Biochar Workshop Part 1, How to Make Biochar Living Web Farms 2026-09-21 | Biochar Workshop Part 1, How to Make Biochar
Foster Creek Stream Restoration Part 3 Living Web Farms 2024-05-10 | The Foster Creek Restoration Project is a multi-year and multi-phase effort of the Mills River Partnership spearheaded by Executive Director Maria Wise in conjunction with Living Web Farms and a team of biologists, local farmers, and other supporters of the Mills River watershed. This large-scale endeavor is to re-establish the original meandering flow that Foster Creek had before it was forced into a straightened path to increase farmland and follow the roadway. Water does not flow in a straight line but naturally makes its way across the land in spirals and curves. Straight streams cause numerous problems such as soil erosion, flooding, stream ecosystem disruption, siltation, loss of habitat, and harm to the local watershed among other things. Restored streams have an initial period of disruption to reconstruct the curvature emulating the original path of nature as much as possible. They soon grow into beautifully restored stream ecosystems with a variety of perennial plants deeply rooting into the banks that support biodiversity such as insects, invertebrates, birds, and small mammals as you will see in this exemplary project. From start to finish, see our preparations, plant selections and cultivation, aerial footage, biologists' scientific observations, insights from engineers, and much more. In part 3, Pat Battle introduces local botanist, Tom Ferguson, who gives us a historical and naturalist's perspective on Foster Creek, the North Mills River, and the Mills River Watershed. Learn about the Mills River Partnership at www.millsriverwater.org.
Healing Our Soils, Compost & Compost Tea Part 13 Living Web Farms 2024-04-09 | Soils are the basis of all terrestrial life. A teaspoon of healthy soil contains close to a billion bacteria, many yards of fungi, and thousands of protozoa and nematodes. Through decades of poor management techniques such as ongoing tillage, chemical inputs, and compaction, soil has become degraded the world over. This results in a massive decline in fertility and structure, changes in salinity, loss of organic matter, erosion, and contamination. Composts and compost teas can bring life back to the soil through living organisms that help plants thrive. Learn to steward and regenerate the soil-food-web through the use of soil amendments, compost, and compost tea (for plants, not humans) with Troy Hinke, former Rodale farmer, and apprentice to Dr. Elaine Ingham. In this all-day workshop covering both knowledge and applied techniques, Troy will cover: an overview of soil microorganisms and their relationship to plants, roles of the main beneficial microorganisms in the soil food web, essence of compost and compost tea are microorganisms, cycling of nutrients and the interplay between soil microorganisms and plant nutrient availability, protective barrier on plant foliage and roots to shield against disease and pathogens, review of large and small scale composting and compost tea setup, pros and cons of thermal composting systems such as the Johnson-Su compost bioreactor, tips on successful vermicomposting, explore the difference between compost tea and compost extract, tour of a commercial tea brewer using Living Web Farms’ equipment, tips for brewing superior compost tea, design and structure of tea spraying programs for farms and gardens, tips for brewing teas to favor different microbes, making infusions, and using organic additives with teas and compost extracts, learn how to navigate the confusing world of shelf-stable microbe products. The aim of all of these topics is to get life in the soil and keep it there. Microbe-activated natural fertility is the safest and most natural way to rebuild life in our soils. Explore this fascinating world of soil microbiology and building life. In part 13, Troy begins by discussing the compost tea brewing process and exactly how to do it.
Foster Creek Restoration Project Part 2 Living Web Farms 2024-04-03 | The Foster Creek Restoration Project is a multi-year and multi-phase effort of the Mills River Partnership spearheaded by Executive Director Maria Wise in conjunction with Living Web Farms and a team of biologists, local farmers, and other supporters of the Mills River watershed. This large-scale endeavor is to re-establish the original meandering flow that Foster Creek had before it was forced into a straightened path to increase farmland and follow the roadway. Water does not flow in a straight line but naturally makes its way across the land in spirals and curves. Straight streams cause numerous problems such as soil erosion, flooding, stream ecosystem disruption, siltation, loss of habitat, and harm to the local watershed among other things. Restored streams have an initial period of disruption to reconstruct the curvature emulating the original path of nature as much as possible. They soon grow into beautifully restored stream ecosystems with a variety of perennial plants deeply rooting into the banks that support biodiversity such as insects, invertebrates, birds, and small mammals as you will see in this exemplary project. From start to finish, see our preparations, plant selections and cultivation, aerial footage, biologists' scientific observations, insights from engineers, and much more. In part 2, Pat is joined by Maria Wise at our greenhouse to discuss the plants we propagated for the project, then we go to our other greenhouse where Pat plants some of them until they reach their final destination at Foster Creek. Learn about the Mills River Partnership at www.millsriverwater.org.
