Sedgwick County Soil Stories
  • Gallery
  • Panel Discussions
  • Soil Painting
  • Soil-Dwelling Animals
  • Sand Pendulum

SEDGWICK COUNTY
SOIL STORIES

COMMON GROUND

Welcome to Soil Stories
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presented by Sedgwick County Conservation District

 Sedgwick County Soil Stories is a project celebrating soil in this county. Soil experiences connect residents of Sedgwick County – we all have experiences with soil whether we live in a rural or urban setting, whether we are young or old or in between, whether we farm or garden or play softball or soccer or make mud pies. The purpose of the project is to bring together people from all over Sedgwick County to share their stories of soil.
​The Soil Stories exhibit is mostly virtual and includes webinars, online demos, and online panel discussions.
Click HERE for an article by Sarah Spicer previewing all the festivities.

​Soil Stories

A goal of Sedgwick County Soil Stories is to create a space where urban and rural residents of all ages can come together and find “common ground.” The emphasis is on stories about soil connections without judgement of how the soil is being used. The exhibits are intended to spark conversations, generate a sense of community, and celebrate soil stewardship. Visit the Soil Stories Gallery!

Soil Painting Demo

This video, released on April 19​, encourages participants to explore soil painting with soil collected from their own locations. Conservation District Manager Brenda Matson describes the process of turning soil into paint and local printmaker and painter Becka Jahelka demonstrates methods of painting with soil.

​Composting

In this video presentation, Valorie White of the Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners program presents composting best practices. If you are curious about backyard composting, this presentation is for you!
Compost Presentation

Soil Pendulum

Kinetic Artist Mike Miller explores "the interface where human-made machines and natural objects intersect." Miller collaborated with Torin Andersen and Ellen Jones to create a mesmerizing video of a soil pendulum tracing out its pattern in a 50-ft silo! You won't want to miss this intriguing work of art!
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Partner event:
​Soil-to-Table take home family meal

Saturday, April 17, 2021
The panel discussion with the contributing farmers and Chef Nick Korbee was recorded on Zoom and is available HERE.

Panel Discussions

On Saturday, April 17 Dr. Russell Fox of Friends University hosted a Facebook Live panel discussion featuring local farmers whose products were highlighted in a Soil-to-Table take home meal that evening.
Firefly Farm
Garden Works
MGHonor Farms
Orie's Farm Fresh
Serenity Farm
Elderslie Creamery

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm Sarah Jane Crespo of KMUW hosted a Pandemic Gardeners Panel Discussion. We heard from Sg. Co. Extension horticultural food crops agent Rebecca McMahon as well as local residents who took up gardening or returned to gardening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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​Soil Dwellers

On April 22, the Sedgwick County Zoo hosted a series of virtual sessions featuring creatures that make their home in soil.
On April 23, Great Plains Nature Center 
presented "Adventures in the Rhizosphere" on Facebook Live.
Click HERE for creature features created by Friends University Conservation Science students.

Thank you for joining us at
​
​Old Town Farm & Art Market!

Saturday, April 24
it was great to visit with you at  Old Town Farm & Art Market

We enjoyed sharing Soil Stories with you.
​Stay tuned for our next event!


We are grateful to Humanities Kansas for their grant to help fund this project. “Humanities Kansas supports projects that explore our common humanity,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “‘This project seeks to unite rural and urban communities by examining the various ways in which we all use the soil beneath us in our daily lives.” 

Special thanks to the many individuals who contributed to Soil Stories!
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Funding for this program is provided by Humanities Kansas, a nonprofit cultural organization connecting communities with history, traditions, and ideas to strengthen civic life.
For questions or concerns regarding accommodations
for those with accessibility needs,
please contact Brenda at 316-721-6127.
Sedgwick County Conservation District
providing resources and experiences to promote conservation of natural resources
 ​
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​11832 West Central Ste 100
Wichita, KS 67212-5184

(316)721-6127
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  • Gallery
  • Panel Discussions
  • Soil Painting
  • Soil-Dwelling Animals
  • Sand Pendulum