Projects
Microscopy
As a qualified Soil Food Web Microscopist, Robby uses the shadow microscope in the ALBA Organics laboratory to assess the living biomass of soil and compost samples to determine their current conditions. This data informs accurate, practical action plans for balancing the biota, and allows for optimum production and quality of the crops being produced.
Workshops & Talks
“The Microbial Soil and Mental Health Connection” at BOKU University, Austria 2019 and Ashburnham Place, England 2020
“The Synergy between Biodynamic, Organic and Regenerative Agricultural Systems”, at BDASBC workshop in Langley 2022 and Organics BC Conference, Penticton 2023
“Understanding the Soil Microbial Relationship to Plant & Human Nutrition” BDASBC workshop in Langley 2022
Market Gardening
Small scale food production is a wonderful way for young agrarians to enter the farming community and market gardening must be done right to succeed. It takes hard work and precise planning to continually produce a critical mass of healthy food to the market. We share our experiences across 3 continents, based on the Jean-Martin Fortier style of operation.
Growth Trials
Testing the efficacy of various approaches in agriculture is very important to determine the value to the farmer. With all the knowledge and experience we already have to regenerate the soil and produce food without the use of harmful chemicals, it is still imperative that we do trials for continuous improvement.
Biodynamic Training
The Biodynamic approach sees the farm as a whole organism. There is a growing interest in Biodynamic farming principals due to their deep influence on environmental improvements. As experienced biodynamic farmers and trainers we take part in the communal activities around preparation making and share knowledge with others at gatherings and training opportunities.
Horticultural Training
Designing and establishing a Social Enterprise Partnership for training young people new skills in the horticultural sector at Hazeldene (2018) in partnership with Enable Scotland. ALBA Organics founder, Robby Gass, also lectured at Ayrshire College, Scotland.
Composting
Compost is the source of soil life. ALBA Organics produces customized full spectrum compost and worm casts, microscopically analyzed, to ensure all the biomass requirements are present for solid and liquid extract inoculations of fields, soils and organic piles. Our biota are Masters of Regeneration, Reclamation and Retention of living soil for a brighter future on earth.
Consultation
Our consultation services include the support of organic, biodynamic, and regenerative systems of agriculture with a focus on the farm as a whole organism. Starting with the soil, we assist farmers and growers in their quest to work with the natural abundance of life on earth to produce healthy food, profitably.
Animal Husbandry
Our experience with raising cattle, sheep, poultry, and horses has equipped us with a wide range of expertise on organic and regenerative ways of keeping our animals happy and healthy in various climatic regions. From hot dry South African semi-desert areas to wet, cold Scottish areas, we have had great success and love to share our knowledge.
Growth Trials
The challenges that dairy farmers face in BC’s Lower Mainland when attempting to grow silage corn without synthetic inputs and / or herbicides are quite unique due to the high rainfall restricting field access and a short planting window. Much is still to be uncovered.
Biodynamic Education
The Rudolf Steiner College Canada has appointed Robby of ALBA Organics as the Director of Biodynamic Farming Education to develop a two-year distance learning training program for Canada. The program is currently still in development.
Organic Growing
Development and implementation of improved methods of internationally certified organic / bio-dynamic cultivation, and value added processing of medicinal plant species for both the retail and export markets in South Africa.