Tuesday, August 21, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm ET.
In this workshop, we will cover why cover crops are an essential component of annual food crops in the context of the farm as a living organism. Annual food crops require much tillage and the need to keep imported nutrients to a minimum can be a challenge. We will discuss strategies for what cover crops to use to maximize carbon and nitrogen fixation, when to plant them to reduce weed pressure, serve as pollinators and increase mycorrhizal activity, and how they can be a part of a reduced tillage program to build a healthy soil. We will look at examples of crop rotations that help us to reduce off-farm inputs and weed control, and what, how and when vegetable crops can be planted directly in a rolled and crimped cover crop.
To participate in this webinar, you will need to have a reliable internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smart phone with camera and microphone. If you don’t have a device that will support this video technology, you may access the course via telephone.
This webinar will be recorded, and all registered participants will have access to the video recording on the Biodynamic Association website for 6 months after the webinar.
For questions about registration, email registrar@biodynamics.com or call 262-649-9212 x2
Presenter:
Jean-Paul Courtens is a native of the Netherlands. He is a graduate of Warmonderhof (part of Groenhorst Ag
College), specializing in biodynamic farming. He moved to the US in 1986. Jean-Paul founded Roxbury Farm in 1990. Roxbury Farm is an integrated operation, producing vegetables, beef, pork and lamb on 425 acres located in Kinderhook, NY serving 1100 CSA members in NYC, Westchester and Columbia County and the Capital District.
Jean-Paul has three kids and he is proud that all three are working with nature either as a farmer or gardener. Jean-Paul has dedicated much of his career educating the next generation of farmers. He was part of the original CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance of Farmer Training) in 1995. He shared many resources on the Roxbury Website (known as the Roxbury Farm Manuals) and taught numerous workshops at farming conferences. Between 2014 and 2017 Jean-Paul created the ProFarmer program at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub in Hurley NY; an on-the-job training program to provide a path to farm-ownership. During this time, he guided the transition of their1250-acre sweet corn operation to organic practices.
Jean-Paul was recognized as Farmer of the Year by NOFA NY in Jan. 2018
| Cover Cropping | $20.00 |