FIELD DAY - Low Tech/High Yield Soil Fertility Boosting Workshop

Increase your farm and garden's soil fertility with less effort! Reduce inputs & create self renewing soil fertility. Four workshops in one!

• Easy Vermicomposting - Full workshop demo with Samantha from Meme's Worms on how to begin, maintain, and make your soil thrive with a small to medium scale worm bin. Worm compost is one of the most biologically diverse forms of compost, allowing small amounts to go a very long way. We will go through all of the practical steps to successful vermicomposting: building a bin, feeding & caring for the worms, harvesting & applying the compost, and more. Achieve next-level soil fertility with homegrown natural worm castings.
• How to make and apply compost teas and extracts - Learn about easy low tech compost application that saves your back, saves money on purchased amendments, vastly increases plant health, strengthens root systems, and supports the soil food web in your garden. Applications of easy to use compost teas and extracts have been proven to dramatically improve new and established gardens, and reduce effort and cost to the grower. Simeon Kleinsasser of Hiwassee will lead us through the how to's of water based compost extraction for more dynamic, efficient and effective compost application.
• Hands on soil food web microscopy demo - The popularity of the term soil food web has grown, but what is it precisely? Pascale of Salem Soil Solutions and Simeon will help us get to know the microorganisms beneath our feet with on site microscopes! We will get a live look at soil life via on-site soil and compost extract sample microsocopy. We will familiarize ourselves with the most vital livestock in our gardens which drive organic gardening growth, health, and nutrient cycling. Participants will come away with practical knowledge of how to support and thrive with a soil food web framework of understanding.
• An in depth tour and walkabout of the Bountiful Acre garden - We will walk through the small but mighty BA market garden, touring the thermophilic compost operation, how to incorporate living paths, permaculture strategies, cover cropping, 'disease' free and nutrient dense vegetable production, and more. This Q and A in the spring garden will bring it all together, and give participants a hands on look at the results of the techniques that we have learned.

Facilitators have more than 100 years combined experience with these methods that you can bring home and easily replicate in your farm/garden.

• , Saxaphaw based landscaping & market gardening cooperative, since 2007
• : From a single bin in the laundry room to a leading small scale worm farm operation and vermicompost educator, traveling all the way from Valdosta, GA!
• : Madisonville, TN based provider of quality equipment solutions for regenerating soil biology.
• : Comprehensive soil food web testing & data analysis, connecting farmers and growers to their soils through knowledge & education.

Includes:

• In depth, coherent discussion with nationally known practitioners,
• 5 Star lunch option included in registration fee from Left Bank Butchery in Saxapahaw
• Compost extract and vermicompost sample to take home and try out!
• Generous discount coupon from Meme’s Worms for bulk worms to start your own bin.

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