The Prince George’s Soil Conservation District, along with the Bloomin’ PGC Partners, our Co-hosts, Linda Jones of Elements of Nature, Michele Coleman of A Heart 4 People Farm, and other local urban farming advocates, invite you to participate in our Urban Farmers & Growers Open Mic Nights! These events are a platform for the urban farm community to collaborate and share relevant information. While the topics are aligned with soil health and conservation, any urban farming-related topics—land leases, equipment and supplies, staffing and volunteering, resource-sharing, grants, and mental health— are open for discussion. While the focus is on urban farmers in Prince George’s County, all farmers and growers, regardless of scale or jurisdiction, are welcome to join us!

**THIS MONTH**

Open Mic Night will feature Dr. Cerruti Hooks, a Professor in the Department of Entomology at University of Maryland. Dr. Hooks will speak on Integrated Weed Management, a holistic approach to controlling weeds while supporting biodiversity on the farm. In addition, the NRCS District Conservationist for Prince George’s County, D.C. and Baltimore, Colleen Kiefer, will speak on Natural Resources Conservation Service’s conservation practices that support integrated weed management and potential funding opportunities associated with them.

Register here

And for more information on the Bloomin’ PGC Urban Farm Initiative: https://www.pgscd.org/urban-agricultural-conservation/urban-farms/bloomin-pgc/

Bloomin’ PGC is an initiative launched by the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council in partnership with the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District, the University of Maryland Extension in Prince George’s County, ECO City Farms, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, and the Office of Food Security to support the growing urban agriculture movement in Prince George’s County.