Biological Systems, Soil Health, and the Nutrient Density of Food with Dan Kittredge

This is a two day workshop:
Friday, October 4th, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 5th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Come at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and pastries.

“The Principles of Biological Systems” course provides an overview of the principles and practices of biological farming, with the goal to build upon your knowledge and experience to find ways to increase the health of your soil and crops for greater yields, healthier produce and better marketability. Participation-based with questions and answers, the workshop is designed for farmers, growers, and gardeners of any type to learn current research and proven methods, and go step-by-step through the processes that will lead to optimum crop health and sustained yield.

Thousands of growers have attended the course since 2009 throughout North America and Europe. Workshop attendance continues to grow thanks to word-of-mouth promotion of this course by previous attendees.

Topics will include:

• The importance of seed quality and how to improve it
• The critical role of the bottom of the food chain
• Plant “early childhood development” and life cycle patterns
• Why and how we don’t need pesticides to manage pests
• Soil testing and mineral balancing
• The importance of inoculation of your seeds and how to do it
• Conductivity and Brix for in-season monitoring and management
• Nutrient density results of global beef study, including Thousand Hills beef
• Bionutrient Food Association’s history, vision, and strategy

Onsite at Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed
Thousand Hills will share the background, vision and mission of the Regenerative Renegades who are producing and holistically grazing domestic, nutrient dense beef supplied to consumers nationwide.
Mission: To nourish soil, plants, cattle and people by holistically grazing cattle for their lifetime

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: DAN KITTREDGE 
Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food Association
Dan is the son of prominent leaders in the organic movement, and has been an organic farmer since childhood. His experience managing organic farms and developing sustainable agriculture techniques has connected him to farmers in Central America, Russia, India and the United States. Dan is passionate about raising the quality of nutrition in our food supply through collaboration with committed individuals, businesses, and organizations that support the value of people growing and eating really good food.

Lunch: We will have a pizza truck available for wood-fired pizza one of the days (included in registration). The other day will be a potluck. Bring a ready-to-eat dish to share.

Pre-registration is required.  No walkups, please.

Members of SFA or Bionutrient Food Association (BFA): $175
SFA members must log in to see member price.
BFA members, please reach out to Katie Feterl at katie@sfa-mn.org.
Nonmembers: $225

Registration is limited to the first 55 signups! Register soon to save your spot.

How to become an SFA member?  Click HERE.

Refunds for cancellations can be requested up to 48 hours prior to the event.

SFA staff and volunteers occasionally take photos during our workshops, cafe chats and field days for promotional purposes and to use as documentation of events to share with our funders.  If you do not wish to be photographed, please let our event host know — we’ll make every effort to make sure you are not photographed.