“Dr. Elaine Ingham will be on Whidbey Island Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, to present her groundbreaking research in the field of soil biology and compost. She will deliver a slide show lecture and conduct a workshop describing the elements of the soil food web, which include the right set of soil organisms, i.e., the soil foodweb, for garden plant communities to thrive. Ingham will demonstrate how bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, mycorrhizal fungi and microarthropods play critical roles in plant establishment, survival and succession. Ingham is currently an associate research professor in the Department of Forest Science at Oregon State University. She has gained a reputation as a lively speaker, able to clearly describe biological activity in the soil so the lay person has a greater understanding about amending the soil in his or her own garden and landscape. Ingham will present a slide show lecture at the Cybercafe in Clinton Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. The cost is a $10 donation, of which a portion will benefit the Cybercafe and South Whidbey Tilth. Call the Cybercafe at 360-341-5922 for reservations.On Saturday, April 28, Dr. Ingham will conduct a hands-on workshop at the Greenbank Farm from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., focusing on how compost and compost tea create a food web for soil and plant enhancement. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with coffee, tea, and pastry available for purchase. The workshop cost is $25; participants may order a box lunch at an additional $6. There will be a field trip to Creative Gardens on Zylstra Road following the workshop.The event is sponsored by Creative Gardens, the Island County WSU Waste Wise Program and South Whidbey Tilth. Call for a brochure or to register at 321-5111, ext. 7327. The deadline to be included in the box lunch order is April 20. “