Caroline Swansey soil consultations Driven by my passion for healthy soils and supported by a growing experience with soils academically, in the lab and on the farm I am making myself available for consultations to help gardeners and homesteaders with building their soils organically and holistically. Every year (in the offseason) I will be leading a workshop series on how to understand, recognize and build healthy soils, however, not everyone has the time for workshops and for some people a personalized consultation is more helpful. Consultations will be a minimum of $50 for the first hour (counting driving time to site), and will be billed $20/hour for any additional hour. Full Consultations will include Site visit: field pH and EC soil measurements, help with collecting soil samples to be sent out to a soil lab (sending soil samples and lab tests are not included in the consultation fee, and although not required a full macro and micronutrient analysis is essential to understand the chemical deficiencies in the soil), compilation of information of site history, consultation on the physical health of the soil (soil structure, drainage, pore space, etc. ), consultation on the biological health of the soil, guidance on using low cost permaculture techniques of building up soil organic matter using resources in the immediate surroundings, guidance with improving soil structure and soil biology and ecology including low cost options and longterm sustainable techniques. Follow up consultation (by phone/ email/ or in person visit): Help with understanding any lab results pertaining to the soil and directions on which organic amendment options are available to help correct the nutrional deficiencies in an holistic manner in the soil, guidance on amendment application techniques, guidance on longterm health and maintanance of the soil. If driving time to site is too far and may be financially not an option, I can meet with people our farm office to consult indirectly about their site and give consultations on their soil lab results. "office visit" Consultations of this sort will include: Guidance on how soil samples should be collected, field pH and EC soil measurements on soil samples brought to the farm, compilation of information of site history, help with understanding any lab results pertaining to the soil and directions on which organic amendment options are available to help correct the nutrional deficiencies in the soil, guidance on amendment application techniques, guidance on longterm health and maintanance of the soil. Caroline Swansey's background Education I have studied natural sciences academically for a total of 7 years at UC Santa Barbara, which gave me a strong diverse understanding of many fields related to soils as well as studied soils directly to write a master's thesis on phosphorus chemistry in soils. Master’s degree in Geography, March 2010: Master’s Thesis: “Phosphorus Pool Distribution in Volcanic Soils Along an Arid to Humid Rainfall Gradient” B.S. in Aquatic Biology, June 2005 B.S. in Environmental Studies, June 2005: Senior Thesis: “The Role of Environmentalist Ecologists Marine Biology Program, (July-October 2002)University of Queensland, Australia Work Experience Yacolt Mountain Farm and Nursery, LLC: Business Owner (March 2011-present) Yacolt, Wa Organic Farm and Nursery Field and Soil Manager (May 2010-February 2011) Baia Nicchia, LLC. Farm and Nursery in Sunol, Ca. Graduate Student Researcher (winter 2010 and summer 2009) Advisor Dr. Oliver Chadwick: Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara Teaching Assistant Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara Fall 2008 and 2009: Geography114A, Soil Science by Dr. Oliver Chadwick Winter 2009: Geography195JK, Biogeochemistry by Dr. Jennifer King Spring 2009: Geography134, Earth Systems Science by Dr. Jennifer King Soils Laboratory Technician (December 2006-September 2008) Dr. Oliver Chadwick, Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara Restoration technician (2005) Museum of Ecology and Systematics, UC Santa Barbara Soil Laboratory Assistant (2003) Dr. Oliver Chadwick, Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara Laboratory Assistant (2001-2002) Dr. John Melack, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara Fieldwork: UC Davis soil field course (July 2009) Study of soil erosion and geomorphology on Santa Cruz Island (2007-2008) Assisted Graduate Student Research, Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara Study of effectiveness of Chinook salmon habitat restoration efforts on the Merced River Assisted Post-doctoral Researched, Department of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara Study of the effect of Owens Lake Playa dust on nearby soils in Owens Valley Assisted Graduate Student Research, Department of Geography, UC Santa Barbara |
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