- soilhack-announce - lists.ourproject.org

Questions and thoughts on gathering
by Brian Hughes 07 Jun '17

07 Jun '17

Thanks to all involved for a memorable weekend- if only because it highlighted what a complex issue soil science is. To a degree, I've been focusing on the combustion engineering side of charcoal making, and the next big learning curve is about how biochar works in the soil- to a degree, I gloss over this angle, and just say that it retains water and soluble nutrients. I've lots of questions -good- but the one in my mind at the moment, that I don't remember being touched on, is the role of tree roots in soil- good thing or bad thing? Do the trees rob nutrients from the soil?

1 0

Visit to Somerset next week --- open to suggestions
by Miguel Ribeiro 07 Jun '17

07 Jun '17

Hey everyone! It was really great to share the Soil Hack weekend with everyone of you! So great that I'm coming down again from Newcastle next week hehehe I'll be staying in Martock and am planning to visit some places around the area. If you have any suggestions on places to see or stuff to do, please inform me ;) I've already spoken to Adam, Sally and Patrick to visit their farms/businesses and get some first hand knowledge on what their doing there. I'm also thinking about visiting Plotgate CSA, what do you say guys? ;) I'll be waiting for replies! Thanks peepz! Miguel from Portugal ;)

2 1

Hello
by Niels Corfield 06 Jun '17

06 Jun '17

Hi from Niels, Nice to be added to this group. Look forward to hearing your chat on soils in the future. All the best, NIels Corfield -- Phone: 07858 300668 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Niels-Corfield-129883137555737/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/niels_corfield

1 0

Programme for gathering released
by Darren 19 May '17

19 May '17

Hiya, very last chance to book… **Please note we close for bookings at midnight on Sunday 21st May 2017 due to limited capacity at the site and catering preparations. Please ensure you book before this date** Programme now online: http://www.feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack-gathering-2017-programme/ SoilHack Gathering 2017 What: A weekend to share our passion, knowledge, and skills for building healthy soils When: 27 28th May 2017 (arrivals welcome Friday evening) Where: Brook End LAND Centre, Compton Dundon near Street and Glastonbury in Somerset How to book your place: Please email eat(a)feedavalon.org.uk About: SoilHack is a knowledge sharing network focused on soil. It is part of the FarmHack movement and has been born out of the need to save what soils we have with the best information possible. The first national SoilHack Gathering is taking place this summer at Brook End LAND Centre just outside Street (near Glastonbury) in Somerset. We invite you to come to contribute your experiences, share good ideas and learn about soil regeneration. This is a DIY movement where we collectively learn about soils and apply our learning in our own gardens and farms. We try to bring the best research to life and share it horizontally. The Gathering will involve workshops led by participants with practical experience in soil biology, biochar, agroforestry, cover cropping and more. We will also create a space to explore how to build the SoilHack movement in an effort to defend, repair and build soils that are essential to life. It is a not-for-profit event with financial support to enable access and participation. Contributions are sliding scale between £25 - £125 for the weekend including meals and camping. To book your place and offer a workshop please email eat(a)feedavalon.org.uk Full details including flyer here: http://www.feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack2017/ Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1835948839977901/ Find the programme here: http://www.feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack-gathering-2017-programme/

