By Emma Stone
Hosted every Wednesday until June 28, the Lincoln Parish Library is working in conjunction with Campti Field of Dreams to host free gardening classes.
The classes teach small scale farmers to keep their crops “no till.”
Ted Kornecki was a speaker for two events in-person earlier this month.
Originating from Auburn, Alabama, Kornecki invented the eight U.S. patents of the unique agricultural equipment and offered examination into the development of machinery.
“For the small farm community, we don’t have anything on the market,” said Kornecki. “So, we wanted to patent equipment, because these farms produce healthy food for local markets.”
Working as a research scientist, Kornecki is a member of the ARS National Patent Committee and an Associate Editor of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
With Kornecki coordinating and being a part of the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, the development for the new equipment features a BCS two-wheel tractor and variations of a crimper.
“Everything is done by hand for small farms; they have a very limited power source,” said Kornecki.
Donna Isaacs, executive director for Campti Field of Dreams, spoke about the gardening classes themselves and the importance of making resources available for farmers.
“We help them with resource concern that may be erroneous or inadequate in nutrients,” said Isaacs. “So, they have to manage the nutrients whether it’s for their livestock or their plants.”
The first hurdle was getting a patent for the equipment, now, Campti Field of Dreams focuses heavily on getting the word out, so that a manufacturer could pick up the construction.
“One of the many challenges is it is not cost effective. The large tractor manufactures spend a lot of money in research and development, because there is a huge demand for it,” said Isaacs. “On the flip side, a lot of backyard gardeners would grow larger gardens and would produce more food for market if they had some additional equipment.”
For more information or to register online, call 318-521-4998 or visit www.camptifieldofdreams.org.
