HIGHGATE CENTER, Vt. — On March 23rd from 11 am to 3 pm, the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District, Composting Association of Vermont, Land Care Cooperative, and Choiniere Family Farm are hosting Ferment on the Farm: Brewing microorganisms for no-turn compost and reduced inputs on the farm.
Join these groups at the Choiniere Family Farm to learn to easily grow farm-scale brews of wild lactobacillus bacteria for no-turn composting, inoculants to improve seeding success, and to make cheap and effective biofertilizers and biostimulants. The group will put into practice on-farm fermentation methods designed to reduce labor, costs, and external inputs on the farm while improving microbial activity and diversity, water quality, soil health, and yield.
The workshop will include hands-on brewing of compost inoculant and biofertilizer, and a demonstration of seed inoculant preparation with farmers who have previously worked with these processes. Australian consultant Gerry Gillespie will present and answer questions remotely. A digital microscope to view microbial activity at all stages of brewing will be used. Bring Your Own 5-gallon Bucket and you’ll go home ready to start the brewing process immediately on your farm.
RSVP required by emailing info@FranklinCountyNRCD.org or calling 802-528-4176. Participants will receive three (3) hours of Water Quality Training Credits from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.
About Vermont’s Natural Resources Conservation Districts
Vermont’s Natural Resources Conservation Districts were created by the Soil Conservation Act of 1939. Today, Vermont’s 14 conservation districts work directly with landowners, land users, communities, municipalities, and partner organizations to conserve, protect, and use Vermont’s natural resources. Vermont’s Conservation Districts promote water quality, soil health, and climate resiliency through education, agriculture, forestry, watershed protection, and urban conservation programs.
–Vermont’s Natural Resources Conservation Districts
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