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

2015 SoilHack Gathering
by Darren 28 Aug '15

28 Aug '15

There has been a steady stream of people signing up to this mail list and it feels like time to take things forward. Something we have been talking about since the beginnings of the SoilHack idea is to have gatherings where soil geeks and the soil curious can get together to talk and learn about soil. A day goes quickly and limits time for interactions where as a weekend gives a bit more time for things to happen so we were thinking about a camp. SoilHack was formed around the idea of open collaboration and it would be good to let this guide the organisation of such a gathering. It would be nice if we could keep financial and organisational overheads to a minimum by - - trying to organise something before it gets too cold for people to camp - asking people to bring food to share / collaborating with food preparation (this can be a good time to chat) - asking people to bring stuff to talk about (do workshops, skill shares etc.) There would definitely be some biochar, soil microscopy and aerated compost tea stuff going on. A big part of it would be to get people together to spark conversations around soil, the work and research we are doing, and letting stuff grow out of these interactions. Also to see what ideas/energy people have for taking SoilHack forward. Interested in hearing from anyone interested in participating in such a gathering. We have kindly been offered the option to use the Brook End LAND Centre near Street/Glastonbury, Somerset (1hour south of Bristol) on the 9th - 11th October if we gave a donation towards expenses (firewood etc.) there is a hall / classroom with a woodstove and lots of outdoor space. There would be a limit of 25 participants, and along with camping, space to sleep in the hall or local B&Bs.

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SOil weekend
by Blue Finger Alliance 27 Aug '15

27 Aug '15

Hi Adam, I'm afraid I'm now not available on the weekend you suggest (I had said I would be around that weekend in my previous email). Good luck with it. Looking forward to connecting and sharing our Bristol story with you all soon. Maddy -- The Blue Finger Alliance www.bluefingeralliance.org.uk www.bluefingerfood.wordpress.com @bluefingersoil The Blue Finger Alliance is working towards getting land for local food growing enterprises recognised and protected in planning policy. It is starting this campaign focussing on the Blue Finger, a strip of incredible, top quality soil in North Bristol and South Gloucestershire which is vulnerable to development. This development would damage soil and biodiversity integrity and compromise our ability to create and sustain a thriving local food system. Healthy food starts with healthy soil. Please join this movement!

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Soil Health Special Interest Group, Cambridge, 8th Sept
by Adam Ormes Court 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

Just found this. Microbial activity is more important in maintaining soil health and its natural fertility than previously thought and a new technique to visualise soil structure will be one of the presentations at the launch of Agri-Tech East’s new Soil Health Special Interest Group at NIAB in Cambridge on the 8th September. More details: http://www.farmingfutures.org.uk/blog/exploring-new-ideas-about-soil Adam -- *"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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Message for Adam
by Josie Felce 22 Aug '15

22 Aug '15

Hi Adam, Are you the 'Adam' I met at the Soil Summer School in Glastonbury at the end of June this year, and do you live in/near Whiteshill, Stroud? If so, can you get in touch, very soon,about a project application I am presenting for a 'Walkway' across the BDLT newly acquired land between Stroud and Hawkwood. I desperately need someone to bounce ideas off, who has more detailed knowledge of BD gardening & plants generally. I need to submit the plans before Sept 3rd! Thanks, Josie Tel:01453-889504/ 07790 668 051

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Soil Workshop at the Organic Research Centre
by coline capron 14 Aug '15

14 Aug '15

Dear all, The Organic Research Centre is organising a workshop on soil assessment ‘Assessment and management of soil structure and organic matter’. Survey results about "How farmers already assess and manage their soil structure and organic matter" will also be presented. It's on Monday 24th of August at the Organic Research Centre, RG200HR, Newbury. Please find the draft agenda below: 9.30 am Arrival + Tea/coffee 10.00 am Presentation of survey results 10.30 am Overview and comparison of soil structure assessment methods and their interpretation 11.30 am Overview and comparison of organic matter laboratory indicators and their interpretation 12.00 am Management practices to improve soil structure and fertility (soil structure alleviation practices) 13.00 pm Lunch 14.00 pm How to identify a good from a bad soil structure? Overview of soil quality indicators 14.30 pm. Field session: soil structure assessment methods in practice 16.00 pm. Coffee/tea and end of the workshop The Organic Research Centre would ask you for a contribution of £20 (incl. lunch, tea/coffee, VAT). You can book for the workshop here : http://www.efrc.com/?i=events.php&event_id=342 Please book before the 18th of August. Site address Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury RG20 0HR Phone : 01488 658298 Don’t hesitate to share this event J See you soon at The Organic Research Centre, Best wishes, Coline

