Essential Soil Health & Practical Production – Field Day @ The FARM 1780
April 4, 2027 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
FREE: Essential Spring Soil Health & Home-Farm Production
Date: April 4, 2027
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Check-in & Lunch start at 12:00 PM)
📍 Location: The FARM 1780 | 1127 Corley Mill Rd, Lexington, SC
🎟️ Registration: Open to the public — FREE Ticket Required
About Our Spring Soil Health Field Day
Following up on our deep dive into underground biology, our upcoming spring gathering at The FARM 1780 shifts focus to active seasonal transitions, cover crops, and building productive ecosystems. Ready to get your yard or garden growing this spring? Join us at The FARM 1780 for an afternoon of practical tips, hands-on demonstrations, and a community lunch.
We’ll focus on three things you can put to use at home:
- Changing seasons: How to help your garden transition from winter into warmer weather.
- Planning for spring and summer: What to plant and how to prepare for the months ahead.
- Fruit trees and edible landscaping: How to include plants in your yard that look good and produce something you can eat.
Whether you’re planting your first garden, working with a few raised beds, or looking for fresh ideas for your yard, you’re welcome here. No gardening experience needed—bring your questions!
We’ll begin at noon with check-in and a complimentary lunch of sandwiches, chips, and drinks. After lunch, visit hands-on stations around the farm with local growers, researchers, and Extension specialists who can help you figure out what will work at home.
We’ll finish with time for questions and a raffle for farm and garden supplies.
Spring Schedule & Field Day Learning Stations
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Check-In & Free Community Lunch
Arrive, grab your official packet, and connect with fellow growers over a complimentary lunch (sandwich platters, chips, and drinks provided) before we head out to our active demonstration fields.
12:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Interactive Field Rotations
Our hands-on stations are led by university researchers, Extension agents, and experienced farmers. Each rotation focuses on a key pillar of long-term soil health and seasonal production success:
Station 1: Cover Crop Termination & No-Till Planting
Discover how managing high-residue cover crops—such as Abruzzi rye and legumes—directly protects active topsoil structure by preserving biology and preventing early-season moisture loss. We will demonstrate mechanical and biological termination methods, walking through practical approaches to planting cash crops or vegetables directly into armor-covered ground without disruptive tillage.
Station 2: Planting for Pollinators & Edible/Functional Landscaping
Above-ground biodiversity is essential to feed below-ground microbial life. Learn how to design, establish, and maintain perennial pollinator borders, insectaries, and functional landscapes—including our seasonal u-pick flower garden practices—that attract beneficial predators, protect valuable soil, and yield food, flowers, or herbs.
Station 3: From Roots to Resilience — Managing Spring Moisture & Biology
Building on our previous workshops, this station focuses on jump-starting the soil food web as ground temperatures rise in early spring. We will examine root depth, aggregation, infiltration rates, and practical strategies to manage heavy spring rainfalls while maintaining optimal biology within your root zones.
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM | Closing Q&A & Spring Giveaway Raffle
Stick around as we bring our expert panel together for a brief wrap-up session. All Field Day attendees who complete our brief feedback survey will be entered to win our spring giveaway package featuring high-quality farm and garden inputs!
Featured Experts & Event Partners
• Dr. Gabe Kenne — Soil Health Labs at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health
• Rob Last — Midlands Commercial Horticulture Agent with Clemson University Extension
• Brett Flashnick & The FARM 1780 Team
What to Bring & Wear
• Comfortable Footwear: We will be walking out in active fields, so closed-toe shoes or sturdy work boots are strongly recommended.
• Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Dress in layers for spending the afternoon outdoors.
• Notepad & Pen: Optional, but handy for capturing notes and crop varieties!
🎟️ Reserve Your Free Spot
Space for lunch and field rotations is limited. Please reserve your spot below so we can accurately plan for our community lunch!
