Amazing Line-Up for the 2016 Soil Festival

The 2016 Soil Festival is right around the corner, and we have some amazing exhibitors lined up to celebrate with us as we #lovelocalatl soil (register here if you haven’t already!). Come engage our amazing local resources as we join community gardeners from all over Atlanta to grow healthier communities!

West Atlanta Watershed Alliance serves “to improve the quality of life within the West Atlanta Watershed by protecting, preserving and restoring our community’s natural resources.” They will be joining us on August 27 to lead an exciting kids activity! Bring your kids out to learn the role water plays in creating a thriving ecosystem and the role insects play in building healthy soil. This is an awesome addition to this year’s festival and we’re excited to engage our youth in the importance of our local soil and investing in its health.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will also be joining us with the soilSHOP to test soil for lead. Bring your samples to have them tested!  Here's an infographic to show you how, and a step by step video "How to Collect a Soil Sample".The ATSDR is a federal agency associated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that uses the best science to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances. A huge part of the #LoveLocalAtl Soil Festival is to learn how we can heal our soil through composting practices and become familiar with some of those organizations who help us to ensure its viability. ATSDR is based in Atlanta so come hear more about how we can prevent toxic substances and disease from hurting our local soil.

Folks from the UGA Extension will also be joining us to conduct soil analysis, compliments of Food Well Alliance. This organization “extends lifelong learning to the people of Georgia through unbiased, research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families.” UGA Extension offers educational and diagnostic services for individuals and organizations. Show up at this year’s festival to see how you can engage them to increase the health and vitality of your soil.

Other exhibitors include the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Terra Nova Compost (who will also be leading our composting workshops), FoodCorps, Soil3, Captain Planet Foundation, Trees Atlanta, Proctor Creek Stewardship Council, National Resources Conservation Services, Urban Sprout Farm, the Atlanta Office of Sustainability and the Wylde Center.

Sign-up now to engage these awesome exhibitors the rest of the Atlanta Local Food Movement at this year’s festival.  Register your community garden for this year’s festival at www.lovelocalsoilfestival.eventbrite.com.