2020 NOFA Summer Conference Program Book

Cultivating The Grassroots Organic Movement

July 20 - August 9, 2020

Keynote Speaker Tim LaSalle

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Douglas Calnan is proud to
sponsor Northeast Organic
Farming Association.

We’re pleased to sponsor Northeaast Organic
Farming Association and its mission to promote
sustainable farming.

Douglas J. Calnan 781.556.0081
Financial Advisor
Managing Director 25 Recreation Park Dr
Ste 100
Socially Conscious Hingham, MA 02043
Wealth Management [email protected]
A financial advisory practice of amerioriseadvisors.com/
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. douglas.calnan

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
© 2019 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Vendor Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Registration & Zoom Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-15
Keynote Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13
Q&A Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
NOFA AOLCP Accreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
CEUs for Certified Crop Advisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Virtual Raffle Fundraiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Conference Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-23
Week 1 Grid (Mon July 20 - Sun July 26) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
Week 2 Grid (Mon July 27 - Sun Aug 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
Week 3 Grid (Mon Aug 3 - Sun Aug 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23

Workshop Descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-59

Children’s Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65-67

Summer Conference Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Presenter Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-77

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WELCOME

Welcome, to the 46th annual NOFA Summer Conference and our first
virtual conference. This is your NOFA summer camp which we are
elated to bring to you in light of this unusual situation.

We are grateful you’ve joined us in the new format and hope this 2020
program serves to enhance your life and farm or garden over the next
three weeks and well beyond. In this digital program book, you’ll find
workshop information, links to sessions and our supportive sponsors
and vendors. All sessions will be held via Zoom and we welcome your
input in the sessions via chat or video. You will access all Zoom links
via the Conference Overview pages.

As always, our program is laden with the talent, experience and
wisdom of farming practitioners and educators from all over the
Northeast. We are grateful to host this conference with them and are
honored to have them on our program.

On Saturday, August 8th, our keynote speaker, Tim LaSalle from
California State University at Chico, will join us for his keynote address
“Climate Solutions are Grown in Soil”. His inspiring work derived
from his learning and teaching across the globe is revealing the
practicalities of working in harmony with soil biology to create healthy
food systems, both economically and agriculturally.

Additionally, please join us for Q&A sessions, our Annual Meeting and
join in the conversation throughout the conference whenever you are
able. We hope your children will join the kids conference on Sundays
and that you’ll enjoy some trivia and other fun things during game
nights with us!

Please reach out with questions throughout the conference and we’ll
work to keep your conference going.

Sincerely,

Jason Valcourt
NOFA Summer Conference Coordinator

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VENDOR MARKETPLACE

Click here to access our Vendor Marketplace web page.

Browse our amazing vendors and discover new and delightful
products and services! Our vendors are a great resource and wealth
of information, as well as purveyors of high quality goods. Many
vendors have provided generous discount codes for use by NOFA
Summer Conference attendees—be sure to head to the virtual vendor
marketplace to browse and shop!

Ameriprise / Douglas Calnan
Banner Greenhouses

Barefoot All Natural Farm
Black Earth Compost
CannaBotanicals

Center for EcoTechnology
Chelsea Green
Earth Care Farm
JK Adams

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Made Simple Skin Care
Many Hands Organic Farm

MDAR
Modified Film
Simple Gifts Farm
Taproot Threads
USDA NRCS
VisionWorks

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FROM

OUTSIDE

DLOVE!

At Organic Valley, kindness plus fresh grass and plenty

of time outside equals happy and healthy cows. We

salute the farmers who care for them, not only during

NOFA Summer Conference, but every day. Together
they help make our organic products so very delicious!

©2020 CROPP Cooperative | 20-12021 OV.coop

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SPONSORS

Thank you to our generous Summer Conference sponsors.

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

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REGISTRATION & ZOOM INFO

Virtual Registration Desk

You will access all Zoom links for workshops via the
Conference Overview. Click here to jump to pages 18-23.

Need Help? Visit the Virtual Registration Desk via Zoom
20 minutes before each session until 30 minutes into the
session. Wait times may vary. Inquiries will be answered
on a first come, first served basis.

To plan ahead, be sure to check out the Conference Overview and
become familiar with our Zoom Meeting Rooms. Daily Agendas will
also be emailed to the address we have on file.

Questions about registering, changing your contact information, or
accessing the workshops can be emailed to [email protected]
ahead of the scheduled workshops. Please note: We will be unable
to answer emails during the workshops, please find us at the Virtual
Registration Desk.

New to Zoom?
Visit Zoom’s Download Center to get started. For Technical Assistance
call our Information & Registration Hotline 774-298-0240.

Forgot to register your friend, family member, or spouse?
Register Here! We kindly ask that you do not share your registration
access with others. Thank you!

Be Social! Show and tell your friends and the rest of the world about
what inspires you at the conference. Tweet and post with #NOFASC.

