Seed Swap, 10am–1pm: bring seeds to share, get free seeds from our Seed Library and partners, and do fun garden crafts & activities for all ages. Dig deeper with the Living Soil Summit, 10am–6pm!
Go deeper with the Living Soil Summit, happening in the Auditorium from 10am–6pm. Hear talks from farmers, gardeners, soil scientists, ecologists, activists to learn how healthy soils can lead to healthy communities.
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10:30–10:35am |
Welcome + Land Acknowledgement, |
Tia Mitsinikos |
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10:35 –11:20am
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Sowing A Resilient Future 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. |
Casey O’Leary
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11:25am–12:30pm |
A Chef's Journey Through Sustainability 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. |
Bleu Adams |
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12:30–1:45pm |
Lunch |
Offsite, BYO |
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1:45–2:15pm |
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. |
Celia Bell |
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2:20–2:50pm |
Creating the Next Generation of American Farmers The average American farmer is 60 years old and farms an avg. of 460 acres. Their children are mostly uninterested in inheriting this line of work, and our country has turned to unjust employment and land practices to account for this. It is clear that we need a shift in land stewardship going forward. We need more farmers growing on less land for fair wages. GULB’s Small Farms Initiative program teaches community members regenerative small-scale growing methods in an intensive course throughout the growing season. This talk will focus on the benefits, hows, and why this program is successful and important to the future of farming. |
Soni Scheig |
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2:55–4:25pm |
to Restoring Urban Soils 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. |
Dr. Christy Clay |
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4:25–4:35pm |
Break |
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4:35–5:45pm |
Panel: Where Do We Go From Here/Community Applications Description coming soon |
Panelists: Moderator: |
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5:45–5:50pm |
Thank You + Goodbye |
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6–10pm |
Square Dance Dinner and dancing at Church & State |
Trash Moon Collective |
NOTE: The Main Library's Rooftop Terrace is closed for renovations.
Salt Lake City's Main Library, designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie in conjunction with VCBO Architecture, opened in February 2003 and remains one of the most architecturally unique structures in Utah. This striking 240,000 square-foot structure houses more than 500,000 books and other materials, yet serves as more than just a repository of books and computers. It reflects and engages the city's imagination and aspirations. The structure embraces a public plaza, with shops and services at ground level, reading galleries above, and a 300-seat auditorium.
A multi-level reading area along the Glass Lens at the southern facade of the building looks out onto the plaza with stunning views of the city and Wasatch Mountains beyond. Spiraling fireplaces on four floors resemble a column of flame from the vantage of 200 East and 400 South. The Urban Room between the Library and the Crescent Wall is a space for all seasons, generously endowed with daylight and open to magnificent views.
