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ONE OF THE REGIONS LARGEST FARM AND FOOD GATHERINGS!
Join us for three days of local farm and food workshops, farm fresh meals, inspiring speakers, and networking opportunities.
Interact during 8 pre-conference, skill-building workshops for farmers and their allies! 3 Free pre-conference trainings!
Experience 6 conference tracks and 30 sessions and try out our new Farmer-to-Farmer Chat sessions where you can come together with your peers to problem solve and get advice!
Enjoy delicious Farm-to-Table meals, this once-a-year networking opportunity, the Foodshed Photo Contest, and the Farmer of the Foodshed Awards!
Featuring
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Gabe BrownBrown's RanchFriday Opening Speaker |
Ira WallaceSouthern Exposure Seed ExchangeSaturday Lunch Speaker |
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Chef Michael TwittyThe Cooking GeneFriday Dinner Speaker |
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Thursday, January 11th Pre-Conference Workshops |
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Morning Workshops (10:00am-12:30pm) |
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Sauer-Power! with HEX Ferments: Explore all of the wonderful ingredients you can grow, forage, or source locally for your own unique ‘krauts and kombucha flavors. As a group, we will make a Kraut-Chi and kombucha and you can even take a jar home! Be prepared to be hands-on, mostly standing, and bring an apron. Materials will be available for purchase. (Shane & Meaghan Carpenter, HEX Ferments) Potomac Pantry |
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Diversifying Your Farm with Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms: There are many cost effective ways to include mushrooms in your farm production system using existing infrastructure and labor. Get an in-depth introduction to modern mushroom production and learn the basics of growing several types of specialty mushrooms using low-tech, low-cost methods on your farm. (Mark Jones, Sharondale Mushroom Farm) Room 2108 |
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Understanding Wholesale Buyer Expectations: Learn food safety certification, quality, post-harvest handling and packaging. (Panel: Lindsay Gilmour, Food Safety Educator for Chesapeake Harvest; Natalie Kujala, Tuscarora Organic Growers; Allison Blansfield, Sweetgreen; Lisa Reeder, Local Food Hub) Room 2102 |
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Irrigation in the Age of Climate Change: All the things you need to know to implement and assemble a watering system that works for your farm! Followed by a discussion on how you can minimize the effects of climate change on your farm water supply using recycled irrigation water sources. (David Giusti, Second Spring Farm & Drs. Rachel Goldstein & Amy Sapkota, CONSERVE) Room 2101 |
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FREE TRAINING TO ACCEPT SNAP: Become authorized to accept SNAP EBT. Enjoy increased customer base, increased economic benefits for you and your communities, and healthy and nutritious options for SNAP recipients. Farmers and farmers markets are eligible for free wireless equipment so find out if you qualify for FREE wireless point of sale equipment! (Training led by Amy Crone, MDFMA) Room 2104 |
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN12:30PM - 2:00 PMBring your own lunch, visit a food truck, or dine at The Commons Restaurant on-site. |
Thursday, January 11th Pre-Conference Workshops |
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Afternoon Workshops (2:00pm-4:30pm) |
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Ginger Beer: Traditional Beverage, Hip New Drink: Naturally fermented ginger beer was once a common beverage around the globe and is enjoying a renaissance. Come learn two different ways to make this new, traditional drink using a wild cultured "ginger bug," and a little-known SCOBY called Ginger Beer Plant. (Rachel Armistead & Luke Flessner, The Sweet Farm) Potomac Pantry |
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Farm Marketing and Branding: Learn the fundamentals of creating a solid strategic marketing plan, developing and understanding your social media marketing, and the art of telling your farm story. (Liz Reitzig, Larisa Cioaca, and Jennifer Garvin) Room 2108 |
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Small-Tractor Maintenance 101: Join University of Maryland Extension Senior Agent Chuck Schuster for a basic introduction to the routine maintenance needed for a BCS small tractor, including changing oil, lubing your tractor innards, understanding fuel, bleeding your fuel system, and how to keep fuel from damaging your tractor. (Chuck Schuster, UMD Senior Extension Agent) Meet in Room 2102 |
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FREE TRAINING for FMNP Certification: In Maryland and the District of Columbia, the FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) is a win-win: it provides fresh local produce to low-income participants and puts extra income into the pockets of FMNP market farmers. Complete this FREE training to become an authorized FMNP farmer! (Training Led By: Jessie Lupo and Christi Dorsey, DOH and Terri Buckler, MDA) Room 2104 |
