Guided Tour of Sustainable Soil Health Practices at Gorman Heritage Farm

Celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week with us! We will showcase the sustainable soil health practices that support our farm’s productivity and environmental stewardship. This tour will give participants a comprehensive look at the various methods we use to improve and maintain soil health, which is vital to our farming practices.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore the following key features of our farm:

3-Bin Compost System: We’ll explain how our 3-bin compost system works to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich compost that supports soil fertility.

Market Garden: A walk-through of our market garden will highlight the soil health practices we employ, including crop rotation, cover crops, no tillage, and organic fertilization techniques.

Windrow Compost: Participants will see and learn about the process of creating and maintaining windrow compost.

Farm Equipment: A discussion of the tools and equipment we use, such as a no-till drill, roller crimper, and compost spreader, and how they help us maintain soil health while minimizing disturbance to the land.

Crop Fields and Cover Crops: A tour of our crop fields will demonstrate how we integrate cover crops into our rotation to prevent erosion, improve soil organic matter, and promote biodiversity.

Soil Water Infiltration Test: We’ll conclude the tour with a demonstration of a soil infiltration test to show the importance of soil structure and its impact on water retention and runoff.

Come learn and celebrate Ohio’s most valuable resource: Soil!