June 16th: No-till Vegetable Production in Dry Lands; Daniel Puccini
June 23rd: Vermiculture and Composting; Jim Brooks
Traditional farming relies heavily on tilling. This widespread practice, however, can be very detrimental to the surrounding ecology as tilling reduces biodiversity which is crucial for fostering a healthy ecosystem. In this workshop, Daniel Puccini will talk about different techniques he’s tried on his small farm to produce food on the top of a high, dry mountain. By integrating old knowledge with new technologies, we can overcome some of the challenges associated with our dry climate and short growing season. Here, we will discuss water collection and irrigation, seed selection, and reduced tilling, all of which are meant to foster soil health in our high and dry climate.
In the children’s workshop, we will discuss where food comes from and how we can integrate ourselves into a healthy food system. We will also discuss how seeds work and children will participate in related activities that are both fun and educational.
Jim Brooks is a master of permaculture design. He is the Owner and Director of Soilutions, a major composting site in Albuquerque, and design- and project manager of the Tijeras Creek Remediation Site, where Jim has is dedicated to establishing a healthier creek area. In these workshops, Jim will talk about the benefits of composting, the makeup of a healthy compost system, and how to integrate worms and beneficial microbes into that system. Green composting materials will be brought in from the nearby café and manure and wood chips will be also be provided. Participants will learn how they themselves can build healthy soils at home and about how to foster healthy organisms in their compost piles.
In the children’s workshops, kids will dive straight into the compost pile, where we’ll discuss all the different life forms that live inside. Kids will learn how important small organisms are in a healthy ecology.
July 14th: Earthworks and Eradication of Detrimental Invasive Species; Christian Meuli
Without moisture, soil lacks the microbial life that is crucial for growing food. In this workshop, permaculturist Chris Meuli will talk about erosion control and how earthworks can have such a profound impact on soil health. Participants will learn about how to reduce erosion and increase soil fertility by creating woodchip berms, diversion channels, organic fences, earthen sponges, and rock dams. Participants will be introduced to some key tenets of landscape design and learn how these components can also foster food production. Further, participants will be introduced to several crucial tools which help assess the topography of the land and help guide landscape design.
Kids will explore different types of soils and will learn what makes one soil better for growing than another. They can then apply this knowledge to an educational game where children are bound to get muddy and learn about how water interacts with soil.
July 28th: Biodiversity: Integrating Poultry into Vegetable Production; Al Humble
A sustainable agricultural system is balanced. By integrating poultry into vegetable production, we can reduce the need for external inputs by eliminating the need for synthesized chemicals and pesticides. Of course, chickens also produce eggs and meat and are therefore a very attainable goal for many residents interested in backyard food production. Al Humble has been practicing integrative agriculture in Edgewood for 20 years. In these workshops, Al will discuss how chickens can be raised symbiotically with vegetable production. Specifically, Al will discuss the benefits of raising chickens in chicken tractors and in mobile electric netting. These alternatives to permanent fencing help keep chickens healthy and safe, while reducing feed costs. We will also discuss alternative methods of feed production including how to raise feed for backyard chickens.
Children will have the opportunity to take care of chickens and to collect eggs. Here, we will also discuss raising chickens for meat. This Workshop is meant to help strengthen children’s knowledge about where food comes from. Further, we will discuss how chickens can be used on the farm for other benefits including bug control and weed control.
August 4th: Cover Crops, Mulch & Perennials; Daniel Puccini
Bare soil is unhealthy and the benefits of low- and no- till gardening are becoming more widespread. In a dry area with such high temperatures, temperature fluctuation, and high winds, it is essential that we strive to keep bare soil to a minimum. In this workshop, Daniel will discuss the importance of living mulches and the advantages of planting perennials alongside annuals in vegetable production. Further, individuals will help in establishing a mulch that will keep the ground covered through the fall and winter months. These mulches will minimize bare soil, reduce evaporation, and maximize microbial life which will inevitably result in a healthier ecosystem and a more productive garden.
In this workshop, kids will have the opportunity to plant and spread seeds. Children will walk through the dry creek area and will learn, through hands-on observation, about the makeup of a healthy ecosystem. We will collect wild seeds and learn about how to build off nature’s example in our own lives.