May Soil Health Field Day: MORNING Session
Mon, May 15
|Appleton Farms
Farmers! Join soil health specialists on one of the nation's oldest operating farms for a deep dive into soil properties + techniques and practices for dealing with compaction. AM/PM Sessions require separate registration. Come for just one, or come for both: register accordingly!
Time & Location
May 15, 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Appleton Farms , 219 County Rd, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
Guests
About the event
Join us just for the morning when Rubén Parilla will teach about the basic components of soil science to help us understand the systems that maintain healthy soils.
Site: Appleton Farms in Ipswich, MA
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Topic: Introduction to Soil Science
Capacity for this session is limited to a maximum of 20 people
In the morning session:
Ruben Parrilla, Soil Technical Program Director for NOFA/Mass will present the basic concepts of soil science including:
- The physical elements of soil
- The chemical properties of different soils
- An overview of the main biological components
We'll discuss soil health and various tools at our disposal to mitigate soil compaction in annual vegetable production
Â
Noon - Break
Bring Your Own Lunch / Purchase a local lunch for $15
PM Session requires separate registration.
Come for just one, come for both, but please register accordingly!
Cost:Â
Morning Session // Equitable Sliding Scale: $10-$30
Base Price: $20
Reduced: $10
Supporting: $30
Consider Paying More On The Scale If You:
- Own your home(s), have investments, retirement accounts, inherited money.
- Travel recreationally, work part-time by choice, have access to family money and resources in times of need.
- Have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education, gender and/or racial privilege, class background, etc. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, we ask you to recognize this as a choice.
Consider Paying Less On The Scale If You:
- Are supporting children or have other dependents.
- Have significant debt, have medical expenses not covered by insurance, have tuition/educational expenses.
- Receive public assistance.
- Have immigration-related expenses.
About the farm:
Appleton Farms is one of the oldest continually operating farms in the country and is managed by the Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts nonprofit land conservation organization. They grow certified organic vegetables on 35 acres for a 650-member summer CSA and 200-member winter CSA. The property totals 1000 acres and features a grass-fed beef operation, education and public programs, and trails throughout a diverse grassland, wetland, and forested landscape.
Managing soil health is a key aspect of their crop production system. They focus on building soils by reducing soil disturbance, promoting biodiversity, and keeping the soil covered with plants. Cover crops are strategically used in rotations with vegetable crops to negate the effects of tillage and improve soil health. They are intentional about how cover crops are integrated into these rotations and continuously strive to minimize the time soil is exposed throughout the year.
About the Instructors:
Rubén Parrilla is the Soil Technical Program Director for NOFA/Mass and trained in microscopic soil microbial identification through the Soil Food Web School. He is a Certified Lab Tech and studied Environmental Design at the University of Puerto Rico. Rubén has 15 years’ experience working at different capacities in the environmental laboratory industry. He has been performing soil carbon proxy testing, soil health assessments, soil chemical analysis, and soil microbiological evaluations for NOFA/Mass for over the past year and has extensive experience farming and working with farmers, including beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. Rubén performs soil health related outreach and education events for NOFA/Mass by leading monthly farmer learning calls, providing hands-on workshops and instruction at soil health education events, and networking with farmers and individuals in the agricultural industry. He is a fluent and native Spanish speaker and fully English/Spanish bilingual.
About the Project:
This event is supported by an Agricultural Soil Health grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) in partnership with American Farmland Trust. The USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. NOFA/Mass is providing this programming through a partnership with the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust
Accessibility:
Portions of our farm tour will cover uneven terrain. Handicap accessible bathrooms available. Â 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:
For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here
Questions?
Contact Doug Cook, NOFA/Mass Interim Educational Events Coordinator, at events@nofamass.orgÂ
or 603-969-8195
Tickets
Morning Session
This ticket is for the morning session only! Please register for the PM session separately, and pay for lunch on-site.
From $10.00 to $30.00Sale ended- $10.00+$0.25 service fee
- $20.00+$0.50 service fee
- $30.00+$0.75 service fee
Total
$0.00