1 0

SoilHack gathering article
by Darren 17 May '17

17 May '17

For anyone that hasnt seen it yet, here is a slightly reworked version of the article about SoilHack and the gathering which was recently published on Permaculture Magazine online. Registration for the gathering will close midnight Monday 22nd. http://www.needfire.info/home/soilhack - there are a number of clickable links in the text on needfire which are not reproduced in the text below ------------------- Following the launch of SoilHack at the first UK Farm Hack event in 2015, the first SoilHack gathering will be held on the 27th-28th May in Somerset, England. Details here. Farm Hack is a worldwide community of farmers and growers who build and modify their own tools, sharing their hacks online and at meet ups - improving their practices through open-source collaboration. SoilHack was set as a subdivision of Farm Hack to provide a space for people to share their understanding of soils and help each other get a clearer understanding of how to improve their health. We have a wiki page on farmhack.org, to which anyone can contribute. So far, we've been collating good resources, running a soil events email list, a Twitter account, and giving presentations at events (including the Scottish FH last year). We’ve been motivated to do this by hearing an increasing number of people sharing stories about how they've transformed their soils (and sometimes also yields, financial overheads, and/or workloads) through applying novel methods such as no-till/no-dig, cover cropping, biochar, agroforestry, etc. - all of which seems highly significant given the current horrendous rates of soil depletion and the game-changing role that soil carbon has to play in regenerating the biosphere. The question, especially for those of us who aren't full-time soil scientists, is how to gain an overview of the ever growing body of soil research which helps in understanding why these practices work; as well as, more importantly, seeing how they'd be relevant to our own situations. Our response to this has been to attempt to catalyse a self-organising network for sharing such knowledge, since we felt that it needs to become much more accessible if we’re going to be able to transform our relationship with soil into a symbiotic, rather than an extractive one. We are keen to harness the enormous potential of peer-to-peer (P2P) learning to increase knowledge around soil. For those not familiar with the term, which originates in computing, P2P networks are networks in which interconnected computers share resources to complete tasks, without the use of a centralized administrative system. This structure was popularized by file sharing systems like Torrents and Napster, the first of its kind in the late 1990s. The concept has inspired new P2P organisations and philosophies in many areas of human interaction, affording a critical look at current authoritarian and centralized organising structures. The challenge is in figuring out how to get across to people used to interacting with centralised learning structures that for a P2P network to work, they need to be involved in supporting it. Instead of working to earn the money to attend a course or workshop, P2P learning needs people to put efforts into creating and maintaining the means to share knowledge, as well as seeking out and sharing information. There are existing P2P initatives which have aspects that further knowledge and skills around soil stewardship; within permaculture circle there are permablitzes, both examples of P2P learning; also in a similar spirit spirit are La Via Campesina’s ‘Campesino-a-Campesino’ (Farmer-to-Farmer) communication methodology and John Liu’s vision for Ecosystem Restoration Camps. What we're trying to create is an integrated effort based on these principles, where everyone comes together to share knowledge and make SoilHack into a valuable resource that’s open to all. The evolution of the internet has made knowledge sharing increasingly easier to do over time (and simultaneously more overwhelming with all of the available options). With the development of newsgroups, email discussion lists, forums, social media, online videos, and the now ubiquitous MOOCs (massive open online courses), there is now a large and growing body of information available online, of varying quality. We feel that there is great value in having a curator to guide you through these resources; hence, the idea of SoilHack is to have collective, open curation of knowledge around soil; nobody knows everything (soil scientists have only identified a small fraction of soil life), and there is always much to be gained from the input of different perspectives. The image of mycelium, being a 'fungal internet' through which both nutrients and chemical signals (ie information) are transferred between plants, seems particularly appropriate to what SoilHack is all about - both creating and nourishing real-life networks of people, and supplementing the real-life relationships with useful information. And so, to the SoilHack gathering. While we’ve not yet finalised the schedule (and a number of spaces will be left free in the programme to allow for spontaneous sessions), at this point we have people booked in to run sessions on: soil evaluation, biochar, building soil with fungi, aerobic composting, the politics of soil carbon, indigenous and youth oriented ways of relating to the soil, microscope soil analysis, cover crops, soil education, and aerobic compost teas. Some sessions will be practical hands-on demonstrations, others theory and debate. There will be parallel streams running to give a choice of activities. We warmly invite you to come to the gathering or, if you can’t, to get involved online. Please contribute your experience, insight and curiosity to this effort, so that we can begin to rapidly grow our collective intelligence, and in turn all be able to benefit from it. This knowledge needs spreading and putting into action fast. Contact: soilhack(a)openmailbox.org