Living Web Live! Episode 2 Living Web Farms 2024-03-22 | Join us for our new monthly live stream hosted by Lisa Almaraz joined by Patryk Battle and other guests where we talk about the latest in regenerative practices, resilient living and monthly gardening details, along with other food, farm and garden news. We'll be joined by expert guests and instructors from our educational videos along with other leading edge farmers and growers around the world.Links:Organic Growers School: organicgrowersschool.orgMountain Gardens: mountaingardensherbs.comSoutheastern Permaculture Gathering: southeasternpermaculture.orgNational Stream Restoration Conference: restorestreams.org
Foster Creek Stream Restoration Part 1 Living Web Farms 2024-01-20 | The Foster Creek Restoration Project is a multi-year and multi-phase effort of the Mills River Partnership spearheaded by Executive Director Maria Wise in conjunction with Living Web Farms and a team of biologists, local farmers, and other supporters of the Mills River watershed. This large-scale endeavor is to re-establish the original meandering flow that Foster Creek had before it was forced into a straightened path to increase farmland and follow the roadway. Water does not flow in a straight line but naturally makes its way across the land in spirals and curves. Straight streams cause numerous problems such as soil erosion, flooding, stream ecosystem disruption, siltation, loss of habitat, and harm to the local watershed among other things. Restored streams have an initial period of disruption to reconstruct the curvature emulating the original path of nature as much as possible. They soon grow into beautifully restored stream ecosystems with a variety of perennial plants deeply rooting into the banks that support biodiversity such as insects, invertebrates, birds, and small mammals as you will see in this exemplary project. From start to finish, see our preparations, plant selections and cultivation, aerial footage, biologists' scientific observations, insights from engineers, and much more. Learn about the Mills River Partnership at www.millsriverwater.org.
Wade McCourry Celebration Part 2 Living Web Farms 2023-10-13 | Join us for this special community celebration honoring Wade McCourry. Wade is a beloved second-generation local seed saver, farmer, storyteller, and owner & lifelong steward of Troy's Greenhouse in the beautiful mountain town of Burnsville, NC. Wade has been the go-to guy for great organic seed varieties and plants of all kinds at fair prices for farmers and local growers. He brings the added value of a special kind of curated wisdom that comes with years of seed propagating, farming and seed saving in a single bioregional community; the mountains of western North Carolina.The event begins with an introduction by Jim Smith, instructor of Mayland Community College’s Farming and Homesteading Series.Jim has been teaching and farming in various ways for more than 40 years. Jim Smith is also one of the founders of the Organic Growers School and an early member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Jim starts by introducing our opening speaker and author of the James Beard award-winning book, “The Whole Okra, A Seed to Stem Celebration,” Chris Smith, of The Utopian Seed Project. He is leading a regional seed saving effort to collect and distribute local and heirloom seeds among many other exciting projects. After Chris, Wade takes the stage and we get to hear about his life in the community at Troy's Greenhouse and what it has meant to him and the legacy he leaves that will go on for future generations to share and continue growing with great heirloom organic seeds. Stop in and visit if you are in the area. Part 2 begins with Jim Smith of Mayland Community College talking about the importance of seeds and seed saving, then he introduces the honoree of the evening, Wade McCourry. Wade starts by talking about his family's history of of saving seeds and starting the family business Troy's Greenhouse.Please support our ongoing free media educational offerings here at Living Web Farms by making a tax-deductible donation at www.livingwebfarms.org.
Wade McCourry Celebration Part 1 with Chris Smith Living Web Farms 2023-10-11 | Join us for this special community celebration honoring Wade McCourry. Wade is a beloved second-generation local seed saver, farmer, storyteller, and owner & lifelong steward of Troy's Greenhouse in the beautiful mountain town of Burnsville, NC. Wade has been the go-to guy for great organic seed varieties and plants of all kinds at fair prices for farmers and local growers. He brings the added value of a special kind of curated wisdom that comes with years of seed propagating, farming and seed saving in a single bioregional community; the mountains of western North Carolina.The event begins with an introduction by Jim Smith, instructor of Mayland Community College’s Farming and Homesteading Series.Jim has been teaching and farming in various ways for more than 40 years. Jim Smith is also one of the founders of the Organic Growers School and an early member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Jim starts by introducing our opening speaker and author of the James Beard award-winning book, “The Whole Okra, A Seed to Stem Celebration,” Chris Smith, of The Utopian Seed Project. He is leading a regional seed saving effort to collect and distribute local and heirloom seeds among many other exciting projects. After Chris, Wade takes the stage and we get to hear about his life in the community at Troy's Greenhouse and what it has meant to him and the legacy he leaves that will go on for future generations to share and continue growing with great heirloom organic seeds. Stop in and visit if you are in the area. Part 1 begins with Jim Smith of Mayland Community College introducing Chris Smith.Please support our ongoing free media educational offerings here at Living Web Farms by making a tax-deductible donation at www.livingwebfarms.org.
Support Living Web Farms Living Web Farms 2023-08-23 | Living Web Farms is a non-profit organization that has been providing educational videos of hands-on workshops from our farms to a community of growers around the world for over a decade.We filmed, edited and published them here on our channel to create a lasting learning library that contains over 700 videos exploring organic growing methods and regenerative practices for resilient living. Our global network of gardeners, farmers and earth stewards is more than 200,000 strong and growing. We have much more exciting material to share but now we need your support. Please join us as a paid member and help us keep the high quality content coming! We'll bring you the best leading edge practices to help heal the soil, restore the soil food web, localize our food supply, stabilize the climate and improve our health and wellbeing.Growing your own food and being an earth steward means learning how to work with nature while honoring the biodiversity of insects, microbes, plants and all life. This empowering knowledge helps you, your family, community and the world thrive, one garden and farm at a time. Our journey so far has been awesome and it' s all thanks to our wonderful teachers and subscribers like you! By supporting Living Web Farms, you' ll help us keep our community alive so we can continue to plant seeds of healthy change in regenerative agriculture across the globe. Supporters gain access to member-only perks like: special live stream events, shoutouts, early access to videos and more exclusive surprises!Thanks for being passionate about the future of our planet, how we grow our food and taking care of our soils and nature. Together, we are cultivating a better world for ourselves and future generations by the actions we take TODAY. You can also visit our website livingwebfarms.org to make a direct tax deductible donation. Let'' s sow the seeds of positive change now so we can harvest a more livable and resilient future. Click the join and/or thanks buttons to contribute now and we'll see on our new weekly Live Stream Tuesdays at 2 on Living Web Farms! Where WE BUILD LIFE!
