Union County Master Gardeners host soil health workshop in La Grande

Union County gardeners dealing with soggy beds, hard-packed ground or soil that dries out too fast will have a chance to get practical answers in La Grande. The Union County Master Gardeners will host a soil health workshop Thursday, June 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the OSU Extension conference room at 10507 North McAlister Road, with soil specialist Nate Stacey leading the session.

The workshop is built around the problems that cost local gardeners the most time and money: soil that will not absorb water evenly, soil that does not hold moisture long enough between irrigations, and ground that struggles to support healthy plant growth. Stacey will walk participants through how to tell whether soil is doing its job below the surface and what to do if it is not. The session will also cover interpreting soil test results and using those results to make better decisions in the garden, turning lab numbers into practical choices about beds, watering and plant care.

That kind of guidance matters in a county where many households rely on backyard gardens for food, landscaping, pollinator habitat and a more resilient home landscape. Soil health affects irrigation needs, nutrient use, drainage, plant stress and the amount of effort people put into rescuing weak crops later in the season. For gardeners trying to stretch every gallon of water and every bag of amendments, learning what the soil actually needs can prevent costly guesswork and improve yields before the next planting cycle gets away.

The workshop also fits into a larger Extension effort in Union County. Oregon State University Extension says the Master Gardener program operates in 27 counties across Oregon and trains thousands of volunteers who share science-based gardening information. Union County Extension says its local programs include Master Gardeners and other community education offerings. A 2024 Union County Master Gardener training schedule also listed a Soil Health class at the same North McAlister Road office, underscoring how central soil education has become for local gardeners.

Stacey, listed by OSU Extension as an assistant professor of practice, Small Farms Extension specialist and Small Farms Program coordinator, focuses on practical tools for producers facing drought, water scarcity, extreme weather and economic stability challenges. Union County Master Gardeners lists Sarah West as the contact for disability accommodation requests at 541-963-1010.