Pre-Registration closes January 15Pre-Registration closes January 15thth
Receive a $10 discount if you register by December 13Receive a $10 discount if you register by December 13thth
Visit www.nofanyconference.org to register onlineVisit www.nofanyconference.org to register online
2 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
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W E L C O M EW E L C O M E
WELCOMETh e Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
is a statewide organization leading a growing movement of farmers,
consumers, gardeners, and businesses committed to promoting local,
organic food and farming. We provide education, assistance, and sup-
port to regionally-based, sustainable farmers to help them thrive; edu-
cate consumers about the value in buying local, organic products; help
consumers connect with farmers; work to make local, organic food
available to all people; and advocate policies that support a sustainable
food and farm system.
REGISTRATION To register for the 2014 NOFA-
NY Organic Farming and Gardening
Conference use the form enclosed,
go online to www.nofanyconference.
org, or contact Stephanie Backer-
Bertsch, Registration Coordinator,
at (585) 271-1979 ext. 509 or regis-
Pre-registration closes Janu-
ary 15, 2014. For general questions
about the Winter Conference, please
call us at (585) 271-1979.
Early Bird Discount
To receive a $10 discount, reg-
ister by December 13.
You c a n re g i ste r on l i ne at
www.nofanyconference.org, call (585)
271-1979 ext. 509 to register over
the phone, or postmark your com-
pleted registration form by Decem-
ber 13.
3www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
W E L C O M EW E L C O M E
WHAT’S INSIDE2 Welcome
3 Scholarships & Volunteering
5 Keynote Speakers
6 Special Events
10 Schedule at a Glance
12 Friday Intensives
18 Workshop Tracks
25 Pre-Registration Form
42 Children’s Conference & Childcare
46 How to Get Th ere, Hotel, Bus & Train Transit, Ridesharing
47 Conference Sponsors
Preserving the Past, Seeding the Future
In January 2014, NOFA-NY will hold its 32nd Annual Organic
Farming & Gardening Conference. Th e theme for the conference—
“Preserving the Past, Seeding the Future”—honors the history of the
organic movement and those people who pioneered the movement
and looks ahead to ensure that future generations have the resources
they need to carry on this work. In addition, the topic of seeds is very
timely given the concerns about maintaining organic and genetically
diverse seed in agriculture.
Keynote speaker Gary Paul Nabhan is an internationally-renowned
nature writer, food and farming activist, and proponent of conserving
the links between biodiversity and cultural diversity. He is a pioneer
in the local food movement and seed-saving community.
Our 2014 NOFA-NY Farmer of the Year is Brian Bennett from Bit-
tersweet Farm. Brian is a long-time organic farmer in New York’s
North Country region where he has helped unify his local community
by involving more people in local agriculture.
Each year at our conference, we strive to inspire, as well as inform,
and to provide an unparalleled opportunity for networking and for re-
ciprocal teaching and learning. We look forward to seeing you in Sara-
toga this coming January!
Kate Mendenhall
Executive Director
Marne Coit
Education Director
4 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
S C H O L A R S H I P S & V O L U N T E E R I N GS C H O L A R S H I P S & V O L U N T E E R I N G
We’ll be off ering a number of scholarships to our conference thanks to
the generous support from our members and the USDA-NIFA Beginning
Farmer and Rancher Program, grants #2011-49400-30510 and #2011-
49400-30307. To learn more about receiving a scholarship or to fi ll out an
application, please visit www.nofany.org/events/2014scholarships or call our
offi ce at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511. Aspiring and new farmers with less than
10 years of farm ownership/management experience, as well as mentor
farmers, are eligible for scholarships. All applications must be received by
11:59pm on December 1. All scholarship recipients are required to volunteer
two hours at the conference.
Volunteer Opportunities
Th e success of our confer-
ence depends upon the hard
work of many volunteers.
Volunteers receive a $15 re-
bate after the conference
for each two-hour shift for
which they volunteer. To vol-
unteer, please e-mail Dana
at conference.volunteer@nofa-
ny.org or call (585) 271-1979
ext. 517. Volunteer slots will
be fi lled on a fi rst-come,
fi rst-serve basis.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!
FARMER EDUCATION FUND
We also have established
the Farmer Education Fund,
which allows farmers with
fi nancial need to attend
this conference. Help make
the conference accessible to
more farmers. Please consid-
er contributing to this fund
when registering for the
conference.
Josh Levine Scholarship Fund
The Josh Levine Memorial Scholarship
Fund was established to honor Josh Levine,
an inspiring young
farmer who tragi-
cally died in 2010
in a tractor acci-
dent. As a tribute
to Josh’s love of or-
ganic farming and
his support of the
larger organic com-
munity, the Josh
Lev ine Memoria l
Scholarship Fund
provides financial
support to begin-
ning farmers to en-
able them to attend
our conferences.
Each year we se-
lect candidates who
show exceptional
promise to receive
as scholarship as funds allow. Please con-
sider contributing to this scholarship fund
when registering for the conference.
5www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
K E Y N O T E SK E Y N O T E S
GARY PAUL NABHAN
Gary Paul Nabhan is an inter-
nationally celebrated nature writ-
er and food
a n d f a r m -
i n g a c t i v -
ist. He has
b e e n ho n -
ored as a pi-
oneer in the
l o c a l f o o d
m o v e m e n t
a n d s e e d
saving com-
mu n it y b y
Ut ne R ead-
e r, M o t h e r
Earth News,
Th e New York
T i m e s , B i -
oneers a nd
Time maga-
zine. As the
W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sus-
tainable Food Systems at the Univer-
sity of Arizona Southwest Center,
he works with students, faculty and
non-profi ts to build a more just, nu-
tritious, sustainable and climate-re-
silient foodshed spanning the U.S./
Mexico border. His 26 books, includ-
ing Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier
Land, Chasing Chiles and Renewing
America's Food Traditions, have won
numerous awards.Friday Evening
BRIAN BENNETTNOFA-NY Farmer of the Year
In addition to being a full-time
farmer at Bittersweet Farm in Heu-
velton, New York, Brian is a mentor
to new farmers and teaches hands-
on sustainability to area students
and volunteers. He has worked as the
Workshop Coordinator for the Lo-
cal Living Festival and as the Vege-
table Specialist for North Country
Grown Cooperative. Born in 1958,
Brian became interested in plants
and gardens during middle school.
His mother’s family had long stand-
ing farming roots in Indiana where
he spent summers during high
school hoeing miles of corn. In col-
lege, Brian studied plant science, but
was not hap-
py with the
p r o m o t i o n
of chemical
p e s t i c i d e s
and fertiliz-
ers. In 1985,
h e p u r -
c h a sed h is
f i r s t f a r m
with his wife
Ann, where
they farmed
p a r t - t i m e
using all organic methods. In 1999,
they moved to the St. Lawrence Riv-
er Valley. Bittersweet Farm is certi-
fi ed organic with NOFA-NY Certifi ed
Organic, LLC. Saturday Morning
Keynote Speakers
6 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
SPONSORSHIP, TRADE SHOW & ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
New York has the highest number of organic farms in the nation af-
ter California and Wisconsin. Not surprisingly, our Winter Conference is
one of the largest organic farming conferences with more than 1200 par-
ticipants attending this annual three-day event. Sponsoring our confer-
ence, participating in our trade show, and advertising in the conference
program are great ways to reach organic farmers, gardeners, and food ad-
vocates with your marketing message while helping to promote local, or-
ganic food and farming. Contact Tanya Smolinsky for more information
at [email protected] or at (585) 271-1979 ext. 502.
ORGANIC FOOD DONATIONS
One of the most memorable parts of
our conference is the incredible meals.
Almost all of the organic food is gen-
erously donated by our farmers, busi-
ness members, and supporters, making
each meal a tribute to the diversity
and bounty of New York State’s organ-
ic agriculture.