Living Web Live! Episode 1 Living Web Farms 2023-08-10 | Our new weekly live stream where we talk about the latest in regenerative growing resilient living along with other related topics. We'll be joined by expert guests and instructors from our educational videos along with other leading edge farmers and growers around the world.Links:Southeastern Permaculture Gathering: southeasternpermaculture.orgInsect article: phys.org/news/2023-07-air-pollution-particles-contributing-global.htmlNational Stream Restoration Conference: restorestreams.org
Southeastern Permaculture Gathering 2023 Living Web Farms 2023-08-08 | Celebrating and dedicated to the practice, passion, and pleasure of permaculture as community, the annual Southeastern Permaculture Gathering is in its 29th year and welcomes you this August 11-13 at Highland Lake Cove in Flat Rock, NC . Elements of the gathering include: music, organic gardening/farming, natural building, rainwater catchment, renewable energy, forging wild foods, fermentation, animal husbandry, natural health, herbalism, the restoration of ecological and cultural systems, honoring indigenous culture and more. Visit www.southeasternpermaculture.org to learn more and register for the gathering coming up this weekend and yearly in August.
Living Web Farms Trailer Living Web Farms 2023-08-08 | We've been teaching at our farms for over a decade with many leading experts in regenerative and organic agriculture. Now, we are asking for your support to continue bringing you educational content. We have so much to share and look forward to the expanding and awesome journey of transitioning to more regenerative growing practices around the world. Please donate @livingwebfarms.org/donate and share this educational resource!
White Oak Pastures: A Model Regenerative Farm Part 8 Living Web Farms 2023-06-14 | The Harris family has been farming their land in Bluffton, Georgia since 1866, starting with old-fashioned ways that predated the use of chemical additives, hormone injections, and all the trappings of industrial agriculture. When Will Harris was a child, he remembers the day the chemical salesman came to the farm, changing how the land and animals were managed. After two decades of farming with those methods that were ultimately degrading the land, fourth-generation cattleman Will Harris decided to turn things around with regenerative practices that were new to him. After three decades of overcoming the daunting challenges associated with transforming his way of farming, White Oak Pastures is now an exemplary model of a regenerative, vertically integrated family farm operation making a regional and global impact. They have subsequently revived the town of Bluffton while stimulating the local economy as the area's largest employer. Increasing quality while achieving zero waste is the benchmark in every part of the farming operation which has given rise to a diverse array of products that grow and evolve with their customer base. In these times of urgent necessity to transform agricultural methods to work with rather than against nature, White Oak Pastures is leading the way by providing a model and verifiable measurements to show how animals can have a positive impact on land and ecosystems while sequestering carbon and emitting less methane. This model of regenerative farming can help us mitigate climate catastrophe and halt the massive emissions from our current destructive system. In spite of the widespread loss of topsoils and the use of toxic chemicals, regenerative agriculture has the ability to heal and revitalize the soil, draw down carbon and produce better food, healthier people, and a livable planet. In part 8, we join White Oak Pastures Director of Marketing, Jenni Harris as we take a walk to the fulfillment warehouse.Learn more at www.whiteoakpastures.com
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Part 6 Living Web Farms 2023-05-15 | If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Trial to Table with Chris Smith, Pat Battle and Host Lisa Almaraz Living Web Farms 2023-05-10 | TRIAL TO TABLE – SPRING CELEBRATION 2023 at The Mule, Asheville NCThe Utopian Seed Project's Chris Smith joins Pat Battle and host Lisa Almaraz to talk about the exciting local food community event, Trial to Table on May 13 from 1:30 - 4:00 pm. Chris is a James Beard award-winning author of the book, "The Whole Okra: A Stem to Seed Celebration".The Utopian Seed Project grows a wide range of crops and varieties with the aim of increasing agro-biodiversity into the food and farming system. They host food focused events and partner with incredible local chefs to showcase the crops they are working with. Their food events cover everything from simple variety tastings, to crop specific pop-ups, to the signature "Trial to Table" events, as well as larger sit-down ‘farm to table style’ dinners.Our Spring Celebration will focus on root flours and alternative seed flours. We grow achira, yacon, cassava, ube, yam, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, arrowroot and more. All these tropical roots make great flours so we are bringing together bakers and pastry chefs to show off these crops! Expect something creative and delicious.The Utopian Seed Project's mission is to responsibly grow, research, educate and celebrate a wide range of crops and varieties to support diversity in food and farming. Our vision is to connect an engaged community of growers, gardeners, farmers, foodies, cooks and chefs (actually, everyone) who embrace diversity because they understand and believe in a resilient, delicious and equitable food and farming system.Learn more and get tickets to this and future events at www.theutopianseedproject.org.
