Rooted In Soil

Healthy soil drives nutrient cycling. Nutrient cycling drives crop rotation planning. And crop rotation planning — done well — is what turns a garden or a market plot into a reliable source of nutrient-dense food. Over one evening at the Barn, you'll walk the fields, hear from the people who study and steward that process, and sit down to a farm-to-table dinner that puts it all on the plate. What to Expect • A guided walk through Zawadi Farm's growing beds • An accessible opening session on soil, compost, and crop rotation for backyard and small-garden growers • Expert talks on the science of soil health and the soil-to-food-to-health connection • A dinner catered by Meza Group • A deep-dive session on crop planning and rotation for market-scale growers Who It's For Home gardeners curious about what's actually happening in their soil, and market gardeners ready to go deeper on planning a season around it. Come for either — stay for the whole story. The Evening Time Session 4:00 – 4:30 PM Arrival, Registration & Farm Tour 4:30 – 4:40 PM Welcome & Opening Remarks 4:40 – 5:20 PM Soil Basics for Backyard & Small Gardens 5:20 – 5:50 PM The Science of Good Soil — Alexandre Parrott-Mautner (Ryzome Environmental) 5:50 – 6:20 PM From Soil to Food to Health — Dr. Frank Nhan (Curate Health) 6:20 – 7:00 PM Dinner, catered by Meza Group 7:00 – 8:30 PM Crop Planning & Rotation for Market Gardeners — Arlene Throness (TMU Urban Farm) 8:30 – 8:50 PM Q&A / Open Discussion 8:50 – 9:00 PM Closing Remarks & Networking Your Speakers • Arlene Throness — Manager, Urban Farm at Toronto Metropolitan University. Leading the evening's headline session on crop planning and rotation for market gardeners. • Alexandre Parrott-Mautner — Founder, Ryzome Environmental. Speaking on the science of healthy, living soil. • Dr. Frank Nhan — Curate Health. Speaking on how soil quality carries through to food quality and human health. Tickets This event runs on a sliding scale — pay what fits, knowing that Supporter tickets help make Community tickets possible. Tier Description Community — $55 An accessible entry point for anyone who wants to be part of this evening. Priced near the true per-plate cost, not the full share of the event's overhead — because this workshop should be reachable, not exclusive. Standard — $115 The rate most attendees choose. Covers your own seat, the full program, and dinner, plus a fair share of the evening's costs. Supporter — $185 For those in a position to give a little more. Your ticket helps hold space for Community-rate seats, so cost isn't a barrier to anyone who wants to be here. Where & When Where: The Barn, Zawadi Farm — 160 Downsview Park Blvd, North York, ON M3K 0C8 When: Monday, September 28 · 4:00 – 9:00 PM Good soil. Good food. Better health. Stronger communities. Let's grow together.