Soil Health Workshop
June 18, 2015, 7:30pm
Bemis Hall Soil is the substrate of life: the yield and flavor of our food; the resilience of our plants; the biodiversity in our environment; the carbon sink for the planet's atmosphere, and so much more. Although New England soils have been historically considered “poor”, two innovative local farmers have placed soil fertility at the center of their farming practices with impressive results. Dan Kittredge, organic farmer and Founder of the Bionutrient Food Association, addresses mineral deficiencies in the soil and employs best biological practices to grow nutrient dense vegetables. Pete Lowy founder of Pete and Jen's Backyard Birds, uses a combination of innovative cover cropping and tight rotational grazing to bring soils back to health while producing quality grass fed meat. Both have kindly agreed to share their research and demonstrate how to improve soil health.

Pollinators in Crisis
April 8, 2015, 7:30pm
Bemis Hall

Since 2006 the die-off of bee colonies has accelerated unabated, reaching an 80% mortality rate in Massachusetts last winter. Other pollinators such as bumble bees have suffered equally dramatic declines. Pollinators are an essential component in our food supply and local environment and without them both would change beyond recognition.

In the face of this crisis, the Lincoln Ag Commission and The Lincoln Garden Club are organizing a Bee Symposium at Bemis Hall. This is an opportunity for all to learn about honey bees and local pollinators and how to help them. Many challenges are facing this keystone species, from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and pesticides, to habitat loss and queen failure.

The panelists will include bee-researcher Dr Noah Wilson-Rich, author of “The Bee: A Natural History” and founder of Best Bees in Boston; Susan Madaus, a Lincoln resident taking an innovative approach to restoring pollinator habitat; and Lincoln beekeeper, Charlotte Trim.