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29 November 2010
Bill Mollison describes soil as the earth’s respiratory surface:
“When the earth itself expands, great flows inward and outward must occur through the multitudinous fissures that open up in rigid sediments. The earth respiration transports and transforms fluids and their associated loads, solutes, states and ionic potentials that recreate thunderstorms or hurricanes. We are of this same respiration. The burrows of spiders, gophers, and worms are to the soil what the alveoli of our lungs are to our body. We can assist this essential respiration by assisting life and natural processes in soils.”
If you are not much of one for eloquently elaborate analogies and yet still want to learn more about soil, we are holding a series of classes at HVF centered around:
- What is soil?
- Do plants need soil? (Answer: yes! What about soil-less media? Don’t get me started…)
- Where does it come from? What is it “for”?
- What are characteristics of the “best” soil for growing food in a city?
- How do we know if our soil is working?
- How can we speed “the growth of the soil” without sacrificing naturally soil diversity/fertility?
- Why bacteria are cooler than fungi.
We will be discussing the art and science / ins and outs of designing self-sustaining, forest-floor imitating habitat for plants and their cohorts.
Yes, there will be science. No, it will not be boring. Yes, you may get dirty…
SOILS 103. Introduction to Compost
Monday, December 6th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 104. Introduction to Compost Teas
Monday, December 13th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 105. Introduction to Soil Science
TBD
Photos by Cyndie Hoffman, June 3, 2010
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18 November 2010
A series of four classes over the course of the season on food and healthy living.
You'll walk away from this series of classes energized and motivated to care for your body with a delicious seasonal menu and farmers market shopping list in hand.
Weight Loss & Body Balance
Saturday, December 4th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Seasons Eatings
Saturday, December 18th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Digestive Bliss - Discovering Food Allergies & Treating Digestive Issues
Saturday, February 19th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Introduction to Raw Foods
Saturday, March 26th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
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13 November 2010
Kickstarter Potluck Celebration! Help fund the future!
Sunday, November 14, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
We will be having a potluck at the farm in celebration of raising the $20,600. Please bring a dish to share, or just bring yourself to share. We just want to be surrounded with great people and let you all know how much this means to us!
Please spread the word about our Kickstarter campaign to all your friends by inviting them to this event.
If you want to see the farm continue to succeed next year please donate to our Kickstarter campaign - http://bit.ly/9HiQVt
In Community,
Hayes Valley Farm Crew
Photo by Booka, November 10, 2010
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12 November 2010
Or, rather, who wouldn't want to learn about soil?
Bill Mollison describes soil as the earth’s respiratory surface:
“When the earth itself expands, great flows inward and outward must occur through the multitudinous fissures that open up in rigid sediments. The earth respiration transports and transforms fluids and their associated loads, solutes, states and ionic potentials that recreate thunderstorms or hurricanes. We are of this same respiration. The burrows of spiders, gophers, and worms are to the soil what the alveoli of our lungs are to our body. We can assist this essential respiration by assisting life and natural processes in soils.”
If you are not much of one for eloquently elaborate analogies and yet still want to learn more about soil, we are holding a series of classes at HVF centered around:
- What is soil?
- Do plants need soil? (Answer: yes! What about soil-less media? Don’t get me started…)
- Where does it come from? What is it “for”?
- What are characteristics of the “best” soil for growing food in a city?
- How do we know if our soil is working?
- How can we speed “the growth of the soil” without sacrificing naturally soil diversity/fertility?
- Why bacteria are cooler than fungi.
We will be discussing the art and science / ins and outs of designing self-sustaining, forest-floor imitating habitat for plants and their cohorts.
Yes, there will be science. No, it will not be boring. Yes, you may get dirty…
Classes include intro to soils, worms, composting, compost teas and “soil science.” Take one or all.
SOILS 101. Introduction to Soils
Monday, November 15th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 102. Introduction to Worms
Monday, November 22nd - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 103. Introduction to Compost
Monday, December 6th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 104. Introduction to Compost Teas
Monday, December 13th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 105. Introduction to Soil Science
TBD
Photos by Cyndie Hoffman, June 3, 2010
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06 November 2010
Recipe for Seedbombs
- 5 parts hope (clay)
- 2 parts delight (soil)
- 1 part science (seeds)
- 2 parts patience (water)
Seedbombs contain life. Toss it. Wait. Enjoy!
When we put a seed into the ground we planting a seed of hope that something will grow. We toss seedbombs for many reasons: to grow veggies we can eat further along in the season, to germinate some wildflowers to attract birds and bees and also just for the sheer fun. These marbles of earth, compost and seeds represent evertying needed for a plant to thrive. The clay keeps the seeds in a dormant phase until the rains come (or the hose) and waters them into the ground. You get a surprise in your garden and what emerges is like a gift. Seedbombs take us 1 workday to produce, and we mix and match many types of seeds so that we can get maximum surprise factor.
A mini planet Earth in the palm of your hand. When you give at the $18 level you will receive a combination of seedbombs containing either veggies, wildflowers or poppies.
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.