LEAP Farm of Polk County will offer a sustainable farming workshop for the home gardener and the market grower Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3.
Lee Mink of LEAP Farm in Mill Spring will be the instructor for the workshop. The focus will be on a high-yield system of growing using organic methods. Some of the topics will include:
• Bed making
• Composting
• Soil amendments
• Soil block
• What and when to plant
• Irrigation
• Row covers
• Seed saving
Mink said he believes in teaching growers to become “dirt farmers” first, and offers a great deal of information on the importance of preparation and sustainable irrigation.
As one workshop attendee put it, “I appreciate the enthusiasm and vast knowledge of the instructors. It’s also been great to have established a network with other local growers.”
The morning of each workshop will be held at the new Manna Cabanna shared-use farm kitchen and event space at 835 N. Trade St. in Tryon.
Field time (weather permitting) will be on LEAP Farm in Bright’s Creek Development in Mill Spring. The workshops’ timeframe is from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Class sizes are small. Binder workbooks, local foods refreshments and lunches gift bags will be provided.
The new community kitchen will cater the event with local, vegetarian fare; this weekend will be the kitchen’s first public workshop. This event is supported by Slow Food Foothills.
For workshop fees and further information or to register, call Carol Lynn Jackson at 828-817-2308 or e-mail caroljackson@tds.net.
– article submitted by Carol Lynn Jackson