Schedule
8:00am-9:00am: Registration
9:00am-10:30am: Workshops
11.00am-12:30pm: Workshops
12:30-1:30pm: Lunch & breakout sessions (Please bring your own place settings)
1:30-2:30pm: NOFA/MASS Annual Meeting
2:30-3:30pm: Keynote, Brian Donahue
4:00-5:30pm: Workshops
Workshop Session 1 - 9:00am-10:30am
Workshop Session 2 - 11:00am – 12.30pm
Workshop Session 3 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Workshop Session 1 - 9:00am-10:30am
PASTURE MANAGEMENT - Room 234
Larry Shearer, Semi retired dairy farmer using intensive grazing,
Sustainable Farmer Educator for SARE, Member of Pasture Research and Extension
Consortium Ken Miller, Umass
Extension, former dairy farmer using an intensive, rotational grazing system,
develops grazing plans and reviews feeding programs for livestock and dairy
operations. Larry will show from his own experience and observations how managed intensive grazing is profitable and environmentally friendly for organic milk production. He will cover topics on pasture management at a more advanced grazier level, but not necessarily exclude the basics, and cover different stages of grass management intensity. He will discuss the financial advantages of pasture, being seasonal and the New Zealand style of calf rearing. Ken Miller will discuss pasture from a nutritional point-of-view covering the benefits and problems of pasture as the primary source of forage in a diet. He will include information about supplements in the diet and talk about all of the different age groups of animals typical on a dairy farm.
MARKETING - Room 233
Don Bishop, Gardens Are…, Marlborough, Mass
If you have the task of increasing product or service demand and save money in the process, join this award winning business owner to discover the fundamentals of marketing. You will learn the difference between marketing concepts and how they apply to today’s markets, understand the four aspects of the marketing mix and how they relate and set the framework for your very own marketing plan. For anyone who wants to increase sales or demand.
*This workshop provides 1.5 re-accreditation credits for NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
High Tunnels and Greenhouses for Season Extension - Room 134
Ryan Voiland, Owner of Red Fire Farm CSA in Granby, Ma specializing
in wholesale, farm stand and farmers market accounts.
I will cover high tunnel and greenhouse structures and growing
systems for vegetable crops. Being able to harvest vegetable crops before and
after the typical outdoor harvest season can be a desirable goal on many farms.
I will show a power point presentation detailing the structures and systems
that we use at Red Fire Farm to grow tomatoes, salad mix, carrots and other
select vegetable crops for a 9 month harvest season. The logistics of growing
during the winter will be discussed. A review of winter salad green plant
species and detailed plans for building simple but effective high tunnel
structures will also be included. Intermediate/Advanced.
FARM POND AQUACULTURE - Room 130
Craig Hollingsworth, Ph.D., Western Mass Center for Sustainable
Aquaculture, UMass Extension Reed
Baldwin, Umass Extension Aquaculture Program
Many northeastern farm ponds can be used to grow fish in cage culture. Fish
cages are simple to build, require limited maintenance and provide an
introduction to the possibilities of fish farming. The workshop will cover pond
characteristics, permit regulations, fish species, cage construction, soy-based
fish feeds and aquaculture maintenance.
COMMUNITY COMPOSTING - Room 236
Karen DiFranza, educator, organic grower
and homesteader for over 30 years. For the past 22 years, she and her family
have lived in central Mass where they have been active participants in
small-town community life. I will
discuss the road to composting organic wastes at our town’s elementary school,
including the many turns and detours along the way. From the design and
building of bins to community input, working with school staff, faculty, and,
of course, with kids, I will present a history of this exciting and satisfying
project.
STARTING A CSA - Room 133
Julie Rawson
I will share with you some suggested crop mixes, discuss pricing, marketing, newsletters, labor arrangements, pickup arrangements, packing, customer satisfaction, evaluation, special considerations and qualifications for a CSA farmer and copies of all of our promo material. If you are considering a CSA or have been at it under 5 years this will be particularly useful to you. Check our website at www.mhof.net.
BASICS OF WOODLOT MANAGEMENT - Room 131
Jeffrey Jourdain, Becket, Ma. Massachusetts licensed forester and timber harvester managing non-industrial private woodlands in Western Mass and living on a Tree Farm with wife, two kids, a couple of labs, a small flock of chickens and a horse.
Creating and implementing a Forest Stewardship Plan on your property. A look at forest/timber management, wildlife habitat management, forest recreation, agroforestry, and other forest related issues.
