Soil Stewardship in the Heat of Summer

With Sister Anna Gilbert-Muhammad

August brings some of the season’s greatest challenges and opportunities for your soil. Join NOFA/Mass and Sister Anna Gilbert-Muhammad, Food Sovereignty Director with the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust, for a community conversation on practical strategies to improve water retention, keep soils covered, and build resilience through the hottest weeks of the growing season. Drawing on her work supporting community gardens and food sovereignty initiatives across western Massachusetts, Sister Anna will share approaches to soil stewardship that strengthen both our growing spaces and our communities. Bring your questions, experiences, and ideas as we explore cover cropping, moisture management, and simple practices that help soils thrive now and into the seasons ahead.

Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About:

Join NOFA/Mass for our monthly soil health calls, where we explore the on-farm processes and practices that shape resilient, thriving soils. Our facilitators will guide participants through practical strategies that influence soil integrity in organic systems. Each session offers space to ask questions, discuss specific methodologies, and learn directly from peers about what’s working on their farms.

Topics range from organic amendments, cover cropping systems, reduced tillage and compaction mitigation strategies, nutrient cycling, soil biology and microbial life, organic systems plans, and other stewardship practices designed to strengthen the long-term health and productivity of your farm.

Date: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month starting in March – September

Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

TOPP is a network assembled by the USDA’s National Organic Program to support transitioning and organic producers with mentorship and resources. Farmer-to-farmer mentorship, workshops, webinars, field days, technical assistance, and other educational events will offer opportunities to learn about organic production, the certification process, market opportunities, and more. Read more and sign up to be a mentor or transitioning farmer mentee at organictransition.org