Learn
Where to start, five ideas that run through all of the guidance in this app, and tools to get the job done.
Why soil health? Healthy soil holds on to itself, lets water soak in, and feeds what grows in it. See why it matters and the ideas behind this app.
New here? Start here Four small steps for your first month. No digging and nothing to buy.The five ideas
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Keep the soil covered
Bare soil is exposed soil. Covering it protects it from sun, wind, and heavy rain.
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Disturb the soil less
Digging and tilling break up the soil's structure and the life inside it. Less disturbance usually means more stable soil.
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Grow a diversity of plants
Different plants feed different organisms, shade the soil differently, and make a garden less likely to fail all at once.
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Keep living roots in the soil
Living roots feed the soil organisms that build structure. The more of the year a living plant is growing, the better.
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Feed the soil food web
Soil is alive. Bacteria, fungi, worms, and many smaller creatures turn plant material into nutrients and soil structure.
More ways to learn
Know your soil, drainage and sun
Two quick tests and a look at the sky tell you your soil texture, how well it drains, and how much sun you get.
Soil through the year
One thing to do and one thing to leave alone for every month, and why. Winter included.
Frost dates
When the last spring frost and the first fall frost usually come around Rapid City, and why the Hills run later.
Calculators
How much mulch or compost, how much water, how much seed, and how fast your soil soaks up water.
Technical resources
Guides, posters, worksheets and programs from SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition and NRCS, including grazing and cover crops.
Hosting or joining a screening of a soil film? There is a companion guide with questions to ask. Curious why this site exists? See About.
Recommendations vary by climate, soil, and growing system. For more, see the USDA NRCS soil health resources.