November 2015 - soilhack-announce - lists.ourproject.org

World Soil Saturday - Dec 5th 2015 Hawkwood, Glos
by Biodynamic Association 25 Nov '15

25 Nov '15

Dear All, Following on from the excellent Soil Culture@Create events in the summer orchestrated by Touchstone Collaborations <http://www.touchstonecollaborations.com/> to celebrate International Year of the Soil we are pleased to let you know about this follow on event *"**World Soil Day" on Sat 5th December.* Biodynamics will have a strong presence there along with lots of other excellent like-minded organizations. If you are not able to come during the day then you are most welcome to attend the evening *Festival of Film for Soil and Soul from 6.30pm onwards. * Details below - Thank you for sharing with your contacts list and via social media. Look forward to seeing you there - Jessica (BDA Office) -- The Biodynamic Association Re-Thinking Agriculture with 90 Years of Vital Soil Vital Food Tel: 01453 759501 ( Mon - Fri 9-1) Email:[email protected] www.biodynamic.org.uk

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APPG Soil Inquiry
by Christabel Buchanan 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Hi all, An event on soil health at parliament on 9th November: http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5afa388757de40ae7a72b816b&id=44e2e70722… ?

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Fwd: [48 Hour Free Webinar Access] Growing Plants in Containers with Dr Elaine Ingham
by Adam Ormes Court 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

Another thing, timely! -- *In order to change an existing paradigm you do not struggle to try and change the problematic model /* *You create a new model and make the old one obsolete /* *That, in essence, is the higher service to which we are all being called. //* Buckminster Fuller ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Soil Learning Center <info(a)soillearningcenter.com> Date: 6 November 2015 at 12:54 Subject: [48 Hour Free Webinar Access] Growing Plants in Containers with Dr Elaine Ingham To: ormus23(a)gmail.com Hi! This is for all growers! If you are interested in how you can keep your soil healthy when your growing is confined to pots and confined spaces this will be exciting news for you! We have arranged for Free Access to a comprehensive webinar: Growing Plants in Containers led by world renowned Dr. Elaine Ingham We're indeed privileged that we are able to share with you one of the popular Q&A Webinars from Dr. Ingham's popular *Soil Food Web Course* *Topic: "Growing Plants In Containers"* *Here is your free access link:* *http://soillearningcenter.com/containerwebinar-lp <http://soillearningcenter.com/containerwebinar-lp>* NOTE: You only have 48 hours to access this webinar... So watch it now! [image: “Growing Plants in Containers" Webinar] <https://hh.infusionsoft.com/app/linkClick/30157/2604daf18a93bdf6/3379727/1f…> *Here are the questions that were answered in the Webinar:* 1. What are the basic requirements to permanently grow plants in containers? *2. What is the ideal container to plant in?* *Size* *Material * *Are there certain guidelines to what containers are able to be used?* *What containers do you recommend?* 3. Fertilizing Your Plants (When to feed? What to feed? – compost, compost teas/extracts, Do the plants need extra minerals?) *4. Since the roots of plants in containers cannot go down deep to access minerals, do we have to or would it be a good idea to add minerals at intervals, especially to perennials? * *If so, what forms...rock dusts? * *If so, by what techniques? Soluble minerals? Some other form? * *What are the guidelines about how often?* 5. What are the options for growing mediums? Soil Soil Mixes Compost Vermicompost Mulch *6. Some people recommend using various inert gels and granules for their water holding capacity - vermiculite as an example - within the compost/peat/soil mix. * *Do these substances have a place in container gardening?* 7. We are using and suggesting a mix of 1:1 ratio of coco-coir and vermicompost and a handful of soil as a base mix for container gardening and a supplement of compost, aerated manure, water as regular additions. Coming from India, is this a good base soil mix for rooftop container gardening? Any corrections and improvements in this? *8. How can we get maximum soil biological diversity in our vermicompost bins? We suggest small scale (literally a paint bucket size) vermicompost bins with red wigglers, and what we suggest is working on hundreds of rooftops already here in India. That said, I am constantly thinking about increasing the diversity of soil biology in those bins. * *Any suggestions regarding that since hot composting is not an option on home scale in the ultra dense urban situations here in India? * *9. Watering systems* *Spray* *Drip * *Water trays* *Any comments on self watering types?* 10. Is there potential for making the soil of container plants go anaerobic with some watering techniques? If so how must we water container plants to make sure they do not go anaerobic? *11. If we have water coming out of our potted plant containers, does that mean that the soil is anaerobic? I was always told to water the containers until water starts coming out of the bottom. Would that be correct? * *What should be the moisture levels of the soil for potted plants?* 12. In 55 GAL. drums, garden walls, vertical gardens and small containers how does heat affect biological life and moisture evaporation when sun hits the top of the containers and sides all day? How often should the plant be watered? And when to add tea (fertilizer) to reduce the confined root space and heat stress and keep it alive and producing it's life cycle? ( NFT like system? ) *13. Where I live in Brazil, borderline tropics (22° S) with 800m altitude, there are at least 2 periods per year (one in late spring, and another in mid summer), when it rains almost straight for two weeks (sometimes drizzly, sometimes harder). The soil in my plant containers gets and stays very very wet during these periods. Should I be concerned about this? I realize that good drainage is important, but if the drainage is too good, the soil does not hold enough moisture and dries up as soon as the rain stops and it gets hot again (25-30° C). What do I need to consider, especially in terms of soil composition and soil biology to manage this situation?* 14. It is possible to keep tubers producing up to the top of a drum adding layers of soil as long as the vine grows up or vice versa ? *15. Does container growing cut down on water use?* 16. The Bad Guys - Pests and Diseases Are these a sign of a poorly managed soil? *17. What to use or add to control aphids (almost microscopic spiders/net on myrrh leaves and snails on almost all trees specially on papaya?* 18. Repotting Plant & Caring for Containers Does the soil get exhausted? Do you need to rotate your crops and practise fallowing? *19. What do we need to do differently to manage the soil used in rooftop gardens (plants in containers) vs. planting in the ground, considering a borderline tropical climate where temperatures rarely drop below 13ºC, but get up to 30º in the summer (dry winter, wet summer)?* 20. Indoor Container Gardening Can you permanently grow food crops inside? *21. Could you please share your thoughts on Soil vs. Hydroponic container growing? * 22. I am also very interested in knowing more about hydroponic growing and using the soil food web. I would like to know whether the microbes will survive in the system as it is at present – we grow our plants in sterile rock wool, and we use a nutrient film technique for the system where water is recirculated and a premixed fertiliser normally used for lettuces is added in – chemical fertilizer that is. Could it still be beneficial to add compost tea as things are at present? *23. Is it good to mulch container plants? * *Is there any down side to doing so, anything we should or should not do with mulches of container plants? * *Also, what do we need to do for container plants to take them through freezes and bad winter weather?* 24. Everyone says you have to change the soil in the containers every 1-2 years. Is it possible to maintain the complete soil food web in containers, prevent leaching (and consequently prevent having to change the soil), and have a year-round sustainable production of at least leaf greens and vegetables? *25. In vegetable container gardening on a balcony (no contact with the earth), if you have red wrigglers and don't have a litter layer in your containers, will they eat the plants?* 26. Is there a species of worm especially well adapted to containers? *27. Could one keep those composting worms happy and thriving with a mulch on top of the soil, which one refreshes often?* 28. Is it bad for houseplants to have an earthworm in the pot? *29. Do you recommend sprouting seeds in compost? If it’s nicely balanced does it ward off damping-off disease? * 30. These plants require a well balanced nutrition scheme from the beginning, and have a higher Ca and Mg demand at the early to mid flowering stage. How should the biology be applied to guarantee that all nutritional requirements are present from the beginning of the transplant stage? Also, what strategy should be used to make extra Ca, Mg, P, and K available to the plant during the pre-flower to the flowering phase? *31. Could you talk to us about the F:B ratio, the type of nitrogen and biology required to grow this crop in containers.* 32. Here in Mexico a lot of creeks and tiny rivers are contaminated with Colibacteria or toxic chemicals, so you can imagine that kills everything. How can we built a "plant container" as a bio-filter for contaminated rivers, creeks, or water stream in order to clean the water or to reduce the contamination? *33. What tips do you have for growing in green houses?* 34. Could you also point me to any good reference materials on this topic that you know of? *35. What are further considerations for producing nutrient dense food?* * Watch it here: http://soillearningcenter.com/containerwebinar-lp <http://soillearningcenter.com/containerwebinar-lp> * Keeping your soils healthy, Soil Food Web Team Together we can make a difference. If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below: Unsubscribe <https://hh.infusionsoft.com/app/optOut/27/ff1adb40c281dc52/3379727/1f4acb8a…> 7 The Patch, Victoria 3792 Australia