Please consider donating food to the
conference to help make it a success!
You will receive a rebate on the whole-
sale value of your food donation after
you’ve paid for your conference regis-
tration. Any remaining value that ex-
ceeds the total cost of your conference
registration will be treated as a tax-de-
ductible donation. Food donors will be
listed in the conference program and on
a banner in the banquet hall.
To contribute food, please contact
Millicent Cavanaugh at [email protected]
or (585) 271-1979 ext. 515. Download a
food donation form at www.nofanycon-
ference.org.
W A Y S T O G E T I N V O L V E DW A Y S T O G E T I N V O L V E D
Ways to Get Involved
FARMHACK: Show, Tell, Ask & Document!
Have you designed a tool that
better fi ts the scale and meth-
ods of work on your farm? Show
off your farm innovations at the
conference.
FarmHack is a farmer-driv-
en community to develop, docu-
ment, and build tools for resilient
agriculture. Bring your innovative
tools and implements for display,
or if more convenient, bring your
designs or photos. Whether for
tillage, transport, power genera-
tion, processing, seeding, or spin-
ning—everything is welcome.
FarmHack representatives will
show you how to document your
tools and ideas on the online
tool forums. Questions? Contact
Dorn Cox at dornawcox@yahoo.
com. Find FarmHack and Nation-
al Young Farmers Coalition in the
Trade Show.
7www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
Th is is our 32nd annual conference—let’s celebrate!
Th ursday Evening • Welcome Reception:
Greet your friends and meet new ones at a low-key reception where you will be treated to a sampling of tasty snacks and the fi rst of many musical performances by Mulberry Soul.
Friday Aft ernoon• Trade Show Opens.
Check out a wide selection of equipment, seeds, and services
Friday Evening • Keynote Gary Nabhan
and Opening Ceremony
• Social Hour & Entertainment in the Trade Show
• Film Screening: Switch: Discover the Future of Energy (2013)
• Beginning Farmer Meet & Greet
Saturday Morning • NOFA-NY Certifi ed
Organic, LLC Open Annual Meeting
• NOFA-NY Annual Report and Keynote Brian Bennett, Farmer of the Year
Saturday Aft ernoon• NOFA-NY Annual
Meeting
• NYSSFPA Annual Meeting
Saturday Evening• Social Hour and Live
Music in the Trade Show
• Contra Dance with Russet Trio and caller Fern Marshall Bradley
• Film Screening: Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs (2012)
• Book Reading and Signing with Scott Chaskey, author of Seedtime (2014, Rodale)
Sunday Morning• Closing Ceremony
• Last chance to visit Trade Show
Beginning Farmer Meet & GreetTime to party! Enjoy music by Mulberry Soul starting at
8:00pm. At 8:45pm, the National Young Farmers Coalition
will lead us in games designed to help beginning farmers
fi nd other beginning farmers from their region. In the Farm
Consultation Zone, running throughout the Meet & Greet,
fi nd some quieter space to talk nuts and bolts with some of
New York’s farm mentors and farm business consultants
(please bring your mentor with you). Once you’ve sampled
the snacks and beverages available at the party, we’ll en-
courage you to pose with some silly props at the not-to-be-
missed photo booth. All conference attendees are welcome
to this kick-
off party to
celebrate or-
ganic farming
in New York
State.Friday 8–10pm
S P E C I A L E V E N T SS P E C I A L E V E N T S
House Band MULBERRY SOULFormed in 2012 at the
Folk Art Guild on East
Hill Farm in Middle-
sex, N Y, Mulberr y
Soul 's music blends
folk, bluegrass, and
old-time fiddle mu-
sic with stunning-
ly soulfu l or ig ina l
songs. This six-piece
band (see photo be-
low) is set to release
their fi rst full-length
album at the end of
this year. Get your
dancing feet ready
bec au se t he show
is sure to be packed
with some smokin’
picking on mando-
lin, guitar, banjo, bass
and fiddle. Listen for
them throughout the
conference.
8 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
S P E C I A L E V E N T SS P E C I A L E V E N T S
CONTRA DANCE with Th e Russet Trio & Fern Marshall Bradley
FILM SCREENINGSSwitch: Discover the Future
of Energy (2013). Every
energy resource—fossil,
nuclear and renewable—
is undergoing profound
changes. We’re gradually
shifting from coal and oil to
the energies of tomorrow.
Th is sweeping transition is
the subject of Switch. Friday 8:30pm
Seeds of Death: Unveiling the
Lies of GMOs (2012). Th is
movie by award-winning
documentary fi lm director
Gary Null takes on the seed
cartel’s propaganda and
political infl uence to expose
a fabric of lies and deceit
now threatening the safety
and life of every species. Saturday 8:30pm
SPECIAL BOOK READING & SIGNINGJoin beloved author
and NOFA-NY’s 2013 Farmer of the Year Scott Chaskey for a special book reading and sign-ing. Scott will be read-ing from his new book Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics and Promise of Seeds. In this book, Scott masterfully weaves history, politics, botany, literature, my-thology, and memoir into a beautiful and instruc-tive book. Having co-evolved with the Earth’s plants, insects, and ani-mals, seeds are entwined with the core myths of ancient cultures and the development of human
consciousness. Th eir sto-ry remains vitally im-portant today as the corporations that man-ufacture GMOs threat-en our food security and the future of seed-culti-vated agriculture. Scott Chaskey is a poet, farm-er and educator who’s worked the land for the past quarter of a cen-tury for the Peconic Land Trust at Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett, New York. A pioneer of the community farm-ing movement, he’s past president of NOFA-NY and author of Th is Com-mon Ground, a memoir.
Saturday 8:30pm
The Russet Trio and Fern Marshall Bradley
will be joining us once again in 2014. For those
of you who didn’t make it to the contra dance at
the 2013 conference, you’re in for a foot stompin’
treat. Th e Russet Trio combines traditional Irish
themes with a mod-
er n energ y that ’s
sure to get your toes
a tappin’. New to
contra dancing? Fern
Ma rsh a l l Brad le y
is the perfect caller
to get you swingin’.
When Fern isn’t call-
ing for contra danc-
es, she’s editing our
Ne w York Organic
News magazine. Saturday 8:15pm
9www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
S P E C I A L E V E N T SS P E C I A L E V E N T S
Trade Show Th e Trade Show runs
Friday afternoon-Sun-day afternoon and fea-tures a wide array of exhibitors and vendors.
NOFA-NY CERTIFIED ORGANIC, LLC OPEN ANNUAL MEETING
Grab some break-
fast and join our certi-
fi cation staff and the
Management Commit-
tee for an open meeting
to learn about certifi -
cation updates and Na-
tional Organic Program
changes. Th is is an op-
portunity to ask your
certifi cation questions.Saturday 7:15am
NEW YORK SMALL SCALE FOOD PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION MEETING
Th e NYSSFPA was
formed to build on the
resilience of New York
State family farms. It
works to create value-
added products from
farm produce in order
to keep small farms
prosperous. If inter-
ested in learning more
about NYSSFPA, grab a
plate and join them at
their lunch meeting on
Saturday.
Saturday 11:45am
Special Meetings
BookstoreSo maybe it’s not a
“special event”, but it is
special to have such a
great bookstore at the
conference just for you.
Browse and buy a diverse
selection of writings on
organic agriculture, cul-
ture and life. Our confer-
ence bookstore includes
works authored and rec-
ommended by confer-
ence presenters and
attendees, as well as
NOFA-NY merchandise.
Book Signings Th roughout the con-
ference, presenter-au-
thors will be available to
sign books and chat with
you about topics of mu-
tual interest. Check the
printed schedule at the
NOFA-NY book store.
NOFA-NY ANNUAL MEETING
Members, this is
your chance to make
your voice heard within
your organization. Over
lunch, help determine
what issues NOFA-NY
works on in the com-
ing years. Your partic-
ipation is important.
