Cultivating Good Soil

517 Kings Creek Road,Brevard NC 28712

23 July, 2022

Description

Some of the underground processes affecting nutrient availability are somewhat out of our control but there are a number of a techniques that a grower can use to help their soil better support their plants. These techniques start with bed construction and continue for as long as the garden is in production. Efforts to improve soil health are rewarded with higher yield, fewer pests and weeds, better water hold capacity, improved drainage, and better overall success. In this two and half hour class, Leah will cover everything you need to cultivate healthy soil including: Sheet mulching and other bed construction techniques designed to build deep, carbon-rich soil. No till, no dig techniques that prevent excessive weeds and build proper soil structure in the garden. Considerations when selecting raised bed materials including access, cost, and longevity and why beds should contain loads of carbon. How to select soil and compost including reliable sources for purchasing. Techniques to keep your soils active year-round including mulches and cover crops. How to get started with a 3-bay composting system and when compost teas can be useful. How to use worms (vermiculture) and chickens to quickly and efficiently transform food and carbon waste into usable plant nutrition. Considerations when choosing organic fertilizers and how to choose the right fertilizer for your desired outcome. Participants will receive a complete notes packet including color photos, see real-life examples of the techniques Leah recommends, and have the opportunity to ask all their burning soil questions. Leah is in the midst of a garden installation project which presents a unique, one-time opportunity for participants to see her methods in action. Leah has twenty years of gardening experience including seven years studying plants, soils, fungi, and human-agriculture interactions at Georgia Southern and Appalachian State Universities. She's killed far more plants than you. Come and learn from her experience.