Week 1: Orientation, Mindset, and Foundations

Welcome to the Soil Mentorship Program. This first session is about getting oriented—both to the program and to each other.

We’ll start by introducing ourselves and creating some initial connection within the group. This program works best when people engage, share, and learn from each other, so this is our first step in building that environment.

We’ll also walk through the platform so you know how to use it effectively—Learning Circles, weekly challenges, and meetups. These aren’t just add-ons; they’re core parts of how this program works. The more you engage with them, the more value you’ll get.

From there, we’ll spend time on how we approach teaching and learning. A big part of this program is shifting how we think about living systems. Many people come in with a more recipe-based mindset—apply this input, follow this schedule. What we’re working toward instead is a more observational and adaptive approach, where decisions are guided by what the system is actually doing.

We’ll begin laying that foundation by talking through the basics of soil health and ecosystem thinking. Not as a list of rules, but as a way to start seeing patterns, relationships, and function.

This is a collaborative process. Your questions, observations, and perspectives all contribute to the experience—not just for you, but for the group as a whole.

Let’s get started.