During the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, October 3-4, 2009, visitors learned of the precious soils which inspired the establishment of the Okanis Garden. Capability Class 1 agricultural soils (United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service) equal 2.8% of all the soils in Douglas County, Kansas; Capability Class 2 soils equal 8.2%; for a total of 11% of the soils with no or few limitations.
The Prairie Moon school grounds consist of Capability Class 1 soils, specifically Rossville Silt Loam–deep alluvial soils, deposited through both geologic and historic flooding. These soils, with 80”-90” topsoil of silt loam, are supremely suited for sustainable agriculture and the production of fruits and vegetables. As Capability Class 1, the soils have no limitations that restrict growing capabilities. Capability classes 3 through 8 indicate progressively greater limitations and narrower choices for practical use.
“If you eat, soil is your business. Learn what good soil looks, feels, and smells like.” –Michael Ableman
“The Ground We Walk On. It’s one of nature’s most perfect contradictions: a substance that is ubiquitous but unseen; humble but essential; surprisingly strong but profoundly fragile. It nurtures life and death; undergirds cities, forests and oceans; and feeds all terrestrial life on earth. It is a substance few people understand and most take for granted. Yet, it is arguably one of the Earth’s most critical natural resources–and humans, quite literally owe to it their very existence.” –Tamsyn Jones
