Talk to offer farmers tips on reviving the good earth
1
NORTHAMPTON - The public is invited to the First Churches tonight to hear agricultural experts talk about a topic they say is of grave importance - dirt.
The 7:30 p.m. event will feature discussions about how the decline of soil quality is affecting the nutritional value of crops, and what farmers and consumers can do to reverse the trend.
"Everyone has a stake in this," said Benjamin Grosscup, events organizer for the state chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), which is co-sponsoring the event. "We've seen a significant decline in the nutritional value of produce, milk and meat, and the biological health of the soil very much determines those nutritional values in foods."
Grosscup said the mineral and biological deficiencies in the soil are a result of some farmers not replenishing the nutrients their crops take from the soil, and also their reliance on chemicals.
The panel discussion is part of a conference for farmers on soil and nutrition taking place in Northampton from Thursday through Saturday. Co-sponsored by NOFA and the Real Food Campaign, the conference will feature workshops and seminars led by farmers who are experienced in regenerating soil quality, as well as two experts on the issue, Daniel Kittredge, of North Brookfield, and John Kempf, of Middlefield, Ohio.
Kempf is the owner of Advancing Eco-Agriculture, an Ohio company that consults with farmers about how to regenerate their soil.
Kittredge, a farmer and director of the Real Food Campaign, said there is a "profound disparity" between crop nutrient levels now and when the USDA began tracking the levels 80 years ago.
"There's a direct correlation between soil fertility and human health," Kittredge said. "As we systematically wear out the soil, we systematically wear out our bodies, and we're seeing higher levels of cancer, diabetes and other diseases as a result."
Kittredge said the conference will inform farmers about the complex biological systems at work in their soil, identify factors that are preventing the soil from being biologically balanced, and address remedies, including supplements for the soil and cover crops.
He said the Real Food Campaign has been helping farmers to make these changes for a few years, but tonight's event is one of the first to reach out to consumers. "The public can play a big role in this," he said. "If they understand the correlation, they can be more intelligent about the farmers they buy from and support those that are making changes."
Grosscup said he is thrilled that over 100 farmers from around the Northeast registered for the conference and are interested in doing what they can to reverse the mineral and biological deficiencies in their soil and crops.
He acknowledged that repairing the damage can be a costly and lengthy process, depending on how depleted the land is, but it can be worth it. "When you improve the soil quality, you're not only improving nutrition, but also improving crop yields," he said.
There is a $10 suggested donation for tonight's event.
For more information, visit www.nofamass.org or contact Grosscup at (413) 658-5374.
Rebecca Everett can be reached at reverett@gazettenet.com.