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FREE ONE-ON-ONE GAP CONSULTING: Bring Your GAP Food Safety questions to the experts! Gather in an informal session and bring your questions and concerns to GAP experts who will help walk you through your plan and get you on the right track! (Consulting led by Lindsay Gilmour, GAP Food Safety Educator) Chasen Hallway |
Friday, January 12th Sessions |
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Session I (9:00am - 10:00am) |
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TRACK1 |
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Beginning Farming Room 2102 |
The Four P's: Passion, Perspiration, Patience and Profit: Hear one beginning farmer’s experience highlighted through his “4 P’s” lens, and the challenges and successes of starting your own farm. (Gary Palmer, Holiday Memories Farm) |
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TRACK2 |
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Crop Production Room 2111 |
High Tunnel Success: Enjoy a detailed high tunnel management discussion including soil health and crop selection focused on disease prevention and management using resistant varieties. (Paul Gallione, Johnny's Seeds) |
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TRACK3 |
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Grassfed: Meat & Dairy Chasen Family Room |
Holistic Farming with Gabe Brown: Gabe Brown is one of the world's leading thinkers on soil health. Years of trial and error have allowed him to develop a farming system that can be adapted to almost all farms. This session will be a deep dive into his methods. (Gabe Brown, Brown's Ranch) |
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TRACK4 |
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Business of Farming Room 2112 |
Tax & Legal Basics: Learn the basics of tax and accounting necessary for the business of farming. Learn how to use the correct business structure on your farm to limit liability and provide a tool to bring in outside capital. (Kenneth Prager, CPA & Paul Goeringer, UMD) |
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TRACK5 |
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Environment, Community Health, & Policy Room 2110 |
Cultivating Urban and Rural Collaboration: Where does the intersection lie between urban and rural growers? We will hear one DC grower describe how these partnerships can exist and thrive. (Gail Taylor, Three Part Harmony Farm) |
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TRACK6 |
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Made Local: Value-Added & Artisanal Foods Room 2101 |
Tea Time!: With the increasing consumption of herbal teas you may seriously consider growing this value-added crop! Learn about one Chesapeake Foodshed tea grower's experience growing a multitude of herbs, and drying, processing and selling a variety of teas while complying to legal requirements. (Henriette den Ouden, Habanera Farm) |
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Friday Opening Speaker10:15 AM - 11:15 AMGabe Brown, Internationally Renowned Regenerative RancherBrown's RanchGabe Brown, a North Dakota rancher, has increased his profits 25% by farming in ways that mimic nature and build soil health. His success has caught the attention of scientists, grazers, and farmers worldwide and he’s coming to our neck of the woods share his inspiring story! You’ll hear his strategies for improving soil health in a no-till system, using cover and companion crops, and eliminating synthetics and GMOs. |
Friday, January 12th Sessions |
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Session II (11:30am - 12:30pm) |
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TRACK1 |
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Beginning Farming Room 2102 |
Got Land?: Learn about several regional programs that help the next generation of farmers gain access to farmland. (Reps from FSA, Farm Credit, Iroquois Valley Farms, and MD Department of Natural Resources) |
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TRACK2 |
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Crop Production Room 2111 |
Post-Harvest Efficiency: This session will cover post-harvest handling on a small-scale vegetable farm, what equipment is necessary to facilitate that process, and how much it costs. (Emma Jagoz and Jason James, Moon Valley Farm) |
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TRACK3 |
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Grassfed: Meat & Dairy Chasen Family Room |
The Soil Gut System: What are we growing? FOOD! Fostering microbial health is what puts the nutrition back into the system. Take a look at how soil microbiology links to plant and animal performance and what you can do to harness these microbes. (Nicole Masters, Integrity Soils) |
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TRACK4 |
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Business of Farming Room 2112 |
Is the Price Right?: Are you charging the right prices for your farm's products or services? Learn data-driven approaches to setting prices and apply them to real-world scenarios. (Meredith Epstein & Larisa Cioaca, UMD IAA) |
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TRACK5 |
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Environment, Community Health, & Policy Room 2110 |
