Hey folks, happy spring. NOFA/Mass has some great workshops coming up all over MA both on farm, online and in the lab, with more to come! Hope to see you there.
Practical Soil Assessments for Ecological Landscaping
Saturday, March 28 | 1:00 - 5:00 PM
In person, Framingham MA
Organic and ecological landscaping starts with healthy soil. If you or your clients are facing weed pressure, erosion, drought stress, or concerns about herbicide use, investing in soil health offers practical, long-term solutions. In this hands-on workshop, participants will build professional skills in assessing soil physical and biological conditions using simple, field-based tools and observational methods. We’ll explore indicators such as compaction, water infiltration, aggregate stability, hydrology, and microbial activity, and discuss how to translate these findings into site-specific, ecological landscaping decisions that improve plant performance, resilience, and overall landscape function. Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals (ALOCP): Earn 3 CEUs!
Soil Health in Organic Systems Monthly Calls
Wednesday April 15 | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Online
Chemical Soil Health: How Crops Actually Get Fed
Friday April 17 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
In-person, Gardner MA
Join us for workshop Part 1 of 3 at Mount Wachusett Community College for a deep dive into the chemistry that underpins soil fertility and crop nutrition. Whether you’re refreshing your understanding of soil chemistry or coming in as a beginner, this intensive has something for you. In this intensive, we’ll explore how plants access and use nutrients, how those nutrients move through soil systems, and how farm management decisions influence nutrient availability. Register now.
Soil Over Time: Strategies & Assessments for Healthy Gardens
Saturday May 9 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
In-Person, Barnstable MA
This hands-on workshop helps professionals and home gardeners connect management decisions to measurable changes in soil health, ecosystem function, and landscape resilience. If you are looking to improve your landscaping and gardening, this workshop provides the vantage point of soil health over time. We’ll discuss different management techniques for landscapers and gardeners and review practical ways to assess your soil and your strategies.
Complete Approaches to Fertility: Soil to Foliar
May 16 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
In person, South Deerfield MA
Big River Chestnuts has expanded their agroforestry plantings. Come see how they are remediating this degraded soil, and how to jumpstart and maintain your fertility with NOFA/Mass’s foliar spray demonstration. Your farm’s fertility plan doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With the right tools and approach, it can be grounded, methodical, informed and even fun. Registration opens April 1st