Understanding Soil Testing

MARK ANGELINI & LES ROGGENBUCK

Learn the basics of soil testing from a whole systems perspective. We will discuss the overarching tenets of soil health whilst focusing on the ntity gritty of why you should test your soil, how to interpret the results, and best practices for bringing your soil into better balance to produce pest & disease resistance, increase yields, and improve nutrient-density. This will be both a cursory intro to the Albrecht method of soil testing as well as a more in-depth look at the importance of mindset, management, microbes, and organic matter. Leave with the tools necessary to improve your soil health which in turn will make your growing experience more enjoyable and bountiful.

Teacher Bios:

Mark has spent the past the past 15 years immersed in the realms of local food systems, regenerative agriculture, permaculture & ecological design, traditional woodworking, herbalism, wild foods, and fermentation.

He co-owns Mountain Run Permaculture with his wife Allison where they work with gardeners, homesteaders and farmers of all skill-levels, acreage, and experience to design and implement regenerative food producing systems that maximize ecological outcomes.

He has been a student of soils ever since he first started growing food. Since 2017 he has been diving deep into understanding the complexity of soil remineralization, soil biology, testing, and what mindets, tools and practices produce the healthiest and most nutrient-dense crops.

Les grew up on a family farm in the rural thumb of Michigan. The family farm consisted of field crops, livestock and a large family garden. At a young age, he helped till, plant and harvest the family garden and his mom’s you-pick strawberry garden.

After graduating from Michigan State University with an associates degree in Crop and Soil Science, he began to manage the family farms crop rotation and fertility program, including soil testing, analysis and soil amending.

He also worked for two years for Joe Scrimger at Bio-Systems in Marlette, Michigan pulling soil samples and giving soil test recommendations to farmers in the thumb area.

Les converted the family farm to organic and eventually diversified the farm to add more poultry, livestock, vegetables and eggs and transitioned the farm to selling direct to consumers through farmers markets.

He is currently sourcing produce, meat and eggs for farm-to-table restaurants in southeast Michigan.