Baton Rouge, LA – After several
reports that the August 2016 flood waters contained chemicals and both human
and animal feces, many gardeners and farmers in Baton Rouge and the surrounding
areas were wondering about the health of their soil.
With that fact in mind,
the Southern University Ag Center themed its' 2016 Fall Gardening Workshop, “Recovering
Your Soil – Gardens, Farms and Spirit!” The workshop, which was held on Nov. 22
in A. O. Williams Hall - SU Ag Center - drew a crowd of more than 80 small and
backyard gardeners, farmers and school and community garden coordinators.
Southern University Ag
Center Chancellor – Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Bobby R. Phills
welcomed the attendees to the Land-Grant Campus – made up of the SU Ag Center
and the College of Agriculture.
“When people think about
the SU Ag Center, they only think about this building. But the SU Ag Center is also
the agents housed around the state,” explained Phills.
Southern University Ag
Center Vice Chancellor for Extension, Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin also addressed the
attendees and explained why the SU Ag Center holds the Fall Gardening Workshop
on the week of Thanksgiving every year.
“We started this workshop
four years ago and it is held at this time any year because we wanted to give
the teachers an opportunity to come and take information back to their schools,”
said Patin.
Other presentations
included a hands-on demonstration on Healthy Soils by USDA Natural Resources
Conversation Services State Soil Scientist, Michael Lindsey, which discussed
the importance of having cover crops to reduce soil run-off; Collecting Soil Samples
Correctly, which explained the proper way to collect a soil sample and where
the sample should be taken to be tested; Flood Resistant Trees for Louisiana’s
Climate, which provided examples of the various water resistant trees that grow
in the state as well as ways to plant trees in a manner that will allow them to
serve as a barrier against flooding; Is Produce Safety Important?, which
explained the importance of following safety rules and regulations when growing
and harvesting produce and Growing with the Seasons, which discussed the types
of fruits and vegetables that can be grown in each season.
Attendees were also able
to participate in either a hands-on fig propagation or wreath and bow making
demonstration.
The Fall Gardening Workshop was co-sponsored by the Southern
University Ag Center, its Wisteria Alliance Program and the Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program.
Photos from the event are available here.
Photos from the event are available here.
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