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Agronomic and Environmental Uses of Biochar - Part 2
by darreno＠openmailbox.org 11 Aug '15

11 Aug '15

Upcoming part 2 of webinar series Aug 21, 2015 https://learn.extension.org/events/2158 Part 1 recordings and slides available at http://www.extension.org/pages/73090/agronomic-and-environmental-uses-of-bi…

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Biodynamic Agriculture: Principles, Practice and Results with Vincent Masson 30th Oct - 1st Nov 2015
by Biodynamic Association 11 Aug '15

11 Aug '15

Dear All, We are pleased to let you know about this inspiring workshop as part of celebrating UN year of the soil. Full details below - all welcome. It is suitable for farmers, growers, gardeners and wine growers. Warm wishes - Jessica (BDA Office) *Biodynamic Agriculture: Principles, Practice and Results with Vincent Masson 30th Oct - 1st Nov 2015 <https://www.biodynamic.org.uk/magento/biodynamic-workshops.html>* *Venue*: Gables Farm, Nailsworth, GL6 OQE *Costs*: Full rate £125, BDA Member Rate £100 (includes lunch and refreshments) /*This 3 day seminar offers an fantastic opportunity to explore the principles behind the Biodynamic approach, understand how to put them into practice and get results on your farm, garden or vineyard.*//* *//*It will also help participants get to grips with using the Biodynamic Preparations effectively for soil and crop health and vitality.*/ Vincent Masson is France's foremost biodynamic consultant and the managing director of Biodynamie Services that makes and supplies preparations for over 3000 farms, gardens and vineyards in France and Europe. His knowledge, expertise and research into Biodynamics is truly inspiring. Topics include: What is Biodynamic Agriculture / The concept of the Farm Organism / The Biodynamic Preparations - their effects and how to use them / Research and Results / Understanding Cosmic Rhythms and practical use of planting calendars / Dealing with Pests and Diseases / Tree and Orchard management / Tree Paste and more. This event is suitable for farmers, growers, gardeners and wine growers - All welcome. There will also be a biodynamic farm walk during the event. For further information and booking contact BDA Office Tel: 01453 759501 e: office(a)biodynamic.org.uk Secure your place online here <https://www.biodynamic.org.uk/magento/biodynamic-workshops.html> -- 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 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com

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Re: [soilhack-announce] WHOSE SOIL? 8TH AUGUST
by Adam Ormes Court 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

