Field School: Cover Crops & Soil Health

Cover crops and healthy soils play a critical role in the success of any farm or garden, cycling nutrients through the ecosystem, increasing water infiltration, and reducing erosion, runoff, and sedimentation.

This workshop will give an overview of fundamental soil health principles, with a focus on how you can incorporate cover crops into your growing operation. You will learn practical ways to incorporate soil health practices into the management of your vegetable garden or urban farm.

About the Field School

The Farm Alliance of Baltimore (FAB) is proud to launch Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy (BBUFA) Field School. Running from March to December, this series of hands-on workshops is intended to serve as an accessible point of entry for anyone interested in learning the seasonal fundamentals of urban agriculture. No previous farming experience is required to participate!

The BBUFA Field School's schedule is split up into three sessions: spring, summer, and fall. The majority of instruction will take place on site at FAB's teaching farm in South Baltimore, with occasional classroom sessions depending on content.

Learn more about the history of the Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy program on our website.

About the Facilitator

Nick Miller is the Healthy Soils Program Specialist at the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), where he works with department staff and partner organizations to provide program assistance, training, and technical support to further soil health practice adoption throughout the state. As part of this role, Nick administers the Healthy Soils Competitive Fund, a farmer-led grant program which provides funding for innovative soil health practices, projects, and research in Maryland. Prior to his work with MDA, Nick spent over a decade in farm management as well as agricultural production and education, and was a founding partner of Good Dog Farm in Baltimore County. Nick holds a Master of Science in Agronomy with a concentration in Agroecology from the University of Florida.

About the Farm

FAB's Black Butterfly Teaching Farm is our hub for food production, farmer training, and community connection in South Baltimore. With support from the City of Baltimore, we signed a 15-year lease in 2021 and planted our first crops in Curtis Bay that fall. In 2025, a generous grant allowed us to continue construction and expansion of the farm site, which now includes a greenhouse, a high tunnel, and an apiary, with more to come, including more space for workshops and community gatherings, new facilities to train the next generation of urban growers, and more growing areas to support a wider variety of crops year-round.

We envision the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm as a place where we can grow food for Baltimore and cultivate a space where neighbors, FAB members, and aspiring growers can come together to exchange knowledge, build skills, and strengthen community.

Additional Information

This workshop will be held outdoors. Please wear close-toed shoes, sun protection, and weather-appropriate clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. Be sure to bring a water bottle! Extra water, masks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and bug spray will be provided.

• Parking: Street parking available on W Bay Ave.
• Restrooms: There is a port-a-potty on site.
• Accessibility: Paths at the farm are grass and woodchips. There is limited shade and seating on site, please bring a chair if you need one!
• Illness: Please do not attend this event if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of illness including but not limited to fever, coughing, and/or vomiting.
• Cancellation Policy: In the event that we need to cancel due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, attendees will receive an email notification.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]