Get your hands dirty in this hands-on, on-farm event, where we put theory into practice. In this engaging session, we’ll introduce you to a variety of biological tools used to assess soil biology, building upon the knowledge from our first virtual event in this Microbes series. Discover the tools used in soil analysis, including microscopes and microbiometers, and learn how they can help you gain valuable insights into your soil’s health. Also, bring a sample of your own soil, and our experts will evaluate it right on the spot. After the analyses, join us for a group discussion, where we’ll interpret the results and provide insights into soil management practices that can make a real difference on your farm.

Agenda:

10:00 AM – Welcome and Introduction

11:30 AM – Microbial Assessment tools

12:00 PM – Break (BYO Lunch, light refreshments provided)

12:45 PM – Soil Health Assessment Demonstration

1:30pm – Questions & Answers

2:00pm – Wrap Up & Thank You

About the Instructors:

Dan Kittredge has been an organic farmer for more than 30 years. He grew up on Many Hands Organic Farm in central Massachusetts with his parents, Julie Rawson, long time NOFA/Mass Executive Director; and Jack Kittredge, publisher of The Natural Farmer. After working globally in the late 90s and early 2000s with farmers, NGOs, and researchers across India, Russia, and Central America, Dan returned to the U.S., and in 2010 launched the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), in order to ignite a movement around food quality.

Dan has become one of the leading proponents of “nutrient density,” and works to demonstrate the connections between soil health, plant health, and human health through workshops and speaking engagements around the world, the annual Soil and Nutrition Conference, and an increased presence online through social media, a YouTube channel, and numerous webinars and podcasts.

Dan launched the Real Food Campaign, now the Bionutrient Institute, that, with open-source science partners Our-Sci and FarmOS, leads the effort to identify and increase nutrition in the food supply. The Bionutrient Institute has engineered and released a hand-held consumer spectrometer, the Bionutrient Meter, designed to test nutrient density at the point of purchase and bring transparency to the marketplace. Via the Bionutrient Meter, the goal is to empower consumers to choose their foods based on nutrient quality and thereby leverage economic incentives to drive full system regeneration.

MDAR Microbes Series

This event is supported by Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).The goal of this project is to increase farmers’ understanding of soil microbes as a part of a sustainable specialty crop production system and help them adopt new tools and practices to support soil microbes and soil health. In this series we will gather data from all participants related to their soil management and fertility regimen and compare these practices over the growing season and how these relate to soil microbe population in terms of biomass and diversity.

Accessibility:

Portions of our farm tour will cover uneven terrain and stairs. Bathrooms are available on site. We want to make sure your accessibility needs are met during the event. Please share with us your needs regarding (but not limited to: physical accessibility, allergies, noise, scent, gender, intellectual accessibility, and any instructions or tips to help you fully participate.

Refund/Inclement Weather Policy:

There is indoor space for us to gather in case of rain. For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here.

Capacity:

Capacity for this event is limited to 50 people. Register ahead of time to secure your space!

Questions?

Contact Hannah at [email protected]

Sponsors