Landscape Biodiversity Workgroup, together with Mäemõisa young farmers Sander Hiir and Marian Nummert, is welcoming helping hands on the Mäemõisa farm lands, where four kilometers of shrubs are waiting to be planted. Mäemõisa farm is one of six agricultural producers whose demonstration sites are used to assess the impact of different agroecological approaches on yields and biodiversity.
The young farmers of Mäemõisa, Sander Hiir and Marian Nummert, who are engaged in cereal cultivation, have established approximately six hectares of grassland strips on their fields within the LIFE IP project ‘ForEst&FarmLand’. These strips are used to test the impact of sowing different seed mixtures on crop yields and biodiversity. Last year, they also began planting shrub belts along the edges of the fields segmented by grassland strips. Both grassland and shrub belts help to divide the fields, improve soil fertility, attract farmland birds and pollinators, as well as natural enemies of crop pests. In addition, the shrub belts contribute to connecting two forest areas located across the fields.
Volunteer Day Schedule (to be confirmed)
- 09:00 Departure to Mäemõisa (ministry bus and one car reserved)
- 10:30 Coffee and pastry at the field edge, meeting Sander and Marian
- 11:00 Instructions and volunteer work
- 13:00 Lunch either at Rakke café or by the field (covered by the project, depending on the number of participants)
- 14:30 Volunteer work continues
- 16:30 Return trip
The volunteer day will be guided by Krista Takkis, Researcher in Restoration Ecology, and Katrin Tambet, Specialist in Regenerative Agriculture. Please bring gloves and wear weather- and work-appropriate clothing!
Registration is open until September 15 here.
