Description: Explore the fascinating and important world of soil biology and practices that nurture it. Caring for your soil's biology improves soil health and can increase crop productivity, increase water holding capacity, reduce weeds, pests, and diseases. This is an opportunity to tour an established no-till, holistic, diverse fruit orchard at Blue Raven Farm in Corbett, OR. Owner Jen Aron will go into great detail about the importance of nutrient cycling in the soil (soil food web), the importance of crop diversity and ways to improve soil health in the orchard. 

About the instructor: Jen Aron got her start in the Portland farming scene in 2009 and has been honing her craft as a farmer and teacher ever since. She worked for OSU Extension teaching beginning farmers for ten years, helping to train over 125 aspiring farmers. In 2016, Jen started Blue Raven Farm, where she has focused her attention on soil ecology and no till techniques.