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Agroforestry for growers workshop
by Adam Ormes Court 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

Agroforestry for growers*30 November 2015* Day workshop on agroforestry for growers at Tolhurst Organic Partnership CIC near Pangbourne, Reading , RG8 7RA on November 30th. 10am - 3.30pm Only £12 including lunch! http://www.efrc.com/?i=events.php&event_id=348&utm_content=buffera8477&utm_… -- *In order to change an existing paradigm you do not struggle to try and change the problematic model /* *You create a new model and make the old one obsolete /* *That, in essence, is the higher service to which we are all being called. //* Buckminster Fuller

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Soil Workshop in London 21st November
by darreno＠openmailbox.org 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

We did Joels workshop in Devon earlier this year and it was great. Joel has a good understanding and is a good communicator, more than happy to answer questions as they come up. http://www.regenerativeagriculture.co.uk/index.php/course-calendar -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

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Extraordinary Seminar on Quantum Agriculture with Hugh Lovel and Shabari Bird, 10th November 2pm at CAWR Ryton Gardens
by Biodynamic Association 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

Dear All A rare chance to hear Hugh Lovell as he does not visit the UK very often and its free! "Hugh aims to raise the level of scientific understanding of biology and agriculture where the intriguing rules of quantum physics are by far the best explanation of how living organisms interact with the soil as well as the wider universe" See below and attached for more details and how to book Jessica (BDA Office ) Dear friends Hot off the press is the news that Hugh Lovel and Shabari Bird from the USA/Australia will be giving a seminar on _Quantum Agriculture_ at Ryton Gardens, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 10^th November, as part of their UK tour. Attached is the flyer and please circulate through your networks as we’d love a good turnout. Lunch included if you can RSVP. Any queries just contact me – there may be time for more informal discussion with Hugh and Shabari after the seminar. With best wishes Julia *Dr Julia Wright* *Senior Research Fellow, Agroecological Futures* *Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience* *Coventry University* *Ryton Organic Gardens* *Wolston Lane, Coventry* *Warwickshire CV8 3LG* *UK* ** *Tel.(+44 ) 02477 651621* *Mob (+44) 7557425257* *www.coventry.ac.uk/cawr <http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cawr>* Modern University of the Year 2014 | 2015 | 2016 Source: The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014, 2015, 2016 Ranked 15th Best University in the UK Source: The Guardian University Guide 2016 NOTICE This message and any files transmitted with it is intended for the addressee only and may contain information that is confidential or privileged. Unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, you should not read, copy, disclose or otherwise use this message, except for the purpose of delivery to the addressee. Any views or opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Coventry University.

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