WHEAT WEAVING - Room 117
Kathy Morris The
multicultural history of weaving grains into various designs, each with its own
meaning and embodying the power of the wheat spirit, is almost as old as the
cultivation of grain. After discussing the history, we’ll look at a variety of
grain, many of the designs, and discuss the techniques. Each participant will
then learn the basic weaves and create their own weaving to take home. Limited
to twenty participants.
ORGANIC GROWING 101 - Room 237
Frank Albani has been growing certified organic vegetables at
Golden Rule Farm, Plymouth, Ma for 10 years. He started with a 30’x50’ garden
and has been growing for farmers’ markets, restaurants and CSA’s since then,
For most of the time he has worked 2 ½ acres of mixed vegetables at Soule
Homestead in Middleboro. His work in his 50’ x 100’ garden is now done by hand.
This workshop will cover the basics of Organic Gardening. We will
view slides of my 50’ x 100’ garden and talk about how to get started: Where,
How Big, First Tillage, What will you Grow, Layout, Fencing, Water Supply,
Composting, Mulching, Manure, Cultivation, Raised Beds or Not, Seed Selection,
Direct Seeding and Transplanting, Tools and Supplies, and anything else you can
think of! No time like the present so let’s get started! Bring your questions
and ideas.
NORTHEAST PERMACULTURE - Room 135
Emily Watson-Blagdon and Jono Neiger, biologist, landscape designer, and permaculture
teacher and practitioner.
Permaculture in the Northeast is branching out. More people are looking for wholistic, integrated solutions. Here are some examples of sites in the region based on or using permaculture principles. The different approaches and techniques used, including greenhouses, greywater, perennial edibles, animals, mulch, etc. highlight the challenges and opportunities of permaculture in the Northeast.
NUESTRAS-RAICES - Room 233
Eric Toensmeier, Farm Project Director for Nuestras-Raices.
Nuestras-Raices is a grass-roots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke, Massachusetts through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment. Many residents of Holyoke grew up on farms in Puerto Rico and have extensive farming backgrounds. The Tierra de Oportunidades project provides training and access to land on our urban farm to these aspiring farmers. 2005 was our first year and we will share our successes and challenges.
Workshop Session 2 - 11:00am – 12.30pm
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR
SUSTAINABLE NURSERY MANAGEMENT - Room 237
Kurt Tramposch
Weir Meadow Nursery, Wayland, Ma., a wholesale perennial, ground cover and native plant nursery. Former director of Mass. Nursery and Landscape Assoc, Advisory Committee member at The Garden in the Woods, a co-founder and a director of the New England Hosta Society.
Explore the challenges of innovating, testing and implementing real-world, sustainable management practices at a specialty nursery founded on principles designed to promote the health of the plants, associates, community and natural resources. Consider new approaches to self-sufficient growing and “niche” marketing through a proven model. Examine ways to extend inventory and production materials life cycles; devise economic, low-impact approaches to nursery layout and growing that protect natural resources; evaluate and mitigate potential occupational and environmental hazards; discover beneficial educational and advocacy approaches for your business; and maximize the possibilities of symbiotic wildlife behavior modification while preserving site aesthetics of a national wildlife refuge on a “wild and scenic” river
*This workshop provides 1.5 re-accreditation credits for NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
STARTING AN ORGANIC VINEYARD - Room 131
Kenneth Albert, Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne, Vermont
Our adventure with organic vineyard management began with our first planting in 1998 and each year since then has presented us with new challenges. We have been selling wine from our organic grapes since 2001 and we are still learning and maintaining our organic certification. This workshop will include a short history of Shelburne Vineyard, key ingredients for an organic vineyard in the northeast, the biggest challenges, site selection, soils/drainage, weed control, management of the young vineyard, my successes and problems, tools and available resources and discussion of the future of organic viticulture including experience and questions from the participants.
BOOSTING THE BOTTOM LINE WITH ECOTOURISM, AGRITOURISM & RENEWABLE ENERGY - Room 135
John Ivanko, Innkeeper, organic grower and co-author with his wife, Lisa Kivirist, of “Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life.” Their Inn, Serendipity Bed & Breakfast and farm was recognized as one of the “top 10 eco-destinations in North America” and a 2004 Energy Star Small Business and Congregations Network Award recipient. The Inn is completely powered by renewable energy. John has also co-authored six childrens multicultural photobooks and is an award winning photographer, contributing to publications including Mother Earth New, E Magazine and Hobby Farms.
