Soil Health Microscopy Courses for Spring 2024
January 9, 2024
Spring microscopy course offerings are now full! Click here for information about upcoming summer and fall courses.
CT NOFA is offering microscopy training this spring! 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.
Course cost is $600 and includes a microscope (yours to keep, provided at the in-person session) as well as all course materials, including:
- OMAX Digital Compound Microscope (plus slides, slip covers, pipettes, test-tubes, etc.)
- 3 Live Online Training Sessions (1.5 hours, each)
- 3 hour In-Person training (3 students per instructor)
- Virtual support up to 3 months after course, for any questions/clarifications
- Virtual tutorials (short videos available as reference material after course completion)
How it Works
Participants attend 3 virtual sessions and 1 in-person session. At registration, you will be asked to choose your preferred in-person location from our available schedule.
Virtual Live Training, 5:00pm-6:30pm via zoom – registrants attend all 3 sessions, Wednesdays in April
- April 10
- April 17
- April 24
In-Person Training, 11:00am-2:00pm – registrants choose 1 session from the list, below
Saturday, May 4th– Common Ground High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center, 358 Springside Ave, New Haven, CT THIS SESSION IS FULLThursday, May 9th– MA Farm Bureau, 249 Lakeside Ave, Marlborough, MA THIS SESSION IS FULLSaturday, May 18th– Ocean Hour Farm, 152 Harrison Ave, Newport, RI THIS SESSION IS FULLSaturday, June 1st– Massaro Community Farm, 41 Ford Rd, Woodbridge, CT THIS SESSION IS FULLSaturday, June 8th– Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main St, Falmouth, MA THIS SESSION IS FULL
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. For more information about the course, visit our Soil Health program page.
REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER AND FALL TRAININGS COMING SOON. FILL OUT THE FORM, BELOW, TO GET UPDATES.
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.
Recent Posts
2026 Seed Swap at CT NOFA Winter Conference
The Seed Swap Table is where conference attendees can exchange seeds and diversify their gardens and farms with unique and regionally adapted varieties. The swap is open to all conference participants, from home gardeners to experienced growers. Participants are invited to bring labeled seeds to share and take home new seeds to try. The swap operates on a trust-based, give-and-take system — bring what you can and take what sparks your interest.
Read More
National Leader of the Movement for Green Amendments Speaking at Public Town Halls Across Connecticut on the CT Environmental Rights Amendment
Maya van Rossum, founder and leader of the national movement for Green Amendments to state constitutions across the United States and Delaware Riverkeeper, will be speaking in a series of public town hall events across Connecticut. All of these events are free and open to the public. Light food and refreshments will be provided. Photo identification will be required to enter the Stamford Government Center. Key legislators from each part of the state are invited.
Read More