We will elect new mem-
bers to the Board of Di-
rectors and vote on the
2014 policy resolutions.
If you’re not a member
already, join NOFA-NY
and join us at our annu-
al meeting.Saturday 12:00pm
10 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
A T A G L A N C E A T A G L A N C E
FRIDAY 7:30–9am
FRIDAY 9am–12:15pm; coffee break at
10:30am
Advanced Cheesemaking
Increasing Farm Diversity with
Small Ruminants
Common Apple and Stone Fruit
Diseases
Seed Saving and Production
Basics
Starting from Square One:
Creating a Farm
FRIDAY 12:15–1:15pm
FRIDAY 1:15–4:30pm;
coffee break at 2:40pm
Keeping Up with Internal Parasites in Goats and
Sheep
Spotted Wing Drosophila
Advanced Seed Saving, Seed Production &
On-farm Breeding
Breaking Open the Books:
Budgets, Cash Flow &
Business Planning
FRIDAY 4:45–6:15pm
FRIDAY 6:15–7:15pm
FRIDAY 7–8:30pm
FRIDAY 8:30–10:30pm
SATURDAY 7–8am
SATURDAY 8–9:15am
Production & Marketing of
Raw Milk
Draft Animal Power: From Homestead to
Megafarm!
Nuts 101No-Till Spring
Vegetables with Cover Crops
Scaling Up to Farm Scale Composting
SATURDAY 9:45–11:30am
SATURDAY 11:30am– 1:15pm
SATURDAY 1:15–2:30pm
Cattle Fly Management
Using IPM
Meat Yields & Marketing
Commercial Organic
Orchards: Late Season Tree Fruit Harvest
High Tunnels
Slow and Steady Start-Up: Building
Experience & Capital
SATURDAY 2:45–4pm
Extending the Grazing Season
for Livestock
Diversified Dairy CSA
Growing Figs In Cold Climates
Managing Insects &
Insecticide Resistance for
Organic Potatoes
Potatoes 101
SATURDAY 4:15–5:30pm
The Udder Basics of
Starting a Small-Scale Dairy
100% Grass Fed Beef: Low Cost Inputs for High Quality
Finish
Starting Right: Establishing Young Trees
Growing Better Melons, Summer
Squash & Cucumbers
Know Your Insurance,
Protect Your Farm
SATURDAY 5:30–7pm
SATURDAY 7–8:30pm
SATURDAY 8:30–11pm
SUNDAY 7–8am
SUNDAY 8–9:15am
Cows, Climate & Why Grazing
Matters
Advances in On-Farm Poultry
Breeding
Brambleicious Ideas to
Increase Farm Diversity
Advanced Seed Saving:
Biennials
Guiding New Farmers
SUNDAY 9:45–11am
Flaxseed & Ryegrass for
Improving Milk Fatty Acids &
Forage Production
Small Scale Pig Breeding Cider Apples
How to Grow Tomatoes &
Potatoes Despite the
Blight
Cooperative Farming Ideas
SUNDAY 11am–1pm
SUNDAY 11:30am–1pm
Dairy & Grazing Livestock Fruits Vegetables Beginning
Farming
Opening Session and Keynote Address by Gary Paul Nabhan
Social Hour with Music and Fun in the Trade Show
Lunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Entertainment
Breakfast & NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC Annual Meeting
Annual Review; Keynote Address by Farmer of the Year Brian Bennett
Lunch & NOFA-NY, Inc. Annual Meeting
Social Hour with Music and Fun in the Trade Show
Dinner
Entertainment
Breakfast
Last Chance to Visit the Trade Show & Bookstore
Lunch, Goodbyes & Filling Out Evaluations
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11www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
A T A G L A N C E A T A G L A N C E
Sustainably Integrated
Aquaponics
Farmer's Guide to On-Farm Food Safety Certification
Grains at the Farmers' Market
Long Range Planting of
Medicinal Herbs
Adapting to Climate
Uncertainty
Establishing an Urban Market
Garden
Group GAP: Introduction for Practitioners &
Support Organizations
Grains at the Farmers' Market
(continued )
Flower Growing: Strategies
Using The Entire Animal:
Hide Tanning & Soap Making
Introduction to Organic
Certification
Success on the Ground
Sourcing for Urban Markets:
Snail of Approval &
Producer Matrix
Pancakes: Field to Griddle!
Agriculturally Productive
Buffers: Agroforestry Strategies
Herbs for the Winter Blues
Where Do We Stand with
FDA's Food Safety
Regulations?
Creating a Compost Heated
Greenhouse in the City
Negotiation Makes It Happen!
Small Scale Rice Production
101
Drought & Flood-Proofing the
Farm
Espalier Fruit Plants ———
Yes We Can! Preserve Your Harvest! Part 1
Close the Loop! Building
Support for Food Scrap Collection & Composting
Lots of Food: Feeding Folks
with Urban Food Forests
Justice for Farmworkers!
And How About Farmers, Too?
A Local Grain Renaissance in the Northeast,
Part 1 : Baking Bread
with Local Flour
Farming with Rocks
Quality in Cider Making ———
Ferment Change!
Preserve Your Harvest! Part 2
A Farm Bill — For All of Us
Finances of Farming,
Especially in a City
May All Be Fed: A Unique Farm to Food Pantry
Model
A Local Grain Renaissance in the Northeast, Part 2 : Into the
Dough
Bouquet Making Basics: Floral Design 101 for
New Flower Growers
Teaching a Science
Curriculum in a School Garden
Seeds and Breeds:
Classical Breeding in a GMO World
Empowering Youth in Urban
Farming
Choosing a Business
Structure for Your Farm
Rotations for a Quality Grain
Farm
Sugaring 101: Why Every
Farm Should Have a
Sugaring Operation
The Essential Small Farm Greenhouse
Just Label It! NYS Campaign
for GMO Labeling
Growing Urban Soil for Food Production
Profitability of the Paper Pot
Transplanter on a Small
Vegetable Farm
High Performance Cover Crops
Sugaring 102: Developing a Productive &
Profitable Sugaring Operation
The Resilient & Regenerative Homestead
NOFA-NY's Farmer's Pledge
Breakfast
Opening Session and Keynote Address by Gary Paul Nabhan
Social Hour with Music and Fun in the Trade Show
Lunch
Urban Farming Marketing & Business
Grains & Field Crops
Other NY Enterprises
Gardening & Homesteading
Policy & Community
Dinner
Entertainment
Breakfast & NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC Annual Meeting
Annual Review; Keynote Address by Farmer of the Year Brian Bennett
Lunch & NOFA-NY, Inc. Annual Meeting
Social Hour with Music and Fun in the Trade Show
Dinner
Entertainment
Breakfast
Last Chance to Visit the Trade Show & Bookstore
Lunch, Goodbyes & Filling Out Evaluations
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F R I D A Y F U L L D A Y W O R K S H O PF R I D A Y F U L L D A Y W O R K S H O P
GRAINS AT THE FARMERS’ MARKETSLearn how to grow many diff erent cereal grains on a small scale. Most
importantly, learn how to grow, harvest, clean, store and mill right at the
farmers’ market on a small and realistic budget. Join us for a discussion
of how rolling and steel cutting oats have eclipsed George’s fl our sales. We
will learn about the possible successes and failures one can encounter sell-
ing grains at the farmers’ market.
Presenter: George Wright, Castor River FarmFriday Full Day 9am–4:30pm
STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE: Creating a Farm to Match Your Goals, Skills, Values, and Resources
When starting a farm, gaining
hands-on experience is essential.
