Soil management is an issue that most farmers and gardeners have to deal with on an ongoing basis. The challenge can be, how to keep your soil healthy while still maintaining productivity. DeLisa Lewis will be speaking at the Mid Island Farmers’ Institute on farmer-centred methods of assessing soil health and soil quality on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Merville Hall, 1245 Fenwick Rd. at 7 p.m.
The talk will include an open discussion focusing on practical ways to maintain and improve the soil health within the context of our local soils and climate. DeLisa is a farmer, university instructor, consultant, researcher, keynote speaker, community volunteer, and as a result, is usually a pretty good eater and sleeper. She has twenty years’ experience with certified organic vegetable farming. In 2014, she and her family purchased 40 acres in the Cowichan Valley and started Green Fire Farm. Since then, she has added mixed livestock, hay, and perennials to her lifelong pursuit of great crop rotation and farming system design.
Following DeLisa’s talk the Mid Island Farmers’ Institute will have its AGM to present its activities, including the revitalization of the Vanier Garden on Headquarters Rd, and its financial statements.
This is event is free for members of the institute and $5 for non-members. Membership to the Mid Island Farmers’ Institute is open to anyone for $20. For more information, please contact Arzeena Hamir at 250-702-5657 or email midislandfarmersinstitute@gmail.com