Watch video on the full moon of the 2019 Spring Equinox, also called the Worm Moon.
With Daylight Savings Time in effect and longer daylight, coupled with a few days with temps in the fifties, it is apparent that gardening days are not too far away.
This past Saturday was the NOFA New Hampshire Winter Conference. Although it was almost Spring, the day still felt very much like winter with cold blustery winds. From 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM farmers, backyard gardeners and conservationists listened to a variety of speakers, enjoyed delicious healthy food and shopped at a Green Market Fair.
Rather than focus on a particular theme, I selected four workshops that were all different from one another. In the morning, Cat Buxton of Thetford, Vermont, spoke of Soil Health and In-Field Monitoring. Improving the health of our soils through minimizing disturbance, maximizing diversity and keeping the soil covered can all help absorb carbon from the atmosphere. There is tremendous potential there and scientists are only beginning to understand the potential of utilizing plants and life underground to address the current climate crisis that has been brought on by industrialization and the destruction of the Earth's natural vegetative cover.
Rather than focus on a particular theme, I selected four workshops that were all different from one another. In the morning, Cat Buxton of Thetford, Vermont, spoke of Soil Health and In-Field Monitoring. Improving the health of our soils through minimizing disturbance, maximizing diversity and keeping the soil covered can all help absorb carbon from the atmosphere. There is tremendous potential there and scientists are only beginning to understand the potential of utilizing plants and life underground to address the current climate crisis that has been brought on by industrialization and the destruction of the Earth's natural vegetative cover.
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| Cat Buxton describes different soil characteristics |
The second session I attended was presented by Dr. John Zahina-Ramos who traveled from Illinois to
talk about his research projects on quantifying sustainability benefits of small-scale agricultural operations through experiments he has done as a single farmer on his own property.
The NOFANH Winter Conference always has great vendors at their Green Market Fair and this year was no different. I can never pass by the books displayed without buying something. This year I purchased Consulting the Genius of the Place by Wes Jackson and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I have already started reading Braiding Sweetgrass which describes how all plants and animals as intrinsically connected and calls us to truly acknowledge the wonder of nature, thereby demanding our respect and appreciation. Musical entertainment at the fair was provided by American folk band Decatur Creek.
In the afternoon, I listened to the history of some of New Hampshire's heirloom and native plants through photos presented by John Forti of Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire. And, finally the last workshop session I attended was a virtual walk through the woods as poet Hannah Fries read from her book Forest Bathing Retreat: Find Wholeness in the Company of Trees. It was a relaxing way to end the afternoon before listening to the evening keynote "What's Wrong with Working 35 Hours Per Week? Using Lean Ideas to Cut Out Waste and Free up Your Time" by farmer and author Ben Hartman.
There was a lot of information to take in and now that Spring is officially here, I am looking forward to putting some of the ideas presented at the conference into practice.
UPDATE: I just received an e-mail that I won the "guess how many eggs" in this container" contest put on by Pete and Gerry's organic free range eggs. A year's supply of eggs, thanks Pete and Gerry's for supporting this event!
In the afternoon, I listened to the history of some of New Hampshire's heirloom and native plants through photos presented by John Forti of Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire. And, finally the last workshop session I attended was a virtual walk through the woods as poet Hannah Fries read from her book Forest Bathing Retreat: Find Wholeness in the Company of Trees. It was a relaxing way to end the afternoon before listening to the evening keynote "What's Wrong with Working 35 Hours Per Week? Using Lean Ideas to Cut Out Waste and Free up Your Time" by farmer and author Ben Hartman.
There was a lot of information to take in and now that Spring is officially here, I am looking forward to putting some of the ideas presented at the conference into practice.
UPDATE: I just received an e-mail that I won the "guess how many eggs" in this container" contest put on by Pete and Gerry's organic free range eggs. A year's supply of eggs, thanks Pete and Gerry's for supporting this event!
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