Equally important is developing
a process for navigating the thou-
sands of complex decisions you’ll
need to make, and creating a plan
for a manageable start-up (the in-
visible side of farming)! We will
lead you through activities and in-
troduce you to resources that will
help you create a written farm/fam-
ily goal to aid in decision-making,
determine what social, physical,
biological, and fi nancial resourc-
es you can draw from to create your
farm, and help you assess your
skills so you can prioritize the next
steps in your learning process. If
you take the time to do these things
as you are getting started, they will
continue to keep you on track and
guide the growth of your farm for
many years.
Presenters: Erica Frenay, Shel-
terbelt Farm & Cornell Small Farms
Program, and Kylie Spooner,
Spooner and Daughter FarmFriday 9am–12:15pm
ADVANCED CHEESEMAKING
Th is workshop is designed for
people who have made cheese be-
fore and want to advance to more
diffi cult styles of cheesemaking. We
will make two types of cheese with
very diff erent recipes to demon-
strate a variety of techniques.
Note: Attendance is limited to 30.
Presenter: Peter Kindel, Haw-
thorne Valley Farm Friday 9am–12:15pm
FR
IDA
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13www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
F R I D A Y M O R N I N G W O R K S H O P SF R I D A Y M O R N I N G W O R K S H O P S
COMMON (AND A FEW UNCOMMON) APPLE AND STONE FRUIT DISEASES
Diseases of tree fruit crops are
perhaps the one remaining area
that truly bedevil organic orchard-
ists. While there may be as many
ways to tackle the problems as
there are varieties of apples, until
one really understands what one is
up against, all controls are mere-
ly prophylactic. In this workshop
we’ll cover the major (and a few mi-
nor) diseases of apples and stone
fruit, traditional and innovative
control tactics, and orchard design
considerations for avoiding them
altogether.
Presenter: Mike Biltonen, Red
Jacket OrchardFriday 9am–12:15pm
INCREASING FARM DIVERSITY WITH SMALL RUMINANTS
Small ruminants (sheep and
goats) can bring new management
and marketing opportunities as
well as needed ecological services to
any farm. We will explore how graz-
ing small ruminants can enhance
the farm ecosystem, as well as pro-
vide income from dairy, meat, and
fi ber enterprises.
Presenters: Joyce Henion, Acorn
Hill Farm, Maryrose Livingston,
Northland Sheep Dairy, and Lisa
Ferguson, Laughing Goat Fiber
Farm.Friday 9am–12:15pm
FARMER’S GUIDE TO ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
Are you hearing that getting GAP
certifi ed is a good idea? We’ll ex-
plore why you might want to con-
sider getting certifi ed, introduce
you to some of the concepts behind
GAP, introduce Group GAP—an in-
novative approach to food safety
certifi cation—and point you in the
direction of some great resources.
We’ll also talk about mitigating risk
through available crop insurance
options, as well as how to evaluate
insurance options to determine the
best fi t with your operation.
Presenters: Steve Warshawer,
National Good Food Network, and
Jeff Farbman, Wallace Center at
Winrock International Friday 9am–12:15pm
MEDICINAL HERBS: Increasing Bio-Diversity on the Farm and Creating Value-Added Income
What are the long range plans for
the land you steward? Will you leave
it for your family and future gener-
ations so they can sustain a living
from the land? Learn how to produce
and market value-added products
such as herbal salves, creams, teas,
and tinctures in conjunction with
growing and harvesting medicinal
herbs. Discuss how these perennials
increase farm net income, long term
sustainability, and profi tability.
Presenters: Matthias and Andrea
Reisen, Healing Spirits Herb FarmFriday 9am–12:15pm
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ADAPTING TO CLIMATE UNCERTAINTY: Crop Diversity and Pollinator Habitat Enhancement
Keynote Speaker Gary Nabhan
will discuss means to adapt to cli-
mate uncertainty by using on-farm
biodiversity, from crop variety diver-
sifi cation and intercropping to en-
hancing populations of pollinators
and soil microbes. Because climate
change is aff ecting crop and live-
stock production in diff erent ways
in each food scape, the feedback one
gains from making daily observa-
tions of how elements of this diversi-
ty are responding is key to long term
adaptation and survival of farms-
and to our food security as well.
Presenter: Gary Nabhan, Uni-
versity of Arizona and Almuniya de
los Zopilotes Experimental FarmFriday 9am–12:15pm
SUSTAINABLY INTEGRATED AQUAPONICS
Th is workshop will cover the de-
sign and construction of a small-
scale closed-loop aquaponic system
appropriate for a cool climate. Top-
ics will include fi sh and plant se-
lection, tank sizes and siting,
educational possibilities, and mar-
keting strategies. We’ll also dis-
cuss how to build a terrestrial food
chain for fi sh that includes silk-
worms, black soldier fl ies, worms,
and duckweed, and how to inte-
grate aquaponics with greenhouses,
ducks, and vermicomposting.
Presenter: Scott Kellogg, Radix
Ecological Sustainability Center Friday 9am–12:15pm
SEED SAVING AND PRODUCTION BASICS
Th e fundamentals of seed saving
will be covered in this workshop in-
cluding plant reproduction, basic
plant biology, harvesting and clean-
ing dry versus wet seeded crops,
cross-pollination/isolation, main-
taining seed quality, and seed stor-
age. Participants will also learn why
seed saving is important and where
they are on the continuum from
backyard seed saver to commercial
seed producer/breeder.
Presenters: Ken Greene, Hudson
Valley Seed Library and Michael
Glos, Kingbird FarmFriday 9am–12:15pm
F R I D A Y M O R N I N G W O R K S H O P SF R I D A Y M O R N I N G W O R K S H O P S
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F R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P SF R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P S
BREAKING OPEN THE BOOKS: Discussing Whole-Farm Budgets, Cash Flow and Beginners’ Business Planning
Farmer-owners will bare their
books to participants in order to
demonstrate tools for whole-farm
planning, enterprise budgeting,
cash fl ow forecasting, and market-
ing. Th is workshop is best for the
beginning farmer with a defi ned
farm plan and business idea, as well
as some farm work experience.
Presenters: Melissa Madden,
Good Life Farm, and Anton Bur-
kett, Early Morning FarmFriday 1:15–4:30pm
SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA
Does SWD have you (and your
berries) down? Learn ways to fi ght
back with the organic control man-
agement options that can be com-
bined to work on your farm. Th is
workshop starts by covering the ba-
sic biology of SWD, its regional (and
international!) distribution, and
the crops that it currently or po-
tentially impacts (berries, grapes,
soft tree fruit, and maybe even to-
matoes!). Presenters will share the
most current research and what
showed promise at their farm tri-
als this season. SWD controls cov-
ered during this workshop include
cultural practices like exclusion and
netting, mass trapping, and altered
post-harvest handling of berries,
as well as spray options including
which pesticides eff ect this tricky
pest, how to most effi ciently apply
them, and potential bio-controls.
Presenters: Emily Cook, Ulster
County CCE’s Commercial Organ-
ic Production Resource Educator,
Laura McDermott, Eastern NY
Commercial Horticulture Program,
Lawrie Nickerson, Hay Berry FarmFriday 1:15–4:30pm
USING THE ENTIRE ANIMAL: Hide Tanning and Soap Making
Participants will learn about the
hide tanning process to produce
buckskin and non-chemically treat-
ed pelts. Th ere will be hands-on
demonstrations of both hide tan-
ning and soap making. At the end
of the conference, attendees will be
able to take home their own bar of
soap made during the workshop.
Presenter: Peter Sutera, farmer
and homesteaderFriday 1:15–4:30pm
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KEEPING UP WITH INTERNAL PARASITES IN YOUR GOATS AND SHEEP
Join us to learn about current re-
search on promising innovations
in integrated parasite management
for sheep and goats. We’ll also dis-
cuss some of the old standbys in
terms of FAMACHA and pasture
management to identify parasite
problems and reduce parasite pres-
sure in your fl ock.