A Hustlerz Dream: Urban Ag for Community Transformation: Using urban ag as a catalyst, Hustlerz to Harvesters is transforming its neighborhood by reaching other formerly incarcerated individuals via job training, organizing, and civic engagement to better their community. (Dreaming Out Loud & Hustlerz to Harvesters) |
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TRACK6 |
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Made Local: Value-Added & Artisanal Foods Room 2101 |
Go Big!: A panel of experienced, value-added business owners will discuss the most challenging obstacles faced during their expansion, and the solutions they came up with. (Elaine Lemmon, Kitchen Table Consultants; Rachel Armistead, Sweet Farm) |
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12:45 PM - 1:30 PM LUNCH1:30 PM - 1:45 PM WELCOME REMARKSWelcome remarks from our conference partnerDr. Craig Beyrouty, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at University of MarylandDr. Beyrouty has led and participated in international research, teaching and administrative activities all across the world, in places such as Rwanda, Tokyo, Madrid, and Moscow. Dr. Beyrouty is a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in soil chemistry from Purdue University and a B.S. in soil science from Cal Poly State University. |
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Membership MeetingChesapeake Ballroom1:45 PM - 2:45 PMYour voice counts! Join us for our annual membership meeting immediately following lunch to weigh in on Future Harvest's programs, new board members, and to meet fellow members. |
Friday, January 12th Sessions |
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Session III (3:00pm - 4:00pm) |
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TRACK1 |
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Beginning Farming Room 2102 |
Growing Flowers for Florists: What you Need to Know: How can farmers make contact and build positive relationships with florists? Attendees will learn solid do's and don'ts for working with any customer. (Laura Beth Resnick, Butterbee Farm) |
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TRACK2 |
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Crop Production Room 2111 |
Growing Great Strawberries in the MidAtlantic: Learn about regionally adapted strawberries well suited for production and agritourism in the Chesapeake region. (Dr. Jayesh Samtami, VA Tech; Dr. Kim Lewers, USDA-ARS; Dave Liker, Gorman Farm) |
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TRACK3 |
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Grassfed: Meat & Dairy Chasen Family Room |
Read Your Weeds: What grows above ground tells you a great deal about what's happening underground, from management to soil structure, water, and mineral and microbial imbalances. Learning to read your weeds can turn your greatest foes into allies. (Nicole Masters, Integrity Soils) |
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TRACK4 |
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Business of Farming Room 2112 |
Wholly Wholesale!: Panel discussion exploring the who, how, what, when, and where of what it takes to sell wholesale. Hear what buyers and growers have to say about how to make wholesale work for your farm! (Bennett Haynes, Beefsteakveggies) |
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TRACK5 |
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Environment, Community Health, & Policy Room 2110 |
Fixing the Food & Farm System - the 2018 Farm Bill: The next farm bill is an opportunity to create a comprehensive policy blueprint for building a sustainable, resilient, and just food and farm system. (Wes King & Paul Wolfe, NSAC) |
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TRACK6 |
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Made Local: Value-Added & Artisanal Foods Room 2101 |
Loving Lavender: Learn the basics of growing, cultivating, and marketing this increasingly popular crop. Marie Mayor, a Delaware lavender grower, will tell you what you need to know! (Marie Mayor, Lavender Fields at Warrington Manor) |
Friday, January 12th Farmer-to-Farmer Chats |
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Farmer-to-Farmer (4:15pm - 5:15pm)This new session format is set up as an informal, audience-driven “chat” session where farmers can enjoy peer-to-peer problem-solving and brainstorming.There will be very short or no presentations at these sessions. |
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CHAT 1 |
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Room 2102 |
New and Used Equipment Choices for Small Farms Moderator: David Giusti |
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CHAT 2 |
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Room 2111 |
Work/Life Balance for Advanced Farmers Moderator: Mike Protas |
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CHAT 3 |
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Room 2101 |
Panel: Navigating the Decision Map for Value-Added Processing Moderators: Ginger Myers & Dr. Shauna Henley |
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CHAT 4 |
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Room 2112 |
Managing Disease, Pests, andSoil in Your High Tunnel Moderator: Paul Gallione |
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CHAT 5 |