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PROGRAMMING

Keynote Speaker

Tim LaSalle
Saturday August 8
7:00–8:30pm

Climate Solutions are Grown in Soil
Carbon capture and the regenerative farming methods that encourage
the fungal components of soil composition are directly tied to farmer
profitability and ecosystem health. Tim will share with us the insights
he’s gained to explore the capacity of soil to do carbon sequestering
work and to wake up the world to this underappreciated and
understated solution to the climate crisis.

Tim LaSalle’s work over three decades has driven him to champion
farming methods proven to be economically sound and biologically
robust and that foster a non-exploitative approach. We are happy
to host him on Saturday August 8th, 7pm to cap off our 46th Annual
NOFA Summer Conference to learn from his experience and insights to
inspire ourselves as we move forward with our work in the Northeast.

Entertainment

NOFA Disco Dance Party
Friday July 24 | 8:00-9:00pm
Hustle on over and help us celebrate the first week of the conference
with a live DJ’d dance party. Boogie Down with DJ Funkadelic Fern
who will be playing Disco, Funk and Soul from the 1970’s. Dust off your
leisure suit and put on your platform shoes for NOFA’s own Studio 54!

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Bracketology - NOFA Madness
Friday July 31 | 8:00-9:00pm

In the spirit of March Madness, welcome to NOFA Madness. Join us as
we have fun figuring out the best of the best, bracket style. Each
NOFA Madness game will feature a theme with 16 options facing off
against each other to determine the best. Our NOFA Madness will be
hosted by some familiar faces. You will have a chance to tell us your
favorite in each round as we narrow it down to number 1.

Dinner Trivia Time
Saturday August 1 | 6:00-7:00pm

Flex your intellectual muscles with Food and Culinary Trivia while you
dine. Each week we will have questions based on a theme.

Bracketology - NOFA Madness
Friday August 7 | 8:00-9:00pm

In the spirit of March Madness, welcome to NOFA Madness. Join us
as we have fun figuring out the best of the best, bracket style. Each
NOFA Madness game will feature a theme with 16 options facing off
against each other to determine the best. Our NOFA Madness will be
hosted by some familiar faces. You will have a chance to tell us your
favorite in each round as we narrow it down to number 1.

Food and Farming Trivia Time
Saturday August 8 | 8:30-9:30pm

Finish the conference experience and flex your intellectual muscles
once again with our grand finale Trivia Time. Food and Farming
questions will challenge what you think you know!

Tweeners
Throughout the conference, we will offer 30 musical interludes to give
you an aural break from your computer. Be sure to tune in, relax and enjoy.

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PROGRAMMING

Q&A Sessions

Join conference presenters for interactive Q&A sessions on Friday
evenings and keep the conversation going as you head into the
weekend.
Let’s Talk! The Challenges of Moving Toward Reduced Tillage
Friday, July 31 | 7:00-8:00pm
Hosted by Caro Roszell, NOFA/Mass Education Director.

Soil Talk
Friday, August 7 | 7:00-8:00pm
With Julie Rawson, NOFA/Mass Executive Director and Organic Farmer
of 37 years. and Noah Kellerman, co-owner of Alprilla Farm in Essex, MA

NOFA AOLCP Accreditation

To renew accreditation, Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals
(AOLCPs) must earn 4 hours of continuing education per year. Each
90-minute session you attend counts for 1.5 credits.
Credits are audited each Spring so keep a record or account of your
attendance and NOFA will confirm your attendance with the event
organizers if your credits are audited.
Please note, your accreditation fees are due by January 1st, 2021. Call
or email the CT NOFA office, 203-408-6819, [email protected] if you
have any questions.

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CEUs for Certified Crop Adviser

If you are a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) you can accomplish
CEU credit with over 15 certified workshops at the NOFA Summer
Conference. Certified workshops are denoted with CEU .

Virtual Raffle Fundraiser

Support the NOFA Summer Conference scholarship fund by
participating in our virtual raffle! This year the raffle includes fantastic
products and packages from our generous sponsors, vendors, and
other donors. Head to the raffle page to browse—you’ll find books,
seeds, beautiful kitchen products, soaps, salves, products for the farm
and garden, gift certificates, and more! The raffle will be held virtually,
with all ticket sales and selection of winners taking place online. All
prizes are either deliverable virtually or will be shipped to the winner.
Support the future of organic farming and enter to win today!

