Soil and Nutrition: Education & Coalition Building ConferenceFeb 9-11, 2012 — Northampton, MA
Growing the Community
After the success of last year's course, the Real Food Campaign will be presenting another series of workshops for the coming growing season. Our goal is to engage and build on what you already know and are doing, and to find ways to increase the bionutrient level of your soil and crops for greater yields, healthier produce and better marketability.
Participation-based with questions and answers, the workshop series is designed for farmers, growers, and gardeners of any type to learn current research and proven methods, and go step-by-step through the process that will lead to optimum crop health and sustained yield.
RFC Director and Workshop Leader: Dan Kittredge Most of the facilitation of the courses is done by Dan Kittredge, Executive Director of the Real Food Campaign. Dan is the son of prominent leaders in the organic movement and has been an organic farmer since childhood. His experience managing organic farms and developing sustainable agriculture techniques has connected him to farmers in Central America, Russia, India and the United States. Dan is passionate about raising the quality of nutrition in our food supply through collaboration with committed individuals, businesses, and organizations that support the value of people growing and eating really good food.
The course for farmers at Wishing Stone Farm in Little Compton, RI will be facilitated by Derek Christianson, owner of Brix Bounty Farm in Dartmouth, MA.
In 2011-2012 we will be presenting two types of workshops, to be held in 15 different locations throughout the Northeast:
Participants in all courses will receive a complimentary, comprehensive RFC handbook as a course companion and for ongoing reference, as well as monthly e-newsletters to supplement the course presentations. Registrants will be expected to procure their own soil tests as desired, and instruction for interpreting those will be in the handbook.
The courses are designed to inform and support participants to grasp and apply innovative and reliable principles and practices for producing more nutritious food crops that lead to healthier lives. The learning focus of the course includes soil biology, mineralogy and energy dynamics. At the same time, we intend to establish a relational infrastructure among growers that will provide the basis for increasing collaboration between them and also with the businesses and organizations that supply their needs and buy their products.
The courses will begin with an analysis of participants' soil tests, discussion about cover crops, and recommended soil amendments. These are ways to build the battery of the soil and stimulate its digestive processes to assure maximum potential for effective crop growth and improved yield in the following spring and summer. Specific forward-looking topics and themes will be addressed and explored, and a gradual immersion will take place as we reach an increasing depth of understanding about the multi-faceted nature of the biological system of the soil and the interaction that takes place between the soil, the air, the plants and our observations and interventions.
Each session will consist of a classroom-style discussion and hands-on demonstration and practice.
A more complete course description is available for download here.
We will be offering nine two-session courses designed especially for commercial farmers, with the first session in October, and the second in late February or early March. These will be weekday sessions, from 9:30am–4:30pm, and enrollment will be limited to 20 participants. The cost will be $150, with substantial financial aid available through a generous grant from the Forrest C. and Frances H. Lattner Foundation. This grant has been given in recognition of our efforts to increase the supply of bionutrient rich food as rapidly as possible in our region, and offers generous support for farmers who wish to attend the course, but need assistance. More information about scholarships available below.
View in a full screen map
Nomadic Farms Wilton, NH October 25 & March 20
Hawthorne Valley Farm Ghent, NY October 23 & February 22
Saratoga Springs UMC Saratoga Springs, NY February 23 & 24
Two Rivers Center Montpelier, VT November 14 & March 5
We will be offering six two-session courses that will be designed for homesteaders, home and community gardeners, and other concerned individuals. These will meet on weekends from 9:30am-4:30pm. The cost will be $150, with discounts for returnees and multiple registrations from the same site. Enrollment for these courses will be limited to 40 participants.
Boston Nature Center Mattapan, MA February 12 & March 25
Those registering and paying the full amount for any course may do so securely online with a credit card below. Those wishing to mail in a check may click below for a form to be printed out and mailed in.
For those farmers seeking financial assistance, please contact Douglas Williams, Course Administrator,at 603-924-7008 or doug@realfoodcampaign.org.