1 0

Compost tea field lab 24th May
by Darren 17 May '17

17 May '17

This is open for new participants and free On 12 May 2017 08:40:26 BST, Jasmine Black <jblack(a)soilassociation.org> wrote: Hi all, Compost Tea field lab meeting and visit: 24th May, Dorset, 13:00 - 16:30. You have all expressed an interest or were previously involved in the compost tea field lab run by Innovative Farmers in collaboration with ORC, Cranfield University, SoilBioLab and Hemsworth Farms. The field lab that finished last year has extended (https://innovativefarmers.org/field-lab/?id=a50e8991-c808-e711-80ce-00 5056ad0bd4), continuing to monitor the compost tea brewing and application effects at Hemsworth Farm. Now the second trial is underway we thought it would be a good opportunity to meet to hear more about how the field lab is going. We will be meeting at the Langton Arms at 1pm to have lunch, discuss and review progress of the field lab. If the weather permits, we will then head to Hemsworth Farm at 3pm to watch the compost tea being sprayed (the second application), finishing around 4:30pm. The address is: The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, Blandford, DT11 8RX Moving on to: Hemsworth farm, Whitchampton, Wimbourne, Dorset, BH21 5BN Please RSVP by email or phone, letting us know of any dietary requirements. We hope that you will be able to make it. With best wishes, Jasmine Jasmine Black | Producer Support Administrator | Soil Association | South Plaza, Marlborough Street, Bristol, BS1 3NX | 0117 314 5197

1 0

Upcoming Events
by darreno＠openmailbox.org 12 May '17

12 May '17

Soil biology the life beneath your feet, Soilbiolab 24th May - Pewsey Wiltshire 25th May - Witney, Oxfordshire 7th June - Woburn, Bedfordshire http://www.smartagriplatform.com/future-and-past-events SoilHack gathering 27th-28th May -Street, Somerset http://feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack2017/ Agroforestry 2017 22nd June - Cranfield, Bedfordshire https://www.soilassociation.org/agroforestry/ Groundswell 2017 28th - 29th June Hertfordshire http://www.groundswellag.com/ National Organic Combinable Crops 6 July - Hampshire http://ofgorganic.org/events/nocc-2017/ -- Sent from my K-9/p≡p on Android.

1 0

Free GROW soil observatory online course: starting 8th May
by Adam Ormes Court 04 May '17

04 May '17

The GROW Observatory is a citizens' observatory that will empower tens of thousands of growers across Europe with knowledge on sustainable practices and make a vital contribution to global environmental monitoring. GROW's first free online course will help growers understand their soil and explore global environmental soil issues. It starts on the 8th May and runs for 3 weeks. By doing this short, free course, you'll connect with other growers - together you’ll get to know your site and soil, and understand them in the wider landscape ecosystem. The course has been co-written by Permaculture Association International Coordinator Dr. Naomi van der Velden. (below, you have an outline of our MOOC, plus you can download our MOOC trailer if you want to use it for audio) https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/grow-from-soil-to-sky <https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/grow-from-soil-to-sky> (below is our general website) http://growobservatory.org/ (here is our first intro video, great for explaining the project) https://vimeo.com/210444233

1 0

Nuffield Soils Conference - May 9th Gloucestereshire
by Adam Ormes Court 02 May '17

02 May '17

Christine Jones at Nuffield Soils Conference, 9th May, in Gloucestershire. 40 pounds including lunch and refreshments Booking: Please email kate(a)wyeuskfoundation.org to reserve your place. Payment details will then be provided and confirmation of booking on receipt of payment. Link to flyer: https://i.imgur.com/KF2xtkR.jpg -- *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

