Garden Workshop: Soil 101 (August)

Ellie Mejia
Aug 15, 2025
1 min read

Lucía León and an attendee examine the Overton garden beds. — Photo: Joe Ignatius

The morning of Saturday, August 16, attendees met at the Overton plaza and community garden for Soil 101, an interactive workshop focused on the foundation of every healthy garden: the soil beneath our feet.

Led by Lucía León, the workshop invited participants to dig into the basics of soil through observation and touch. To start, we took a closer look at four different soil samples: germination mix, potting soil, a topsoil and compost blend, and compost. León explained the importance and benefits of each kind as attendees compared textures, moisture levels, and composition.

León at a picnic table with four soil samples in front of her. Each soil has a distinct composition. — Photo: Joe Ignatius

After the initial explainer, the group took a walk through the Overton community and rain gardens to practice identifying soil types. Noting soil characteristics in real-world conditions gave attendees a better understanding of the nutrients that plants need to thrive and the practices they can incorporate in their own gardening to maintain healthy soil.

Attendees gathered around a garden bed while León leads the workshop. — Photo: Joe Ignatius

Thank you to all who joined us. We hope to gather again soon! To learn more about our work, follow us on Instagram or sign up for the Creative Grounds newsletter.

The Overton Exchange POP is brought to you by the City of Chicago’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program, designed to create strategic community gathering spaces that serve as destination points for residents and neighborhood visitors.