soils

NEW online Soil Course: Soil Health and Climate Adaption for CT Growers

As part of UConn Extension’s Solid Ground program we are sharing a NEW online Soil Course: Soil Health and Climate Adaption for CT Growers, led by the one and only soil scientist, Kip Kolesinskas!
This 10-module online course is for growers looking to learn more about analyzing their soils, understanding soil health, assessing farmland, implementing conservation practices on the farm, and adaptation and mitigation strategies that can be used in the face of a changing climate. The course will run from 01/11/23 until 4/01/23.
 
The course was created by Kip Kolesinskas, a former USDA NRCS Soil Scientist and current UConn Solid Ground Professional Soil, Conservation, and Land Use Consultant. 
 
The course will begin with a live online event on January 11th hosted by Kip, after that you may work through the course at your own pace. Kip will host another live online event on March 29th to wrap up the course, you will have until April 1st to complete the modules. The fee for this course is $60, if you have 8 of the 10 modules completed by 04/01/23, you are eligible to be reimbursed half of the course fee ($30). Deadline to enroll is January 3, 2023.
 

Healthy Soils to be Focus of 2021 Coastal Certificate Program

This year’s Coastal Certificate Program will take place virtually over four days in mid-May. Led by Judy Preston, CT Sea Grant’s Long Island Sound outreach coordinator, this year’s classes will emphasize healthy soils at the root of healthy gardens, landscapes, and ultimately the watersheds that are essential to clean waters and a healthy Sound.

The classes will also look at how soils fuel diverse gardens that sustain wildlife, including pollinators. Co-sponsored by Maggie Redfern, assistant director of the Connecticut College Arboretum, it will also feature guest speakers.

The classes will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 11, 13, 18 and 20. Class is limited to 35 students.

To register, visit: https://mastergardener.uconn.edu and go to the Garden Master Course Catalog: https://uconnmastergardeners.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse

For information, contact: Judy Preston at: judy.preston@uconn.edu; (860) 395-8335

Download a pdf of the flier here.

Original Post

Urban Agriculture Program

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A group of 13 Hispanic adults from Danbury and Bridgeport are participating in an Urban Agriculture program. This UConn Extension program has been designed in a way that students learn the science behind agriculture (botany, soils, vegetable production, integrated pest management, etc.), apply their knowledge by producing vegetables, and promotes entrepreneurship by allowing students sell their produce at a local Farmer’s Market.
(Back row left-rigth back): Juan Guallpa, Saul Morocho, Vicente Garcia, Simon Sucuz, Jose Rivera, Leonardo Cordova, Rolando Davila
Front row left-right: Patricia Morocho, Laura Rivera, Partha Loor, Rosa Panza, Maria Lojano.
group at Danbury Farmers' Marketurban agriculture students at Danbury Farmers' Market
At left: Danbury’s Mayor Mark Boughton visiting UConn Extension Urban Agriculture students at Danbury Farmer’s Market on June 27th.
At right: Connecticut State Representative David Arconti Jr. visiting UConn Extension Urban Agriculture students at Danbury Farmer’s Market on June 27th.