Soil Scientist Field Week

The soil survey third quarter staff meeting and eleventh field week was held at Camp Washington−Carver on May 7 through 11 near Clifftop, in Fayette County.

The field week goal was completing the 2007 data collection goals for the  National Park Service (NPS) New River Gorge National River mapping contract and updating the Fayette and Raleigh Counties soil survey.  Field teams completed sampling, monolith capture and transects. Rob Pate, Resource Soil Scientist, was the moderator. Eileen O'Neill, Soil Scientist, was the project leader.

In service training on plant roots and dense soil properties earned continuing education credits. Micaceous soils, the National Soil Information System (NASIS), and GPS were evening seminars subjects.

"Field week gives us the opportunity to work as a functioning group—on the same page with a common goal of working towards completing the update to Fayette and Raleigh soil survey," said David Kingsbury, Soil Data Quality Specialist.

	The lodge, site of the staff meeting, was constructed from Chestnut logs killed by a blight that ravaged chestnut tree throughout WV. The trees were harvested from the camp property by the WPA.
	Attendees at the eleventh Soil Scientist Field week.
	Rob Pate and Debbie Murphy used Charles Delp asa  model for personal protective equipment in the quarterly safety lecture.
	Steve Carpenter presented Eileen O'Neill the MO Leader's Trophy. The coveted trophy is awarded each year for outstanding service in the field.
	Wendy Noll assists with the morning coffee.
	Debby Cunningham, Tim Dilliplane, and Michael Jones check the maps for the days transects.
	Tim Prescott, Charles Delp, Steve Baker, and Aron Sattler working on the first of two soil monoliths prepared for the NPS. Read more about  Soil That's Suitable for Framing at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/23/AR2007042301710.html Aron, Tim, and Steve starting on the second monolith.

Should we be spending more time playing in the dirt?

Exposure to certain forms of soil bacteria can boost the immune system, which can in turn improve mood as effectively as antidepressant drugs. Researchers suspect that the microbes are affecting the brain indirectly by causing immune cells to release chemicals called cytokines, which stimulate the production of the mood-regulating chemical serotonin.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=66840

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18082129/

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