Ohio Soil Health Week Will Feature Local Events, Organizations

From November  8-14, 2026, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), members of its Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI), and partners will celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week.

The weeklong, statewide celebration honors and raises awareness about the importance of Ohio’s soils and those who steward them. It will include educational opportunities and events to elevate this valuable natural resource and recognize the producers and practices that support healthy soils.

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Agriculture is Ohio’s number one industry, and healthy soils are the foundation of it all. Farmers and consumers are increasingly embracing soil’s role in water filtration, increased crop yields, erosion control, reduced input costs, and resilience to extreme weather events. Celebrating soil means we are supporting Ohio’s farmers, our water, our communities, and our future.   

Ohio House Bill 65, the Agriculture Appreciation Act, was signed into law by Governor DeWine in July 2025, officially designating the second full week in November as Ohio Soil Health Week. This timing honors the late David Brandt, a Fairfield County farmer who was known internationally as the ‘Godfather of soil health,’ and whose birthday falls that week. 

“Soil health matters to all of us, whether we realize it or not. It inherently carries us and connects us,” said OEFFA Policy Director Lauren Hirtle. “In that sense, it is our responsibility to educate, advocate, and spread awareness about how healthy soils are the key to our resiliency in the face of environmental challenges. In all things, the choice we make can change the future. So, let’s make the choice to advocate now, to support our farmers, to cultivate community, and to create a better future for ourselves through our soil.”

Dozens of virtual and in-person events have been lined up across 16 Ohio counties to celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week:

• Sunday, November 8: Below the Surface: A Forest Therapy Walk (Fairfield County)
• Tuesday, November 10: From Carbon Storage to Nutrient Reduction: New Models for Soil Health Incentives (Franklin County), Soil Health and Grazing (Columbiana County), OEFFA Ohio Soil Health Week Farm Tour (Wood County), Ohio Sips & Soils: A Cincinnati Compost Crawl (Hamilton County), Dinner, a Movie & A Hog Giveaway (Highland County), The Groundswell Movie Event (Franklin County)
• Wednesday, November 11: Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People (Fairfield County)
• Thursday, November 12: Ohio Organics Council Annual Conference (Madison County), Introducing OhFARM! Farmers Helping Farmers Build Soil Health and Advance Regenerative Agriculture (Virtual), Urban Food Forest Gardens from the Ground Up: It’s All About the Soil (Washington County), Cover Cropping & No-Till Practices for Soil Health (Virtual), Soil Fest! (Montgomery County), Dirty Lessons: Organic Organization in the Web of Life (Virtual), Roots So Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There) Screening (Wayne County)
• Friday, November 13: Cover Crop Applications & Methods (Licking County), Antioch College Soil Health Symposium (Greene County), OEFFA Policy and Pints: Akron (Summit County)
• Saturday, November 14: Soil and Soul at the Athens Farmers Market (Athens County), Treasured Roots – Ginseng Cultivation Workshop (Athens County), Rooted in Resources (Pike County), Get the Dirt! A Soil Health Science Fair (Hamilton County), Will this Amendment Actually Work in My Soil? (Virtual), Roots and Remains II at 9413 Sophia Avenue (Cuyahoga County) 

Ohio’s soils deserve a celebration. OEFFA looks forward to giving soil health and soil stewards the recognition they deserve this November 8-14. 

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To learn more about Ohio Soil Health Week and this year’s events, please visit ohiosoilhealthweek.com.