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CONNECTICUT NEW HAMPSHIRE RHODE ISLAND
l Fiddleheads Natural l Androscoggin Food Co-op, Berlin
Foods Co-op, New London l Co-op Food Stores, Hanover & Lebanon Urban Greens Co-op Market, Providence
l Mad River Co-op Market, Winsted l Great River Food Co-op, Walpole
l Willimantic Food Co-op, l Littleton Food Co-op, Littleton VERMONT
Willimantic l Monadnock Food Co-op, Keene l Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro
Wolfeboro Food Co-op, Wolfeboro l Buffalo Mountain Food Co-op, Hardwick
MAINE l City Market, Onion River Co-op,
l Blue Hill Food Co-op, Blue Hill NEW YORK Downtown & South End, Burlington
l Portland Food Co-op, Portland l Co-op Food Stores, White River Junction
Cambridge Food Co-op, Cambridge l Granite City Co-op Grocery, Barre
MASSACHUSETTS l Electric City Food Co-op, Schenectady l Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier
l Assabet Village Co-op Market, Maynard l Flatbush Food Co-op, Brooklyn l Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op,
l Common Share Food Co-op, Amherst l GreenStar Co-op Markets, Middlebury
l Dorchester Food Co-op, Dorchester l Morrisville Food Co-op, Morrisville
l Green Fields Market, Franklin Collegetown, DeWitt & West End, Ithaca l Plainfield Food Co-op, Plainfield
Community Co-op, Greenfield l Kingston Food Co-op, Kingston l Putney Food Co-op, Putney
l Leverett Village Food Co-op, Leverett l Rutland Area Food Co-op, Rutland
l McCusker’s Market, Franklin Community l Springfield Food Co-op, Springfield
Co-op, Shelburne Falls l Upper Valley Food Co-op,
l Merrimack Valley Food Co-op, Haverhill White River Junction
l Old Creamery Co-op, Cummington
l Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op, Orange
l River Valley Co-op, Northampton
l Wild Oats Co-op Market, Williamstown

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GOOD ON PURPOSESM

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CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Zoom Room A Zoom Room B

Monday July 20 Conference Orientation Got Biology? The
"What's Next" After Soil
5:00-6:30pm Growing Biennials for Testing & Amendments
Seed
Monday July 20 Edible Wild Plants Walk
Making Homesteading
7:00-8:30pm a Lasting, Viable Way of

Wednesday July 22 Life

5:00-6:30pm

Wednesday July 22 Keeping Sheep Municipal Planning for
Organically Food Access
7:00-8:30pm

Friday July 24 Korean Natural Farming Starting a Holistic,
Homestead Apple
5:00-6:30pm
Orchard

Friday July 24 Q&A Session
Children's Conference
7:00-8:00pm

Friday July 24

8:00-9:00pm

Saturday July 25

4:00-5:30pm

Saturday July 25

6:00-7:00pm

Saturday July 25

8:30-9:30pm

Sunday July 26

10:00am-12:00pm

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Find your workshop on the grid, then click the Week 1
appropriate workshop title to enter

Zoom Room C Zoom Room D Zoom Room E

Pasture Math: Developing Vermicomposting - For

a Rotational Grazing Plan Home or Farm

Hand Pollination Beyond Soil Live Music “Tweener”
Conservation: 21st 6:30-7:00pm
Finding Balance: Soil & Century Soil Health
Plant Nutrient Dynamics Policy in the Northeast Live Music “Tweener”
6:30-7:00pm
Pasture Plant Five Big Lessons from
Identification & 30+ Years of Farming
Interpretation for Healthy
Soil & Quality Feed Cannabis & CBD
Medicine Making

Friday Night Dance Party
with DJ Funkadelic Fern

Need Help? Visit the
Virtual Registration Desk

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CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Zoom Room A Zoom Room B

Monday July 27 Envisioning an In this time of COVID
Alternative to the Your Participation
5:00-6:30pm Agricultural Industrial
Needed to Help Move
Monday July 27 Complex NOFA’s Policy Agenda

7:00-8:30pm Growing Organic Forward!
Greenhouse Tomatoes
Wednesday July 29 Incorporating Foliar
for Yield and Flavor Feeding on YOUR farm
5:00-6:30pm Working Toward a
Robust Agricultural Land Expanding Outlets for
Wednesday July 29 Access System in New Your Farm Products

7:00-8:30pm England Storytime: Growing Up
Building Justice Through in the Organic Landcare
Friday July 31 Food: The Future of Food
Movement
5:00-6:30pm in Mason Square Intro to Holistic
Climate Change Impacts Management Grazing
Friday July 31
Bees & Pollinators, Plan
7:00-8:00pm Agriculture & Humanity
Q&A - The Challenges of Glyphosate The Killer
Friday July 31 Chemical That Must Be
Moving Toward
8:00-9:00pm Reduced TIllage Stopped

Saturday August 1 Growing beneficial herbs
for bees
4:00-5:30pm

Saturday August 1

6:00-7:00pm

Saturday August 1

8:30-9:30pm

Sunday August 2 Children's Conference

10:00am-12:00pm

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Find your workshop on the grid, then click the Week 2
appropriate workshop title to enter

Zoom Room C Zoom Room D Zoom Room E

Soil Carbon: Raising
More, Better Food while

Easing Climate Stress

How to Start or Convert
to a Co-operative
Business

Raising Kids on the Farm Food Processing: An
Integral Part of the Food
Live Music “Tweener”
System 6:30-7:00pm

Farm Succession as a First Aid Homeopathy & Live Music “Tweener”
Pathway For Beginning Rescue Remedy 6:30-7:00pm

Farmers

Successes & Stresses -
Plants & People in a Jail

Garden

Regenerative Agriculture Strategies for Cover Game Night -
in Urban Planning Cropping Five Acres or Bracketology

