Living Soils Summit: Remedies for our Land, Food System and Community

The Living Soils Summit will bring together farmers, gardeners, soil scientists, environmental stakeholders, ecologists and food activists to discuss building healthy soils for healthy communities. Our hope is that through education and conversations, we can empower small producers to adopt soil health principles in their own operations and build a c o mmunity-of-practice to which local growers can turn for resources and support.

P lease note that space is limited. Please wait to register until you're sure you can attend, and reach out to let us know if you can no longer attend after you've registered. We want to be sure we have space for as many community members as possible. Thank you!

This event is supported by the Utah Soil Health Partnership, the Utah Food Coalition, the Living Soils Collective, the SLC Main Library, and the Sorenson Unity Center.

Info: Weaving her personal story with soil health expertise, Sara will share actionable strategies to help growers navigate toxicity in our soils, water, and common inputs to grow truly clean and nutrient-dense food.

Info: Vale will discuss soil health, testing, fertility and contamination, with a focus on soil health awareness, discussiong how community scientists are addressing the need to build urban soils while lessening the exposure to toxins through contact -- limiting pollutant uptake through toxic foods. Vale will also discuss common regenerative practices, remediation, and community-based education and skill sharing.

Info: Dinner will be provided with registration. We'll be using as many local ingredients as we can find this time of year. GF/Vegetarian option available. More info coming soon. This will be a great time to get to know fellow attendees and presenters.

Info: What can seeds teach us about the future of agriculture? How can they help us find our unique niche, while working together in service of the greater good? When you plant a seed, you plant the entire agricultural system that produced that seed. In this lively session, we'll dig deep into the soil of interrelationship between the ecosystems of our farms and the seeds we plant. We'll explore how collaborative agricultural models rooted in ecosystems can adapt in real time to the challenges we face. We'll marvel at the emerging research turning what we thought we knew about plant, seed, and soil interactions on its head, and we'll celebrate the vital work of tending the soil of our places, of planting our seeds.

Info: As chefs, we do more than just cook—we have the power to shape food systems, support local farmers, and educate people about where their food comes from. In this talk, I’ll walk through my journey—starting as an entrepreneur, then a restaurateur, and now leading IndigeHub—showing how each role has deepened my commitment to soil health and regenerative agriculture. I’ll share how chefs can be a bridge between the land and the table, advocate for better food policies, and actively support Indigenous and local growers. I’ll also talk about the work we’re doing with IndigeHub to build bioreactors in rural Indigenous communities, creating real solutions for food waste and soil regeneration. Let’s rethink the way we source, cook, and talk about food—because it all starts with the soil.

Info: Lunch is not included with event registration. Participants can bring their own meal or enjoy offsite options with fellow summit attendees!

Info: Interested in pasturing animals in a small-scale urban environment? We’ll explore what it looks like to raise pastured rabbits, using cages to increase soil fertility, and explore some of the benefits –3333You won't have to import as many soil amendments or purchase as much rabbit feed in the warmer months, while they are moved daily on the pasture.

Info: My research aims to develop ecological methods to repair soils in the urban environment to restore ecosystem functions and, where possible, create new opportunities for urban food production. In this presentation, I will share what we’ve learned in using urban waste materials to create biologically diverse compost suitable for remediation. I will also share some preliminary results of an ongoing remediation project, and discuss opportunities for community collaboration and further research.

Info: Description coming soon! Moderated by Chandler Rosenberg.

Info: After the summit wraps up we'll walk across the street to Church & State for a dinner and square dance to celebrate the upcoming spring solstice. NOTE: This event requires a separate ticket. More info coming soon.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 South 900 West, Salt Lake City, United States