The Soil Keepers
We offer hands-on, certificate-granting soil courses, as well community engagement and consulting services for individuals, organizations, and communities working on projects of all scales.
Introduction Course
Intro to Community Soil Science (offered on demand)
course description
Virtual two part course on the physical and biological basics of soils with a focus on community learning context
Part I: Deep Time, rock types, physical soil structure and composition
Part II: Plants, fungi and bryophytes, soil microbiology, decomposition
Applied Soil Science Certification Courses
The Body of Soil: Soil Geology (offered every Spring)
course description
Join The Soil Keepers for this virtual course on the physical aspects of soil - local geology, origin, mineral composition, aggregation, porosity, soil/water nexus.
*This is hands-on geology* as it can be applied to the soils you already work with or are curious about.
The Soil Keepers courses are designed for land stewards, activists, backyard and community gardeners, researchers, growers, farmers, and those curious about the soils and land around them.
In this course, you will be encouraged to engage through a combination of 10 hours of live online lectures, beautiful instructive films, discussions with your peers, and guided independent field work. You should be prepared to do 1-3 hours of field work with your soil per week which you will be sharing with your instructor and cohort. Attending all four classes is necessary for course certification.
Main topics we will cover and discuss in ‘The Body of Soil’:
- Deep time and the rock cycle
- Crystallization
- Mohs scale
- Soil types and their characteristics
- Soil structure and aggregation
- Soil color and major minerals
- Common elements and how they work with biology
- Methods of soil evaluation in the field
We meet online Sunday afternoons from 3-5:30pm CT in March 2026
March 8, 15, 22, 29
**Only 15 spots available**
Deadline to register: Friday, March 6, 2026 by midnight
$385 Standard Tuition; $355 The Soil Keepers Alumni
$580 pay-it-forward to give to others who are met by financial challenge
Class sessions within this course are participatory, dense and built on each other. We encourage you to attend all four classes as there will be no opportunities for make ups.
Graduates who have attended all four classes and submitted all relevant fieldwork for evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion from Social Ecologies. Completion of this course can be applied towards the full Soil Keepers Training Certification.
The Body of Soil: Soil Geology is one of 4 core courses of The Soil Keepers Certified Training in Applied Soil Science.
This course is only taught once a year.
Limited supported tickets are available for those who have financial constraints and do wish to study with us. Contact: thesoilkeepers@protonmail.com
The Life of Soil: Soil Biology (offered every Fall)
course description
Join The Soil Keepers for this virtual course on the dynamic living and organic aspects of soil
*This is hands-on biology* as it can be applied to the soils you already work with or are curious about.
The Soil Keepers courses are for land stewards, activists, backyard and community gardeners, researchers, growers, farmers and those curious about the soils and land around them.
In this course, you will be encouraged to engage through a combination of 12.5 hours of live online lectures, beautiful instructive films, discussions with your peers, and guided independent field work. You should be prepared to do 1-3 hours of field work with your soil per week which you will be sharing with your instructor and cohort. Attending all four classes is necessary for course certification.
Main topics we will cover and discuss in ‘The Life of Soil’:
- Plants and plant communities
- Roots
- Rhizosphere and attendant microbial communities
- Bryophytes – lichens, ferns, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, etc.
- Fungi
- Mycorrhizae and their plant allies
- Decomposition
- Compost technologies and organic soil amendments
Class sessions within this course are participatory, dense and built on each other. We encourage you to attend all four classes as there will be no opportunities for make ups.
Graduates who have attended all four classes and submitted all relevant fieldwork for evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion from Social Ecologies. Completion of this course can be applied towards the full Soil Keepers Training Certification.
The Life of Soil: Soil Biology is one of 4 core courses of The Soil Keepers Certified Training in Applied Soil Science.
This course is only taught once a year.
Limited supported tickets are available for those who have financial constraints and do wish to study with us. Contact: thesoilkeepers@protonmail.com
The Mind of Soil: Soil Chemistry (offered every Winter)
course description
Join The Soil Keepers in this virtual course on the chemical exchanges and interactions within soil, with water as primary partner and solvent
*This is hands-on chemistry* as it can be applied to the soils you already work with or are curious about.
The Soil Keepers courses are designed for land stewards, activists, backyard and community gardeners, researchers, growers, farmers and those curious about the soils and land around them.
In this course, you will be encouraged to engage through a combination of 10 hours of live online lectures, discussions with your peers, and guided independent field work. You should be prepared to do 1-3 hours of field work/kitchen lab work per week with your soil. Attending all four classes is necessary for course certification.
Main topics we will cover and discuss in ‘The Mind of Soil’:
- history of chemistry
- elements and the Periodic Table
- carbon and hydrocarbons
- water and other solvents
- compounds and bonding
- phase change and temperature
- acids, bases, and pH
- oxidation and reduction
- alcohols and salts
- soil testing
- contamination – microplastics, heavy metals, organic compounds, PFAS
We meet online Sunday afternoons from 3-5:30pm CT in February 2026
February 1, 8, 15, 22
**Only 15 spots available**
Deadline to register: Friday, January 30, 2026 by midnight
$385 Standard Tuition; $355 The Soil Keepers Alumni
$580 pay-it-forward to give to others who are met by financial challenge
**Prerequisites**
1. Completion of either our The Life of Soil: Soil Biology or The Body of Soil: Soil Geology courses or demonstrated equivalent of solid working understanding of either biology or geology.
2. Two cups of correctly sampled soil to submit for lab testing. (contact us: soilkeepers@protonmail.com should you have any questions)
Class sessions within this course are participatory, dense and built on each other. We encourage you to attend all four classes as there will be no opportunities for make ups.
Graduates who have attended all four classes and submitted all relevant fieldwork for evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion from Social Ecologies. Completion of this course can be applied towards the full Soil Keepers Training Certification.
The Mind of Soil: Soil Chemistry is one of 4 core courses of The Soil Keepers Certified Training in Applied Soil Science.
This course is only taught once a year.
Limited supported tickets are available for those who have financial constraints and do wish to study with us. Contact: thesoilkeepers@protonmail.com
Capstone Remediation Project (offered yearly Spring thru Fall, 6 month supported project development)
Please visit our Eventbrite︎︎︎ to sign up for any upcoming courses!
Contact us︎︎︎ to set up a consultation
Community Engagement
Projects with clients involving The Soil Keepers workshops and curriculum include Amisacho Restauración, Archeworks, Comer Youth Farm, Southeast Environmental Task Force, and UIC Plant Research Laboratory.
- Is your restoration project community-led or a civic brownfield project? Our signature program catalyzes community engagement with outreach, education, and strategic partnerships through workshops and trainings based on The Soil Keepers framework.
- Modified from our more comprehensive certification units, these trainings focus on the needs of the site and build the capacities and networks of the community.
Projects with clients involving The Soil Keepers workshops and curriculum include Amisacho Restauración, Archeworks, Comer Youth Farm, Southeast Environmental Task Force, and UIC Plant Research Laboratory.
