This self-paced online course teaches you how to understand your soil, manage water on your property, plan and establish trees and windbreaks, and support wildlife responsibly. Designed for acreage owners, homesteaders, small-scale farmers, and anyone who wants to care for their land with confidence.

• How to read soil tests and improve soil health
• How water moves across your acreage and how to manage runoff
• How to design and establish effective tree and windbreak systems
• How to prevent erosion and protect natural resources
• How to support wildlife while reducing conflicts on your property

• What soil is and why it matters
• Soil sampling for nutrient analysis
• Interpreting your soil test
• Soil erosion and conservation

• How water moves on the landscape
• Water management on your property
• Water management for health and safety

• Tree and windbreak physics and physiology
• Planning and design
• Establishment and care

• Wildlife management and reducing conflicts
• Supporting conservation on your acreage

• Online, self-paced
• 220 minutes of video instruction from ISU Extension and Outreach experts
• English & Spanish captions
• Certificate included

• Acreage owners wanting to improve their land
• Homesteaders managing soil, water, and natural resources
• Small-scale farmers caring for multi-use properties
• Beginners learning how to manage an acreage in Iowa or the Midwest