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Room 2110 |
Your Greatest Challenge This Year Moderator: Niamh Shortt |
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CHAT 6 |
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Chasen Family Room
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Young Farmers Meet Up! Moderator: Meredith Epstein Meet leaders from the MD Young Farmers Coalition (a chapter of the National Youhg Farmers Coalition) and The Maryland Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee. |
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Friday Evening Happy Hour5:15 PM- 6:15 PMFriday Evening Dinner and Talk6:15 PM - 8:15 PMMichael Twitty: Chef, Culinary Historian, and AuthorMichael W. Twitty is a renowned culinary historian offering a fresh perspective in his recent book, The Cooking Gene, an illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both black and white—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. In all his work, Twitty explores the roots of his own family and the charged politics surrounding the origins of soul food, barbecue, and Southern cuisine. |
Saturday, January 13th Sessions |
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Session IV : 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
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TRACK1 |
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Beginning Farming Room 2102 |
Understanding your Farm Financials: From balance sheets to your P&L to monthly cash flow tracking, keeping accurate and timely farm financials are key to success, especially if you are seeking loans. (Keith Wills & Gary Matteson, Farm Credit) |
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TRACK2 |
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Crop Production Room 2111 |
Industrial Hemp Production: Michael Renfroe of James Madison University will address both opportunities and challenges of growing industrial hemp in the Chesapeake. (Dr. Michael Renfroe, James Madison University) |
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TRACK3 |
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Grassfed: Meat & Dairy Chasen Family Room |
Creating an Advanced Grazing Plan: Take your grazing operation to the next level! Serious graziers are encouraged to attend and learn how to design a holistic grazing plan through ATTRA's step--by-step program. (Lee Rinehart, ATTRA) |
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TRACK4 |
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Business of Farming Room 2112 |
Crop Insurance for the Small Farmer: This session will cover Whole Farm Revenue Crop Insurance and changes to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and how these programs impact small growers. (Paul Goeringer & Howard Leathers, UMD) |
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TRACK5 |
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Environment, Community Health, & Policy Room 2110 |
Food Safety for Farmers: The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) can be a regulatory challenge to farmers, but also an opportunity for added value and tapping new markets. Learn how to navigate the regulatory landscape and compliance. (Chelsea Matzen, National Farmers Union, DC) |
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TRACK6 |
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Regenerative AgricultureRoom 2101 |
Managing On-Farm Climate Risk: Climate change is already affecting the Chesapeake, from warmer days to the pests that thrive in this new weather. Learn common sense strategies you can use on your farm now to remain successful. (Dr. Sara Via, UMD) |
Saturday, January 13th Sessions |
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Session V: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM |
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TRACK1 |
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Beginning FarmingRoom 2102 |
Smart Tools, Smart Body: From hand tools to harvesting equipment, this lecture will provide an overview of useful tools to help make life easier in the field and how workng smarter can be a more enduring path. (Nazirahk Amen, Purple Mountain Organics) |
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TRACK2 |
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Crop ProductionRoom 2111 |
Native Fruits and Nuts: This workshop will focus on growing, cultivating, and caring for native fruit and nuts including, native plums, paw paws, and northern pecans to name a few. (Dr. Gordon Johnson, University of Delaware) |
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TRACK3 |
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Grassfed: Meat & DairyChasen Family Room |
Integrated Livestock Pasture Management: Learn a holistic approach to raising animals on the farm with a negative carbon footprint that both improves the health of animals and the wealth of the farmers. (Stewart Lundy, Perennial Roots Farm) |
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TRACK4 |
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Business of FarmingRoom 2112 |
Small Farm Investment Strategies: Explore time management, attracting and retaining employees, retirement plans, disability and life insurance, deferred compensation plans, and estate considerations for small farmers. (John Dove, Love Dove Farm)