Presenter: Tatiana Stanton,
Cornell University Small Ruminant
Extension Specialist Friday 1:15–4:30pm
GROUP GAP: A Detailed Introduction for Practitioners and Support Organizations
Group GAP is an innovative ap-
proach to GAP now being off ered
as an option by the USDA. It uti-
lizes a central organization to or-
ganize a group of growers under a
unifi ed food safety plan with par-
ticular features so that growers re-
ceive support and are able to reduce
the costs of audits. Th is workshop
serves as a detailed introduction to
groups who might manage a group,
experienced farmers who might
consider joining a group, and those
people who might support or edu-
cate others about Group GAP.
Presenters: Steve Warshawer,
National Good Food Network, and
Jeff Farbman, Wallace Center at
Winrock InternationalFriday 1:15–4:30pm
FLOWER GROWING: Strategies to Grow and Sell the Best Flowers in Your Market
In this workshop, we will cover
production of several popular cut
fl ower crops and general tips on
sustainable/organic pest and dis-
ease control. We will also discuss
key tips on harvest and post har-
vest techniques to make sure your
customers have long lasting, gor-
geous blooms.
Presenters: Polly and Mike
Hutchison, Robin Hollow FarmFriday 1:15–4:30pm
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
Join the NOFA-NY Certifi ed Or-
ganic, LLC staff for a discussion of
certifi cation requirements, time-
lines, highlights of application
forms, and the USDA National Or-
ganic Program regulations. Th ere
will be plenty of opportunity for
questions. Whether you intend to
apply for organic certifi cation in the
coming year, or you’re seeking in-
formation to help you decide, certi-
fi cation staff members will provide
an informative overview of the cer-
tifi cation process.
Presenters: NOFA-NY Certifi ca-
tion Staff Friday 1:15–4:30pm
F R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P SF R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P S
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ESTABLISHING AN URBAN MARKET GARDEN
Th inking about starting an urban
farm, but not sure where to start?
Already have land, but not sure
what to do next? Th is workshop
will help beginners understand the
challenges and methods of start-
ing a not-for-profi t urban market
garden. Topics will include vision-
ing, planning, forming communi-
ty and government partnerships,
site development and running a via-
ble farm during and beyond the ini-
tial start-up phase. Th e workshop
will give special focus to the pro-
grammatic side of urban agricul-
ture projects.
Presenters: Sean Cummings and
Lauren Tonti, Binghamton Urban
Farm and Volunteers Improving
Neighborhood Environments Friday 1:15–4:30pm
ADVANCED SEED SAVING, SEED PRODUCTION, AND ON-FARM BREEDING
Th is session will build on the fun-
damentals covered in the morn-
ing session. Attendees of this
session should already understand
the material covered in the morn-
ing session. We will go through the
fundamentals of integrating seed
saving and seed production in di-
versifi ed farms including on-farm
selection/breeding. We will cover
skills, aff ordable tools, and specif-
ic seed harvest practice along with
organic practices to ensure seed
health for annual and biennial crop
families including peppers/toma-
toes, brassicas, greens, beans, and
alliums. Awareness of seed borne
diseases and seed quality will be
discussed along with results from
the Hudson Valley Seed Library’s
SARE Grant fi ndings on NY farm-
based seed production.
Presenters: Michael Glos, King-
bird Farm, and Ken Greene, Hud-
son Valley Seed LibraryFriday 1:15–4:30pm
F R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P SF R I D A Y A F T E R N O O N W O R K S H O P S
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B E G I N N I N G F A R M E R T R A C KB E G I N N I N G F A R M E R T R A C K
SCALING UP TO FARM SCALE COMPOSTING
You are well acquainted with the
basics of home composting, and are
eager to get started making your
own luscious, biologically-active
compost to build fertility on your
farm. What do you need to know,
and what tools and techniques are
being used successfully by farm-
scale composters in the Northeast?
Current information and research
about compost quality and compli-
ance with organic regulations will
also be covered.
Presenter: Grace Gershuny,
Green Mountain College and High-
fi elds Center for Composting Saturday 8–9:15am
SLOW AND STEADY START UP: Starting Small to Build Experience and Capital
Farm start up on $3000 is not
easy. For the low-risk entrepreneur
starting small and part-time can
slowly build a business without bet-
ting the farm. We’ll discuss the de-
tails of a tiny farm start-up from 3
to 20 CSA shares over 3 years. From
greenhouse schedules to fertility
plans and budgets, low cost green-
house designs and equipment lists,
we will look at examples of a system
at the scale a lot of new, part time
growers might be planning for.
Presenter: Tianna DuPont,
Shooting Star FarmsSaturday 1:15–2:30pm
POTATOES 101Potatoes are an essential crop,
and not like many others on the
farm. Learn the basics of growing
this staple food organically, includ-
ing variety selection, tillage and
cultivation, disease and pest man-
agement, harvest and storage, and
more.
Presenter: Ken White, Saranac
Valley FarmsSaturday 2:45–4pm
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B E G I N N I N G F A R M E R T R A C KB E G I N N I N G F A R M E R T R A C K
KNOW YOUR INSURANCE, PROTECT YOUR FARM
Your small sustainable farm is a
place of business, so fi nd out why
and how to protect this business
and yourself from a variety of risk
factors. Th is workshop is designed
to provide easy-to-follow-and-im-
plement advice. Learn about crop
insurance, the diff erent catego-
ries of insurance for your farm, and
what questions to ask your insur-
ance agent. Pick up ideas on how
to protect your property better
and help your business grow safely
while containing costs.
Presenter: Bob Bleistein, East-
ern Classic CoverageSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
GUIDING NEW FARMERSTh is discussion among mentors
will develop your personal list of
best practices to use when advising
new farmers who request your help.
Learn about structuring a mentor-
ship, guiding new farmers through
production and business analy-
ses, communication techniques to
try out, and techniques to improve
your impact on new farmers’ confi -
dence and skills. For current Men-
torship Program participants, hosts
of on-farm apprentices, and anyone
who teaches new farmers.
Presenters: Rachel Schell-Lam-
bert, NOFA-NY, Sarah Williford,
Holistic Management Internation-
al, and Claudia Kenny and Willy
Denner, Little Seed GardensSunday 8–9:15am
COOPERATIVE FARMING IDEAS
Cooperative farming has the
power to ease certain challenges
that come with starting farm busi-
nesses. Learn how some farmers
have found ways to combine their
enterprises, pool capital, purchase
land together, share equipment,
and otherwise collaborate to man-
age land and farm businesses. Faith
will report back on her SARE-spon-
sored research work, in which she
maps out the legal, fi nancial, and
social considerations for starting
a cooperative farm. We will share
examples of existing multi-own-
er farms and provide resources for
further support on your coopera-
tive venture.
Presenters: Faith Gi lber t ,
Letterbox Farm Collective, and
Dr. Lynda Brushett, Cooperative
Development InstituteSunday 9:45–11am
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PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF RAW MILK
Learn about all of the steps re-quired to produce high quality raw milk, including proactive on-farm testing. We will also talk about our own approach to marketing.
Presenter: Steff en Schneider, Hawthorne Valley Farm
Saturday 8–9:15am
CATTLE FLY MANAGEMENT USING THE 1, 2, 3’s OF IPM
Fly pests can aff ect animal health, decrease milk produc-tion and weight gain, transmit dis-ease causing agents, reduce grazing time, annoy and irritate animals and more. Who are the usual sum-mer time pest species and what can you do about them? You will learn to correctly identify and manage the most important fl y pests af-fecting cattle in the Northeast us-ing an integrated pest management approach.
Presenter: Keith Waldron, Cor-nell University Extension, NYS In-tegrated Pest Management Program
Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
EXTENDING THE GRAZING SEASON FOR LIVESTOCK
Th is workshop will explain how to set up a pasture grazing rota-tion system that will allow for pas-tures to be grazed into the fall and early winter, which reduces the cost and labor needed to produce hay and other stored feeds. Also learn how to calculate the excess amount of pasture forage needed by live-stock for maintenance during cold-er weather conditions and to size pasture accordingly.
