First Time in Germany:
Soil Health Academy
Soil Health Academy
Note
The Soil Health Academy
Mission
"The mission of the non-profit Soil Health Academy is to teach and assist farmers and ranchers in applying time-tested, ecological principles and biomimicry to regenerate our living and life-giving soil. In restoring the health of our soil’s ecosystem, we will restore the health of our bodies, our farms, our communities, and our planet."
The Soil Health Academy was founded by experienced regenerative agriculture practitioners with the goal of helping farmers develop a deep understanding of and successfully apply proven regenerative agriculture practices. With the goal of achieving the regenerative turnaround. To create healthier soil, food, farms and communities for tomorrow. According to the initiative's chairman, David Brandt - who himself has been using regenerative agriculture practices since the early 1970s - this method can only be implemented on a widespread and scalable basis if farmers can put the principles for improving soil health on their land into practice..
Since its establishment in 2017, more than 500 participants from 12 countries have attended the Soil Health Academy's world-renowned and well-respected training courses. This has already resulted in a significant spread of regenerative agriculture methods. The Soil Health Academy has a team of experienced consultants and experts on the road, of whom Gabe Brown may be the best known on the scene. His book "Dirt to Soil" has just been published in German. His partner Dr. Allen Williams runs a well respected scientific blog, Ray Archuleta is a highly sought after panelist and speaker.
Trainers: The Consulting Team of the Soil Health Academy
Concentrated knowledge for the future of agriculture
These four experts are highly committed to regeneration and associated growth in agriculture. Their motto:
"If you own soil, regenerative agriculture is feasible for you. We'll show you how."
Gabe Brown
The Soil Sage
Soil heavyweight: Gabe Brown is a champion and pioneer of the soil health movement, which focuses on regenerating our resources. He runs a multi-thousand-acre farm with his wife and son, where he grows crops and raises livestock using nature as a model. As co-owner of a state-controlled slaughterhouse, he is able to market products directly. His Brown's Ranch is visited by more than 2,000 people annually. His book "Dirt to Soil - One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture" which was recently published in German, is a great success.
Ray Archuleta
The Messenger of Nature
A passionate soil expert, soil and agricultural scientist Ray Archuleta founded two organizations in 2017 after more than 30 years at NRCS (an Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture): Understanding Ag (www.understandingag.com) and the Soil Health Academy (www.soilhealthacademy.org). With the goal of teaching and disseminating strategies of bio-mimicry and principles of agroecology to improve soil function. His seminars are highly sought after and fully booked. He himself owns a 150-acre farm that he operates with his family.
Dr Allen Williams
The Expert in Pasture
Allen Williams, who holds a PhD in farm animal genetics, is a 6th generation farmer and also a sought-after speaker at international conferences and symposia. Soil health, crop-livestock integration, adaptive forage and pasture management, and high quality meat production are among his areas of focus. With colleagues, he has focused on whole farm and ranch planning based on regenerative agriculture. This approach creates significant "added" value and prepares landowners for multiple revenue streams.
Shane New
The Grounded One
For 20 years, he worked as a contractor and turfgrass producer before focusing full-time on regenerative agriculture and becoming a partner with UnderstandingAg. The methods to promote soil health were on his mind long before that: No-till, cover cropping, pasture rotation or adaptive grazing. He now farms New Family Farms in Holton, Kansas, with his family using these principles. Shane is an advocate for regenerative agriculture practices because he is convinced of their positive impact on human health.
”
Nature provides the tools. We simply teach others how to use them.”
„
David Brandt - President of the Soil Health Academy
Diversity is key to resilience
Participants in the Soil Health Academy learn about the importance of diversity. Diversity in crops and livestock species yields additional benefits on farms. The Soil Health Academy understands weeds as part of the solution rather than a problem. Increasing the nutritional density in the food produced by using regenerative methods will also be a topic. Overall, the course has a very high practical value. In very concrete terms, participants will learn what steps need to be taken to properly implement regenerative practices and methods in agriculture. After all, one of the most frequently asked questions is: Where and how to start with a project that will have such far-reaching consequences for the future of the farm? Our four farmers have the right answers.
Meet four top experts in person ...
... and benefit from this great opportunity! Because the Soil Health Academy - on the left in the picture the team together with President David Brandt - holds so many inquiries that not all of them can be fulfilled. One of the Soil Health Academy's special concerns, in fact, is to make farms so attractive that the next generation can also be inspired to take over and continue the farm. On the courses, all aspects of regenerative agriculture are explained in direct contact and in exchange with other farmers: How the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can be effectively reduced. How to achieve greater crop diversity and better biomass production. How to improve soil health parameters, achieve better soil biology, increase soil organic matter and thus minimize erosion.
Details of the Soil Health Academy
with Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta, Shane New und Allen Williams
Cost Contribution 1,249.- Euro (incl. catering)
The cost contribution is used solely to cover the expenses of the four-person Soil Health Academy team (travel from the U.S., accommodations, seminar fee) as well as the catering and organization of the seminar.
Location Brennerei, Gut & Bösel, Schlossstr. 32, 15518 Briesen (Mark) OT Alt Madlitz, Brandenburg, Germany.
