Check the garden soil at Harvest Moon Community Garden, Rochester NY (2026-07-07)

The volunteers who grow food at Harvest Moon Community Garden, Rochester NY do not know if the soil is healthy or worn out. Do a simple soak-and-squeeze soil check on the main beds so they know what the ground needs. Standard: USDA-NRCS soil health (infiltration, aggregate stability, organic matter); SDG 15.3 Proof: photo of each sampled bed + GPS + labeled readings (infiltration time, aggregate/crumb note, texture) + date Method (USDA-NRCS soil-health in-situ assessment, ~45-90 min): 1. Navigate to the plot; record GPS; sketch the sampling layout. 2. Photograph each sampling station. 3. Run the infiltration ring; record time to infiltrate 1 inch. 4. Assess aggregate stability and note visible organic matter, roots, and biology. 5. If compaction is in scope, record penetrometer resistance by depth. 6. Collect 0-15 cm cores if a lab subsample is specified; bag, label, complete COC. 7. Enter all measurements with units + depth, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign. Equipment: soil auger or trowel, infiltration ring + measured water + timer, penetrometer (if compaction in scope), clean bucket, sample bags + labels, gloves, GPS phone, camera Done when: Infiltration time recorded; Aggregate stability + organic-matter observation recorded; Each in-scope measurement recorded with units and depth; GPS waypoint + station photos + site sketch

Where

Harvest Moon Community Garden, Rochester NY

Pay

$80 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

photo of each sampled bed + GPS + labeled readings (infiltration time, aggregate/crumb note, texture) + date

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-08-06

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–90 minutes. Method of record: USDA-NRCS soil-health in-situ assessment

Bring

• soil auger or trowel
• infiltration ring + measured water + timer
• penetrometer (if compaction in scope)
• clean bucket
• sample bags + labels
• gloves
• GPS phone
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the plot; record GPS; sketch the sampling layout.
2. 2. Photograph each sampling station.
3. 3. Run the infiltration ring; record time to infiltrate 1 inch.
4. 4. Assess aggregate stability and note visible organic matter, roots, and biology.
5. 5. If compaction is in scope, record penetrometer resistance by depth.
6. 6. Collect 0-15 cm cores if a lab subsample is specified; bag, label, complete COC.
7. 7. Enter all measurements with units + depth, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Infiltration > 30 min/inch or high penetrometer resistance -> flag compaction; recommend cover crop / reduced traffic.
• Very low organic matter / no visible biology -> flag degraded; recommend amendment plan.

What counts as done

• Infiltration time recorded
• Aggregate stability + organic-matter observation recorded
• Each in-scope measurement recorded with units and depth
• GPS waypoint + station photos + site sketch

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.