Less Dinner Time Food Trivia

Need Help? Visit the
Virtual Registration Desk 21

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Zoom Room A Zoom Room B

Monday August 3 Planting for Pollinators Urban Soils & Eco Justice

5:00-6:30pm

Monday August 3 Growing & Preserving Farming and Gardening
Onions & Garlic on the Wild Side
7:00-8:30pm

Wednesday August 5 Maximizing Culinary Herb Fundamentals of Coppice
Production, Preservation, Agroforestry
5:00-6:30pm
& Creation of Value
Added Products

Wednesday August 5 Invite Invasive Species to Regenerative Farming at
7:00-8:30pm Fund their own Removal Freedom Food Farm

Friday August 7 From barn processed to Farm to Institution
USDA plant. Issues with
5:00-6:30pm
on-farm processing
Friday August 7
Q&A Session -
7:00-8:00pm Soil Talk with Julie

Friday August 7 Rawson & Noah
Kellerman
8:00-9:00pm

Saturday August 8 Herb-Infused Bone Broth Beginning Maple Syrup
NOFA Annual Meeting Making
4:00-5:30pm and Keynote Address
from Tim LaSalle
Saturday August 8
Children's Conference
7:00-8:30pm

Saturday August 8

8:30-9:30pm

Sunday August 9

10:00am-12:00pm

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Find your workshop on the grid, then click the Week 3
appropriate workshop title to enter

Zoom Room C Zoom Room D Zoom Room E

Ecological Farming at Botany of Seed
Gaining Ground Formation

Production Hemp 101

Growing Annuals for Glyphosate (Roundup) &
Seed Human Health

Your Mind's Nutrition Hands-On Soil Health
Requirements Assessment for Farmers

& Gardeners

Garden like a Forest IPM for Home & Garden

Game Night -
Bracketology

Luscious Landscaping, Lean Farming & Effective
with Fruiting Trees, Pasture-Based Livestock
Shrubs & Vines
Production

Game Night -
Farming & Food Trivia

Need Help? Visit the
Virtual Registration Desk

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WORKSHOP
DESCRIPTIONS

MONDAY | JULY 20 5:00-6:30pm

Conference Orientation

Zoom Room A
Join us for a conference introduction, get assistance on conference
programming and let us help get you sorted out for the conference
experience. Our registration team will be on hand and we will look
over the offerings of the first virtual NOFA Summer Conference
program together.

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MONDAY | JULY 20

Growing Biennials for Seed

Zoom Room A
Covering the basics of growing a seed crop from a number of biennial
vegetables (i.e. vegetables which flower and set seed on their second
season of growth.)
Bill Braun, Farmer at Ivory Silo Farm; Executive Director of Freed Seed
Federation.

Got Biology? The “What’s Next” After Soil Testing &
Amendments CEU

Zoom Room B
We tested and amended our soils to balance our minerals and
micronutrients, now we want to ensure that the soil biology is thriving
and making nutrients available to plants. We will discuss spring no-till
bed prep, utilizing inoculants, spring to fall cover cropping, natural
mulches, weed guard, plant sap analysis and foliar sprays, addressing
crop and soil limitations.
Laura Davis, Certified Organic Vegetable Grower at Long Life Farm in
Hopkinton, Organic Inspector, Soil Technical Advisor.

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7:00-8:30pm

Pasture Math: Developing a Rotational Grazing Plan CEU

Zoom Room C
Do you want to step up your grazing game, but feel overwhelmed
trying to figure out how to manage stocking rates, paddock sizes, and
regrowth periods? This workshop will teach the core concepts and
thought process to develop a tidy, year-round plan for your farm and
animals.
Samantha Glaze-Corcoran, Researcher and agronomist at UMass; New
England Grazing Network southern New England coordinator. PhD.

Vermicomposting - For Home or Farm

Zoom Room D
This interactive workshop will offer the basic concepts of worm bin
composting. We will also discuss strategies for farm scale systems. You
will learn about bin design, care and feeding, worm ecology, castings
separation and use, and some pretty cool things about worms. Please
bring your curiosity, questions, and experiences.
Ben Goldberg, Has enjoyed playing in mud puddles all his life. Now he
enjoys keeping worms.
Julia Latady, Farm educator currently on a year-long exploration into
growing good food at home with help from a workforce of worms,
cockroaches, an aquatic axolotl, chickens, and a rabbit named Senator
Bunny Sanders.

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WEDNESDAY | JULY 22

Making Homesteading a Lasting, Viable Way of Life

Zoom Room A
While not necessarily experts on growing fruits, vegetables, legumes,
and grains, tapping maple trees and keeping bees, heating with solar
energy and wood, riding bicycles for transportation and foraging wild
food Kristin and Daniel would like to share how they’ve integrated
these activities, while raising three children, into their day to day lives.
Kristin Brennan, 16 years of keeping bees, growing flowers, building
fences and making ice cream in Springfield, MA.
Daniel Staub, 15 years of growing vegetables, tapping trees, fixing
bicycles and sawing wood in Springfield, MA.

