Workshops address farming for nutrient quality

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • November 14, 2012
  • 326
                        
Summary: A two day workshop will be offered to farmers, gardeners and those interested in growing food that is more nutritious through the use of techniques taught by the Bionutrient Food Association. A two day workshop titled Farming for Nutrient Quality Crop Production Course is scheduled for Saturday, Dec, 1 and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at Nature’s Food Market at Berlin. There is a fee for the workshop and scholarships are available for professional growers The workshops are made possible through the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), a nationally recognized non-profit organization with a dedicated team of professional staff, volunteers and consultants committed to the advocacy of vital soils, nourishing food and healthy people. A discount is available to individuals who have participated in other BFA workshops. The workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. for both events. A noon meal is included. To register for the workshops participants can call 774-573-6804 or visit the BFA web site at www.bionutrient.org. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 23. Participants need only register once for both workshops. The Bionutrient Rich Crop Production workshops 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 series includes soil biology, mineralogy and energy dynamics. In addition, the BFA intends 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 workshop will begin with an analysis of participants' soil tests, discussion about cover crops and recommended soil amendments that will help growers apply principles and practices that produce higher quality and more nutritious food. Participants are expected to have a comprehensive strong acid soil test that identifies current mineral levels in the soil. BFA recommends the Base Plus test performed by Logan Lab at Lakeview. Mt. Hope farmer Joel Kurtz has been using BFA techniques to improve the quality of soil that then results in higher quality food that is more nutritious. “Growers have to look at this in the long term,” said Kurtz. “Both growers and consumers can benefit from more nutritious food that has a longer shelf life. People will be in better health and growers will find the cost of production can be lowered because there won’t be a need for chemicals. Their crops can compete with conventionally grown food at markets.” BFA believes there are ways to build the contents of soil and stimulate its digestive processes to assure maximum potential for effective crop growth and improved yield in the upcoming growing seasons. Kurtz refers to this as waking up the biology. “I have used these techniques with success,” said Kurtz. “Healthy, balanced soil takes time. I am currently farming land that was once an organic dairy farm. Through the application of microbes and the planting of cover crops I will be able to eventually grow food that is of the highest quality and has the most nutrition.” Kurtz became interested in more nutritious food when he and his wife experienced health problems that he believed were due to a diet of low quality, non-nutritive food that is typical of industrial agriculture. The workshops aim to address and explore the nature of the biological system of soil and its interaction with the air and the plants. Each session will consist of a classroom-style discussion and hands-on demonstration and practice. Participants who provide their email will also receive monthly e-newsletters to supplement the workshop presentations.


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