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 9 Living Web Farms 2023-01-31 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid). @livingwebfarms Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 9, arborist Lear Powell discusses other diseases that affect hemlock trees.
Waste Not Urine with Dan Hettinger Part 5 Edited Live Stream Living Web Farms 2023-01-25 | In a vain attempt at producing gold, 17th-century alchemist Hennig Brand accidentally discovered elemental Phosphorus while heating in a glass retort the residues from boiled-down urine. In modern times, this ‘liquid gold’ is seen as a potent source of increasingly limited phosphorus and useful nitrogen fertilizer. Its application in the garden is profound, but it should not be used without careful consideration.Join us for a continuation of our Waste Not series, where biochar facility manager Dan Hettinger takes an in-depth exploration into the chemistry and applications of everyday household waste materials. We’ll explore the chemical composition of urine and establish methods for safe application. Following, Dan will share his experience using urine as a primary nutrient in hydroponic growing and experimental duckweed farming, along with other obscure historical uses, including its use in natural dyeing processes and the manufacture of saltpeter. This is part 5 of the edited version from the live stream with corrected audio and higher video quality. Dan begins by talking about direct applications for urine in the garden.
Pollination Celebration, Bee City USA 10th Anniversary Part 5 Living Web Farms 2023-01-23 | Asheville, NC was established as the first Bee City USA and is celebrating 10 years of growing its Bee City Affiliate network to over 300 cities and expanding all the time. We join Bee City USA founder, Phyllis Stiles for a brief introduction and then Brannen Bashem of Spriggly's Beescaping gives an inspiring presentation about how to protect and develop native beescapes. He and his wife Jill Jacobs offer a variety of interesting educational workshops, exhibits, and services for pollinators, conservation efforts, and nature in general. They have a book, "Finding Home: A Story of a Mason Bee" and many more resources to help people help native bees thrive. They have a special focus on the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America and work with individuals, businesses, museums, municipalities, and more to increase awareness about native bees and their ecosystems. The vast majority of our flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables rely on these pollinators to help them grow and produce. However, heavy use of pesticides, loss of habitat, pests, and disease, along with other variables have caused a rapid decline of our pollinators. Now more than ever, insects need our support to prevent their extinction, and as a consequence ours. For every pest, there is a predator that's better than a pesticide. Learn about this and many other strategies to create a thriving beescape! In part 5, Brannen begins by talking about pesticides and approaching them as a last resort.Learn more about Bee City USA at www.beecityusa.orgLearn more about Spriggly's Beescaping and the books, educational services, exhibits, on-demand courses, workshops, presentations, in-person offerings, onsite consultation for pollinator garden design, native bee cabins, and virtual services at www.sprigglys.com.
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 8 Living Web Farms 2023-01-16 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid). @livingwebfarms Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 8, arborist Lear Powell, with the help of Dr. Richard McDonald, talks about managing laricobius nigrinus and their variation in activity throughout the year.
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Part 5 Living Web Farms 2023-01-12 | If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 7 Living Web Farms 2023-01-10 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid). @livingwebfarms Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 7, the indoor classroom setting section of our day continues at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center in Boone, NC with arborist, Lear Powell.
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Part 4 Living Web Farms 2023-01-06 | This is an edited version of the live stream with technical issues corrected.If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Pollination Celebration, Bee City USA 10th Anniversary Part 4 Living Web Farms 2023-01-04 | Asheville, NC was established as the first Bee City USA and is celebrating 10 years of growing its Bee City Affiliate network to over 300 cities and expanding all the time. We join Bee City USA founder, Phyllis Stiles for a brief introduction and then Brannen Bashem of Spriggly's Beescaping gives an inspiring presentation about how to protect and develop native beescapes. He and his wife Jill Jacobs offer a variety of interesting educational workshops, exhibits, and services for pollinators, conservation efforts, and nature in general. They have a book, "Finding Home: A Story of a Mason Bee" and many more resources to help people help native bees thrive. They have a special focus on the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America and work with individuals, businesses, museums, municipalities, and more to increase awareness about native bees and their ecosystems. The vast majority of our flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables rely on these pollinators to help them grow and produce. However, heavy use of pesticides, loss of habitat, pests, and disease, along with other variables have caused a rapid decline of our pollinators. Now more than ever, insects need our support to prevent their extinction, and as a consequence ours. For every pest, there is a predator that's better than a pesticide. Learn about this and many other strategies to create a thriving beescape! In part 4, Brannen begins by talking about the differences between the often confused carpenter bees and bumble bees.Learn more about Bee City USA at www.beecityusa.orgLearn more about Spriggly's Beescaping and the books, educational services, exhibits, on-demand courses, workshops, presentations, in-person offerings, onsite consultation for pollinator garden design, native bee cabins, and virtual services at www.sprigglys.com.