Edible Wild Plants Walk

Zoom Room B
We will find and identify native and naturalized plant species that can
be used for food and drink in this 90-minute program. Distinguishing
characteristics, uses, seasons of availability, and nutritional and
medicinal value of plants will be discussed.
John Root, Has studied botany at the graduate level and presents
nature programs throughout New England.

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5:00-6:30pm

Hand Pollination of Seed Crops CEU

Zoom Room C

Spend a morning channeling your inner worker bee! Learn and
practice the important seed saving (and potential plant breeding
skills) of Hand Pollinating plants at the Hampshire College Farm.
Cucurbits, tomato, corn, and others will be our dance partners during
the “rubbing of the flowers”. This workshop follows on the heels of our
Botany of Seed Formation workshop, from classroom to field.

Heron Breen, Plant breeder; Trials Manager at Fedco Seeds; program
manager at Freed Seed Federation.

Beyond Soil Conservation: 21st Century Soil Health Policy
takes Root in the Northeast CEU

Zoom Room D

In this session, we’ll explore two state-level programs that are
exploring pathways for supporting land managers to protect and
regenerate soil health. Keith Zaltzberg will share the process, findings,
and recommendations from the 18-month planning process for The
Massachusetts Healthy Soils Action Plan, and Connor Stedman will
give updates on the NY State Soil Health Initiative, Pilot program and
related legislation. Discussion will focus on leverage points identified
in these initiatives for protecting and enhancing soil ecosystems and
soil carbon sequestration.

Keith Zaltzberg, Principal, Regenerative Design Group & MA Healthy
Soils Action Plan Project Lead

Connor Stedman, Planner and agro-ecological designer with
AppleSeed Permaculture; policy organizer and advisor, NYSH

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WEDNESDAY | JULY 22

Keeping Sheep Organically CEU

Zoom Room A

Basics of keeping sheep organically in the northeast. We will cover
the fundamentals of caring, feeding, housing, parasite and predator
control using organic methods.

Kimberly Mastrianni, Raising sheep organically in NH.

Municipal Planning for Food Access

Zoom Room B

In this interactive workshop, we will share a new toolkit, “Local
Planning for Food Access: A Toolkit for Vermont’s Communities”
and work with participants to identify how municipalities and
community allies can better target their food access efforts by
addressing observed barriers and gaps within town plans, common
implementation challenges, and funding constraints.

Faye Mack, Advocacy and Education Director at Hunger Free Vermont.

Sarah Danly, Farm to Plate Network Manager at the Vermont
Sustainable Jobs Fund.

Finding Balance: Soil & Plant Nutrient Dynamics CEU

Zoom Room C

You have taken your soil test and received your results....now what?
Getting the soil fertility in balance is the key to a bountiful harvest.
This workshop will cover the basic steps to understanding the soil
test and management practices to increase soil fertility. We will also
discuss the synergistic and antagonistic relationships that control
plant nutrient uptake.

Janel Ohletz, Doctoral candidate in soil science researching
sustainable agriculture and nutrient dynamics of soil/plant interface.

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free! Uniting One! All-One! Face the world with a smile, life is always worthwhile! To the fearless are given jewels, keep out of the past, disappointments won’t last! Help unite mankind, or we’re wandering fools! Repetition is the key to knowledge!7:00-8:30pm years astronomers Abraham & Israel: “LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!” Exceptions Eternally? Absolute None!!! So, when your fellow man you measure, take him at his best: with that lever, lift him higher, overlook the rest!

Five Big Lessons from 30+ Years of Farming

Zoom Room D
Started from scratch, starting over three times, but made my living
farming for 30-plus years. I will reminisce about startups, distill
what I learned into the top five, and lead discussion on how we can
contribute to expanding number/diversity of people who get to grow
food for their communities.
Elizabeth Henderson, Retired after 35 years of farming, still busy
helping build our movement.

6th: Absolute cleanliness is Godliness! Balanced food for body-mind-soul-spirit is our medicine! Full truth our God, half-truth our enemy, hard work our salvation, unity our goal, Free Speech our weapon, All-One our soul, self-discipline the key to freedom, unity, love unites All-One above! For we’re All-One! As teach for 6,000

REGENERATIVE ORGANIC COCONUT OIL!

Regenerate soil-farms-communities-planet-life!

The most technically sophisticated form of agriculture, de-
signed to solve our future food and climate challenges? Or the
most ancient,wise,and timeless way of growing? Regenerative
organic agriculture is both. Based on a universal truth: that
the seed, the plant, the soil, the animal on the land and the sky
above, the person who raises the food and the person who eats
it—make up one interlocking system. All-One! We can build
rich soil, sequester carbon, retain water, provide healthy food,
create biodiversity! Regenerate soil-farms-communities-plan-
et-life—mitigate catastrophic climate change. Click to learn
more @ drbronner.com

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7th: Each swallow works hard to be a perfect pilot-provider-builder-trainer-teacher-lover-mate, no half-true hate! Have courage & smile, my friend. Think & act 10 years ahead! Find the man without fault? He’s dead! Do one thing at a time, work hard! Get done! Then teach friend & enemy how to work-love-unite all mankind

FRIDAY | JULY 24

Korean Natural Farming - An Introduction to Cultivating
Indigenous Microorganisms

Zoom Room A
This is a journey into a world of microbiology. Discover the incredible
intricacies of how our indigenous microorganisms play a massive role
in our soil and plant health. We will discuss how we can responsibly
capture these amazing workers in our own backyards and local forests,
and how to use these IMOs in your cultivation.
Benjamin Morgan-Dillon, Background of medicine/science blends with
a future in agriculture/education, to improve the world we live in.
Andrew DaSilva, Hobby grower who found a deeper passion in the
cultivation of plants and sustainable agriculture.

