Ellen Polishuk: A Fresh Look at Understanding Soil

Virginia farmer/consultant Ellen Polishuk will expose conference attendees to a new, clear way to understand soil, providing a framework for all farming decisions. Addressing the physical, chemical and biological aspects of soil, she will explain fertility management methods appropriate for all scales of farming, with a heavy emphasis on sustainable practices. Learn how soils work and better understand how fertilizers and soil amendments function in the natural system.

Ellen Polishuk is one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms, where she has worked for 24 years. She co-manages the Loudoun County portion of the Virginia farm where they grow 10 acres of vegetables and herbs and 10 acres of soil-building crops using organic practices. The farm sells at six farmers’ markets, runs two roadside stands and services a 550-member CSA in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Ellen is now a lecturer and advisor at the University of Maryland-College Park, working with the Institute for Applied Agriculture. She heads up new efforts to teach sustainable agriculture. She also has a consulting business, working with local growers and landowners to develop fertility and production systems.

(1 hour, 19 minutes, 6 seconds) Recorded at the 2014 Acres U.S.A. Conference, Columbus, Ohio, Friday, December 5, 2014.