This month, Kelly speaks with Master Naturalist Lindsey Anderson about soil.

Soil isn't just a medium for plant growth - it's the foundation of food systems and our terrestrial habitats and ecosystems.

Soil filters pollutants, septic and the water supply. It provides flood control and mitigation while it supports our infrastructure.

As an ecosystem, soil isn't an inert substance. It's full of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mites, insects, worms, mammals and plant roots. These organisms mediate all soil processes, including organic matter breakdown, nutrient supply and cycling, and disease suppression.

Lindsey Anderson has a BS in Soil and Environmental Science and a MS in Agronomy/Soil Health. She is a Master Naturalist of the Springfield Plateau Chapter, USDA-NRCS Soil Scientist in Southwest Missouri, MSU Adjunct Professor and Soil Judging Coach, and President of the Missouri Association of Professional Soil Scientists.

Growing plants isn't something that often comes to mind when we think of the winter season, but with a few tips and techniques, inside gardening can help you grow all year long.

Options for growing in winter:

Houseplants – houseplants are more popular than ever and they are a great hobby for all ages. Houseplants need a bright window with indirect light or you can use grow lights. Beware of drafty windows in winter and monitor plants weekly for moisture, insect pests, and other issues. Since there is not a lot of growth in winter, a weak fertilizer can be used every 2-4 weeks.

Hydroponics – there are a variety of quality, tabletop options for growing hydroponically. Lettuce, herbs, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of other things can be grown. There are miniature plant varieties on the market that are great for these small units. A good aquarium-type pump is needed to aerate the water, and a good quality grow light is needed. Nutrient management of the water is also needed.

Seed Catalogs and Seed Starting – Seed catalogs will begin arriving soon and are a great source of education and new ideas. The main tip is to not plant too early. The seed package will give you timing information. Quality grow lights are also needed for seed starting.

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Susan Wade, volunteer co-leader of the Victory Garden, which is part of the Springfield Community Gardens.

Springfield Community Gardens has more than a dozen gardens in the city maintained by volunteers who share the harvest and provide fresh produce for community refrigerators that are free to anyone.

The produce grown at Victory Garden is used for Victory Mission, an organization helping men and women leave poverty. Services include meals, shelters and job training. One of the job training opportunities is culinary experience in the Victory Mission kitchen. The kitchen prepares more than 120 meals daily. Last year, Victory Garden grew more than 400 pounds of food for the victory mission kitchen.

Victory Garden was moved last spring to a courtyard in the Commercial Street Historic District to make room for construction of a new shelter and headquarters for Victory Mission. Besides growing produce, Susan has a personal goal of making Victory Garden a beautiful and interesting part of C-Street vibe to help draw people to the locally owned stores and restaurants there.

Volunteers are welcome at Victory Garden and any of the other Springfield Community Gardens and local gardeners can donate food for the refrigerators and to Victory Mission. Visit springfieldcommunitygardens.org and victorymission.com to find out more.