Starting a Holistic, Homestead Apple Orchard CEU

Zoom Room B
Learn the fundamentals of site selection, variety and rootstock
selection, planting, nourishing and pruning. I will also cover the 4
main apple pests and how to make peace with them. There will also
be a review of grafting techniques and my top 10 list of must have
varieties.
Jack Mastrianni, A platinum gold, card carrying member of Apple
Addicts Anonymous.

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5:00-6:30pm

Pasture Plant Identification & Interpretation for Healthy
Soil & Quality Feed CEU

Zoom Room C
A healthy, diverse pasture stand can consist of over 20 different plant
species; each playing an important role in a dynamic pasture sward.
Learn to identify some of the more common desirable pasture plants
(grasses, legumes, forbes), and some undesirable ones too. Find out
what these plants are telling us about our pasture.
Lisa McCrory, Organic, regenerative farmer at Earthwise Farm and
Forest. Grazing and Whole Farm Planning consultant, artist.

Cannabis & CBD Medicine Making

Zoom Room D
In this class you will learn how to create the most effective Cannabis/
CBD remedies in your own home kitchen. We will explore the
cannabis/hemp plant’s phytochemistry and extraction techniques,
and learn how to accurately dose finished products. Participants will
take part in a demo making a hemp-based herbal remedy, and get to
take home their creations.
Stephanie Boucher, VT-based clinical herbalist and cannabis coach,
specializing in CBD products.

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MONDAY | JULY 27

Envisioning an Alternative to the Agricultural Industrial
Complex

Zoom Room A
The U.S. Food System - built on colonial systems of white supremacy,
patriarchy and racial capitalism - has been broken from the beginning.
In this workshop, we will analyze the oppressive foundations of this
food system, and through consideration of our own lived experiences,
envision what a transformative food system can look like.
Douglass DeCandia, Queer, abolitionist grower of European descent -
committed to the work that moves us in the direction of freedom.

NOFA-Interstate Council Policy Meeting

Zoom Room B
In this time of COVID Your Participation Needed to Help Move NOFA’s
Policy Agenda Forward! NOFA’s grassroots policy voice on climate
change, organic integrity, and other issues central to the organic
movement regionally, nationally, and internationally, is more important
than ever in this pandemic time. Come learn what your Chapter is
doing and contribute your input for where we go in the future.
Steve Gilman, Interstate NOFA Policy Coordinator.

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5:00-6:30pm

Soil Carbon: Raising More, Better Food while Easing
Climate Stress CEU

Zoom Room C

A radical shift in our farming practices over the past 6 years has
resulted in more and higher quality food, clamoring customers and
farmer satisfaction. We’ll discuss the practices on our diversified
animal, vegetable and fruit farm, all in the context of emerging
scientific discovery about soil carbon.

Jack Kittredge, Certified organic farmer, editor of The Natural Farmer,
and soil carbon author.

Julie Rawson, Organic farmer of 37 years.

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MONDAY | JULY 27

Growing Organic Greenhouse Tomatoes
for Yield & Flavor CEU

Zoom Room A

Want to learn how to grow award winning tomatoes? This workshop
covers the technical information needed to grow great greenhouse
tomatoes in New England. We will cover heated vs. unheated
structures, variety selection, bed prep, seeding, grafting, planting,
pruning, trellising, irrigating, side-dressing, weed, pest and disease
control, and harvesting.

Chuck Currie, Freedom Food Farm won 1st and 3rd place for cherry
tomatoes in the MA Tomato Contest.

Incorporating Foliar Feeding on YOUR farm CEU

Zoom Room B

Foliar feeding has gone from an occasional afterthought when
there’s nothing better to do, to a foundational management tool
that dovetails inseparably with soil-based fertility programs on
successful farms. However, many details go into making it work on
each unique operation. Equipment, landscape, crop choices, water
quality, materials, rates, and timing all matter. Determining what to
spray through observation and data collection is critical. Foliars must
fit into a regular and manageable pattern so that it actually happens,
in order to reap the benefits. Nathan will provide helpful insights on
these points as well as sharing background science on the concepts
involved in foliar feeding.

Nathan Harman, Consultant for Advancing Eco Agriculture with a
breadth of experience working with growers in many crops and
climates.

