for enhancing soils, the urban forest, and food web in Central Texas. After a brief overview and discussion, participants will have the chance to engage in hands-on observations and activities to learn more about how to enhance the soil food web in your own backyard. Plus we’ll get to taste a few tasty dishes that help illustrate our personal connection to soils and the microscopic life below our feet.

This workshop is made possible with support from the City of Austin Urban Forestry Grant program.

Facilitators: 

Ellen Beaman began farming organic vegetables in Central Texas in 2001 and received her Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Texas Tech University. After managing and consulting for organic farms in the Austin area for over 10 years, she began teaching for ACC’s Sustainable Agriculture and Landscape Horticulture Departments in 2017. In addition to teaching for both the accredited and Continuing Education programs, Ellen is also the Program Coordinator for the Landscape Horticulture Program. 

Andie Marsh is the founder of Rhizos LLC, a soil biology lab. She evaluates soils, substrates, and amendments with a microscope and provides detailed write-ups so growers and land managers can STOP managing symptoms, and START addressing causes. https://www.rhizos.science/ 

Gabriel Miller is an ecologist who has worked and studied across wetlands, environmental ecotoxicology, and soils, and received a Master’s from UT Austin in soil microbial ecology. He is currently a member of the Central Texas Mycological Society and a Texas Master Naturalist.