Join us at Spiral House Park for the final installment of our Living Landscape Series, where we'll explore soil as a living system and discover practical ways to care for our gardens through the colder months.
This hands-on workshop and lecture, led by Lorien McCabe and Wren Waddingston (pictured below) will focus on soil health, composting, ecological gardening practices, and the vital role healthy soil plays in supporting resilient ecosystems. Participants will learn seasonal techniques such as "Leave the Leaves" and "Save the Stems," mulching and composting in place, preparing garden beds for winter, planning for spring planting, and winter seed sowing in our propagation station.
We'll also explore soil science, biochar, and soil testing, bringing together gardeners, scientists, and land stewards to deepen our understanding of the living world beneath our feet.
Featured Workshop: Backyard Biochar with Bill Hilgendorf
Discover the science and practice of biochar, a powerful tool for improving soil health, increasing water retention, and storing carbon. Bill Hilgendorf will begin with a brief presentation on the benefits of biochar, followed by a live demonstration of the entire production process. Watch as he collects materials, loads and operates a flame-cap kiln, safely quenches the finished biochar, and incorporates it into a compost pile. This engaging demonstration offers a practical introduction to a regenerative gardening practice you can apply at home.
Workshop Details
- 90 minutes
As the concluding event in our Living Landscape Series: Sky, Rock & Soil, this gathering invites participants to connect with the earth beneath their feet while gaining practical skills and scientific insight for cultivating healthy, resilient gardens year-round.
Meet Bill Hilgendorf
Trained as an industrial designer with over two decades of experience in sustainable production, Bill spent much his career focused on upcycling materials and telling their story through the design and process of creating new and functional objects. Biochar represents the ultimate upcycled material. Not only are you able to take vast amounts of biomass residue and waste that left alone become a carbon liability, but through the process of pyrolysis, you can convert that waste to a highly stable carbon that will persist for a millennium and in the meantime can be used to help rebuild soils, suck up toxins and decarbonize the built environment.
Tickets
- General Admission: $25-35
- Children Under 10: $15
- Discount Code (15% off) for Members, Students, Seniors, Veterans, and Neighbors: MSSVN26
