This seminar seeks to give you the basic tools to create sustainability wherever you are called, no matter the location.  As you learn agricultural techniques that encourage sustainability you will be equipped to teach others and to share the entire Gospel message in the garden. In the Seminar we will study God’s intentions for agriculture and seek to implement them in a way that will build His kingdom and develop sustainability.

God was the first and best farmer and we should learn from Him. The techniques learned may be applied to both small and large scale operations.

OATS stands for Organics Agriculture Trainers Seminar.

CONTENT/ SYLLABUS:

Week 1

• Biblical worldview of agriculture and food security
• Biblical worldview of land
• The role of soil conservation throughout history
• The Science of soil
• Different types of organic farming
• Bio-intensive Agriculture (BIA) – history and overview
• Eight steps to BIA
  1. Designing growing beds and plot design
  2. Using composting to improve soil fertility
  3. Spacing plants closely for better yields and more efficient use of nutrients, light and soil
  4. Using seeds that self-reproduce, reducing reliance on commercial seeds
  5. Pairing plants that are mutually beneficial, attracting good insects and repelling harmful insects without chemicals
  6. Choosing crops that produce high levels of carbon to restore soil
  7. Focusing on crops that provide high nutrients and calories
  8.Creating an overall plan for low input/low cost farming

Week 2:

• Practical Application
• Setting up BIA – Compost creation
• Bed preparation
• Plant selection
• Plant spacing
• Complete diet mini-farm
• Organic pesticides
• Seed propagation Goal: Enhanced & uninterrupted plant growth
• Creating a growing home environment – involving children  

Week 3:

•  Growing in challenging Areas
• Sustainability
• Water resistant crops and cover cropping
• Water harvesting and recycling
• Watering principles and retention
• Maximizing quality & quantity of crops – planning and timing, soil fertility.
• Latest Organic Agricultural Technologies