Kinsey seminar

[Clive]

Whose going ? Not far away now and I'm really looking forward to hearing him speak, I have a feeling I am about to learn a lot !

It's a bit far for me to travel each day so planning on staying down there - where is everyone else staying or does anyone with done local knowledge have any recommendations please ?

 

[Feldspar]

I'm going. Should be pretty interesting. Definitely read the book beforehand!!! It takes a while to sink in as there's a lot of stuff to absorb.

Did anyone send some soil cores off for analysis? Pretty decent of the chap to organise a bulk load.

 

[Fred]

Im going , samples? didnt know anything about that , half way through the book 3rd time of reading starting t make some sense now

 

[Feldspar]

This is a copy of the email I got:

Dear Attendee

One of the people who is attending the workshop with Neal Kinsey on 12th to 14th February has offered to send a bulk set of soil samples to the Albrecht labs in the US. The idea is that a few of you would have actual, real, 'UK-based' samples which could be used to guide the direction of Neal's workshop. It would also make the presentation more meaningful if you've got your own results in front of you!

If you feel this would be useful, then the samples MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS BY 14TH JANUARY AT THE LATEST - any received after this will not be sent, or rather the results won't be received back in time for the workshop (I am told!).

Details are as follows:

Stone free soil sample weighing 450g clearly marked with your own address
Sample should be taken to a depth of 6 inches in a w-shape across the field, avoiding gateways, dung & urine patches
Use a stainless steel NOT a steel or iron spade / trowel / borer to take the sample
The cost is £30 per sample - cheques to be sent with the sample and made payable to 'Probitas Systems UK'
Please post samples to: Philip Hughes, Cae Mawr, Cynwyd, Corwen, Denbighshire, LL210EU

Philip can only send up to 100 samples so it's on a first come-first served basis.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you all in February.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[BSH]

I am going and looking forward to it. I sent off samples through another contact and now have the results so will bring them with me and hope to get a feel on how to proceed with 'my'soils. I am staying at the Silver Cup in Harpenden which is very close by so might be a good venue for end of day debrief? Am trying to do my homework by re reading the book which I struggled with the first time!

 

[RBM]

Shall be going, good value or 3 days I reckon!

Although I think I will miss most of the first day as travelling back from Germany as my flight has been changed.

 

[Fran Loake]

I'm going, and hoping that Neal doesn't lose me in the first sentence!

I read his book about a year ago and keep meaning to wade through it again.

 

[Fred]

I hope we get an idiots guide as well, I am 2/3 through the book and will need lots of notes

 

[dontknowanything]

I sent off 6 samples, looking forward to seeing what they say

 

[dontknowanything]

Well I thought he talked a lot but said very little. Hoping there's more meat in days 2 & 3.

 

[Jim Bullock]

Well I thought he talked a lot but said very little. Hoping there's more meat in days 2 & 3.

Sounds a bit like his book....!

 

[dontknowanything]

Well I thought he talked a lot but said very little. Hoping there's more meat in days 2 & 3.

Sounds a bit like his book....!

I think it's fairly clear he didn't use a ghost writer

 

[dontknowanything]

much better today, although he does waffle on & repeat himself a lot

 

[155tm]

That's good news DKA, hoping for my update when Andy gets back to Kent.

Good to meet you the other day.

 

[Jim Bullock]

And I am hoping for some serious advice when a certain Mr Steve Townsend reports back, make sure he takes notes and asks questions....such as how do you improve your soils and output without going bust in the process...

 

[RBM]

Missed yesterday as was travelling back from abroad and went today and I was a bit disappointed to be honest. There were a few good bits, but I would like to have seen some data to back up some of the suggestions for improvements etc. 3 days is an awful long time on one subject, let alone the 5 day one he does as well!

 

[155tm]

And I am hoping for some serious advice when a certain Mr Steve Townsend reports back, make sure he takes notes and asks questions....such as how do you improve your soils and output without going bust in the process...

Did we get a like button put in here too?!

Quite how to pick the line between perfect and affordable soil nutrition I don't yet know! We use as much OM as possible, like the concept of cover crops and improving the biological activity of our soils, will use foliar feeds to fill the gaps. Horticulture has been hydroponically feeding crops for years, we can't reach that ideal with soil's inherent variability but Hort must be able to give us a target to aim for.

 

[Clive]

And I am hoping for some serious advice when a certain Mr Steve Townsend reports back, make sure he takes notes and asks questions....such as how do you improve your soils and output without going bust in the process...

He has a pint in his hand every time i see him so far Jim !

 

[SilliamWhale]

And I am hoping for some serious advice when a certain Mr Steve Townsend reports back, make sure he takes notes and asks questions....such as how do you improve your soils and output without going bust in the process...

Quite how to pick the line between perfect and affordable soil nutrition I don't yet know! We use as much OM as possible, like the concept of cover crops and improving the biological activity of our soils, will use foliar feeds to fill the gaps. Horticulture has been hydroponically feeding crops for years, we can't reach that ideal with soil's inherent variability but Hort must be able to give us a target to aim for.

I'd say concentrate on the biggies - N,P,K,Ca,S,Mg,O2,C.

Then concentrate on the smaller ones to correct any major discrepancies consistent soil testing throws up and then tissue test the right time of year to correct any discrepancies. Don't beat yourself up about it. Everyone is trying to sell you something - your job is to know what is needed and what isn't, there are some smoke and mirrors around so always seek the rational view.

I don't consider hydroponically feeding nutrients to be an ideal personally, just put the building blocks in place to allow plants to extract what they need if they want it. Read Carlos Crovetto's book for some ideas.

 

[Jim Bullock]

And I am hoping for some serious advice when a certain Mr Steve Townsend reports back, make sure he takes notes and asks questions....such as how do you improve your soils and output without going bust in the process...

He has a pint in his hand every time i see him so far Jim !

Thats no good..! And I bet he didn't go for the vegetarian option at dinner....Steve does like a good steak....

Will anybody be able to summerise the three days proceedings? Are we going to see a mass change in the way growers farm in the UK? It hasn't really happened in the US many farmers have never heard of him...
I was a Kinsey convert, but I have my doubts as to whether some of the theories could ever be put into practice with our soils, climate and cropping..(I am struggling even to get cover-crops sorted and that is after 15 years trying)...I look forward to being persuased otherwise (just wish I could have got to the meeting)..