Class 2

Soil Organic Matter, Cover Cropping and Related Management Strategies

 Soil organic matter, and especially compost, is the talk of the town amongst organic food producers - and rightly so!  The use of this important soil component is an integral part of organic soil management.  Organic matter plays key roles in nutrient and water storage, microbial life, structure, drainage...you name the soil topic - organic matter probably plays a significant role.  We’ll take a look at some of the many things organic matter does in the soil - and how it does it.

There are many approaches to soil organic matter management, many of which are influenced by large-scale farming.  But what approaches are appropriate for small-scale growers?

 Date: Saturday February 11, 2012 1pm-4pm

Location: UBC Farm 

6182 South Campus Road, Vancouver BC

Cost: $20/class (+$1.49 registration fee) or $70 (+$2.74 registration fee) if you register for all 4 classes

In this second class you will cover:

Soil Organic Matter

●        What is Soil OM?

●        Qualities of Soil OM

●        Management Strategies

○        Nutrients and exchange capacity

○        Water and diffusion

○        Cultivation and aggregation

●        Applying OM

○        Cover Cropping

○        Compost

○        Mulching

○        Sheet Mulching

○        Transplanting

 Cover Cropping

●        Why we cover crop

●        When we cover crop

●        Choosing cover crops

●        Incorporating cover crops into soil

 Field Walk

●        Cover cropping and winter soil cover (mulches) at UBC Farm

●        Visiting compost system

Presenter Bio: 

Chris Thoreau holds a BSc. in Agroecology from the University of British Columbia where he focused on soils, small-scale plant breeding, and urban farming.  Previous to his time at UBC he operated Influence Organics, a one-acre certified organic farm on Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula.  Here Chris focused on utilizing no-till and permaculture principles to grow a variety of vegetables for local markets, CSAs and restaurants. He also sat on the board and certification committee of the local certifying body, the Islands’ Organic Producers Association.  He is also an IOIA-trained organic inspector.

 Chris currently operates My Urban Farm - a bicycle-powered urban farm in Vancouver that specialized in microgreens, and co-owns 24 Carrots - another bicycle powered initiative that works with organic, biodynamic and urban farms to offer one of Vancouver’s most diverse CSAs.

Growing Season Workshops:
This event is part of the UBC Farm Growing Season Workshop Series.  Our goal is to connect sustainability and life-skills experts with our local community through accessible and affordable workshops.   Come join us for a workshop, gain new skills and knowledge, and help support the UBC Farm!