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7:00-8:30pm

How to Start or Convert to a Co-operative Business

Zoom Room C

Want to establish your food/farm business as a legacy and retain
jobs? Co-ops root business in communities, strengthen buy-in, build
a resilient & sustainable economy. Learn how co-ops work, the start-
up process, benefits of conversion & track record. Hear from those
who’ve converted their business to the co-op model, members from
worker co-ops, and co-op developers.

Bonnie Hudspeth, Co-op Developer, Neighboring Food Co-op
Association.

Adam Trott, Executive Director, Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops &
Shared Capital Co-operative, Member Relations Director.

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WEDNESDAY | JULY 29

Expanding Outlets for Your Farm Products

Zoom Room A
Our food co-ops make a priority of supporting local farmers and
producers. We build sustainability through long-term relationships,
transparency, and are sales channels complimenting direct marketing,
offering volume, marketing, and stable, year-round markets. Explore
what’s entailed in having your products in co-ops and innovative ways
co-ops foster farmer sustainability.
Suzette Snow-Cobb, Sourcing Coordinator, Neighboring Food Co-op
Association.
Jacob Vincent, Merchandising Manager, Co-op Food Stores of NH and VT.

Food Processing: An Integral Part of the Food System

Zoom Room B
A variety of farms and food businesses partner with the Western MA
Food Processing Center (WMFPC) to make value-added products. Kate
& Liz will provide an overview of WMFPC’s Farmer Value-Add Program
and share info about how farms can get involved. This workshop is
an opportunity for farmers and entrepreneurs to learn about making
shelf-stable products.
Kate Venne, Food Business Coordinator for the Western MA Food
Processing Center.
Liz Buxton, Director of Operations for the Western MA Food
Processing Center.

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5:00-6:30pm

Working Toward a Robust Agricultural Land Access System
in New England

Zoom Room C
To meet regional goals for increased local food production in RI, SCLT
has been spearheading an initiative known as the Rhode Island Land
Access Working Group to match more farmers with available land
faster and more sustainably. In this workshop, we will look at case
studies of successful matches, and work with participants to develop
their projects.
Sebastian Interlandi, Director of Farmland Access at SCLT - Farmer,
teacher, environmental engineer.

Raising Kids on the Farm

Zoom Room D
Family farming is easy to romanticize, but what does it actually take?
Come listen, learn, and talk with parents who are raising children on
the farm. This panel will give you an honest look into the challenges
and joys of farming with children, along with insights and tips to help
you raise food and children at the same time.
Kate Spring, Farmer and writer at Good Heart Farmstead in Vermont.
You can find her at thegoodheartlife.com.

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WEDNESDAY | JULY 29

Storytime: Growing Up in the Organic Landcare Movement

Zoom Room A
A story, sans PowerPoint, about my journey from where I was to
where I am in life and the the Organic Landcare Movement. How I got
involved and stayed involved for 50+ years; lessons learned; what I
might do differently. I will facilitate; you will elaborate.
Mike Nadeau, A long-time student of Nature trying to apply what she
has taught me.

Farm Succession as a Pathway For Beginning Farmers

Zoom Room B
With nearly a third of all farmland due to change hands over the next
ten years, Farm Succession is an un-tapped entry-point for our region’s
numerous beginning and established farmers looking to access land.
Jae Silverman, Massachusetts field agent for Land For Good, and a first
generation hay farmer.

Building Justice Through Food: The Future of Food in
Mason Square

Zoom Room C
Now in its 3rd year of operation, Gardening the Community would
like to share successes and challenges of operating a farm store in the
Mason Square area of Springfield, MA.
Ibrahim Ali, Co-Executive Director of Gardening the Community in
Springfield, MA.

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7:00-8:30pm

First Aid Homeopathy & Rescue Remedy

Zoom Room D
Learn how to use homeopathic remedies for first aid issues - relieve
pain and sore muscles, speed the healing of sunburns, rashes, diaper
rashes, summer colds and coughs, bug bites and more. Join us to learn
more about homeopathic natural remedies and Rescue Remedy for
you, your family and your animals.
Jeanne Deignan-Kosmides, Lay homeopath, licensed psychotherapist
and yoga therapist, biodynamic beekeeper/gardener, grandmother,
Bach Flower practitioner.
George Kosmides, Lay homeopath.

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FRIDAY | JULY 31

Climate Change Impacts Bees & Pollinators, Agriculture &
Humanity CEU

Zoom Room A
Discuss impact of climate change on bees, pollinators, agriculture, and
humanity and what we can do to mitigate the negative effects.
Mel Gadd, Beekeeper for 14+ years. Mass Beekeepers Association
Beekeeper of the year 2017. Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm beekeeper.

Holistic Management Grazing Plan

Zoom Room B
This workshop will provide an introduction to holistic management
and will provide an opportunity for participants to learn how to create
a grazing plan. Examples from Stonewall Farm’s dairy will be used to
help demonstrate application of concepts.
Julie Davenson, Executive Director of Stonewall Farm, a Savory
Institute Hub.

