Practical Soil Regeneration Skills for Agricultural Producers

Practical training in regenerative orchard management to improve soil health, cut synthetic inputs, and boost farm resilience.

About this Event


Soil Regeneration Immersion: From Theory to Field

Are you an agricultural producer looking to dramatically improve your soil health, crop resilience, and farm profitability?

Join us for an intensive 3-day immersive education event at Little Dog Farm in Creston, BC, this October 16-18, 2025. This hands-on workshop is designed specifically for agricultural producers like you, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application of soil regeneration and optimization techniques.

What You'll Experience:

Mentorship-Based Learning: Learn directly from Jo Tobias of RootShoot Soils, a specialist in living compost and regenerative soil management. Since 2015, she has supported farmers across Canada in transitioning toward more resilient, biologically based growing systems.

Hands-On Learning at a Working Farm: Immerse yourself in the real-world application of regenerative techniques at Little Dog Farm, a 60-acre polyculture orchard managed by Cathy and Ian Finley. They'll share their proven methods for enhancing soil health, building fertility, and supporting their cider apple production.

Practical Skills You Can Implement Immediately:

• Thermophilic Compost Construction: Master the science and hands-on techniques of building nutrient-rich compost piles to cultivate diverse microorganisms.
• Liquid Biological Amendment Production: Learn to produce and apply powerful compost extracts and teas, enhancing your soil's microbial life.
• Soil Quality Evaluation: Gain practical skills in assessing your soil's health, including aggregate stability, biological activity, and root development.
• Regenerative Orchard Management: Observe and learn from Little Dog Farm's successful integration of cover cropping, cover crop management, and biological amendments.
• Irrigation and Water Use: Understand the critical link between proper irrigation (drip and micro-sprinklers), watershed infrastructure and healthy soil, particularly in mitigating the impacts of drought.
• Community and Collaboration: Engage in group exercises and discussions, fostering peer-to-peer learning and developing actionable plans for your own farm.
• Locally Sourced Meals: Enjoy delicious, locally prepared meals by Cathy Finley, further enhancing your immersive experience.

Why This Event Matters:

Soil degradation is a critical issue impacting productivity and long-term sustainability for farmers. This workshop will empower you to:

• Enhance soil health, resulting in healthier, more robust crops.
• Reduce reliance on expensive synthetic inputs, increasing farm profitability.
• Enhance water retention in your soils, crucial for resilience during drought periods.
• Contribute to a stronger, more collaborative agricultural community and local food security.

Who Should Attend:

This event is ideal for Orchard, Vineyard, Forage, and Mixed Vegetable Producers who are ready to invest in the long-term health and productivity of their land.

Limited to 50 participants to ensure an impactful learning experience.

Date: October 16-18, 2025 Location: Little Dog Farm, Creston, BC

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach to land management and cultivate a more sustainable and resilient future for your farm!

Day 1 - October 16, 2025


🕑: 08:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Soil as an Ecosystem: Foundations of Regeneration.
Host: Cathy & Ian Finley

Info: Welcome and Introductions. Dive into soil ecology, decomposition, and organic matter with foundational presentations, a farm tour, and hands-on compost building. Presentation: soil as an ecosystem, decomposition and organic matter. Little Dog Farm Tour.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking

Info: Take a break! Enjoy refreshments while connecting with other farmers and agricultural professionals.

🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Enjoy delicious, locally prepared meals by Cathy Finley.

🕑: 01:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Soil as an Ecosystem: Foundations of Regeneration.
Host: Ian Finley

Info: Practical demonstration of thermophilic compost assembly. Presentation on the Art & Science of Living Compost

🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Take a break! Enjoy some refreshments while connecting with other farmers and agriculture professionals.

Day 2 - October 17, 2025


🕑: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nutrient Cycling, the Rhizosphere, and Liquid Bio Blends.
Host: Cathy & Ian Finley

Info: Explore soil aggregation, nutrient flow, and rhizosphere dynamics—paired with practical applications of compost and biological inputs. Hands-on activity: Compost Management. Presentation: soil aggregation, nutrient cycling, the rhizosphere and the soil food web. Group discussions.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Take a break! Enjoy refreshments while connecting with other farmers and agricultural professionals.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Enjoy delicious, locally prepared meals by Cathy Finley.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Nutrient Cycling, the Rhizosphere and Liquid Bio Blends
Host: Ian Finley

Info: Hands-on & theory: Liquid bio blends and farm restoration. Group exercise/discussion

🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Take a break! Enjoy refreshments while connecting with other farmers and agricultural professionals.

Day 3 - October 18, 2025


🕑: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Whole-System Integration: From Microbes to Management.
Host: Cathy & Ian Finley

Info: Connect the dots between soil, plant and animal health systems, and long-term soil stewardship through guided presentations and discussions. Hands-on compost management. Presentation: soil food web part 2, phyllosphere, endosphere, human health. Tour: cover crop planning and watershed infrastructure

🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Take a break! Enjoy some refreshments with fellow farmers and agriculture professionals.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch!
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Enjoy delicious, locally prepared meals by Cathy Finley.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Whole-System Integration: From Microbes to Management
Host: Ian Finley

Info: Presentation: Animal Integration & Irrigation Management

Presentation: Soil as an Ecosystem – Next Steps

Final group discussion/exercise

🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Refreshments/Tea & Coffee/Short Networking
Host: Cathy Finley

Info: Take a break! Enjoy some refreshments with fellow farmers and agriculture professionals.

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