Generate income on the farm by diversifying your operations and offer agritourism and ecotourism experiences, tapping two quickly emerging travel market trends. With practical resources and a case example, learn how renewable energy can meet your energy needs, manage long term costs and help minimize the ecological impacts of your operations. Drawing numerous examples from his book Rural Renaissance, the organization Renewing the Countryside, and first hand experiences John will show you ways that your farm can harvest the wind and the sun, and capitalize on the growing interest in farm life and sustainable practices.
THE
DO’S AND DON’TS OF PLANTING NURSERY GROWN STOCK - Room 117
Dawn Pavone, Accredited Land Care Professional, Bird House Garden
Center, Boxborough, Ma. Owner of Turessa Botanicals, organically growing,
harvesting, producing medicinal products, design and garden installation.
Elaine Peterson, perennial gardener for over 25 years.
Discussion and demonstration on how to plant container grown,
burlapped and balled and bare root nursery stock. Preparing and mulching the
soil for plant survival. Time will be spent on “replanting” existing plantings
that have suffered from incorrect planting techniques.
*This workshop provides 1.5 re-accreditation credits for NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
SMALL SCALE GRAIN RAISING - Room 234
Bi-Sek Hsiao, subsistence and experimental gardener/farmer newly
settled in Massachusetts with experience in grain growing in the Nepalese
Himalayas, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador and California.
We will explore basic growing habits of grains, including wheat,
rye, triticale, spelt, oats, barley, rice, corn, sorghum, millet, amaranth,
quinoa and teff. Learn about the techniques of growing, harvesting, threshing
and eating of these grains in a homestead or community scale without large
machinery.
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION FOR YOUR
FARM – HOW TO DO IT AND WHY - Room 133
Don Franczyk, Baystate Organic Certifiers Administrator
Certified Organic vegetable farmer and poultry and livestock producer. Executive Director/Certification Administrator of Baystate Organic Certifiers.
This workshop will outline the organic certification process for first time applicants for certification under the National Organic Standards. The main focus of the workshop will be on understanding the requirements of organic certification, developing an Organic Farm Plan, and preparing farmers to apply for organic certification. Attendees will get a basic introduction to the organic standards as they apply to vegetable crops and livestock production. A list of resources for organic farmers transitioning to certified production will be made available. There will be an extensive Q&A session during the workshop to answer any questions farmers may have.
TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC - Room 130
Ross Thurber, Lilac Ridge Farm, Brattleboro, Vermont. Ross is a partner in this family owned diversified farm which maintains a 50 cow dairy, 9 acres of vegetables and cut flowers, a 2000 tap sugarbush and timber harvesting seasonally.
In 2003 the Thurber family committed to transition the dairy and crop land to organic production. The land will be certified in the fall of 2006 and the Thurbers plan to sell milk to Organic Valley when the milking herd is certified in the spring of 20007. Ross will share the rational for converting the farm to organic production and a detailed account of strategies in maintaining good forage production and animal health.
PASTURE RAISING HISTORIC BREEDS ON
TODAY’S FARM - Room 231
Dom Palumbo, Moon in the Pond Farm, Sheffield, Ma
The use of pasture, various types of animals, historic breeds and
modern technology help the sustainability of today’s new farms. Diversity,
maximum and multiple uses of available resources, and use of old and modern
tools help keep the ‘young’ farm viable. This workshop will take a quick look
at the attraction of the multi-species, pasturing, historic breed small farm.
Specifics such as breeds, fencing, feed and animal specific needs will be
discussed. Dominic Palumbo has been a NOFA/MA member and farmer for 15 years.
His small farm produces beef, lamb, pork and poultry meat, vegetables, fruit
and a variety of other farm products. Diversity is a cornerstone to his
philosophy, animals on pasture is another.
INTRODUCTION TO SHIATSU
Wendy Bolognesi, Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, Certified
Shiatsu Practioner, Reikki II Practioner and Certified in Herbalism and Herbal
Therapeutics. Learn to alleviate
stress and tension in this intro to Shiatsu (a Japanese style of massage).
Participants will give and receive a treatment on the back of the body. Help
unwind tight muscles, calm the nervous system and rejuvenate the body’s energy.
Come alone or with a partner to an informative and fun workshop open to
beginners. Wear loose comfortable clothing. Techniques will be taught on mats
on the floor.
