BIG TIMBER, Mont. – Northern Plains Resource Council is working to promote soil stewardship by presenting innovative agricultural methods that increase the sustainability and productivity of farms and ranches. The conservation and family agriculture group is hosting an on-site workshop (or “soil crawl”) on June 18 in Big Timber. The event will take place at the Living Soil Farm.
Crawl attendees will learn from Dr. Tony Hartshorn with MSU, as well as innovative producers Cameron Skinner of Living Soil Farm and Mihail Kennedy of B Bar Ranch, who will focus on concepts of cultivating resilience through regenerative agriculture and soil health. Kareen Erbe with Broken Ground will also be sharing her expertise as permaculture educator and consultant.
“Farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and others are becoming increasingly interested in soil health due to its ability to improve drought resilience, increase crop yields, and sequester carbon,” said Northern Plains member and rural Sweet Grass County resident Jim Amonette, who helped organize the event.
Topics to be covered during the soil crawl will include composting, the creation of “bone char” as a beneficial soil amendment, land forming practices, and more.
“We are excited to bring together these experts whose research and practices illustrate the positive benefits soil stewardship can have for our food, health, land, and animals,” Amonette continued.
The soil crawl will be an outdoor field event at the Living Soil Farm, 1116 Hwy 191 in Big Timber from 10 am to 5 pm with an hour break for lunch, which is provided. The cost to attend is $15 (lunch is included with this fee). Scholarships are available if cost is a barrier to attendance.
To register and learn more, visit NorthernPlains.org/event/big-
