Digging into Urban Soils: Research at Green-Wood and NYC

Soil is just a fancy word for dirt, right? No way! Soil may often be overlooked, but it is essential to the health of the human body and natural environment. It provides essential ecosystem services such as productivity (plants need it to grow!), regulation of water flow, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and so much more! The rising interest in urban ecology has seen a revolution in how city dwellers are looking at soil, including increasing numbers of practitioners in community gardens and urban agriculture, green infrastructure, and composting. For this evening’s presentation, Richard K. Shaw, former USDA-NRCS State Soil Scientist, will examine the diversity of soil types in New York City and the forces that have helped shape them. Get a peek at some past and present soil-related projects at Green-Wood and their implications beyond the Cemetery.

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the horticulture and wildlife of Green-Wood, Zooming in on Nature.