Legacy Garden Outdoor Classroom: Building Soil Series
A Three-Part Exploration of Soil Health and Sustainability
The Legacy Garden Outdoor Classroom at Herman Brown Park in Houston is a living, breathing example of regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management. Through hands-on learning and real-world applications, students and community members are actively involved in transforming the soil and building a thriving ecosystem.
The Building Soil Series is a three-part journey into the foundational principles of soil restoration, water conservation, and sustainable gardening. Led by Juan Elizondo, Agriscience Vocational Educator and Founder/Director of the Furr High School Outdoor Classroom, this series explores how woodchips and sheet mulching are being used to revive degraded land, improve soil health, and create resilient garden systems.
Explore the Chapters:
The series begins with an in-depth look at how woodchips and sheet mulching have transformed hard, compacted clay soil into fertile ground. This chapter highlights the power of layering organic materials to improve moisture retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure—turning once-barren land into a rich and productive growing space.
Expanding on the principles of soil-building, this chapter focuses on how sheet mulching benefits garden beds. Juan demonstrates how layers of woodchips, branches, and organic matter help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and support plant growth. By preventing soil depletion and ensuring a constant supply of nutrients, this practice creates an environment where vegetables, herbs, and pollinator plants thrive.
Water is life, and in this final chapter, Juan explains how woodchips act as a natural sponge, capturing and holding up to 80% of rainwater. This technique reduces reliance on treated, chlorinated water while ensuring that plants receive sustained hydration. As an added benefit, banana plants and other shade-giving species create a microclimate, protecting surrounding crops from extreme heat and promoting overall garden resilience.
Why This Matters
The Building Soil Series is more than just a gardening guide—it’s a blueprint for sustainability. By focusing on soil health, water conservation, and ecosystem balance, these methods serve as an accessible and replicable model for other schools, communities, and urban gardens looking to restore land and grow food in a changing climate.
Production & Community Connections
This series is led by Furr High School, produced by HTX Multimedia, AmigoTonyTX and HTXVoices. To learn more from Juan Elizondo, follow Maestro Verde on Facebook for gardening insights, sustainable practices, and educational resources. For updates on Furr High School’s Vocational Agriculture Programming, follow Houston Greenbelt on Facebook to stay connected with ongoing projects and student-led initiatives.
Click on each chapter to dive deeper into these essential techniques and see firsthand how the power of woodchips and sheet mulching is revolutionizing soil health at Herman Brown Park. 🌱🌧🌿