About this session

This session centers soil as a living world, and as an archive and a witness to human and more-than-human forms of harm and care. We’ll learn together about pedogenesis (soil formation) and think together about the limits of repair. 

The Piedmont’s heavy clays are notoriously difficult to cultivate. We’ll do some hands-on exploration of soil restoration as a feminist methodology, and as an everyday form of care, while engaging with Anna Krzywoszynska’s work on microbial labor. 

Note that this both an academic reading group and a hands-on workshop, requiring a brief pre-reading. Please come prepared to participate fully in both elements of the program. This said, no prior experience with composting or critical theory required—just a willingness to work and think with soil. This workshop is primarily for faculty and graduate students (though dedicated undergraduates are welcome to join). Participants will leave with a working knowledge of cultivation techniques that can be used in household settings, as well as frameworks for thinking about embodied practice as a site of feminist knowledge production. 

About the series

Composting Theory: Ecological Care in Practice is a hands-on workshop series developed by the Revaluing Care Lab in collaboration with the Duke Campus Farm. The series explores ecological care as a feminist and post-humanist practice through material engagement with soil and living systems, and collective reflection. Check out our past events.

These workshops are designed primarily for faculty and graduate students. Advanced undergraduates interested in participating should email saskia.cornes@duke.edu.

Please email any additional inquiries to revaluingcarelab@duke.edu.