Improve Your Soil Using Compost Tea
Join us for a hands-on workshop at Mesquite Field Farm covering compost tea and soil health and fertility.
Participants will learn
- How to utilize compost tea to improve soil health and fertility
- How to take a soil sample
- Analyzing soil under a microscope
- Make a compost tea from scratch
- Analyze composition of tea under a microscope
- Analyzing proper balance of bacteria and microbes in soil
- Build a compost tea maker
- Build a compost tea distribution container
- Improve soil fertility without chemicals
- Distribute compost tea on the land
Instructor, Casey Williams
Casey is a regenerative agriculturist in Corpus Christi, TX who has studied in multiple areas including permaculture, annual and perennial food production, soil health, and aquaponics. In the Summer of 2017 he took Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web online classes (Life in the Soils, Compost, Compost Tea, and Microscope). He is now in the training program to become a Soil Life Consultant with Environment Celebration Institute. Casey’s business, Agricultural Devolution, has a broad scope comprised of teaching individuals how to consciously tend the precious soil and design healthy, dynamic ecosystems as well as growing soil life and nutrient dense food himself. When not working he really enjoys the culinary arts and leisurely reading!
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
Cost: $50 per person
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Register by May 30, 2018
REGISTER HERE by May 30
Soil Test? Forage Test? Resource Inventory? Conservation Plan? Do you know what these words and concepts mean and how they benefit you and your operation?
In order to manage our farms & ranches, it is important to first understand what we have to manage. Join us with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and experience the process of developing a conservation plan.
This class will will teach you about:
- How to work with USDA NRCS & how that can benefit you
- Understanding what natural resources your farm or ranch has to offer
- Choosing the best livestock for your operation & why it matters
- Managing your natural resources
- Making a resource inventory & a land plan
- Identifying & managing your resources like water access, pastures, forage species and so much more
- Accessing funding to address resource concerns
Download the workshop flyer here
REGISTER HERE
In partnership with Growing on Faith Farm, we will demonstrating and discussing proper care and maintenance of your sheep including:
- Applying ID tags
- Medication/Vaccination
- Castration
- Record Keeping
- Handling/Moving
- Hoof care
- Nutrition
- Behavioral knowledge & selection
- Breed knowledge & selection
- Options for predator control
Whether you are just starting or have been in the game for a while, this class is open to everyone!
What to bring- Gloves, hat, sunscreen, water, boots.
Register here
Come out and learn the ins and outs of how to build a high tunnel and best practices to maximize your high tunnel outputs. Chat with an NRCS agent to learn how financial assistance payments, as part of a Farm Bill conservation contract in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for a high tunnel can benefit you and your community.
Be sure to bring reusable water bottles, gloves, hat, closed toe shoes.
Snacks for breakfast with full lunch provided.
Register here

Come join us at ARTillery Avenue Farm as we help Farmer Rachel assemble her high tunnel. Not only will you get hands-on experience, you will learn about participating in the NRCS EQIP high tunnel program, selecting the site for your high tunnel, considerations in purchasing a high tunnel, and what grows well in the tunnel.
Lunch is included, but feel free to bring any other snacks you might need. Please bring a water bottle and wear weather-appropriate clothing.
Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the GROW North Texas Farm Allies program that provides technical assistance to farmers.
ARTillery Avenue Farm is owned and operated by Rachel Mims, a military veteran who understands the need for nature and art therapy for her fellow veterans. She has combined both of these in ARTillery Avenue Farm.
GROW North Texas is a nonprofit organization based in Dallas that works to connect North Texans to food, farms, and community to create a sustainable, secure regional food system that enriches the land, encourages economic opportunity through food and agriculture, and provides equitable access to healthy, nutritious food for all residents.