Every time we harvest crops from a field, we are strategically mining the soils minerals. If we do not replenish the minerals removed -- up to a level where everything that we need in our bodies is in our crops -- we are not fully optimizing our crop production. That's where Nutrient Dense Farming comes in.

Nutrient Dense Farming (NDF) aims to create a highly functioning soil ecosystem in which the crops that are harvested have a measurably greater quantity of a broad spectrum of minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, and antioxidants than either conventional or many certified organic crops. These nutrient components also need to be in appropriate ratios to each other in order to maximize absorption and use by the body. This series draws from cutting edge research and long proven techniques that build the ideal soil environment for crop growth and production. Highly functional and robust soils translate into peak nutritive levels, peak yields, and peak pest, disease and extreme weather resistance.

 Second generation organic farmer Dan Kittredge, Founder and Director of the Real Food Campaign, has made a mission of helping farmers succeed at producing Nutrient Dense Food all over the world. He is currently farming in Western Massachusetts and has worked alongside and taught indigenous farmers in Central America, Siberia, India, as well as throughout the US, including in the arid Southwest.

Starting on January 10, 2010, RFFP will be offering a year long series of workshops with Dan Kittredge that will take farmers and gardeners from ordering inputs, inoculating seeds, starting seedlings, planting, cultivation and harvest to fall field preparation for the 2012 growing season. Each daylong workshop will be half lecture, half practical and held every other month on the beautiful Triform campus/farm.  This course is designed to give the farmer/gardener all the information, techniques, tools, and support necessary throughout the entire growing year to become a producer of cutting edge, nutrient dense and maximum quality crops.

The intriguing promise of NDF goes beyond nutrition. Fruits and vegetables grown with these principles have more complex and intense flavor and a longer shelf life. "Weeds" prefer different soil life communities than crop plants do so NDF will reduce the need for field maintenance. These crops have a higher yield, are more resistant to natural challenges, require less maintenance and because of their flavor and richness, demand premium wholesale and retail prices.

This system will soon emerge as the next big advancement in ecological agriculture and the favorite of health-conscious consumers as well. Consumers are beginning to understand that they can discern the quality of the produce by its flavor, aroma, texture and vitality, as well as being able to measure its brix (a measurement of various sugars and starches present, indicating the presence of micronutrients) with an easy to use refractometer.

We have been cropping, tilling, and generally disturbing and depleting cultivated soils for a very long time, sometimes even centuries. Through Nutrient Dense Farming we have a means of returning the soil eco-system to a level of vitality and functionality that will insure a harvest of high quality and nutritious crops.

For the rest of this article and complete descriptions of all workshops go to www.farmandfood.org.

Google maps does not show that The Triform Campus is actually on Triform Road. When you turn onto campus from Water Street, take the first right and follow to end (ish), make a sharp left and the Phoenix Center is a large green building on the right.

All workshops will start at 9am and end at 4pm, with an hour lunch break. Please dress appropriately to spend time in the fields and bring your lunch.

We are offering this course as inexpensively as possible, so forgive the ticket fees.

2010 Dates

January 10

March 7

May 8

July 10

September 11

November 7

Workshop Series Non member $270

RFFP Member $250

Per Workshop Non member $50

Per Workshop Member $45

For More Information:

518.234.1942

louise@farmandfood.org

Directions