Presenter: Dave Roberts, Natu-ral Resources Conservation Service of NY
Saturday 2:45–4pm
THE UDDER BASICS OF STARTING A SMALL-SCALE DAIRY
After being given an overview on Ashlee and Steven’s experience with starting their farm during the past year, workshop attendees will be in-vited to choose from a number of discussion topics. Options will in-clude infrastructure, breeding, or-ganization and systems, equipment sourcing, pasture management, ho-listic herd health techniques, and mooo-re!
Presenters: Ashlee Kleinham-mer and Steven Googin, North Country Creamery
Saturday 4:15–5:30pm
D A I R Y & G R A Z I N G T R A C KD A I R Y & G R A Z I N G T R A C K
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COWS, CLIMATE AND WHY GRAZING MATTERS
Discussions about climate change tend to focus on the sky, particu-larly on greenhouse gas emissions. In this workshop, we’ll look at cli-mate dynamics from a ground per-spective, specifi cally as it relates to livestock. While livestock are often maligned for their environmental impact, proper management that situates animal behavior in a ho-listic context can play a key role in addressing climate change. We’ll discuss soil carbon, hydrology, bio-diversity, and how new research on climate empowers organic farmers and land managers.
Presenter: Judith Schwartz, author of Cows Save the Planet and Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013)
Sunday 8–9:15am
FLAXSEED & PERENNIAL RYEGRASS FOR IMPROVING MILK FATTY ACIDS AND FORAGE PRODUCTION
It’s well known that fl axseed im-proves the milk content of heart-healthy fatty acids such as omega-3 and CLAs. Perennial ryegrass can also enhance the content of ome-ga-3 and CLAs in cow’s milk. In addition, high quality forage is gen-erally produced with perennial rye-grass, which can increase milk production. Th is workshop will provide information about the po-tential benefi ts and limitations of feeding fl axseed and perennial rye-grass in Northeastern organic dairy farms.
Presenters: Richard Smith and Andre Brito, University of New Hampshire
Sunday 9:45–11am
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NUTS IN NEW YORKParticipants will get an over-
view about growing the wide range
of nut trees adapted for New York
including chestnuts, English and
black walnuts, fi lberts, hickory,
and even pine nuts. We will cover
planting, cultivation, harvesting,
processing, and how to eat these de-
licious crops.
Presenter: Bill MacKentley,
St. Lawrence NurseriesSaturday 8–9:15am
COMMERCIAL ORGANIC ORCHARDS IN NY: Diversifying Your Farm for Late Season Tree Fruit Harvest
Workshop presenters will discuss
a variety of topics to assist farmers
in designing organic apple orchards
to optimize the organic production
practices. Introduction to orchard
preparation, selection of up and
coming commercial apple varieties
with in-depth discussions of dis-
ease resistant apples, pruning and
training systems, the importance
of high yield and fruit size along
with topics on organic disease, in-
sect, pest, and weed management
will be presented. Tasting of select-
ed disease resistant varieties will
bring the presentation to a sweet
and crunchy end.
Presenters: Peter Jentsch,
Cornell Cooperative Extension,
and Dave Rosenberger, Cornell
UniversitySaturday 1:15–2:30pm
GROWING FIGS IN COLD CLIMATES
Th e seductress fi g can be success-
fully grown throughout the North-
east. Learn to site the tree for
optimum ripening, prune, harvest,
and, of course, getting it through
our frigid winters. Figs need just
a bit of help because they are sub-
tropical, not tropical, and are hardy
between 10° and 20°F.
Presenter: Lee Reich, farmer,
gardening consultant, and authorSaturday 2:45–4pm
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PLANTING THE YOUNG APPLE ORCHARD
Th is workshop covers all aspects
of planting and early care for young
trees, including site location, soils,
water and air fl ow drainage consid-
erations, planting depth, and more.
We will also cover cultivar options,
uses for the diff erent types of ap-
ples, how to maintain an orchard
organically, and planting dos and
don’ts.
Presenter: Bill MacKentley,
St. Lawrence NurseriesSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
BRAMBLEICIOUS IDEAS TO INCREASE FARM DIVERSITY
Brambles comprise the raspberry
and blackberry crops many are al-
ready familiar with. Over the past
few years many new varieties and
production techniques have made
growing brambles easier and more
profi table than ever. We will cov-
er basic bramble types, production
techniques, diseases, insects, post-
harvest handling, and marketing in
a nutshell.
Presenter: Mike Biltonen, Red
Jacket OrchardSunday 8–9:15am
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CIDER APPLES: Growers’ Descriptions
Join Finger Lakes orchardists
and cider makers to learn about
all things cider apples! Hear about
what characteristics make a good
cider apple, what varieties they
prefer to use and why, how grow-
ing cider apples can be diff erent
from “normal” orcharding, some of
the challenges and opportunities
of growing cider apples, and how
to connect with cider makers who
might want to use your apples.
Presenters: Autumn Stoscheck,
Eve’s Cidery and Eric Shatt, Redb-
yrd Orchard Cider and Cornell Uni-
versity’s Ithaca Research OrchardSunday 9:45–11am
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G R A I N S & F I E L D C R O P T R A C KG R A I N S & F I E L D C R O P T R A C K
PANCAKES: Field to Griddle!
Freshly ground fl ours from lo-
cally grown grains make fantas-
tic pancakes—the original fast
food! Learn the history and basics
of pancakes and homemade mix-
es, including gluten-free cornmeal
pancakes.
Presenter: Amy Halloran, writer
and grain growerSaturday 8–9:15am
SMALL SCALE RICE PRODUCTION 101
Randall’s Island Park Alliance
in New York City has been grow-
ing rice for 3 years in small exper-
imental and educational plots. We
will describe the process of grow-
ing rice on a small scale from seed-
ing through transplanting, heading
and harvest, in order to encourage
other growers to explore this in-
teresting new grain in the region.
Is rice the next production grain in
the Northeast?
Presenter: Nick Storrs, Randall’s
Island Park AllianceSaturday 1:15–2:30pm
A LOCAL GRAIN RENAISSANCE IN THE NORTHEAST, Part 1: Baking Bread with Local Flour
Just as the myth that good bread
wheat cannot be grown in the
Northeast has been debunked, so
too has the myth that bakers can-
not bake good bread using local
fl our. Join us for a screening of the
GrowNYC and OGRIN produced
video A Local Grain Renaissance in
the Northeast, Part 2: Baking Bread
with Local Flour. Th e video will be
followed by a panel discussion.
Presenters: June Russell,
GrowNYC, and Stefan Senders,
Wide Awake BakerySaturday 2:45–4pm
A LOCAL GRAIN RENAISSANCE IN THE NORTHEAST, Part 2: Into the Dough
Building on the conversation
from the earlier workshop entitled
“Baking bread with Local Flour,”
join us for this hands-on baking
demonstration. We will demon-
strate some of the key elements of
quality bread making. Learn to see
and feel stages of dough develop-
ment and begin learning important
hand skills. Taste the results in the
wonderful breads from the Wide
Awake Bakery in Trumansburg,
New York made using local fl our
from Farmer Ground Flour.
Presenter: Stefan Senders, Wide
Awake BakerySaturday 4:15–5:30pm
Workshops continue on page 27
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Att endees
Adult #1 Name _____________________________________________________________
Adult #2 Name _____________________________________________________________
Child #1 Name _________________________________ Age at Conf.: ______________
Child #2 Name _________________________________ Age at Conf.: ______________
Child #3 Name _________________________________ Age at Conf.: ______________
Farm/Company Name ______________________________________________________
Which best describes you: Farmer Consumer Gardener Business Owner
Billing Address ____________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________________
County ________________________ Phone _____________________________________
Email ____________________________________________________________________
2014 WINTER CONFERENCEPreserving the Past, Seeding the Future
Pre-Registration Form: Postmark by January 15th!Visit www.nofanyconference.org to register online.
