With the return of spring, the growing season starts gathering speed and NRM South welcomed the return of the spring growing season by hosting a workshop aimed at market gardeners who were keen to learn more about how to improve the health of their soils. Part of our Soil Extension Program, this workshop was the first in a series of two workshops aimed at different producer sectors.
Soils expert Declan McDonald from Regen Soils presented to a group of 20 attendees at Gardners Bay Farm in the Huon Valley, delving into what makes healthy soils, how producers can test their soils to get a deeper understanding of what’s happening beneath the surface, how to interpret soil tests, and tips on how to practically improve soil health. This was followed by a tour around Gardners Bay Farm, a 1-hectare market garden and orchard where passionate owners Phil and Jim grow a range of high quality fruit and vegetables that they sell to local restaurants and via a veg box scheme.
Workshop feedback was incredibly positive, with all attendees expressing an interest in changing their practices based on what they learned during the workshop. “It was fantastic to learn from Declan’s expertise, and it will give me confidence in managing and amending my soil, and interpreting soil testing.”
Gaining a deeper understanding of soil health is important both for producers’ bottom line as well as the health of their properties. Knowing the structure, biology and nutrient profile of your soil helps you to understand what amendments to apply, when to apply it, and how much. Judicious application of product, at the right time and in the right quantity saves unnecessary expenses and helps improve soil condition over the long-term, boosting plant health and supporting a healthy more resilient growing landscape.
This workshop was made possible by funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and support from the Tas Farm Innovation Hub.