Healing Our Soils Compost & Compost Tea Part 12 Living Web Farms 2023-01-03 | Soils are the basis of all terrestrial life. A teaspoon of healthy soil contains close to a billion bacteria, many yards of fungi, and thousands of protozoa and nematodes. Through decades of poor management techniques such as ongoing tillage, chemical inputs, and compaction, soil has become degraded the world over. This results in a massive decline in fertility and structure, changes in salinity, loss of organic matter, erosion, and contamination. Composts and compost teas can bring life back to the soil through living organisms that help plants thrive. Learn to steward and regenerate the soil-food-web through the use of soil amendments, compost, and compost tea (for plants, not humans) with Troy Hinke, former Rodale farmer, and apprentice to Dr. Elaine Ingham. In this all-day workshop covering both knowledge and applied techniques, Troy will cover: an overview of soil microorganisms and their relationship to plants, roles of the main beneficial microorganisms in the soil food web, essence of compost and compost tea are microorganisms, cycling of nutrients and the interplay between soil microorganisms and plant nutrient availability, protective barrier on plant foliage and roots to shield against disease and pathogens, review of large and small scale composting and compost tea setup, pros and cons of thermal composting systems such as the Johnson-Su compost bioreactor, tips on successful vermicomposting, explore the difference between compost tea and compost extract, tour of a commercial tea brewer using Living Web Farms’ equipment, tips for brewing superior compost tea, design and structure of tea spraying programs for farms and gardens, tips for brewing teas to favor different microbes, making infusions, and using organic additives with teas and compost extracts, learn how to navigate the confusing world of shelf-stable microbe products. The aim of all of these topics is to get life in the soil and keep it there. Microbe-activated natural fertility is the safest and most natural way to rebuild life in our soils. Explore this fascinating world of soil microbiology and building life. In part 12, Troy begins by discussing compost tea.
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Part 3 Living Web Farms 2022-12-30 | This is an edited version of the live stream with technical issues corrected.If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Part 2 Living Web Farms 2022-12-28 | This is an edited version of the live stream with technical issues corrected.If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Living Web Farms 2022-12-26 | This is an edited version of the live stream with technical issues corrected.If for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdfPlease share this educational content @livingwebfarms
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 7 Living Web Farms 2022-12-22 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. In the final part 7, Pat and Mark continue answering questions and conclude the session. Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org
Solar Resilience with Pat Battle Living Web Farms 2022-12-21 | Due to some technical issues, an edited version of this live stream is being published. Part 1 is currently available at youtu.be/6kLINk1g3TIIf for whatever reason supply chains are disrupted to such a degree that our supermarket and drug store shelves are empty, those of us most connected to the natural world and able to source food and medicine from our surroundings will have an easier time. Most importantly, we will be able to support our communities by sharing this knowledge and thereby be catalysts to assuring our communities' responses are based on a mutual aid ethic rather than an "every person for themselves" response. This presentation hopes to inspire the viewer to relax into the reality that as long as the sun shines, we need not want. This is why the winter solstice is celebrated in most cultures. It marks a return to the lengthening of days and the ramping up of solar-powered abundance. Osker Brown video: Nuts as Staple Foodsyoutu.be/CJpitVC4mzsStephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus infections:stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdf
Waste Not Urine with Dan Hettinger Part 4 Edited Live Stream Living Web Farms 2022-12-16 | In a vain attempt at producing gold, 17th-century alchemist Hennig Brand accidentally discovered elemental Phosphorus while heating in a glass retort the residues from boiled-down urine. In modern times, this ‘liquid gold’ is seen as a potent source of increasingly limited phosphorus and useful nitrogen fertilizer. Its application in the garden is profound, but it should not be used without careful consideration.Join us for a continuation of our Waste Not series, where biochar facility manager Dan Hettinger takes an in-depth exploration into the chemistry and applications of everyday household waste materials. We’ll explore the chemical composition of urine and establish methods for safe application. Following, Dan will share his experience using urine as a primary nutrient in hydroponic growing and experimental duckweed farming, along with other obscure historical uses, including its use in natural dyeing processes and the manufacture of saltpeter. This is part 4 of the edited version from the live stream with corrected audio and higher video quality.
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 6 Living Web Farms 2022-12-14 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. In part 6, Pat and Mark answer questions about the session. Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 6 Living Web Farms 2022-12-09 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid). @livingwebfarms Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 6, Watauga County Extension Director, Jim Hamilton further describes the process of the proliferation of the woolly adelgid predator beetle, Laricobius nigrinus, in the region and how they engaged land owner participation to maximize the survey results.
Pollination Celebration, Bee City USA 10th Anniversary Part 3 Living Web Farms 2022-12-07 | Asheville, NC was established as the first Bee City USA and is celebrating 10 years of growing its Bee City Affiliate network to over 300 cities and expanding all the time. We join Bee City USA founder, Phyllis Stiles for a brief introduction and then Brannen Bashem of Spriggly's Beescaping gives an inspiring presentation about how to protect and develop native beescapes. He and his wife Jill Jacobs offer a variety of interesting educational workshops, exhibits, and services for pollinators, conservation efforts, and nature in general. They have a book, "Finding Home: A Story of a Mason Bee" and many more resources to help people help native bees thrive. They have a special focus on the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America and work with individuals, businesses, museums, municipalities, and more to increase awareness about native bees and their ecosystems. The vast majority of our flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables rely on these pollinators to help them grow and produce. However, heavy use of pesticides, loss of habitat, pests, and disease, along with other variables have caused a rapid decline of our pollinators. Now more than ever, insects need our support to prevent their extinction, and as a consequence ours. For every pest, there is a predator that's better than a pesticide. Learn about this and many other strategies to create a thriving beescape! In part 3, Brannen begins by describing different species of native ground-nesting bees.Learn more about Bee City USA at www.beecityusa.orgLearn more about Spriggly's Beescaping and the books, educational services, exhibits, on-demand courses, workshops, presentations, in-person offerings, onsite consultation for pollinator garden design, native bee cabins, and virtual services at www.sprigglys.com.
