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’s meeting will be virtual**

Soil is the common foundation of all food production, regardless of the size of the operation or crops being grown. Understanding your soil’s biology can help to steward it better and create a thriving garden. Lisa Blazure, the Pennsylvania Soil Health Coalition coordinator, is an experienced home gardener and soil health educator. She will break down the basics of soil biology for nutrient cycling, building organic matter, and growing nutrient-dense crops. Bring your questions and curiosity!

Lisa is an experienced conservation professional who advocates for improving soil health to achieve water quality goals, grow nutrient-dense foods, and enhance farm profitability. She works for Stroud Water Research Center and serves as the coordinator for the Pennsylvania Soil Health Coalition to foster collaboration among numerous stakeholders involved in soil health education and research. Lisa networks with a broad range of colleagues to advance soil health initiatives. Prior to joining the Stroud Center, Lisa was the agricultural technician for the Clinton County Conservation District and worked in the Chesapeake Bay and Nutrient Management Programs. She currently serves on the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance board and the Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Board.

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