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5:00-6:30pm

Successes & Stresses- Plants & People in a Jail Garden

Zoom Room C

This workshop will consist of:
1) A philosophy on student centered education.
2) A Social Permaculture design lesson on finding multiple
stakeholders.
3) A listing of plants that create discussion and learning opportunities
in a jail garden.
4) A list of plants we’ve learned we shouldn’t grow, and why.

Tony Hall, A student of many farmers, teacher and facilitator of Garden
Programs at Franklin County Jail.

Transplants

Custom Grown

www.bannergreenhouses.com

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SATURDAY | AUGUST 1

Growing Beneficial Herbs for Bees

Zoom Room A
Many herbs provide copius amounts of nectar that honey bees are
drawn to, but there’s an increasing amount of research that suggests
that herb plants provide health benefits to the bees in their pollen and
nectar.
Ed Szymanski, Homesteader, beekeeper, gardener, nature
photographer
Marian Szymanski, Avid homesteader, gardener and beekeeper

Regenerative Agriculture in Urban Planning

Zoom Room B
A discussion of urban planning from a regenerative design
perspective, looking at how regenerative agriculture principles can
advance climate change resilience, urban ecological restoration, and
environmental justice in housing.
Michael Hollis, Farms Director for NYC supportive housing developer
and co-founder for regenerative art/design non-profit.

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4:00-5:30pm

Cover Cropping Strategies for Five Acres or Less CEU

Zoom Room C
Learn how to incorporate cover crops into an intensive market garden
without tillage or machinery. Daniel will present his human-scale
methods of cover cropping within the no-till system at Frith Farm. He’ll
go over his preferred ‘cocktail’ for each season and the specifics of
how he manages each mix, including photos covering each step of the
process.
Daniel Mays, Runs Frith Farm, an intensive no-till human-scale veggie
operation in southern Maine.

Glyphosate - the Killer Chemical That Must be Stopped

Zoom Room D
There is a need the for major pesticide policy reform and glyphosate
will be used as the “poster child”. How bad is glyphosate? How is it
that MA has so many registered pesticides?How does MA compare
to the US EPA and the EU? What does this mean to public and
environmental health? How do such lax policies contribute to the
climate crisis?
Stephen Frantz, Dr. Frantz is a research pathobiologist who has been
studying glyphosate and its consequences for the last 6 years.

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MONDAY | AUGUST 3

Planting for Pollinators CEU

Zoom Room A
We hear a lot about honeybees, but less about the myriad of other
pollinators that also support our agricultural and ecological systems.
Find out about planting to create habitat for these hard-working
pollinators, and why flowers are just a small piece of the puzzle.
We’ll start in the classroom and then head outside to find pollinator
powerhouse plants around campus.
Anna Fialkoff, Program Manager at the Wild Seed Project

Urban Soils & Eco Justice CEU

Zoom Room B
City soils are often non-existent, degraded, or contaminated which
is a significant barrier to developing urban food sovereignty and
the advancement of environmental justice goals. We will examine
specific tools- including spent mushroom substrate, bio-drilling, and
compost remediation- that can be used by communities to proactively
analyze and regenerate soil health, resulting in both nutritious food
production, carbon sequestration, and enhanced socio-ecosystem
services.
Scott Kellogg, Educational Director of the Radix Ecological
Sustainability Center in Albany, NY.

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5:00-6:30pm

Ecological Farming at Gaining Ground CEU

Zoom Room C
In this workshop we will discuss the regenerative agricultural practices
Gaining Ground uses on its 3 acre no-till farm. Topics will included
how to continue to increase soil fertility, bio-diversity, and crop
production on the farm.
Doug Wolcik, Managing Gaining Ground, a no-till, nonprofit farm in
Concord, MA for the last 8 years.

Botany of Seed Formation CEU

Zoom Room D
This workshop will present the essential botany necessary to
understand how and why flowering plants create fruits and seeds.
We will cover the anatomy of various types of flowers, pollination
mechanisms, and the many mating strategies plants employ in their
reproductive processes.
Hannah Traggis, Plant physiologist and works as the Scientific Advisor
to the Freed Seed Federation.

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MONDAY | AUGUST 3

Growing & Preserving Onions & Garlic

Zoom Room A
Understanding the life cycle and day-length sensitivity of onions is key
to growing, harvesting and storing them. Skills presented will include
starting seeds indoors, and transplanting into the garden, harvesting
and “curing” bulbs and providing conditions best for long term
storage, as well as saving seeds of favorite heirloom onion varieties.
Christie Higginbottom, Coordinated the historic horticulture program
at Old Sturbridge Village for 20 years.

Farming & Gardening on the Wild Side CEU

Zoom Room B
Ecologists, farmers and authors Nancy and John Hayden will talk about
the evolution of The Farm Between over 28 years into a regenerative
organic fruit farm and nursery. Learn how to add pollinator and bird
habitat, manage pests, sequester and use carbon for soil fertility,
improve water quality, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Nancy Hayden, Engineer, farmer, artist and co-author of Farming on
the Wild Side, (Chelsea Green 2019).
John Hayden, Has been a practicing farmer, entomologist, researcher,
educator and consultant for over 35 years.

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