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Demonstration Improvements and Educational Aids for the Aeschliman Learning Site Hans Kok, Conservation Tillage Extension Specialist. Introduction
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Demonstration Improvements and Educational Aids for the Aeschliman Learning Site Hans Kok, Conservation Tillage Extension Specialist Introduction John Aeschliman receives numerous tour groups on his BioAg learning site each year. He delivers an introduction to the farm and farming philosophy, followed by a field visit. Practical hands-on demonstrations are performed, including demonstration of a soil pit, a Giddings soil probe, and a ‘fire-hose’ demonstration, illustrating improved infiltration under direct seed farming systems. Materials and Methods Use of a rain simulator instead of a fire hose would improve the effectiveness of the demonstration by providing side-by-side comparison of tilled and direct seeded ground. It would also significantly cut John’s preparation time for each tour. Results Production of a narrated slide set, giving the history of the farm, and explaining John’s farming philosophy, is underway, with the help of the Spokane County Conservation District . The presentation will be on the web, and available on DVD for John to hand out. We can probably make mini-DVDs that would double as business cards for John. Interviews with John have been completed, high quality photos have been produced. The final product will be reviewed by John, the Learning Site coordinators and Russ Evans with PNDSA. Production of an A-frame rain simulator, with pump and battery, will take place this winter. Materials and Methods We are providing John with color handouts describing his operation (PNW515). However, a narrated slide set on DVD, containing interview segments with John, would provide an alternative/electronic description of the site. We have found those “in-their-own-words” DVD presentations by farmers to be extremely efficient in explaining complex farming systems. John Aeschliman talking to visitors at the BioAg Learning Site. John Aeschliman harvesting direct seeded wheat. A portable rain-simulator is a very effective tool to demonstrate infiltration, soil sealing, water erosion and the benefits of conservation farming.
