By Blake Jackson
Soil health took center stage during a field day held September 16, 2025, at the FoodLink Community Farm in Rochester. The event gathered 65 participants at the new Edible Education Center, showcasing cover cropping as a key strategy for building stronger soils.
Lori Koenick, Cornell Cooperative Extension vegetable agent, and farm manager Frank Keophetlasy welcomed attendees. They introduced presentations led by Michael Glos of the New York Soil Health Program and Nicole Kubiczki of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Both emphasized that healthy soil is a living ecosystem filled with microorganisms, fungi, and beneficial organisms that recycle nutrients and moisture.
Kubiczki outlined the NRCS soil health principles, such as keeping soil covered with green plants, minimizing tillage, supporting microbial activity with compost, and maintaining species diversity above and below ground.
Demonstrations showed the difference between bare soils, which erode quickly under rain, and soils with cover crops that absorb water effectively with minimal run-off.
Practical examples included a bread and flour demonstration to highlight soil structure, and farm trials featuring rye, clovers, vetch, peas, buckwheat, sunflowers, and mixed cover crops. These trials illustrated how roots contribute organic matter, feed soil organisms, and improve water retention.
The event also marked the launch of the “Cover Crop Guide for Urban Gardens,” created with funding from New York Soil Health to help community gardeners select crops suited for each season. Demonstrations showed termination methods that preserve soil structure while maximizing crop benefits.
Cultural knowledge was also celebrated, with speakers sharing traditional practices and insights on managing cover crops in urban spaces. To address safety, experts discussed ways to protect against heavy metals sometimes found in city soils.
At the end of the field day, participants received inoculated oats and winter pea seeds to plant in their own gardens, ensuring that no plots would go into winter without protective cover.
By blending science, tradition, and community, the event highlighted cover cropping as an essential practice for healthier soils and resilient food systems.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-johnbraid
Categories: New York, Education