Participants who helped with the bioreactor build demonstration.
Article and photos by Stede Barber, Communications Manager for Friends of Bosque del Apache.
The regenerative agriculture events at Bosque del Apache last month drew an enthusiastic crowd of gardeners and farmers. The festivities kicked off on Wednesday, July 24th, with over one hundred people gathering at the Loma Theater to watch the award-winning film, Common Ground and enjoy free refreshments. The film’s inspiring message set the perfect tone for the weekend ahead at the refuge.
In the company of superheroes at the Loma Theater, where Friends of BdA hosted a free showing of the documentary, Common Ground.
Saturday, July 27th was a day of enlightenment and inspiration. Lead scientist Dr. David Johnson and his partner Hui-chun Su presented an engaging overview of regenerative agriculture, highlighting the innovative methods farmers and ranchers are using to revitalize their land. Their dramatic crop results and increased profit margins left the audience eager to try these techniques themselves. In the afternoon, experts from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) Healthy Soil Program, Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), NM Rodale Institute, and Cruces Creatives offered invaluable guidance on securing grants and technical assistance to jumpstart their own regenerative projects at home.
Saturday workshop, where attendees learned about regenerative agriculture from Dr. David Johnson and Hui-chun Su.
Sunday, July 28th saw a hands-on workshop where over twenty-five participants, from as close as a few miles away to as far as Pie Town and Fairbanks, Alaska, gathered to build a bioreactor, also known as a super composter.
Participants worked to build a bioreactor, learning from this hands-on process.
Under Dr. David Johnson’s expert guidance, they stomped, wetted, and drained two pick-up trucks’ worth of leaves, piling and tamping them into the bioreactor, creating compost material that will now “cook” for a year.
Compost prep – wetting and draining crumbled leaves.
All it needs is a bit of moisture daily, and to keep it from freezing. After twelve months, the rich, black compost will be processed into “tea” which is injected into the soil along with a mixed blend of seeds. Meanwhile, Pat deSimio of Cruces Creatives helped attendees assemble three additional bioreactor kits to take home.
Filling the bioreactor.
This fabulous group of people brought energy and dedication to each event, and we look forward to following their progress as they implement regenerative agriculture in their own gardens, lands, and fields. Together, we’re cultivating change, one compost pile at a time!
We will keep you posted as this project continues. To learn more about the regenerative agriculture project at the refuge, go to: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/beam/