Pre-Registration Deadline: January 15, 2014Registration includes breakfast and lunch. Dinners are available for $16 each.
Adult #1 Adult #2
Full Conference (Friday–Sunday) $275 $275
Friday: Full Day $130 $130Friday: Morning $ 80 $ 80Friday: Afternoon $ 70 $ 70
Friday: Free Intro to Certifi cation $ 0 $ 0
Friday: Dinner $ 16 $ 16
Saturday: Full Day $110 $110
Saturday: Dinner $ 16 $ 16
Sunday: Full Day $ 80 $ 80
Organic Certifi cation Application Packet $ 53 $ 53
TOTAL INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONS $ $
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS ADULT #1 + ADULT #2 $
Adult #1 – Friday Workshop Selections: am pm
Adult #2 – Friday Workshop Selections: am pm
Students receive a 20% discount off the cost of registration for groups of 3 or more.
Not subject to Early Bird Discount. Valid Student ID required. To apply, contact
Stephanie at 585-271-1979, ext. 509.
Children’s Conference & ChildcareChildren ages 6–12 (at the time of the conference) may attend the children’s conference. Children ages 3–5 (at the time of the conference) may attend childcare. Registration for children’s programming is fi rst come, fi rst serve and is not guaranteed. You MUST PRE-REGISTER for children’s programming; we cannot accept walk-in registrations.
Child #1 Child #2 Child #3Full Conference (Friday–Sunday) $125 $125 $125Friday $ 50 $ 50 $ 50
Friday: Dinner* (5 and under eat free) $ 16 $ 16 $ 16Saturday $ 50 $ 50 $ 50
Saturday: Dinner* (5 and under eat free) $ 16 $ 16 $ 16Sunday $ 50 $ 50 $ 50
TOTAL INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONS $ $ $
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS (Child #1 + #2 + #3) $
Volunteer Opportunities Yes! I would like to volunteer at the 2014 NOFA-NY Winter Conference.
Please contact me.
Cancellation and Refund PolicyRefunds requested prior to January 15th will be charged a $25 processing fee. No refunds after January 15th. Sorry, no exceptions.
TotalsCombined Adult Registration Total: $
Combined Child Registration Total: $
NOFA-NY Membership Donation: $
Donation to the Farmer Education Fund: $
Donation to the Josh Levine Memorial Scholarship Fund: $
Early Bird Discount (−$10 per Adult: Dec.13th Deadline) $(–)
TOTAL ENCLOSED $
Pre-Registration Form: Must be postmarked by January 15th! After January 15, adult walk-in registrations will be accepted at the conference.
Additional fees will apply.
Please make checks payable Credit Card Information (MasterCard/VISA only)to NOFA-NY.Submit form and payment to: Card #
NOFA-NYAttn: Conference Registration
Expiration Date: _____ / _______ CCID# _______
249 Highland AvenueRochester, NY 14620 Signature
For questions, please call Date (585) 271-1979, ext. 509.
MembershipYour membership donation directly supports NOFA-NY programs and services. Please choose a membership level that is meaningful and aff ordable to you.
$50 $75 $100 $250 $500 Other $ ______________________
At the $75 level, get your FREE NOFA-NY hat. At the $100 level or above, get two FREE NOFA-NY hats. All membership donations entitle you to our two quarterly publications, New York Organic News magazine and Th e Natural Farmer, and our 2014 Food & Farm Guide.
27www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
Workshops continued from page 24 G R A I N S & F I E L D C R O P T R A C KG R A I N S & F I E L D C R O P T R A C K
ROTATIONS FOR A QUALITY GRAIN FARM
Th is workshop will explore or-
ganic disease management prac-
tices and crop rotations essential
for producing quality food-grade
grain crops in the Northeast. Grain
farming is like rocket science if you
plan on success in the changing cli-
mate and specialty markets which
demand perfection. From seed to
weeds, and grains to bread, this
is the whole grain primer for be-
ginning farmers and experienced
growers hoping to improve their
farm plan for the future.
Presenter: T hor Oeschner,
Oechsner Farms, Farmer Ground
Flour, and Wide Awake Bakery Sunday 8–9:15am
GR
AIN
S &
FIE
LD
CR
OP
SG
RA
INS
& F
IEL
D C
RO
PS
HIGH PERFORMANCE COVER CROPS
Cover crops can greatly benefi t
your soil and crops, but only if they
reach their full potential. In this
workshop we will explore optimum
planting and termination dates
for legume and non-legume cover
crops. We will also discuss nitrogen
tie-up, pests, weeds, and other as-
pects of using cover crops.
Presenter: Brian Caldwell, Cor-
nell Organic Cropping Systems
ProjectSunday 9:45–11am
28 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
G A R D E N I N G & H O M E S T E A D I N G T R A C KG A R D E N I N G & H O M E S T E A D I N G T R A C K
HERBS FOR THE WINTER BLUES
Herbs can gladden the heart and
boost the spirit. Learn about herbs
that relieve the winter blues. Grow
and use some helpful plants!
Presenter: Betty Pillsbury, Green
Spiral Herbs Saturday 8–9:15am
ESPALIER FRUIT PLANTSAn espalier can yield very high-
quality fruit while making a dec-
orative and edible covering for a
fence or a wall. Learn which plants
work best as espaliers and the theo-
ry and practice involved in bending
and pruning branches to train and
maintain the plants.
Presenter: Lee Reich, farmdener,
gardening consultant, and authorSaturday 1:15–2:30pm
YES WE CAN! PRESERVE YOUR HARVEST! Part 1
Using time-honored techniques
of canning, learn the best meth-
ods for preserving the wide vari-
ety of produce you harvest. Getting
hands-on during our session, par-
ticipants will learn the theory and
practice of canning. We will discuss
the nutritional benefi ts of canned
foods as well as how to implement
canning safely.
Presenters: Michaela Hayes,
Crock & Jar, and Angela Davis,
Just Food and NYC Ferments Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
SEEKING QUALITY IN CIDER MAKING
Improve your cider making abil-
ities with this intermediate work-
shop on cider making. After a brief
overview of the basic cider making
practice, we will discuss some fac-
tors that change the quality and
character of the cider produced.
Main topics will be the quality of
cider-appropriate apples, blending
for a well balanced cider, and con-
trolling the fermentation (includ-
ing diff erent yeast strains).
Presenter: Claude Jolicoeur, au-
thor of Th e New Cider Maker’s Hand-
book (Chelsea Green Publishing,
2013)Saturday 2:45–4pm
FERMENT CHANGE! PRESERVE YOUR HARVEST! Part 2
Using time-honored techniques
of fermentation, learn the best
methods for preserving the wide
variety of produce you harvest. Get-
ting hands-on during our session,
participants will learn the theory
and practice of fermenting. We will
discuss the nutritional benefi ts of
fermented foods as well as how to
implement fermentation safely.
Presenters: Michaela Hayes,
Crock & Jar, and Angela Davis,
Just Food and NYC Ferments Saturday 2:45–4pm
GA
RD
EN
ING
& H
OM
ES
TE
AD
ING
GA
RD
EN
ING
& H
OM
ES
TE
AD
ING
29www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
G A R D E N I N G & H O M E S T E A D I N G T R A C KG A R D E N I N G & H O M E S T E A D I N G T R A C K
TEACHING A SCIENCE CURRICULUM IN A SCHOOL GARDEN: A Worthy Challenge
We’ll discuss the joys and pitfalls
of working with 7th grade science
students in a garden. Th is workshop
will take you through the logistics
of covering the New York State sci-
ence curriculum, while maintaining
a 6,000 square foot vegetable gar-
den that provides food to the cafe-
teria. Participants will be presented
with some challenges to explore in-
cluding how to involve students in
controlled experiments when most
crops aren’t harvested until the
summer.
