RootShoot Soils

10/08/2026

Join me for four Sundays as we dive deep into the world of soil and compost.

Starting October 18th, I'll teach an updated curriculum that reflects what I’ve learned over the past year through client collaborations, plus better ways to be more effective with your liquid bio blends (compost extracts & teas).

𝐀 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Due to an ongoing website outage, we’re going back to the old-school way of registering.
Please call Burnaby Continuing Education or visit one of its registration offices in person.

𝐁𝐲 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞: (604) 296-6901

𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧:
Burnaby North Continuing Education Main Office
751 Hammarskjold Drive, Burnaby

Marian Education Centre
7650 Sapperton Avenue, Burnaby

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

When registering, please ask for the Restoring Soil Health course with Jo Tobias.

10/07/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝!

Melissa of Sea Breeze Florals grows dahlias and other cut flowers on her urban property in Port Moody, British Columbia. Over the past few years, she has changed how she approaches soil health, plant health, compost, and biological growing practices.

I have worked alongside Melissa during this transition, helping her observe what was happening in her soil and compost, improve the biological quality of her compost, use compost extracts and teas, and create better conditions for her plants and soil life.

In this interview, Melissa shares what growing dahlias looked like before she began focusing on soil health, what prompted her to change her approach, and what she has learned through several years of experimentation.

09/30/2026

Registration is open for the Restoring Soil Health course.

Join me for four Sundays to explore:

• composting
• soil biology
• compost extracts and teas; and
• practical ways to support healthier soil

Burnaby CCE’s website is 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 due to a recent cyberattack.

To register, please get in touch with Burnaby CCE by phone or visit the registration office in person.

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: (604) 296-6901
𝐈𝐧-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧: 751 Hammarskjold Drive, Burnaby (North Burnaby Adult Education) Centre or‍ ‍7650 Sapperton Avenue, Burnaby, BC (Marian Education Centre)
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞: Restoring Soil Health Course

We offer compost and soil education throughout British Columbia.

09/28/2026

On Wednesday, Oct. 14th, join Organic BC at West Coast Seeds in Delta for their Lower Mainland Gather and Grow event!

After a season that brought plenty of challenges, come together for an afternoon of sharing ideas, getting into the field, and catching up with fellow growers.

🌾 Trial plots + seed industry: Tour West Coast Seeds’ breeding plots and hear what’s happening in the seed world.
💧 Cover crops + soil health: Tanya Brouwers will dig into drought-resilient cover cropping and lead some simple, in-field soil health tests.
🧑‍🌾 Farmer roundtable: Compare notes on cover cropping, share what’s working, and learn from each other’s experiences.
🍻 Food + drinks: West Coast Seeds and Barnside Brewing have the refreshments covered.

This event is free and open to anyone interested, but registration is required. Learn more and save your spot at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/organic-bc-gather-and-grow-event-series-lower-mainland-tickets-1998997119195

This event was funded by the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. Funding for the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions –On-Farm Climate Action Fund.

09/26/2026

Just in case you're wondering.
I'm Jo Tobias.
Thank you for being here. 🙏🏽

09/20/2026

Do you customize your compost extracts?
How do you decide which foods to add, and what do you base those decisions on?
Or... do you add anything at all?
The full video is now up on YouTube .

09/15/2026

What Is the Restoring Soil Health Course All About?
If you ever wondered what the four-day intensive workshop that I offer at the Burnaby School is all about, you can check out my little blurb here →
https://www.rootshootsoils.com/field-notes-archive/restoring-soil-health-course

09/11/2026

Is one cubic yard of high-quality compost enough for a one-acre farm?
It sure can be! Especially if you use it primarily as a liquid biological inoculant.
The full video is now up on YouTube .

09/10/2026

Nothing to see here.
Just a series of sleeping bees on my Mongolian Bluebeard.
And one finally found the sunflower.

09/02/2026

This has got to be one of my favourite reasons for using compost extracts. A small amount of good compost can go a tremendously long way. All you need is some high-quality compost, water, a bucket, and a brew bag or (medium-sized) paint strainer.
Then apply the extract using whatever device your heart (or your land) desires, and you're good to go!
The full video is now up on YouTube .