Doug Collins
Doug Collins is an Extension Faculty with the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources and an affiliate faculty with the WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. His extension programs and research focus on soil quality and vegetable and fruit production for small farms. Doug has a Ph.D. in soil science from Washington State University, an M.S. in Plant Pathology from Montana State University, and a B.A. in biology from Colorado College. He previously worked for Ribeiro Plant Lab, Inc., Seattle Tilth Association and the Washington Toxics Coalition and served on the board of directors of Tilth Producers of Washington. He currently serves on the Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Board.
Doug is an active instructor in Ecological Soil Management for beginning and advanced producers. He conducts workshops at area conferences and for Cultivating Success™ classes. Doug’s research program is focused on organic vegetable cropping systems and managing and monitoring soil fertility.
Doug’s Current Work
Urban Underground: Agroecological Functions of Soils in the City
Urban agriculture, which utilizes local soils and nutrient rich organic amendments, is recognized for the ability to provide products, income, social benefits, and ecological services. Best management practices for anthropogenic soils (anthrosoils) and metrics to describe and evaluate their health are evolving. This project will evaluate soil development and soil health in urban soils that are used for food production. Best management practices for urban agroecological soil management will also be suggested.
