The rising cost of textbooks is a barrier to higher education for many students. Open textbooks are one potential solution, though few open textbooks exist for agriculture and natural science disciplines. Here, I present a case study examining my selection of assigned reading material for a college course on soil and water conservation. Potential options included three commercial textbooks or using an assortment of alternative reading assignments in place of a traditional textbook. I chose to use alternative reading assignments, which include extension publications, government reports, and other similar and free resources available online. This led to the creation of an open annotated bibliography, "Soil and Water Conservation: An Annotated Bibliography." An overview of the annotated bibliography development, content, and classroom use is presented. "Soil and Water Conservation: An Annotated Bibliography" serves as a resource for students and practitioners of soil and water conservation, and as an example of an alternative approach for developing open textbooks that enhance natural sciences education.