Waste Not Urine with Dan Hettinger Part 3 Edited Live Stream Living Web Farms 2022-12-05 | In a vain attempt at producing gold, 17th-century alchemist Hennig Brand accidentally discovered elemental Phosphorus while heating in a glass retort the residues from boiled-down urine. In modern times, this ‘liquid gold’ is seen as a potent source of increasingly limited phosphorus and useful nitrogen fertilizer. Its application in the garden is profound, but it should not be used without careful consideration.Join us for a continuation of our Waste Not series, where biochar facility manager Dan Hettinger takes an in-depth exploration into the chemistry and applications of everyday household waste materials. We’ll explore the chemical composition of urine and establish methods for safe application. Following, Dan will share his experience using urine as a primary nutrient in hydroponic growing and experimental duckweed farming, along with other obscure historical uses, including its use in natural dyeing processes and the manufacture of saltpeter. This is part 3 of the edited version from the live stream with corrected audio and higher video quality.
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 5 Living Web Farms 2022-12-03 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid). @livingwebfarms Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 5, Watauga County Extension Director, Jim Hamilton introduces former intern and Appalachian State Sustainability graduate, Blake Williams, and his impressive project tracking the proliferation of the woolly adelgid predator beetle, Laricobius nigrinus, in the region.
White Oak Pastures Part 7 Living Web Farms 2022-12-01 | The Harris family has been farming their land in Bluffton, Georgia since 1866, starting with old-fashioned ways that predated the use of chemical additives, hormone injections, and all the trappings of industrial agriculture. When Will Harris was a child, he remembers the day the chemical salesman came to the farm, changing how the land and animals were managed. After two decades of farming with those methods that were ultimately degrading the land, fourth-generation cattleman Will Harris decided to turn things around with regenerative practices that were new to him. After three decades of overcoming the daunting challenges associated with transforming his way of farming, White Oak Pastures is now an exemplary model of a regenerative, vertically integrated family farm operation making a regional and global impact. They have subsequently revived the town of Bluffton while stimulating the local economy as the area's largest employer. Increasing quality while achieving zero waste is the benchmark in every part of the farming operation which has given rise to a diverse array of products that grow and evolve with their customer base. In these times of urgent necessity to transform agricultural methods to work with rather than against nature, White Oak Pastures is leading the way by providing a model and verifiable measurements to show how animals can have a positive impact on land and ecosystems while sequestering carbon and emitting less methane. This model of regenerative farming can help us mitigate the climate catastrophe and halt the massive emissions from our current destructive system. In spite of the widespread loss of topsoils and the use of toxic chemicals, regenerative agriculture has the ability to heal and revitalize the soil, draw down carbon and produce better food, healthier people, and a livable planet. In part 7, Director of Marketing Jenni Harris talks about the early decision to integrate state-of-the art processing into their beef cattle operation with a design from Temple Grandin. Jenni gives us a description of the abbatoir built for cattle and another one for processing other animals raised on the farm before heading to the fulfillment warehouse.Learn more at www.whiteoakpastures.com
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 5 Living Web Farms 2022-11-25 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. In part 5, Pat describes a topic he is passionate about; intercropping with weeds.Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org and see info from the 2022 conference at #CFSA2022
Waste Not Urine with Dan Hettinger Part 2 Edited Live Stream Living Web Farms 2022-11-23 | In a vain attempt at producing gold, 17th-century alchemist Hennig Brand accidentally discovered elemental Phosphorus while heating in a glass retort the residues from boiled-down urine. In modern times, this ‘liquid gold’ is seen as a potent source of increasingly limited phosphorus and useful nitrogen fertilizer. Its application in the garden is profound, but it should not be used without careful consideration.Join us for a continuation of our Waste Not series, where biochar facility manager Dan Hettinger takes an in-depth exploration into the chemistry and applications of everyday household waste materials. We’ll explore the chemical composition of urine and establish methods for safe application. Following, Dan will share his experience using urine as a primary nutrient in hydroponic growing and experimental duckweed farming, along with other obscure historical uses, including its use in natural dyeing processes and the manufacture of saltpeter. This is part 2 of the edited version from the live stream with corrected audio and higher video quality.
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 4 Living Web Farms 2022-11-21 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid).Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners, and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance. In part 4, with the aid of a microscope and hand lens, we begin by taking a closer look at the predator beetle and its larvae.
