Businessman to present ‘carbon smart’ workshops

From Illinois Business Journal news services

GODFREY — A local businessman will present two free “carbon smart” workshops on organic soils.

The Sierra Club is partnering with the Community Cultivators and Senior Services Plus, Inc. to offer the workshops presented by Sierra Club member Roger Glotfelty, owner of Advanced Sustainable Technologies L.L.C.

The workshops will take place on Tuesday, June 9, at 6 p.m. at Jaime Hines Discovery Garden at La Vista Park in Godfrey and again on Tuesday, June 16, at 10 a.m. at Senior Services Plus, Inc. at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave. in Alton.

Workshop participants will learn how to build fertile organic soil with biochar, sea minerals and compost and grow food with balanced, complete nutrients in a process called Terra Preta, which is said to have originated in the Amazon basin at least 2,500 years ago.

Glotfelty will explain and answer questions about beneficial microbe diversity and activity while applying 37 strains of such diversity onto the garden bed that will be built during the workshop.

“Ultimately, this process will assure that natural biologically available sources of nitrogen and phosphorus for your garden increase your plant growth while helping your soil’s ability to retain water,” said Glotfelty.

“I’m really interested in helping the Earth store carbon – we need to figure this out sooner than later,” he said.

Please RSVP your name and the number in your party by the day before each event to: christine.favilla@sierraclub.org or (618) 462-6802.