The Living Soil
Testimonials
“I signed up expecting a basic overview of soil and soil health. I was quickly taken on a fully immersive experience that poetically and illustratively explained the plot beneath the soil.” – Danielle Vrane
“Living Ways Foundation has created an opportunity for people of varied backgrounds to learn about a focused topic and allow it to move into questions of particular interest to the attendees. Perfect mix.” – Ian Mackenzie
“You made me think deeply/so much deeper about the soil life + how utterly important it is. Thank you so much, Paul Salanki.” – Suen Goonesekera-Poland
Date: Sunday, July 12/26
Arrival for Session 1: Between 12:30 and 12:50 pm (We’ll begin promptly at 1 pm)
Arrival for Session 2: Between 3:00 and 3:20 pm (We’ll begin promptly at 3:30 pm)
Sessions will be held in the barn and the garden; please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather.
Location: 2429 County Road 25, Castleton, Ontario K0K 1M0
Ticket Cost/Person:
Session 1 – $30 (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
Session 2 – $20 (3:30 pm – 5:00 pm)
Sessions 1 & 2 – $40
Tickets are purchased through Eventbrite, and a small Eventbrite fee will be added at the time of purchase.
If you would like to participate but cannot pay the total amount, please contact the Living Ways Foundation so we can make arrangements.
The price includes an educational session(s) with a break including light refreshments between sessions.
Donate: If you would like to provide additional support to Living Ways Foundation, please make a tax-deductible donation here
Overview
Living Ways Foundation is proud to present Paul Salanki of LoonSong Farm for an afternoon of exploring the remarkable relationships between plant roots and soil biology, known as the rhizosphere.
Whether you’re growing tomatoes on your balcony in the city, you’re a seasoned backyard gardener, or you’re farming hundreds of crops, understanding the vast network of relationships between soil biology and the plant roots is relevant for building thriving soil conditions.
In recent years, scientific knowledge of plant-soil life interactions has grown dramatically, revealing a new perspective on how plants truly thrive. This differs from the models of fertility and plant growth on which most conventional agriculture methods are based.
On July 12th, Paul will be offering 2 sessions sharing his incredible wealth of knowledge on this subject.
Session 1 – An overview of the micro and macro participants in soil life – sometimes known as the “soil food web” – showing how plants interact with this life, in sometimes astonishing ways. During this introduction, you’ll learn about how plants and biology communicate, collaborate, and feed each other through root exudates, hormone signalling, and sharing of actual cells and tissues.
Session 2 – Learn how to build soil conditions that support thriving plant-soil relationships through approaches like cover cropping, companion planting, composting, and mindful soil preparation.
Join us for one or both sessions!
Paul Salanki and his partner, Heather Thoma, have practiced organic and Biodynamic farming since 2003, beginning on Manitoulin Island and now rooted in the hills of Northumberland County at LoonSong Farm, certified organic by Eco-Cert. Paul’s background spans engineering and aviation, with master’s degrees in both engineering and science, and he has brought that analytical mind fully into sustainable, ecological farming. When he isn’t in the field or the shop, he dives into the latest research on soils and plants. He is passionate about the connections between land, community, and the food we grow.
Paul is inspired by growing connections – between soils and plants, people, landscape, farmland and community and is thrilled to have the opportunity to share some of his knowledge and curiosity with you.