FOREST BASED ENTERPRISES: THE OTHER
FOREST MANAGEMENT - Room 134
Paul Catanzarro, Forest Extension Specialist, Dept. of Natural
Resources Conservation, UMass. He works to promote rural economic development
with the Center for Rural Massachusetts. At home he is developing a pond
aquaculture program, grows shiitake mushrooms and raises pigs.
Dave Jacke, primary author of Edible Forest Gardens and a longtime
ecological designer. Our forests
provide us many life sustaining benefits, physical and cultural. This session
will discuss the value of small, forest based businesses for landowners,
communities and local economies. Examples of specific enterprises including
shiitake mushrooms, aquaculture, edibles, perennials and medicinals will be
given. Resource materials regarding forest based enterprises will also be made
available including a discussion of the state’s new Forest Viability Program.
BRASSICA WORKSHOP: GOING FOR HIGHER
QUALITY - Room 236
Ruth Hazzard, Vegetable Pest Management Specialist, UMass Extension
has been growing, eating and studying brassicas since 1973 and is in her fifth
year of growing winter greens for home use.
The brassica crops span everything from salad mix and bok choi to cabbage and
Brussel sprouts. Due to their cold hardiness most farms grow them from early
spring to late fall, and many are going through the winter. Insects, nutrients,
diseases, weeds, season extension, spacing, timing, varieties, markets – any of
these can be obstacles to a high quality, successful crop. This is an
interactive workshop. Bring your questions, problems and goals and we will
discuss how to get where you want to go with these crops. Be it invasions of
flea beetles, uneven and brown broccoli heads, club root, nutrient need, maggot
damaged rutabagas or timing the planting of winter greens, we’ll work on it
together. This workshop and a follow up call to see how you are doing are part
of a SARE funded Brassica project.
Workshop Session 3 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
THE ORGANIC MILK MARKET IN THE NORTHEAST - Room 236
Peter Miller, Eastern Region Pool coordinator for Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative responsible for overseeing the procurement of new organic dairy and meat pool members, along with regional outreach and educational coordination.
This session will cover the historical aspects of organic dairy production from the farm to the marketplace in New England and the northeastern states. Present marketing trend overview will be reviewed of sales of organic dairy products in the Northeast. Discussion of opportunities for New England organic dairy production in relationship to the market trends and future demand of organic dairy products.
GARDENING LIKE THE FOREST: HOME SCALE
AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEM DESIGN - Room 130
Dave Jacke, primary author of the newly released two-volume opus
Edible Forest Gardens, and a longtime ecological designer.
Natural forest ecosystems are self-maintaining, self-fertilizing,
and self-renewing. Wouldn’t it be nice to create a back yard that worked like
that but still provide food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, and
pharmaceuticals for human use? This workshop will discuss how we might do this
in new England, including discussion of the vision, theory, design and practice
of food forestry.
*This workshop provides 1.5 re-accreditation credits for NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
PASTURED POULTRY - Room 233
Dan Kittredge, Many Hands Organic Farm, Barre, Ma. Organic Farmer and homesteader for 20+ years.
Raises 3-4000 pastured chickens per year.
Everything from brooding day old chicks to chicken tractors to slaughter will be covered. A beginner to intermediate level workshop.
FARM SCALE PLANT BREEDING - Room 135
Jeremy Barker Plotkin, Simple Gifts Farm, Bechertown, Ma
Jeremy runs a five acre market farm and has been working on
selection for disease resistance in heirloom tomatoes and for cold tolerance in
lettuce, arugula and others.
CIRCLE DANCE - Multipurpose Room
Shaker George McNeil and Anja Daniel, Sacred Circle Dance teachers,
musicians, herbalists and gardeners.
Shaker and Anja, who currently live on their organic farm and community center
“Touchstone” in Western Mass, will be offering “The Breath of the Dance” and
“The Long Dance” a genre of Sacred Circle Dance with its roots in the work of
Rumi, in the Neolithic Temple Dances and in Bernard Wosien’s tradition. Dances
will be traditional, meditative, choreographed and lively
SMALL SCALE ORGANIC HERITAGE BREED PIG
RAISING - Room 133
Jeoffrey Gavin Pooser, Mamashoe Organic Farm, Petersham, Ma
www.mamashoe.org Selecting a breed,
discussion of traits, to breed or not to breed, sources for piglets, how many
pigs should I raise, fencing rotations, shelter, feed sources, feeding,
invasive plant remediation, other farm chores for hogs, slaughtering/USDA regs,
charcuterie, marketing and sales, the economics of pork. Intermediate/advanced.