> > > dear all, > > *Whose Soil?* *on august 8th* in bristol is dedicated to exploring the > theme of *soil and social justice - artful dialogue between local and > global. *this Soil Saturday is part of Soil Culture at ceate thatis the > UK’s honouring of UN International Year of Soils. > > *10am - 10pm at create centre, bristol BS1 6XN - all events are free - a > small charge for brunch - all ages welcome* > > *www.touchstonecollaborations.com/whose-soil/ > <http://www.touchstonecollaborations.com/whose-soil/>* > > > conviviality *food as the gift of healthy soils* the arts and > sciences > *human passion and courage* soil as belonging love letters to the soil > hands-on making & stories *cultural diverisity and biodiversity soils as > the souce of life* > > > > this is a day to hear each others’ experiences and seed new ideas together > with a convivial bounty of good food to share. key elements include: > > > *11am - 2pm an organic and biodynamic brunch offered from 11am-2pm by Soil > Sisters of organic and local artisan foods* > > 10am - 2pm Community Love Letter to Soil using hand-made papers, > earth-based inks and powerful collective intent to celebrate and safeguard > our living soils > > 10am - 2pm *Rising up* and *Blue Finger Alliance* sharing stories and > experiences of activism to safeguard high quality agricultural land > coming out of the north fringe of the city of Bristol. > > 10am - 2pm *All Wrapped Up: creating beauty from packaging waste* with > artists Annali Grimes of Litterarti, Barbara Disney printing on waste > materials, Alison Harper exploring packaging and Eduardo Allen creating > subtle sounds. > > 2-4pm: *Soil not oil -**Soil, justice and hope in the oil soaked Niger > Delta* conversations and exchange with Jane Trowell of Platform London and > Eno Usua on art, activism, human rights with plenty of time for discussion > too. > > 4-5pm: *Claiming Soil and Sky* Co-creation of a geodesic installation by > Miche and Flora of Touchstone collaborations, on behalf of Bronwyn Lace and > Marcus Neustetter to honour the peoples of Sutherland, South Africa, and > their struggles to retain their home soils and land. > > 5-7pm: *Local and Global Feast with 91 Ways* sharing food and > story-sharing with friends and communities from 91 ways to celebrate soils > from around the world as the source of our food and community life. > > 7-9pm: *3 Acres and a Cow* theatre performance sharing a history of land > rights and protest in folk song and story. > > please be in touch to find out more and please share with your friends and > networks! > > warmest thanks, > > flora and miche > > *tel 07904 333015* > *@FGHardy* > > ‘Soil Culture *at create* is a timely celebration to remind the world > that we are all children of the living soil.’ *Satish Kumar, Resurgence > and Ecologist magazine and Schumacher College* > > > > > > > > > > > Soil Culture at create > > Summer Celebration of UN International Year of Soils 2015 > > Bristol European Green Capital > A partnership between Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural > World (CCANW),Touchstone collaborations and Soil Sisters > > soil(a)touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.ccanw.co.uk > > > Miche Fabre Lewin +44 (0) 7734 049407 > > Flora Gathorne-Hardy +44 (0) 7904 333015 > > Daphne Lambert +44 (0) 7796 686629 > skypename touchstonecollaborationsUK > > TED Talk Cooking, Culture and Conversations > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cmWmCGEjR0&feature=em-subs_digest&list=TLOR…> talk > for TEDx Soweto > > > studio OPS > > willow court > > beeches green > stroud GL5 4BJ > > ‘Soil Culture *at create* is a timely celebration to remind the world > that we are all children of the living soil.’ *Satish Kumar, Resurgence > and Ecologist magazine and Schumacher College* > > > Soil Culture at create > > Summer Celebration of UN International Year of Soils 2015 > > Bristol European Green Capital > A partnership between Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural > World (CCANW),Touchstone collaborations and Soil Sisters > > soil(a)touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.ccanw.co.uk > > > Miche Fabre Lewin +44 (0) 7734 049407 > > Flora Gathorne-Hardy +44 (0) 7904 333015 > > Daphne Lambert +44 (0) 7796 686629 > skypename touchstonecollaborationsUK > > TED Talk Cooking, Culture and Conversations > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cmWmCGEjR0&feature=em-subs_digest&list=TLOR…> talk > for TEDx Soweto > > > studio OPS > > willow court > > beeches green > stroud GL5 4BJ > > ‘Soil Culture *at create* is a timely celebration to remind the world > that we are all children of the living soil.’ *Satish Kumar, Resurgence > and Ecologist magazine and Schumacher College* > > > Soil Culture at create > > Summer Celebration of UN International Year of Soils 2015 > > Bristol European Green Capital > A partnership between Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural > World (CCANW),Touchstone collaborations and Soil Sisters > > soil(a)touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.touchstonecollaborations.com > > www.ccanw.co.uk > > > Miche Fabre Lewin +44 (0) 7734 049407 > > Flora Gathorne-Hardy +44 (0) 7904 333015 > > Daphne Lambert +44 (0) 7796 686629 > skypename touchstonecollaborationsUK > > TED Talk Cooking, Culture and Conversations > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cmWmCGEjR0&feature=em-subs_digest&list=TLOR…> talk > for TEDx Soweto > > > studio OPS > > willow court > > beeches green > stroud GL5 4BJ > > > >

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