Dru Yates, Graduate Student
Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

I was first exposed to soils in my undergraduate degree, where I learned in some Agroecology courses about how important healthy soil is to healthy agriculture. I then decided to take APBI 200, and the rest is history! The more I learn, the more I find soil to be one of the world’s most undervalued resources. I am currently doing my Masters in Soil Science, working in collaboration with the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust to study the management of grassland set-asides in the Lower Fraser Valley, and the subsequent impacts on soil quality (for more info about these local environmental stewardship programs, check out: www.deltafarmland.ca). My intentions are to combine my interests in soil, agriculture, ecological service programs, and community-based research.

As a self-professed “soil nerd”, I also love participating in as many soil-related field trips, classification courses, workshops, and other gatherings as I can. So, if you are interested in getting more involved in the soils community…let me know!