HONEY PLANTS OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS - Room 134
Dan Conlon, Warm Colors Apiary, South
Deerfield, Ma I will provide
background on why some plants are considered primary nectar producers, how
honeybees harvest and ripen honey, and how honeys are judged. Participants will
better understand which plants are valuable to beekeeping, how to produce
varietal honeys, why some crops are better suited for pollination by bees and
how to grade their products. The presentation will include pictures, a honey
sampling and handouts. This could be of interest to growers requiring
pollination and people with an interest in honey and honeybees.
FARMY COOKING FOR BEGINNERS - Room 117
Carolyn S. Llewellyn, Organic grower, educator and someone who
loves to eat and feed others. Carolyn and her husband Dave are the Land and
Garden Coordinators at Heifer International’s Overlook Farm where Carolyn has
managed the culinary program. This
workshop is designed to help people feel more comfortable in the kitchen and
cooking from scratch. We will discuss ways to prepare vegetables, meat, bread,
tea – whatever folks want to know. Learn how to use cookbooks as a guide, not a
rule book, and to created delicious feasts using what’s in your fields and
cabinets instead of going to the store. We’ll discuss kitchen tools,
appliances, and resources such as cookbooks, the web and your friends. Learn to
chill out instead of stress out in the kitchen. Bring your questions and any
ingredients you happen to have with you. This is a beginner workshop.
DOES YOUR TOWN NEED AND AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSION? - Room 131
Cheryl Lekstrom, Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, Cheryl
grew up with a menagerie of livestock and gardens. She assists with educational
farmyard demonstrations at several Massachusetts agricultural fairs and
currently pursues her interests in animal and gardening at her home in West
Boylston. Do you care about
preserving agriculture in your town? Come and learn about the organization,
benefits and roles of Ag Commissions. We will discuss the overview of the
purposes and benefits of Ag Commissions, what an Ag Comm. is and is not, how
communities have established and manage Ag Comms, how to get started in your
town, resources and technical assistance, questions and answers.
PHYTOREMEDIATION - Room 231
Caitie Dwyer-Huppert, Worcester Roots, a non-profit with the
mission to remove soil contamination by lead, other heavy metals and
hydrocarbons using phytoremediation (plants that absorb contaminants as they
grow) and other low cost methods. The
goal of the workshop is threefold. 1) We will present a PowerPoint overview of
the environmental and social justice issue of lead poisoning and the basic
science behind both the effect of lead on the human body and the method of
phytoremediation we employ. We will share the data we have generated from
sampling our sites before and after remediation and we’ll discuss the exciting
work we are doing with the youth and the community of Worcester’s Main South.
2) We will facilitate a discussion about sites of soil contamination of concern
for participants, whether urban or rural, and brainstorm workable plans to get
the toxins out! 3)In closing, you will have a chance to make a cutting of a
scented geranium, a great phytoremediator of lead, and take it home to grow for
the coming season’s flower power!
GETTING IN THE DOOR – INCREASING YOUR INSTITUTIONAL SALES - Room 231
Kelly Coleman, Program Coordinator, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA),
Joe Czajkowski or Nancy Bailey, Czajkowski Farm
In this workshop we will probe successful examples of direct sales to institutions and ask: what makes institutional sales work for you, the farmer? We'll also share stories and lessons from farmers and institutional buyers -- plenty of time for questions.
LUNCH TIME BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Coffee House - Multipurpose Room - enjoy music and songs with Anja
Ask Ed Live - Room U218 - Bring your farming and gardening questions to Ed Stockman
Organic Land Care -Room U210 - A round table for Land Care Pro’s and others with Priscilla Williams
Certified Farmer Feedback - Room U209 -A round table with Don Franczyk
Marketing & Farm Diversification - Room U222 - Share your ideas with John Ivanko
NOFA & Political Action -Room U223 - Share your thoughts on NOFA’s political action with Jack Kittredge
FREE CHAIR MASSAGE Room 235
Students of Bancroft School Massage Therapy
Ongoing throughout the day. Relax physically and mentally with a free chair massage at any time during the day and prepare yourself to put your new found knowledge to good use!
ALL WORKSHOPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
This page was last modified on January 14, 2008 at 6:42:32 AM.