Course and Workshop Descriptions
This 2 day course will introduce participants to the principles of organic farming. Topics covered will include soil biology and fertility, basic field crop rotation and weed control, livestock husbandry and manure management. Economics and organic certification may be touched on briefly.
Designed for practicing farmers, this 2 day course is intended to help farmers develop or adjust the organic transition plans for their farm. The course will review some basic organic farming principles but the emphasis will be on certification procedures and regulations.
In this one day workshop, participants will look at all the possible benefits of crop rotations on a field size. Time will be available to work on and discuss individual crop rotation plans so bringing a farm map to the workshop is helpful.
Just like field crops, market gardens can benefit from well planned rotations. However, the typically smaller area, the increased plant diversity and the more restricted use of large machinery can make crop rotations more challenging. In this workshop, the participants will review all the possible factors to consider when making cash crop rotation plans for the market garden as well as look at the place of other crops.
An issue for most organic farms is maintaining long term soil fertility. Making and using compost is part of the answer. The composting workshop will look at basic composting biology and the different options for getting a great final product. Special composting topics such as field application rates, vermiculture, compost teas, liquid manure, green manures and biogas will be touched on.
Having a great product is different from selling a great product. Direct marketing will review all aspects of selling at a farmers market, from promotion, packaging and displays to pricing. CSAs, road side stands, pick your own operations and co-ops will be reviewed as will marketing to stores and restaurants.
What does a soil test report mean if you are not adding synthetic fertilizers? Finding the Balance is all about looking at test results with an eye on how to balance each nutrient with others, what nutrients levels are optimal in that balance and if and when are organic amendments needed. There will be class time to look at individual soil test results.
In 1996, Joel Salatin wrote Pasturing Poultry for Profits and opened up the discussion on raising larger numbers of birds outside in a manner that would give the birds protection from the elements and predation while having the benefits of sun, bugs and grass. This workshop will look at all aspects of raising poultry on pasture in a Joel Salatin manner in Ontario. Topics covered will include breed selection, brooding, feeding, pasture housing, shipping, and slaughtering to quota and organic certification issues.
All EFAO courses and workshops are open to the general public. For more details contact the EFAO office, Tel:1-877 822-8606, 519-822-8606 or email: info@efao.ca