White Oak Pastures: A Model Regenerative Farm Part 6 Living Web Farms 2022-11-15 | The Harris family has been farming their land in Bluffton, Georgia since 1866, starting with old-fashioned ways that predated the use of chemical additives, hormone injections, and all the trappings of industrial agriculture. When Will Harris was a child, he remembers the day the chemical salesman came to the farm, changing how the land and animals were managed. After two decades of farming with those methods that were ultimately degrading the land, fourth-generation cattleman Will Harris decided to turn things around with regenerative practices that were new to him. After three decades of overcoming the daunting challenges associated with transforming his way of farming, White Oak Pastures is now an exemplary model of a regenerative, vertically integrated family farm operation making a regional and global impact. They have subsequently revived the town of Bluffton while stimulating the local economy as the area's largest employer. Increasing quality while achieving zero waste is the benchmark in every part of the farming operation which has given rise to a diverse array of products that grow and evolve with their customer base. In these times of urgent necessity to transform agricultural methods to work with rather than against nature, White Oak Pastures is leading the way by providing a model and verifiable measurements to show how animals can have a positive impact on land and ecosystems while sequestering carbon and emitting less methane. This model of regenerative farming can help us mitigate climate catastrophe and halt the massive emissions from our current destructive system. In spite of the widespread loss of topsoils and the use of toxic chemicals, regenerative agriculture has the ability to heal and revitalize the soil, draw down carbon and produce better food, healthier people, and a livable planet. In part 6, we join White Oak Pastures Director of Marketing, Jenni Harris as she takes us on a guided tour of the zero waste craft facility on the farm where they make value-added products from the leather and other byproducts of the beef cattle operation. Learn more at www.whiteoakpastures.com
Pollination Celebration, Bee City USA 10th Anniversary Part 2 Living Web Farms 2022-11-08 | Asheville, NC was established as the first Bee City USA and is celebrating 10 years of growing its Bee City Affiliate network to over 300 cities and expanding all the time. We join Bee City USA founder, Phyllis Stiles for a brief introduction and then Brannen Bashem of Spriggly's Beescaping gives an inspiring presentation about how to protect and develop native beescapes. He and his wife Jill Jacobs offer a variety of interesting educational workshops, exhibits, and services for pollinators, conservation efforts, and nature in general. They have a book, "Finding Home: A Story of a Mason Bee" and many more resources to help people help native bees thrive. They have a special focus on the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America and work with individuals, businesses, museums, municipalities, and more to increase awareness about native bees and their ecosystems. The vast majority of our flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables rely on these pollinators to help them grow and produce. However, heavy use of pesticides, loss of habitat, pests, and disease, along with other variables have caused a rapid decline of our pollinators. Now more than ever, insects need our support to prevent their extinction, and as a consequence ours. For every pest, there is a predator that's better than a pesticide. Learn about this and many other strategies to create a thriving beescape! In part 2, Brannen begins by pointing out the major differences between our native bees and European honey bees.Learn more about Bee City USA at www.beecityusa.orgLearn more about Spriggly's Beescaping and the books, educational services, exhibits, on-demand courses, workshops, presentations, in-person offerings, onsite consultation for pollinator garden design, native bee cabins, and virtual services at www.sprigglys.com.
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 4 Living Web Farms 2022-11-07 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org and see info from the 2022 conference at #CFSA2022
White Oak Pastures: A Model Regenerative Farm Part 5 Living Web Farms 2022-11-03 | The Harris family has been farming their land in Bluffton, Georgia since 1866, starting with old-fashioned ways that predated the use of chemical additives, hormone injections, and all the trappings of industrial agriculture. When Will Harris was a child, he remembers the day the chemical salesman came to the farm, changing how the land and animals were managed. After two decades of farming with those methods that were ultimately degrading the land, fourth-generation cattleman Will Harris decided to turn things around with regenerative practices that were new to him. After three decades of overcoming the daunting challenges associated with transforming his way of farming, White Oak Pastures is now an exemplary model of a regenerative, vertically integrated family farm operation making a regional and global impact. They have subsequently revived the town of Bluffton while stimulating the local economy as the area's largest employer. Increasing quality while achieving zero waste is the benchmark in every part of the farming operation which has given rise to a diverse array of products that grow and evolve with their customer base. In these times of urgent necessity to transform agricultural methods to work with rather than against nature, White Oak Pastures is leading the way by providing a model and verifiable measurements to show how animals can have a positive impact on land and ecosystems while sequestering carbon and emitting less methane. This model of regenerative farming can help us mitigate the climate catastrophe and halt the massive emissions from our current destructive system. In spite of the widespread loss of topsoils and the use of toxic chemicals, regenerative agriculture has the ability to heal and revitalize the soil, draw down carbon and produce better food, healthier people, and a livable planet. In part 5, we continue our personally guided farm tour with Will observing the differences in grasses on the farm. Over time, as the pastures are managed regeneratively, we see firsthand the transformation of the land. The tour was an event with members of the American Grassfed Association, where Will currently serves as President. Learn more at www.whiteoakpastures.com
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 3 Living Web Farms 2022-11-02 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org and see info from the 2022 conference at #CFSA2022
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey & Pat Battle Part 2 Living Web Farms 2022-11-01 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources. Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org and see info from the 2022 conference at #CFSA2022
Solar Fertility Systems with Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle Living Web Farms 2022-11-01 | Join Mark Dempsey and Pat Battle for this Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference session from the 2021 online conference about solar energy capture in plants and how sunshine can maximize fertility by feeding the microbial soil food web. Ramping up fertility with the sun and the soil food web can be done by working with a diversity of plants that act as soil regulators. Combining plants in ways that engage natural synergy improves nutrient access for all the plants and microbes from available resources.Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Conference at carolinafarmstewards.org and see info from the 2022 conference at #CFSA2022
Homegrown Paint with Dan Hettinger Living Web Farms 2022-10-05 | Long before the invention of synthetic pigments and acrylic paints, countless generations of artists have honed methods for creating fine pigments and quality paint from purpose-grown plants and waste animal products. Join Dan Hettinger as he leads us through his process for creating DIY, lightfast, quality paints from plants and animals grown and harvested from his own property and nearby farms. First, we’ll cover the processes for growing and extracting lightfast plant-based pigments from Japanese Indigo, Weld, and Madder root, as well as earth pigments, carbon blacks, and whites from calcined eggshells. From there we’ll learn about natural plant and animal binders that you can process in your own home: egg-based tempera and glair, plant-based linseed, black walnut oils, and animal protein binders made from casein & hide glue. Putting it all together, we’ll show how to blend, store and use these paints in the home studio. Our new workshop format welcomes live participants online via LivingWebFarms.org and our YouTube channel. Post questions as you have them and we will answer them at the end of the presentation. Registration is not necessary.
