Living Soil MDV - LPC Naturals  One-Day Living Soil Workshop

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April 11, 2026 | Rochester, NY

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​Event Overview

After the success of our 2025 workshop, Living Soil MDV is excited to host another one-day immersive Living Soil Workshop designed for both commercial farms and home growers.

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This full-day event combines morning educational sessions with an afternoon hands-on cultivation experience, giving participants both the knowledge and practical skills needed to build living soil systems that improve over time.

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Topics will focus on real-world cultivation systems — soil biology, system design, watering strategies, raised beds, and long-term soil management — all taught by experienced professionals actively working in the field.

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Whether you’re transitioning from bottled nutrients or refining an existing living soil setup, this workshop provides clear, actionable guidance you can apply immediately.

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📍 Living Soil MDV -

961 Lyell Avenue, Building #1 - Rochester, NY 14606
🗓 April 11, 2026

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Day Schedule (Subject to Minor Adjustments)

8.00 AM 

Open doors - Registration starts

Light Breakfast available

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Morning — Education & System Design

🎤 Speakers & Topics

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9:00 AM

Welcome & Introduction - overview and workshop goals.

• Building & Managing Living Soil Systems,

• Soil horizons,

• Raised beds vs pots,

• Watering strategies, maintenance, and reusing soil cycle after cycle

Speaker: Gaetano Scollo, Living Soil MDV

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10.00 AM - Microbial Relationships: From the Soil to the Plant

• The role of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes — who does what

• Mycorrhizal fungi and their relationship with cannabis roots

• The role of worm castings and compost

• Nutrient cycling in living soil

• How to feed the soil, not the plant

Speaker: Jessica Staha, President and CEO of LPC Naturals

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11.00 AM – Cannabis Chemistry & Soil Influence
Understanding cannabinoids, plant compounds, and how soil quality impacts chemical expression
Speaker: Dr. Daniela Vergara ph.D., Cornell University. Emerging Crops Specialist with the Harvest New York program.

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12 AM – Living Sustainable soils -Compost methods - importance of OM in soil blends

• Using Vermi-compost  

• Compost Quality and Feedstocks

• Purity of Feedstocks- hyper accumulators

Speaker: Jean Bohotal, Waste Management Specialist and Director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute in Soil and Crop Sciences

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Lunch Break

Light Lunch available

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​​​Afternoon:

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2 PM

Joshua Waterman "Dr. Dunkstein"

​ From Legacy to Legal: Building Authentic Brands in New York Cannabis.

The transition from legacy market to regulated market

• The transition from legacy market to regulated market

• Protecting culture while entering legalization

• Brand identity in a crowded NY space

• Staying rooted in craft values

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​3 PM

Aaron Field - Beforeland Farms & Travis Williams - Tap Root Canna

How to build and maintain system with living soil:

A working farmer shares real-world experience transitioning to living soil, including challenges,

workflow changes, and practical advice for growers.

​​Hands-On Session: Raised Bed Construction & Functional Soil Architecture for Scalable Systems

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This hands-on session will demonstrate how to construct raised beds using a layered approach that replicates the functional dynamics of natural soil horizons. Participants will build a system that includes a stabilized organic surface layer (O horizon function), a biologically active root zone (A horizon equivalent), and a structured base layer designed to optimize drainage, aeration, and load stability.

We will discuss:

• Material selection based on porosity and bulk density

• Managing air-filled pore space and infiltration rates

• Root zone depth and volume considerations for yield stability

• Oxygen diffusion and microbial respiration dynamics

• Designing beds for repeatable performance across cycles

The focus will be on building a system that supports consistent root development, predictable watering behavior, and long-term soil reuse — critical factors for commercial efficiency and reduced input dependency.

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5 PM

Sponsor Giveaways & Closing Remarks

Thanks to our partners Grassroots Fabric Pots, Grove Bags, and LPC Naturals, select products and cultivation materials will be offered to attendees during the event.

These contributions are designed to support growers with practical tools aligned with soil-focused cultivation systems.

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6 PM

After party

After-Workshop Gathering

After a full day of education and hands-on learning, we’ll continue the experience with a relaxed after-party at our shop.

​This will be a 420-friendly gathering — a chance to unwind, connect, and network with fellow growers in a welcoming environment.

Please note that no alcohol will be permitted.

​It’s an opportunity to build relationships, share ideas, and enjoy the community side of cultivation after a long and productive day.

​We look forward to closing out the workshop together.

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Participant Contribution — $25

To support the organization of this educational gathering and help bring our growing community together, the workshop is supported by a $25 participant contribution.

To preserve the quality of the experience and allow meaningful interaction during the presentations and hands-on sessions, attendance is limited to 75 participants. We strongly encourage early registration to secure your place.

If seats remain available, registration at the door will be $35. Please contact us in advance to confirm availability, as we would truly hate to turn anyone away if the event reaches capacity.

Your registration includes:

• Light breakfast and lunch
• Access to all morning speakers and educational presentations
• Full afternoon hands-on learning sessions
• A curated welcome bag featuring sponsor materials and cultivation resources

This workshop is designed to create a space where growers, professionals, and enthusiasts can learn from experienced voices in the industry, connect with one another, and deepen their understanding of living soil cultivation systems.

We look forward to sharing a day of learning, discussion, and community with you.

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​Sponsorship Opportunities

We’re offering limited sponsorship opportunities for companies aligned with regenerative cultivation and soil health.

This workshop is designed to be educational and high quality — not a trade show — so vendor spaces are capped.

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Become a Sponsor

Connect your brand with engaged growers at the Living Soil MDV Workshop — April 11, 2026.

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