Kirsten Kurtz
Kirsten Kurtz manages the Cornell University Soil Health Laboratory. She received her master of science degree from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell in 2021 with research focused on soil health in remnant grasslands. Kirsten is also an artist who developed her own method of creating paint with soil while completing her undergraduate degree in visual arts. She led a winning team at an international soil painting contest sponsored by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, has been designated an Artist for the Earth by the Earth Day Network, and speaks regularly on the subjects of soil and soil art. View her work at soilpainting.com or on Instagram @kirsten_kurtz.
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Southeast Regional ReportsWhat Is Biochar, and Is It Really Good for the Garden?
While biochar is by no means new, it is relatively new to the world of horticulture as a mainstream soil amendment. But what is it exactly? Biochar is a substance…
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DesignWhy to Stop Tilling and Grow Your Garden Like a Prairie
In graduate school my research involved comparing the health of soils in remnant native tallgrass prairies to adjacent farmlands. One of the lessons I learned is that we’d all be…
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How-To5 Easy Ways to Test Your Garden Soil pH at Home
Most people know that soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Soils naturally have a wide range of pH values, with most ranging from…
Fine Gardening Magazine