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TRACK5 |
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Environment, Community Health, & PolicyRoom 2110 |
Non-Profit Farming ABCs: Thinking of starting a nonprofit farm? Learn how nonprofit farms are planned for, initiated, and managed; the role they play in our foodshed; and lessons learned. (Katherine Collins, Arcadia & Melissa McLearen, Red Wiggler Community Farm) |
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TRACK6 |
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Regenerative AgricultureRoom 2101 |
The Healthy Soils Movement's On a Roll: From Maryland's new Healthy Soils Act to growing Regenerative Agriculture movement, learn from key stakeholders about what's happening to advance soil carbon sequestration around the country and the world. (MD Delegate Dana Stein, UMD, Dena Leibman, FHCASA, Dr. Sara Via, UMD) |
Saturday, January 13th Special Sessions |
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Special Session: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
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Special 1 |
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Growing Great Garlic and Perennial Onions: Learn about heirloom garlic and perennial onion varieties from planting to cultivation and harvesting. Covers soil preparation, weed control, disease prevention, harvesting, curing, and storage requirements for adding these culinary essentials to your market garden. (Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange & Author, "The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast") Room 2101
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Special 2 |
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Cold-Hardy Winter Vegetables: Why farm in winter? Information includes tables of cold-hardiness; details of four ranges of cold-hardy crops; overwintering crops for spring harvests; scheduling; weather prediction and protection; hoophouse growing; and vegetable storage. (Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community & Author, "Sustainable Market Farming") Room 2104 |
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Special 3 |
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Using Cover Crops to Suppress Weeds in No- or Low-till Systems: Learn how to manage weeds in no and low till operations using cover crops. Highlighting data from very recent field experiments, Dr. Hooks will lead us through the advantages and disadvantage of using these approaches. (Dr. Cerruti Hooks, UMD) Chasen Family Room |
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Saturday LunchChesapeake Ballroom12:45 PM - 2:00 PMIra WallaceAuthor, Seed Saver, and EducatorIra Wallace is transforming the way we eat, bringing heirloom seeds and vegetables to farms and tables. An accomplished seed-saver, Ira farmed around the world before settling in Virginia to pursue the good life growing delicious organic food and herbs. Ira helped to found Acorn Community, the home of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, where she still lives and works on building a cooperative and sustainable organic food system for the Southeast. Ira is the author of The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast or co-founder of the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello. She also serves on the board of the Organic Seed Alliance, Open Source Seed Initiative and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming.
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Saturday, January 13 Lightning Rounds |
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Lightning Rounds: 2:15 PM - 3:30 PMChesapeake Ballroom |
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| Lightning Rounds will provide attendees with a fast introduction and summary of some of the best food and farming ideas in the MidAtlantic. | |||
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Round 1 |
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Joan NormanOne Straw Farm |
The 5 Things You Need to Know to Farm Successfully |
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Round 2 |
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Pam DawlingTwin Oaks Community |
6 Steps to Scheduling Succession Plantings for Continuous Harvests Using Graphs |
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Round 3 |
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Tom McDougall4P Foods |
The 4 Reasons the 4Ps are Critical to Growing a Sustainable Foodshed |
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Round 4 |
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Priscilla WentworthSMADC |
The Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Finding Farmland in the Chesapeake |
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Round 5 |
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Neith LittleUME |
The Top 5 Things You Need to Know to Assess Soil Contamination |
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Round 6 |
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TBD |
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Closing Ceremony3:30 PM - 4:00 PMDena Leibman, Future Harvest CASARound out your final conference day with a a fun and interactive closing ceremony with Future Harvest CASA's Exectuive Director, Dena Leibman! Awesome Raffle! |