Pollination Celebration, Bee City USA 10th Anniversary with Brannen Bashem Living Web Farms 2022-10-03 | Asheville, NC was established as the first Bee City USA and is celebrating 10 years of growing its Bee City Affiliate network to over 300 cities and expanding all the time. We join Bee City USA founder, Phyllis Stiles for a brief introduction and then Brannen Bashem of Spriggly's Beescaping gives an inspiring presentation about how to protect and develop native beescapes. He and his wife Jill Jacobs offer a variety of interesting educational workshops, exhibits, and services for pollinators, conservation efforts, and nature in general. They have a book, "Finding Home: A Story of a Mason Bee" and many more resources to help people help native bees thrive. They have a special focus on the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America and work with individuals, businesses, museums, municipalities, and more to increase awareness about native bees and their ecosystems. The vast majority of our flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables rely on these pollinators to help them grow and produce. However, heavy use of pesticides, loss of habitat, pests, and disease, along with other variables have caused a rapid decline of our pollinators. Now more than ever, insects need our support to prevent their extinction, and as a consequence ours. For every pest, there is a predator that's better than a pesticide. Learn about this and many other strategies to create a thriving beescape! Learn more about Bee City USA at www.beecityusa.orgLearn more about Spriggly's Beescaping and the books, educational services, exhibits, on-demand courses, workshops, presentations, in-person offerings, onsite consultation for pollinator garden design, native bee cabins, and virtual services at www.sprigglys.com.
Chainsaw and Wood Tool Sharpening Living Web Farms 2022-09-07 | Do you heat with wood? The best woodcutting season is in the fall and early winter when the weather is cooler and the sap is down. With a small investment in tools, you can keep your chainsaw cutting safely and smoothly without expensive professional sharpening. Learn about file sizes, rotary files, drive links, chain gauges, cutter types, pitch, rakers, gullets, and cutting angles. We’ll cover sharpening techniques for chainsaws as well as splitting mauls and wedges. Get your tools ready with the help of our expert instructor, Richard Freudenberger.Our new workshop format welcomes live participants online via LivingWebFarms.org and our YouTube channel. No registration is necessary.
Meet The Beetles! Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Part 3 Living Web Farms 2022-09-05 | Learn about the successful introduction of Laricobius nigrinus--the hemlock woolly adelgid predator beetle in Western North Carolina--and its role as a biological control for HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid).Landowners, landscapers, farmers, forest stewards, gardeners and naturalists, join us for this exciting event culminating years of work and research by Dr. McBug (entomologist Dr. Richard McDonald) and his team working on the introduction and propagation of the Laricobius nigrinus predator beetle and its role in protecting our hemlocks. Dr. McBug and agents from Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County Cooperative Extension presented their findings and recommendations at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center for a hands-on and classroom workshop including:- Introductions & overview of HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)/past conditions/history lessons, HWA in the landscape (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Outdoors" How to sample for beetles 'show and tell'. Beetle biology, life cycle, prevalence in the landscape, role in HWA control. (Dr. Richard McDonald)- "Meet the beetles Indoors" Using a microscope & UV light to check for presence (Dr. Richard McDonald)- Laricobius survey results from Watauga County (Blake Williams, Ashe County Cooperative Extension)- Treatment options: Biological vs. Chemical (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Considerations for hemlocks with adelgid and dealing with elongate hemlock scale (Lear Powell, Arborist; Jerry Moody, Avery County Cooperative Extension; Dr. Jim Hamilton, Watauga County Cooperative Extension)- Q&A sessionAfter our time in the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, we go out in the field to visit Grandfather Golf & Country Club where we meet award-winning superintendent Pete Gerdon, who has collaborated with Dr. McDonald to introduce the predator beetles to stop the adelgid hemlock problem they were having. Now, the ecosystem there is a stellar example of how restoration and recovery can occur when nature is helped get back in balance.In part 3, we head right outside the doors of the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center to learn the 'beat' technique used by 'Dr. McBug' to find the introduced predator beetles, larvae and more, thriving on the hemlock trees.
Small Scale Water Distillation Living Web Farms 2022-07-27 | Richard Freudenberger instructs this workshop where we look at water distillation and various designs such as passive solar, DIY stovetop options, and examine the differences between water distillation, filtration, and purification. A solar water distiller uses 100% renewable energy to clean and purify contaminated orsaline water. The sun’s energy heats and evaporates water, creating a vapor that risesin an enclosure and then condenses back into water to be collected as it cools. Non-solar distillers work in much the same way using an outside heat source, but there aresome differences. The distillation process leaves behind impurities such as salts, heavymetals, and arsenic, and eliminates microbiological organisms.Our new workshop format welcomes live participants online via LivingWebFarms.org and our YouTube channel. No registration is necessary.