Time Tuesday, 12th to Thursday, 14th October 2021 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day
Language English with simultaneous translation into German via headphones
Program Balanced mix of both theory and field: Reasons for Regenerative Agriculture; Soil Testing, Soil Health; Principles of a Healthy Ecosystem; The Four Ecosystem Processes; How Biology Drives Farm Work; Farm Input Problems; Adaptive Soil Management; Adaptive Grazing System; Regenerative Agriculture in Practice.
The seminar will be held in all weather conditions and temporarily outside in the field. Please bring appropriate clothing / footwear.
Catering Lunch, snacks in the morning and afternoon, drinks.
Accomodation Gut Klostermühle (Contingent, can be booked online with code „Soil Health“);
For the booking process you will be redirected to the page of our online booking provider Edoobox. The terms and conditions of Edoobox apply.
Growing the Regeneration Generation:
With its workshops and courses on farms, collaborative and educational projects, the Soil Health Academy is bringing forward the movement and methods of Regenerative Agriculture
Six Principles and Three Rules - for a Healthy Soil Life
The Soil Health Academy's team has worked over the past year to enhance and improve the program, developing additional materials and graphics to help the Academy Participants understand and apply the principles of soil health and Regenerative Agriculture. This is both for their theoretical lectures and for their work on their farms and livestock operations. All presentations will be made available online. Following are two examples.
The six principles of soil health
The three rules of adaptive stewardship
”
When I was in conventional, commoditized industrial mindset I used to wake up every morning trying to decide: What am I gonna kill today? Is it gonna a be a weed, is it gonna a be a pest, is it gonna a be a fungal disease? - I'm gonna kill something.
Now today I wake up every morning trying to decide: "How do I get more life on my operation?
„
Gabe Brown - Soil Health Academy
Small glossary: Terms that are frequently used when referring to Regenerative Agriculture
Cover Crop
Undercropping or cover crops to protect against erosion, fix nitrogen and control weeds. These plants are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of harvesting. This can help control soil erosion while improving soil fertility and soil quality and influencing factors such as water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem. Cover crops can be a seasonally independent crop that can also grow in winter and are planted after the crop is harvested. In German-speaking countries, little is found about this method.
No Till
In the broadest sense, land cultivation without plowing. The seed is placed in the unworked soil covered with the plant residues of the previous crop. Crop residues and catch crops remain on the field. This form of tillage also promotes the earthworm population. Earthworms are of great importance for healthy soil. Among other things, they perform deep loosening and transport crop residues down into the soil. In sum, this method has the effect of increasing the humus content in the soil, improving the structure of the soil, building up the microbiome (the microbial biomass) in the soil, and thus increasing soil fertility overall.
Biomimicry
... or bionics is the science that deals with how phenomena in nature can be transferred to technology. A well-known example is the leaf of the lotus plant with its famous lotus effect. In the search for solutions to problems, natural systems are analyzed and applied to technical systems.
Through hands-on courses taught by the world's leading experts, Soil Health Academy Participants learn how to increase profitability, enhance soil resilience, reduce input costs and improve the nutritional density of food and agricultural products.
Holistic Planned Grazing
This is literally a grass-roots movement. In contrast to permanent grazing, an ingenious rotation system relies on the entire grazing area being divided into plots that are grazed intensively one after the other, while the grass on the other plots is allowed to rest and consequently grow back in its entirety. Not only above ground, but especially in the root zone. The soil thus becomes continuously less liable to soil erosion, it becomes more resistant and better able to respond to changing environmental conditions. There are gradations of intensity in this system, depending on the existing conditions.
Seeding the Future
The Soil Health Academy seminars - for better soils, high-yielding farmland, strong strategy in the barn, more quality for crops and meat
Don't miss a moment - Ray Archuleta during his presentation, seen through the cell phone camera
Counting worms - great fun not only for little boys. For adult farmers, it's proof of healthy soil life
Plants - roots - soil - humus. During the field inspection, soil expert Ray Archuleta goes into detail
”
The one thing I want our students to go away with from our academies is: Hope.
That they understand that they can do something differently. Not only like more money – far more money – from their operations. But significantly improve their quality of life and significantly improve the eco system around them.
„
Dr. Allen Williams - Soil Health Academy
5.-7. Mai 2020
Zweites Masterclass Seminar mit Joel Salatin in Freising bei München
Aufgrund der großen Nachfrage kommt Joel Salatin nun ein weiteres Mal nach Deutschland. Auf Wunsch vieler Teilnehmer des letzten Seminars bieten wir diesmal zusätzlich zu dem zweitägigen Masterclass-Seminar noch ein ganztägiges Vertiefungsseminar an. Beide Veranstaltungen können unabhängig voneinander oder als Kombination gebucht werden. Online-Anmeldung auf www.joelsalatinmasterclass.de
Ernst ist ein Visionär und genialer Praktiker mit Ideen, die weit über die Waldwirtschaft hinausgehen
Gero Leson
Selten so viel positive Energie mit so vielen Unbekannten erlebt. Ganz großes Lob. Ich komme gerne wieder zu weiteren Workshops!
John Köckert
Ein wirklich lehrreicher, inspirierender Tag mit Euch und Ernst Götsch - ich kann es kaum erwarten, die Prinzipien hier in Deutschland anzuwenden
Aline von Wedel
Info Material Soil Health Academy
Learn more about the Soil Health Academy and the concepts
By Gabe Brown: "Dirt to Soil - One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture"
Get in touch with us!
For a quick communication send us a message via this form