Join UMN Extension and partners to visit urban, suburban, and rural farms growing fruits and vegetables at various scales. Learn about soil health practices, unique growing challenges, and conservation support programs.
- Urban farming and gardening, September 22 9am-3:30pm: Discover the challenges of city growing—compaction, soil health, water management, and more. Learn from innovative growers using no- till, cover crops, composting, and mulching. Plus, explore support programs for urban agriculture. Stops include: St. Thomas research gardens, Urban Roots, Our Village Community Garden.
- Intensive small-scale market gardening, October 10, 9am-3:30pm: Explore profitable small-scale farming (1–5 acres) and soil care. Visit a cooperative incubator farm and a thriving suburban market garden. Learn about cover crops, reduced tillage, high tunnel soil health, and support for growers. Stops include: Big River Farms, Hands-on soil health assessment at the Lake Elmo Park Preserve, 10th Street Farm.
- Scaling up soil health strategies, November 14, 9am-3:30pm: Visit three farms near Northfield, MN to explore soil health at a larger scale. Learn about mechanized cover cropping, reduced tillage, erosion control, and using perennials and pollinator strips Stops include: Spring Wind Farm, Little Hill Berry Farm, Open Hands Farm.
Who are these tours for?
- Farmers who want to improve their soil health
- Aspiring farmers who want to see successful farms at different scales
- Conservation professionals (NRCS, SWCD, etc.) who want to support specialty crop farmers.
Cost: $15 flat fee, covers 1, 2, or all 3 tours.
Limited scholarships are available upon request. Tours include lunch, and interpretation is available. Please register at z.umn.edu/vegetablebustours
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