Cover Cropping: A Hands on Workshop

Join cover cropping expert Daria Zovia (Quarry Farm, Chorus Frog Nursery) for a hands-on workshop exploring the benefits and methodologies of using cover cropping to boost soil fertility, retain water, fight erosion and create regenerative, climate resilient farms and gardens. By reducing nutrient runoff and soil erosion, cover crops help protect surrounding waterways, which is especially important for island communities dependent on clean coastal and freshwater resources.

Cover Cropping Workshops Enroll in one or both of these 4 hour workshops Saturday, September 6th, Sunday Sept 14

Time: 1- 5 pm Location: Salt Spring Island Farm Sites TBA

Cost - $50/$75/$100 sliding scale

Purchasing a higher value registration allows us to offer low cost access to others.

The workshops will demonstrate how to successfully design and implement a cover cropping plan at a large scale. This will consist of hands- on facilitation and in- situ presentations, then participating in covering a 0.5 acre field using these techniques. Time will also be dedicated to answer questions specific to participants' particular challenges. 

For each workshop, a different seed blend will be applied that can include crimson clover, hairy vetch, field peas, fall rye, daikon radish, buckwheat, oats, or winter wheat: the benefits and drawbacks of the different blends will be discussed. Participants will be given take- home material for self- guided study. 

Who is it for? Commercial crop production farmers who are opening up new fields and would like to understand the strategy and benefits of cover cropping before, after and in between commercial crops. 

This course will also be of interest to gardeners who are interested in carbon sequestration and reducing their carbon footprint while improving soil erosion, soil health, and crop productivity.

Topics will include: 

- Common cover crop species and their characteristics 

- Multi species cover cropping design

- Soil preparation

- Seed application

- Soil protection post seeding

- Converting cover cropped areas into crop production

Daria Zovia has been a farmer and vintner for over 30 years, running a market garden, plant nursery and vineyard/brew house. She is also an organic farm inspector with extensive experience in no and low till organic farming practices.

 Daria is the lead facilitator and trainer of the Neighbourhood Farmer Training project, and has worked extensively with Kwantlen Polytechnic, Island Natural Growers, and the farm community to develop training and education opportunities specific to improving agriculture in our region. The model for her farm collective requires new apprentices to be onboarded and trained by her and her team each year.

She has worked extensively with the local farm community to develop CSA programs, agricultural training programs, and supported the development of the SSI Farmland Trust. Her extensive knowledge of the local bioregion and the agricultural landscape make her knowledge and practice of local agriculture indispensable.

---

About the facilitator:

Jared spent much of his youth with his late grandmother, immersed in Salish culture. Raised in a world filled with smoke and fish Jared became familiar with many of the cooking methods and techniques used by his ancestors. Jared graduated from culinary school and has 10 years of western culinary experience. Having spent his youth working with his family learning many traditional harvesting and preparation techniques, which he applies as kitchen manager at the Elder’s Building with Cowichan Tribes. After nearly a decade and a half of cooking for his community's elders Qwustenuxun works as an indigenous foods educator, writer, and consultant. Qwustenuxun won a Canadian Online Publishing Award for best multicultural story. He was nominated for the 2022 BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award. Qwustenuxun has also been a featured guest on APTN’s hit series Moosemeat and Marmalade, cooked indigenous foods on Flavours of the Westcoast television show, and has been featured on CBC radio many times for his efforts in first nation’s food sovereignty.