In celebration of world soil health day, join the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT/ATTRA) on June 23 for a webinar on soil heath principles.
Hear from farmers Paul Kaiser and Ward Burroughs on how they invest in their soils by applying the five principles of healthy soil management on their farms. Two very different farms growing different crops in different locations show how these principles are applied at different scales. NCAT’s Rex Dufour will introduce the topic, providing context about how we got to where we are with respect to soil health, and the urgent need for all farmers to become more conscious about managing for soil health—an investment with very high returns.
At Singing Frogs Farm, Elizabeth and Paul Kaiser’s method of farming diversified crops on three acres In Sonoma, California has resulted in an increase of over 300% in their soil organic matter, while drastically reducing their water use, and generates over $100,000 per acre in sales. Their methods have decreased fertility inputs and water usage and maximized yields while improving the ecological health of their land.
Ward Burroughs of Burroughs Family Farms is a much larger operation, and he and his wife Rosie have been farming for decades. Ward will discuss how he applies these principles to large acreages of almonds in California’s San Joaquin Valley, and his observations of the results, as well as his family’s approach to farming and investing in their soils.
For more information and to register, visit the webinar registration page.
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This article was submitted by Rex Dufour.
Rex Dufour serves as the California regional director for the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Dufour's work focus and background is in teaching and learning about ecological pest management and ecologically-based soil management.