- Soil Health and Management Strategies
- Growing Salad Gardens: An Ultimate Guide by Niki Jabbour
- U-Pick Power for Your Flower Farm
- Squash Success: From Seed to Storage with Johnny’s
- Managing Pests with Ecological Farm Design
- Into the Cabbage Patch: Varieties & Culinary Uses
- New Blooms for 2025
- Top Picks for 2025: New Veggies & More!
- Climate Adaptation in Action
- Garden Cover Crops & Green Manures
- Bloom to Boom: Flower Farm Profitability
- Flower Seed Starting Fundamentals
- Choosing Carrots: A Guide to Varieties You Will Dig
- Tomato Innovation: Breeding & Trialing for Your Finest Harvest
- Pepper Picks: Bells & Jalapeños
- New Flowers for 2024
- New for 2024: Veggies & Herbs
- Veggie Remix: Bring New Flavors & Colors into Your Garden
- Irrigation Systems & Methods
- Flower Growing in Southern States
- Jang Seeder: How to Maximize Its Potential
- Fundamentals of Cucumber Grafting
- One-Cut Lettuces • Insights & Techniques for Small Farms
- Tomato Variety Trends • How Breeding Influences Your Seed Selection
- New for 2023 • Vegetables & Herbs
- New for 2023 • Flowers & Floral Supplies
- Cover Cropping for Field & Garden with Collin Thompson
- Growing Under Cover with Niki Jabbour
- Learning Resources: Climate Adaptation for Vegetable & Flower Farmers
- Baby Leaf Greens: 12 Picks for Market Growers
- Tomatoes • 10 Unsung Heroes
- Peppers • Mostly Sweet with a Touch of Heat
- New for 2022 • Our Top Selections for You
- Producer Cooperatives for Small-Scale Farmers
- Beat the Heat • Lettuce & Specialty Greens for Southern Growers
- Top-Performing Pumpkins for the Market Garden
- Overwinter Flowers • How to extend your growing season with cold-hardy annuals
- Slow Flowers Floral Forecast
- Fundamentals of Tomato Grafting
Soil Health and Management Strategies
About Our Presenters
Collin Thompson joined Johnny's as Farm Operations Manager in early 2021, having previously managed farms in Virginia, Michigan, and Iowa. He holds a BS in Environmental Biology and a Master's in Sustainable Food Systems. With his team, Collin uses an integrated approach to manage over 200 mixed active/fallow acres combining organic, sustainable, and low-input practices to support the breeding, trialing, and seed production activities at Johnny's.
Jill Porchetta is a Farm Technician III at the Johnny's Research Farm and has been on the farm crew for 15 years. She leads the cultivation team and does a lot of the cover cropping on our farm. In the winter she shifts to our Contact Center team and just might have helped you with a growing question! Jill is passionate about soil health and has a small beef herd that she practices regenerative grazing with.
Collin Thompson joined Johnny's as Farm Operations Manager in early 2021, having previously managed farms in Virginia, Michigan, and Iowa. He holds a BS in Environmental Biology and a Master's in Sustainable Food Systems. With his team, Collin uses an integrated approach to manage over 200 mixed active/fallow acres combining organic, sustainable, and low-input practices to support the breeding, trialing, and seed production activities at Johnny's.
Jill Porchetta is a Farm Technician III at the Johnny's Research Farm and has been on the farm crew for 15 years. She leads the cultivation team and does a lot of the cover cropping on our farm. In the winter she shifts to our Contact Center team and just might have helped you with a growing question! Jill is passionate about soil health and has a small beef herd that she practices regenerative grazing with.
DATE: Thursday, September 11, 2025
TIME: 5pm ET
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OVERVIEW: Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, and understanding how to care for it is essential for long-term success. Join our Farm Manager, Collin Thompson, and Farm Technician Jill Porchetta, as they explore the soil's vital role in the broader ecosystem and how everyday gardening practices can support or disrupt its natural balance.
This presentation will introduce the concept of soil as a living, dynamic system. We'll discuss how soil health is influenced by human activity and why it's a critical component of sustainable gardening. From the basics of soil biology to practical management strategies, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for what's happening beneath their feet.
Key topics will include:
- An introduction to the soil ecosystem and its importance
- The impact of gardening practices on soil health
- Strategies for maintaining and improving soil vitality
- The role of cover cropping in home gardens
- Building resilient, nutrient-rich soil over time
Whether you're new to gardening or looking to deepen your knowledge, this webinar will equip you with the tools and insights to nurture your soil and garden for seasons to come. A Q&A session will follow the presentation, where Collin and Jill will answer attendee questions.