1 0

SoilHack Gathering: 27 – 28th May, Somerset
by Adam Ormes Court 28 Apr '17

28 Apr '17

Right then, If you're planning on coming, and haven't told us yet, then kindly send an email to: eat(a)feedavalon.org.uk Also, do help us promote the event if you haven't already. Full details (including flyer) are here: http://www.feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack2017/ Facespook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1835948839977901/ And finally, below is the latest iteration of our vision, which gives more context of what we're trying to do than anything else we've ever put into text(!), so I do recommend reading it (800 words). Looking forward to seeing you... Best, Adam *** Following the launch of SoilHack at the first UK Farm Hack event <https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/farmhack/> in 2015, the first SoilHack gathering will be held on the 27th-28th May in Somerset, England. Details here <http://www.feedavalon.org.uk/soilhack2017/>. Farm Hack is a worldwide community of farmers and growers who build and modify their own tools, sharing their hacks online and at meet ups - improving their practices through open-source collaboration. SoilHack was set as a subdivision of Farm Hack to provide a space for people to share their understanding of soils and help each other get a clearer understanding of how to improve their health. We have a wiki page <http://farmhack.org/wiki/soilhack-wiki> on farmhack.org, to which anyone can contribute. So far, we've been collating good resources, running a soil events email list, a Twitter account, and giving presentations at events (including the Scottish FH <http://www.commongoodfood.org/blog/farm-hack-scotland-film> last year). We’ve been motivated to do this by hearing an increasing number of people sharing stories about how they've transformed their soils (and sometimes also yields, financial overheads, and/or workloads) through applying novel methods such as no-till/no-dig, cover cropping, biochar, agroforestry, etc. - all of which seems highly significant given the current horrendous rates of soil depletion and the game-changing role that soil carbon has to play in regenerating the biosphere. The question, especially for those of us who aren't full-time soil scientists, is how to gain an overview of the ever growing body of soil research which helps in understanding why these practices work; as well as, more importantly, seeing how they'd be relevant to our own situations. Our response to this has been to attempt to catalyse a self-organising network for sharing such knowledge, since we felt that it needs to become much more accessible if we’re going to be able to transform our relationship with soil into a symbiotic, rather than an extractive one. We feel that this calls for the harnessing of the enormous potential of peer-to-peer/P2P learning <http://wiki.p2pfoundation.net/Category:Education> to this end. With the concept of peer-to-peer, computer technology has provided us with a template for the powerful sharing of knowledge; the time is ripe for the spread of new ways of learning. The challenge is in figuring out how to across to people used to interacting with top-down learning structures that for a horizontal P2P network to work, they need to be involved in supporting it. Instead of working to earn the money to attend a course or workshop, P2P learning needs people to put efforts into creating and maintaining the means to share knowledge, as well as seeking out and sharing information. Within permaculture cirlces, most people are already familiar with the idea of skillshares and permablitzes, both examples of P2P learning. What we're trying to create is a more integrated effort based on these principles, where everyone comes together to share knowledge and make SoilHack into a valuable resource. The evolution of the internet has made knowledge sharing increasingly easier to do over time (and simultaneously more overwhelming with all of the available options). With the development of newsgroups, email discussion lists, forums, social media, online videos, and the now ubiquitous MOOCs (massive open online courses <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course>), there is now a large and growing body of information available online, of varying quality. We feel that there is great value in having a curator to guide you through these resources; hence, the idea of SoilHack is to have collective, open curation of knowledge around soil; nobody knows everything (soil scientists have only identified a small fraction of soil life), and there is always much to be gained from the input of different perspectives. The image of mycelium, being a 'fungal internet' through which both nutrients and chemical signals (ie information) are transferred between plants, seems particularly appropriate to what SoilHack is all about - both creating and nourishing real-life networks of people, and supplementing the real-life relationships with useful information. And so, to the SoilHack gathering. While we’ve not yet finalised the schedule (and a number of spaces will be left free in the programme to allow for spontaneous sessions), at this point we have people booked in to run sessions on: soil evaluation, biochar, building soil with fungi, aerobic composting, the politics of soil carbon, indigenous and youth oriented ways of relating to the soil, microscope soil analysis, cover crops, soil education, and aerobic compost teas. Some sessions will be practical hands-on demonstrations, others theory and debate. There will be parallel streams running to give a choice of activities. We warmly invite you to come to the gathering or, if you can’t, to get involved online. Please contribute your experience, insight and curiosity to this effort, so that we can begin to rapidly grow our collective intelligence, and in turn all be able to benefit from it. This knowledge needs spreading and putting into action fast. -- *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

1 0