Beginning August 20th 2024, Mayland Community College in Burnsville is presenting 11 sessions on producing great soils. These will be interactive meetings on how to build and maintain healthy soil. Focus will be on the interest of attendees. You may choose the sessions wish at attend.
Based on the work of Dr. Elaine Ingham and others, we will examine the invisible workings of the troves of microbial life in our garden soils. That vascular plants actually farm microbes for mutual benefit is an exciting scenario we want to understand in order to build great soil. Minimum 4 students.
Aspects of soil nutrition are revealed by the particular plants that naturally live in particular soils. We will view indicator plants and take soil samples in order to verify our observations. This information can help us understand what plants and food crops will flourish in those soils. Since we will be walking through fields, we suggest wearing good shoes and no shorts. Minimum 4 students.
We will review the advantages and disadvantages of vermicomposting, lasagna method, mulching, raised beds, containers, burying scrapes and mineral composting. Minimum 4 students
How to use a soil test. We will compare the results of our earlier observations against the soil tests and present organic solutions to problems that are indicated by the tests. Minimum 4 students
Learn about the many ways cover crops can build your soil through the winter and later. Cover crop seed can be mixed with grain and legume seed. Cover crops can be cut to lie on the soil and serve as mulch, and can supply mass for compost. The uses of cover crops run even from supplying early winter food to straw that can be make into hats! We will look at planting-timing and mixing seed with your main crop. Minimum 4 students
Located in the Celo community, Goldfinch Farm is a diversified farm for over 20 plus years using no till and cover cropping. Their use of cover crops is extensive. Learn how to under sow in crops, timing of planting, diversity of cover use. Also see how they have improved their soil over the years. This is early for planting so it helps you know when is the best time so you can decide what you want to use for winter. Minimum 4 students.
Katie Ann Tower has been helping Dig-In learn how to build compost. She and Jane Weaver, will share their experience from studies with Elaine Ingham who developed Soil Food Web, especially making compost, incorporates Biodynamics into her work. Making a hot and useful compost is a challenge, but doable and has many benefits for soil and plant health. This will be hands-on as well, so dress for the work. Minimum 4 students.
Bring your soil and compost samples to have a look under Jane’s microscope. We will review the categories and functions of soil microbes. Many of the soil microbes will be at rest awaiting next Spring, but compost microbes are flourishing at this time if they are fed. Minimum 4 students.
Examine the latest in thinking about agriculture as systems: Regeneration, Permaculture, Biodiversity, Biodynamics. How to integrate them into your own plan. Minimum 8 students
Session 10: Visit the Homestead of Jerry and Aldona (4 Hours)
Sheep! Ducks! Fruit trees! Cold frames! Greenhouses! Hügelkultur! Sawmill! Vegetables! Flowers! Perennials! You won’t want to miss it!! Minimum 4 students.
What are our responsibilities to plants? What might be our higher relationships with plants? Are there deeper interactions we can add to our gardening skills? Let us open to experimentation. We will discuss keen observation, intuition, and experiential relationships with plants. Minimum 4 students.
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Farmed for ten (10) years and was a landscaper for over 35 years. He is well-known as an educator and organizer for improving agricultural practices. He is one of the founders of the Organic Growers’ School and managed the Sustainability Farm program through Asheville-Buncombe Community College for four (4) years in Madison County.
Contact Jim at www.earthandspiritdesign.com or jimsmith1945@gmail.com
Ms. Weaver is committed to meeting high standards for transforming blunders made in the past as we take on the transcendent task of working through Nature for nutritive food production, fabulous soil building, and compassionate planetary care-taking. As a child, she was involved in the development of the seedless watermelon. Practices BioDynamic Gardening and has continued studies with Dr. Elaine Ingham since the eighties
