BF 112: Reading the Land

Simple and Effective Biological Monitoring Practices

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Monitoring for Change Pays Off

There is only one guarantee in agriculture or other land-based businesses: “When we improve land health we realize improvements in production, profitability, and social well-being.” So, how do we confirm and/or measure improved land health? We must learn how to read the land as we walk across it, and learn how to conduct various biological monitoring practices, from simple to more complex.

Target Audience

ALL LEVELS: Farmers, farm managers, and other landowners interested in learning how to improve land health through the power of observation, data gathering and interpretation.

Course Objectives

The primary learning objective for this course is to enable you to begin successfully understanding observations and information you can easily gather from a piece of land. This will allow you to establish a baseline of the land’s health and determine if your management decisions are moving toward what you desire for the land in terms of health and productivity.

In this course you will learn how to:

  • Make visual observations
  • Develop a monitoring transect
  • Collect data
  • Summarize and analyze the data you collect
  • Use these data to change your management to move the land toward what you want

Webinars

A majority of the work is carried out on your own schedule, which can include readings, photographs, videos, graphics and PowerPoints. A key component are assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To pace and coordinate the independent study there are weekly webinars during the course to allow you to learn from presenters and other students and to ask questions in real time. If you miss or wish to review any webinars, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.


Webinar Schedule

In 2025, this course will be offered live for 4 weeks on Mondays from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Eastern) from September 22 – October 13. While we encourage live attendance, so you have the opportunity to engage with presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in the online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish. Join us!


Your Instructor


Elizabeth Marks
Elizabeth Marks

Elizabeth Marks, a certified Holistic Management (HM) educator since 2013, works with landowners to improve soil health and adapt to climate change. She retired from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2025 after a 20 year career where she served as a regional soil health specialist for the Northeast. Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mount Holyoke College. She lives in in the Hudson Valley in a net-zero, energy efficient home she designed herself.


Student Testimonials

"The teachers have a lot of experience in this line of work. The class is fortunate to benefit from their years of knowledge."

“Instructors were well informed and excited to share their knowledge. Offered support and guidance and answered questions after lectures."

"I feel like I was managing my land somewhat blindly, just trying to apply whatever "best practice" I had heard about in a book or at a conference. This course gave me the language and skills to observe, measure, and analyze my management and determine which practices were having the impact I wanted."

Course Curriculum


  General Course Resources
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Week 1: Biological Monitoring Basics - What and Why
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Week 2: Understanding Land Management Tools and Effects on Soil Health
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course officially starts on the date given above, when the instructor gets involved and begins hosting live weekly webinars. If you are registering after the webinars have concluded for the year, you will have immediate access to all the course materials, and will be able to participate in the next year's webinars if you choose to.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 7 days and we will give you a full refund.

Online Course Tiered Pricing

The Cornell Small Farms Program offers a tiered pricing model to provide greater access to our online courses. To determine your course enrollment cost, please consult the chart below, and honestly identify your current financial situation.


We realize that not everyone is able to afford the price of our courses, so we also offer a small number of scholarships each year to New York State residents. To apply, please read scholarship requirements and complete the application here.

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