Soil Health
The Problem
Dangerous levels of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere derive not only from burning fossil fuels, but also from land use changes. Estimates suggest that agriculture is responsible for one quarter of greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Our Response
Farmers can and must be part of the solution to climate change. With changes to farming, ranching and gardening practices, we can reverse the global trend of soil carbon losses and instead return atmospheric carbon back to the soil. Building soil carbon and soil health increases the profitability and climate resilience of farms by making soils more drought and erosion resistant while reducing input needs. And, it is a climate change mitigation strategy that simultaneously increases the security of our watersheds, ecosystems and food systems.
Microscopy 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
For me it was a refresher, but I couldn’t have started using a microscope again without this training. So valuable to be able to create a slide that shows the life in the soil, and how to identify the microbes that make up the soil food web. I teach about this all the time when I give presentations on soils to different groups.
Cynthia Rabinowitz
Northwest Conservation District
CT NOFA Trainings
CT NOFA Microscopy Training
CT NOFA microscopy training returns in January! Participants will learn how to use a microscope to view various soils and composts, looking at the different soil structures and the microbes that thrive in healthy soil, how to prepare a slide for viewing, what you might find, and how to evaluate your findings.
Community Trainings
Soil, Seed, and Self-Sufficiency
On a biodynamic farm we strive to create from the farm what the farm needs to thrive into the future. Building soil through cover-cropping, making…
Ask an Expert: November Soil Health Series
Virtual | Three sessions in November | all sessions 6:00- 7:00 pm November is a great time to bring your soil health questions to farmers…
Animals and the Farm Organism
The ideal biodynamic farm is a self contained individuality in which the animals play a major role. Mac Mead and Megan Durney share about the…
Soil Health Training Interest Form
Want to be the first to know about future CT NOFA soil health and microscopy courses? Please fill out this form to indicate your preferred areas of interest and we'll get in touch with you as new courses and trainings become available.
Soil Health Program News & Updates
Compost Tea Tutorial for Farmers and Gardeners
Compost tea, an excellent organic fertilizer and soil biology builder, is easy to make and can provide significant benefits to both home gardens and commercial agricultural operations. In this video, CT NOFA’s Soil Health Program Manager, Monique Bosch, is joined by Justin Hawrysh, Livestock Manager at The Hickories in Ridgefield, CT, to discuss compost tea: the science behind it, how it benefits plants and soil, and both small and large scale production models.
A More Organic Future for Connecticut Starts with You
Earlier this year, CT NOFA faced a critical funding crossroads. Well into our budgeted programming for the year, we faced sudden and substantial cuts to federally funded programming that constituted the majority of our work for 2025. But then, something moving happened.
Soil Health Program Manager Monique Bosch Featured on WPKN’s Organic Farm Stand Podcast
Monique Bosch, the Soil Health Program Manager with CT NOFA, gets down and dirty about the microbial basis of healthy soil that promotes nutrient dense food and a sustainable environment.
An Update on CT NOFA’s Status Amidst the Federal Funding Freeze
In our previous update, we discussed the potential effects of the federal grant funding freeze on CT NOFA’s ability to continue our full slate of programs and services. Although our pledged grant funds continue to be frozen and are without a timeline for resolution, we want to be clear about our position: while some of our programs and communications will become more limited in scope, CT NOFA is not shutting down.
Soil Health Archival Resources
permaculture with sefra alexandra
September 2nd, 2022
Soil Health at Hillandale Farm
October 27th, 2022
Sub-Edge Farm Field Day
May 25th, 2021
Assawaga Farm Field Day
September 20th, 2021
Assawaga Farm Field Day
May 30th, 2020
Massaro Community Farm Field Day
September 29th, 2020