EVENT// No-Till Growers on the West Coast
No-Till Growers is headed to the West Coast! Join us in Lakeside, CA on February 15th (Valentine’s weekend in Southern California, anyone?) for a day-long intensive with not just one, but two no-till growers, Jared Smith of Jared’s Real Food and Steven Cornett of Nature’s Always Right, as we dig into the no-till systems used on their respective farms, including a tour of Jared’s Real Food.
Both Jared and Steven have been guests on the The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. Each will be presenting on their respective approaches, from an urban to large[er]-scale no-till veg. To hear more about each of them, check out the podcast episodes below. We’re really excited to share Jared’s operation with y’all, and here is why. Last, but not least, get a feel for their day-to-day operation by following Jared’s Real Food and Nature’s Always Right on Instagram.
In the intensive, growers will learn & experience…
Why reducing/eliminating tillage will make your farm more profitable and efficient
The '“Nuts and bolts” of Jared and Steven’s no-till approaches, including set up, bed prep, planting, irrigation, fertility, maintenance, etc.
Field demos of certain no-till farm processes (i.e. bed flipping) and the tools/methods used
Fertility management: Using compost, vermicompost, aerated teas, minerals, fertilizers, & Korean natural farming
Biological approaches to fertility/pest management (i.e. soil health, biodiversity, perennial hedgerows, lowest impact intervention, etc.)
How to adapt the basic principles of no-till to different growing contexts from year one to established farm
Connect with other no-till growers from across the country to network, share information, and inspiration (over a pint, no less)
Pick the brains of 3+ successful no-till farmers growing in different contexts and apply their collective experience to your farm
Tour of one of the most innovative small-scale no-till market gardens in the country
Jared Smith watering a seedbed at the JRF expansion site.
The workshop will begin at 8am and will be an all-day, rain-or-shine, event. Coffee and lunch will be provided and are included in the ticket price. The day itself will begin at 7am with check-in at the Van Ommering Family Farm. Jesse Frost will welcome everyone with opening remarks—and an inspirational interprative dance—at 8am (coffee provided), followed by a presentation from Jared Smith about the large-scale no-till systems used on Jared’s Real Food and a field walk. Then, we’ll break for lunch (tacos, included in the ticket price, options available). The afternoon will begin with no-till systems for urban-scale growers by Steven Cornett of Nature’s Always Right, followed by considerations for adapting no-till to specific contexts—and maybe some no-till slam poetry—from Jesse Frost. The day will wrap with a Q&A/discussion and end nearby with an after-gathering, location TBA (probably a craft brewery, because beer).
The intensive will take place over President’s/Valentine’s Day weekend. For those who may be celebrating, either patriotically or romantically, a trip to Southern California would make a great gift for the aspiring no-till farmer in your life!
Note: click reserve your spot and fill out the information we need. The ticket will be added to your cart (top right) where you can finish purchasing your ticket.