Microscopy Training @ Woven Roots Farm & Community Center

Take control of your soil’s health! CT NOFA is excited to offer microscopy training this spring.

Course Overview

Participants will view various soils and composts, looking at the different soil structures and the microbes that thrive in healthy soil. Demonstrations include how to prepare a slide for viewing, what you might find and how to evaluate your findings. Participants will be trained to analyze the following:

• Bacteria : Fungi ratios – what they mean and why they’re important
• Aggregate structure in soil/compost
• Bacteria numbers and diversity
• Quality of fungi and what that means for your soil
• Predators – identify and quantify both aerobic and anaerobic microbes
• Compost tea and extracts – microbial populations that exist in real time

Throughout the training we will discuss ways to create healthy, living soil using regenerative agriculture techniques. At the completion of the training you will be ready to use your microscope to evaluate soil and compost, with the ability to store the information in written and visual form, to share, and compare with future samples.

During the in-person session (see Course Schedule, below) all participants will work with their own DELUXE Microscope, with camera, plus materials kit with test tubes, pipettes, slides, etc. Once this course is complete, you will have the opportunity to join us for future practice sessions, as well as share your new skills at events and gatherings.

Course Schedule and Information

This course will be conducted over 3 recorded training sessions, 2 live virtual sessions, and 1 in-person training session. The course price is $675 (or $625 for CT NOFA members) and includes a microscope for each participant that will be theirs to keep for independent use.

Recorded Sessions

Three pre-recorded training sessions will be made available to participants to watch at their own pace.

Virtual Sessions

All participants are invited to attend two live virtual sessions (via Zoom) on the following dates:

• April 28 – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
• May 5 – 6:00pm to 7:30pm

In-Person Sessions

Participants select one of the following two dates and locations for their in-person training. Click below to register for the full course (3 recorded sessions + 2 virtual sessions + 1 in-person session at the selected location). Please note that there are only 6 participant slots per location (total 12 participants for the entire course); this course is expected to sell out quickly.

• May 9 – 11:00am to 2:00pm @ Woven Roots Farm & Community Center in Tyringham, MA | REGISTER HERE
• June 6 – 11:00am to 2:00pm @ The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield, CT | REGISTER HERE

Please additionally note that CT NOFA member pricing is only accessible if you are logged in to the member portal. To do so, click either of the registration links, above. On the window that opens, click “log in” in the upper right. If you are a member and are unable to log in, please contact us.

Click here to learn more about CT NOFA membership.

Testimonials

In May of 2023, the NOFA-NY education team had the great privilege to participate in soil microscopy training with Monique Bosch through CT-NOFA. The virtual training time let us get familiar with microscopes, learn to identify aggregates, fungal hyphae, nematodes, and some soil structure basics. The in-person training at Bard College was incredible! We found our own soil samples and analyzed them with students from the college, allowing us to test our teaching skills and gain confidence. I highly recommend Monique and this program. I have been able to work with farmers and gardeners now to look at their soil structures and teach them about what they see.

– Samantha (NOFA-NY)

At Assawaga Farm, our microscope is an indispensable tool for maintaining and improving our soil’s health. We use it to assess the biology of many things on the farm including potting soil, compost, teas, as well as general soil tests from our fields, and it allows us a better understanding of what the soil and crops need to be healthy, productive, and sustainable. Looking at our farm through a microscope opens up a whole new perspective that we use to inform our decisions.

– Alex Carpenter (Assawaga Farm, Putnam, CT)

Click here to learn more about CT NOFA’s Soil Health programming.