Reading the New Hampshire Landscape: Slope, Soil and Water in Action

Reading the New Hampshire Landscape: Slope, Soil and Water in Action

Class | Registration opens 8/5/2026 12:00 PM EDT

541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 United States
AIL Classroom, Lethbridge Lodge
10/15/2026-11/5/2026
9:30 AM-11:30 AM EDT on Th
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$50.00

Reading the New Hampshire Landscape: Slope, Soil and Water in Action

Class | Registration opens 8/5/2026 12:00 PM EDT

Why does one part of a property stay wet while another dries quickly? Why do certain plants thrive on a ridge but struggle only yards away in a valley? The answers lie not in chance, but in the physical structure of the land itself.

 

This four-week course explores how New Hampshire’s landscape — shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago — continues to determine what grows and flourishes today. Participants will learn how slope position, soil depth, drainage and water movement interact to create distinct ecological patterns across uplands, mid-slopes and valleys.

 

Each session combines structured visual presentation with guided discussion. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own properties, neighborhoods and favorite walking places as we translate landscape principles into practical observation skills. No scientific background is required — only curiosity.

 

We will explore questions such as:

  • How does slope influence soil formation and drainage?
  • Why are ridge-top soils thinner and faster-draining?
  • How does groundwater movement shape vegetation patterns?
  • Why do certain trees and plants consistently appear together?
  • How can understanding these patterns improve gardening and land-use decisions?

 

By the end of the course, participants will gain a new lens for interpreting the land around them. Whether you garden, hike or simply enjoy understanding the why behind what you see, this course offers practical tools for reading landscapes anywhere in New Hampshire.

 

There is no required textbook. Occasional short handouts may be provided to summarize key concepts.

 

Week 1: Reading the Landscape

Introduction to New Hampshire’s glacial history and its lasting imprint. Learn to recognize ridges, slopes and valleys and understand how landforms influence everything that follows.

 

Week 2: Soil and Water in Motion

Explore how slope position determines soil depth, drainage and hydrology. Understand how water moves differently across uplands versus lowlands.

 

Week 3: Vegetation as a Response

Examine how plant communities reflect underlying soil and moisture patterns. Learn to “read” vegetation as evidence of landscape structure.

 

Week 4: Applying Landscape Literacy

Translate slope, soil and hydrology knowledge into practical decisions for gardening, land stewardship and everyday observation.


Weeks, William
William Weeks

William Weeks is an advanced master gardener and ecological systems educator based in New Hampshire. His work focuses on helping people understand how landscape structure—slope, soil, water movement and glacial history—shapes the plant communities we see across the region. Drawing on field observation, ecological research, and practical gardening experience, he teaches participants how to “read” the landscape around them and understand why plants grow where they do. Bill has developed numerous presentations on New Hampshire ecozones, native plants, and pollinator relationships for garden clubs and community audiences. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.S. in accountancy from Bentley University. His goal is to make ecological patterns visible and understandable to anyone curious about the land beneath their feet.