--------------------------- Roots Make Soil ------------------------------

An online course on the principles of soil health, using problem-based learning.

Learn what the soil health principles are, where they are gleaned from and how their application improves- and creates soil crumb structure.

Living Roots - Covered Soil - Minimal Disturbance - Diversity

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 Details

Runs for two mornings 9am - 1.00pm

Session 1: Presentations

- Regenerative ag & soil health principles

Session 2: Workshop/Exercises

- Analysis of soils on your operation,

- Applied principles

Soilmentor Access

When enrolled you will be given complementary access to a Soilmentor account for use on the course, for: recording soils obsevations and sharing data with the tutor, for feedback and analysis on session 2.

Offline Viewing

All sessions will be videoed and made available to you offline, for you to watch again, or to view if you miss the live session.

Discounts Codes

Available for: LWA & OGA Members

Who is this course for?

• Market gardeners

• Commercial growers

• Nursery workers

• Horticulture managers

• Apprentices, trainee growers

Topics/Structure

Regenerative Agriculture – The Broader Context

• The imperative

• 4 Ecosystem Processes

Empirical case for good soil management

• How different strategies affect soil structure

• Reducing grade-outs and crop failures

• Minimising moisture stress

Defining soil health

• How it's articulated and how to measure it

Soil Health Principles

• What they are & the processes that underpin them

• Empirical evidence of their application on market gardens

Evidencing soil health

• Aggregation, spade tests, visual soil inspection

Aggregation and crumb structure

• What creates it, and how to maximise

Nutrient Cycling

• Fostering nitrogen fixation for all crops

One Key Insight

• Microbes Matter

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

Best Practice Management Solutions

• Cultivation systems

• Cover crops

Compost Systems

• Traits of best practice options

Sign-Posts & Practical Tips

• Case studies

• Monitoring & trials

• What to do this season

What You Take Away

• Digital hand-outs

• PowerPoint Presentations

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 the Tutor

Niels Corfield has been working to deliver a truly regenerative food system for over 15 years.

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

He advises and consults on: soil health, planned grazing, agroforestry, and whole farm planning.

He helps transition farm operations, through an inclusive/participatory approach.

He provides a mapping & design service for whole farm planning, that include: agroforestry, fencing, water & power.

His clients include: Southanan Estate, Fir Farm, Dora’s Dairy, Birch Farm Woolsery, Fosse Tillery Farm.

In his work as a soils researcher, technician and demonstrator he has helped to develop the Sectormentor for Soils app and website: https://soils.sectormentor.com/about-us/

Pulling together the different protocols along side testing & demonstrating the app in the field, with farmers. He has also helped coordinate the PFLA project: Monitoring the Pulse of Soils under Pasture.

As well as conducting cover crops trials on arable and horticulture operations in the UK, he has carried-out on-farm soil assessments with a number of farmers and growers in the SW, Wales, the SE and the Midlands.

He delivers specialist training courses for farmers, growers and land managers. He has delivered trainings in England, Wales & Scotland. These courses are practical, applied & participatory and focus on ways that farmers and growers can implement the principles of regenerative agriculture on this operations.

He is committed to an information-lead approach to land-based decision making and management practices. He works closely with Sectormentor, SioBio Lab & Field Margin.

He has 12 years teaching experience, with adult education. He is formally trained in Holistic Management & Regenerative Agriculture Design.

Client Testimonials

Niels has been a great help for Montgomerie Farms. Since we committed to going down the regenerative farming route he has been an essential guide to helping us with strategy, key suppliers and implementation.

His initial two day course helped all involved understand the effects of what we were doing and introduced us to the practical solutions on how to implement the changes. Practical on-site percolation tests clearly showed the existing variances so that even the most sceptical then paid attention.

We were keen to make sure we had the data before we started, and Niels has been key to helping us choose the right software, input our farm correctly, and select the right tools to take the ongoing measurements required.

I would highly recommend him for anyone considering going down this route.

Miles Montgomerie 2019