> Living Roots - Covered Soil - Minimal Disturbance – Diversity <

A one-day course on the application of the soil health principles, to your growing operation.

The soil health principles work. From large farms to market gardens, when implemented doggedly they bring real results: better soil structure, healthier crops and more consistent yields. What's more, the growers that have most rigorously applied these principles have the more profitable operations today.

Course Outcomes

• Turning observations into actions

• Applying the soil health principles to everyday management situations

• Bringing the power of covered growing to the open field

• Understanding the rules of successful cover crop design and management

• Using the soil health principles to analyse & redesign your rotation

• Selecting best practice composting systems for your operation

Content

Soil Health Principles recap

Applying the soil health principles to specific management cases

• Creating new growing areas

• Establishment & husbandry

• Weeds and weeding

• Harvesting, clearing beds & change over

Covered Growing

• Best practice, low cost options

Cropping

• Intercropping

• Mulching

Cover Crops

• Designing mixes, what to include or leave out

• Spring or autumn sown

Rotations and Rotation Planning

• Applied soil health principles

• Appraise your existing rotation

• Redesign your rotation using

Composting Systems

• Overview of best practice options

Monitoring soils & plant health

• Sign-posting

Who is this course for?

• Any individuals that have completed a our Part 1 course, aka Improving Soil Health on Horticulture Operations

What you take away from the course

• PowerPoint Presentations

Course Schedule

• Morning – theory, classroom

• Lunch – packed lunch

• Afternoon – rotation design exercise & further learning, classroom

What to Bring

• Existing rotation for your plot

• Packed lunch

• Warm clothes

• Waterproofs, wellies, brollie

• Notebook, camera, smartphone etc

Soil Health Principles

1 Living Root – for as Long-/as Often as Possible

2 Covered Soil – with Residues or Living Plants

3 Minimise Disturbance/Compaction – Tillage

4 Maximise Diversity – in Rotations/Plantings

5 Feed Soils – with Organic Matter (Between Cropping)

6 Incorporate Animals – Ideally Adaptive Grazed

7 Minimise Use of Chemicals/Synthetics

Student Testimonials

“Inspiring course, taught me so much. Very enjoyable”

“Highly recommend this course, packed full of informative content. I have left full of ideas that I can’t wait to implement”

About Niels Corfield

Niels Corfield has been working to deliver a truly sustainable food system for over 10 years.

He is an advisor, researcher, educator, designer, grower and nurseryman. Working to create regenerative landscapes, farms and operations in the UK and Europe. He is focussed on agroecological systems that are low maintenance and productive.

He advises and mentors on: soil health, agroforestry, planned grazing and setting-up on-farm crop trials. He provides whole-farm planning and design services for transition farm operations, through an inclusive framework.