Soil food web class will be offered in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN — Dr. Elaine Ingham, Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute, will lead a three-day class on the soil food web, Nov. 1-3, at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown Ohio.

This class will illustrate nutrient cycling through examining the biological agents of plant nutrient dynamics in the context of soil chemistry, biology and soil ecological data produced by land grant universities.

Soil health

For more than three decades Ingham has helped thousands of individuals and companies improve their agricultural practices through a deeper understanding of what soil health really means. Ingham’s teaching style makes it easy to comprehend how important biology is to healthy soil.

Once you understand soil biology, all the other pieces fall into place. You will comprehend how compost, cover crops, fertilizers, and compaction affect the quality and health of your soil.

The knowledge you gain will allow for a more holistic and simple approach to growing your crops as well as weed management. This class will give you the knowledge necessary for a comprehensive understanding of complex forms of life in the soil, their interactions and importance for agriculture.

Class recommendations

This class is recommended for professionals working with vegetables, grains, orchards, landscapes, turf, hydroponics, etc. as well as agricultural advocates who wish to gain a greater understanding of soil health. It is considered a prerequisite for students who intend to take Rodale’s Compost, Compost Tea/Extract and Soil Microscopy classes.

To register online go to http://rodaleinstitute.org/event-registration/?ee=59 or contact Maria Pop, Education and Outreach Manager, at 610- 683-1481, or maria.pop@rodaleinstitute.org. Tuition of $575 does not include lunch. The host organization provides a locally sourced lunch at $10 per person per day.
This event is sponsored by the Compost Campaign Project which is funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, in collaboration with Grow Youngstown and Goodness Grows.