Presenter: Wayne Gottlieb, sci-
ence teacher and gardener at Dewitt
Middle SchoolSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
THE ESSENTIAL SMALL FARM GREENHOUSE
Build your own greenhouse for
under $300! Th is 10' x 20' green-
house is simple to build. Two peo-
ple can move it by hand, and it can
be used alone or in tandem for more
growing area. Th is workshop will
provide greenhouse plans as well
as 15 years of experience using this
greenhouse for plant propagation,
season extension, and even raising
chickens.
Presenter: Eric de Long, farmer
in Greene County, New York Sunday 8–9:15am
GA
RD
EN
ING
& H
OM
ES
TE
AD
ING
GA
RD
EN
ING
& H
OM
ES
TE
AD
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THE RESILIENT AND REGENERATIVE FARM AND HOMESTEAD
Using images and illustrations,
the workshop will provide a visu-
al tour of the primary principles
and their application in establish-
ing and operating a high diversi-
ty, nutrient-dense food, medicine,
and fuel-producing homestead and
small farm. Aspects covered in-
clude rapid fuelwood production
in hedgerows, integrating grazing
with perennial woody crops, wood
and compost-heated hot water,
rice paddy construction and man-
agement, ducks, sheep and peren-
nial crop integration, earthworks
for drought, fl ood prevention and
much more.
Presenter: Ben Falk, homestead-
er and author of Th e Resilient Farm
and Homestead, (Chelsea Green Pub-
lishing, 2013) Sunday 9:45–11am
30 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
L I V E S T O C K T R A C KL I V E S T O C K T R A C K
DRAFT ANIMAL POWER: From Homestead to Megafarm
See and hear about all the diff er-
ent uses for these incredible work
partners on your homestead or
farm. Ask questions about training,
keeping, and working with draft
animals.
Presenter: Donn Hewes, North-
land Sheep DairySaturday 8–9:15am
MEAT YIELDS AND MARKETING
Th is workshop will provide an in
depth discussion of meat yields for
all red meat. Learn the basics for
optimizing your meat yields and
participate in a conversation about
current market trends and market-
ing options.
Presenter: Richard Beckwith,
Hilltown Pork Inc.Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
DIVERSIFIED DAIRY CSA: Benefi ts and Challenges to Alternative CSA Models
Th e presenter will discuss the
various iterations of a diversi-
fi ed CSA that her farm has gone
through over the past three years.
Th e CSA includes dairy (raw milk,
cheese, butter, buttermilk, whey),
eggs, bread, and beef. Challenges
and benefi ts of the diff erent models
will be covered.
Presenter: Suzy Konecky, Crick-
et Creek FarmSaturday 2:45–4pm
LIV
ES
TO
CK
LIV
ES
TO
CK
31www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
L I V E S T O C K T R A C KL I V E S T O C K T R A C K
LIV
ES
TO
CK
LIV
ES
TO
CK
100% GRASS FED BEEF: Low Cost Inputs for High Quality Finish
Understand and produce high
quality, in demand, 100% grass fed
beef. It all starts with the pasture.
Th e workshop topics will cover MIG
(managed intensive grazing), sal-
ad bar grass production, holistic
health care, AI breeding, calving,
pasture improvement, high ten-
sile wire fencing, organic-approved
mineral supplements, and fall and
winter feeding.
Presenter: Steven Rockcastle,
Blue Heron GrowersSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
ADVANCES IN ON-FARM POULTRY BREEDING
Th is workshop will provide a de-
scription of our poultry breeding
experience and a platform for dis-
cussing others’ experiences. We will
cover small-scale breeding, incubat-
ing, and hatching chickens, ducks,
and turkeys.
Presenters: Karma and Michael
Glos, Kingbird FarmSunday 8–9:15am
SMALL SCALE PIG BREEDINGWe will cover our hog breeding
programs from boar selection to
weaning piglets. We will delve spe-
cifi cally into the economics of or-
ganic sow management.
Presenters: Karma and Michael
Glos, Kingbird Farm Sunday 9:45–11am
32 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
M A R K E T I N G & B U S I N E S S T R A C KM A R K E T I N G & B U S I N E S S T R A C K
REGIONAL SOURCING FOR URBAN MARKETS: Snail of Approval & Producer Matrix
Slow Food NYC will describe how
its Snail of Approval & Produc-
er Matrix drives regional producer
sales in the New York City market.
Learn how to become a Producer
Matrix farmer and get introduced
to NYC Snail of Approval buyers.
Presenter: Anthony Fassio, Slow
Food NYCSaturday 8–9:15am
NEGOTIATION MAKES IT HAPPEN!
Organic farmers experience a
number of unique challenges, and
often experience barriers to land
and credit. While there is a grow-
ing fi eld of advisers, resources, and
technical advice available, the abil-
ity to negotiate and form collabor-
ative partnerships is the common
denominator to success in accessing
credit and land ownership. Skills
and resources to facilitate clear
communication, interest based
negotiation, collaborative prob-
lem solving, consensus building,
and confl ict management are what
NYSAMP brings to the table.
Presenter: Charlotte Carter,
NYSAMPSaturday 1:15–2:30pm
JUSTICE FOR FARMWORKERS! AND HOW ABOUT FARMERS TOO?
For years, farmworkers and ad-
vocates in New York State have
been trying to pass the Farmworker
Fair Labor Practices Act. NOFA-NY
members support the central de-
mand—freedom of association.
How can we make this bill a win for
family-scale organic farmers as well
as farmworkers? We will review re-
sults from NOFA-NY’s farmer sur-
vey. Come join the discussion.
Presenter: Elizabeth Hender-
son, co-founder of Peacework Or-
ganic CSA and co-chair of NOFA-NY
Policy CommitteeSaturday 2:45–4pm
MA
RK
ET
ING
& B
US
INE
SS
MA
RK
ET
ING
& B
US
INE
SS
33www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
M A R K E T I N G & B U S I N E S S T R A C KM A R K E T I N G & B U S I N E S S T R A C K
MAY ALL BE FED: A Unique Farm to Food Pantry Model
Food pantries and soup kitch-
ens are more than just donation
sites for your excess harvest. In this
workshop, we will provide a thor-
ough overview of Local Produce
Link. LPL is a unique Farm to Food
Pantry model of sourcing cultural-
ly-appropriate, locally-grown food
to emergency food relief organiza-
tions in New York City. Workshop
presenters will discuss how this
program benefi ts food pantry cli-
ents, how partnerships with at-risk
populations benefi t New York State
farmers, and how education can
benefi t both the recipients of local
produce as well as those that pro-
duce it.
Presenters: Rachelle Faroul,
Just Food, and Katie Sheehan-Lo-
pez, United Way NYC Saturday 4:15–5:30pm
DOING BUSINESS AS. . . Choosing a Business Structure for Your Farm
In this workshop, we will explore
the various options for structur-
ing a farm business, including sole
proprietorship, partnership, cor-
poration, and LLC. Participants
will gain an understanding of the
strengths and weaknesses of each
entity type so they can make a more
informed decision about structur-
ing their farm business.
Presenter: Elizabeth Lappin,
GrowNYC Sunday 8–9:15am
PROFITABILITY OF THE PAPER POT TRANSPLANTER ON A SMALL VEGETABLE FARM
Th e paper pot transplanter—it
looks cool, but is it a practical tool
for small scale vegetable farms?
Th is nifty tool quickly puts lit-
tle plants into the ground in spe-
cial paper pots that are linked
together. Learn about the benefi ts
and downfalls of the transplant-
er, what fi ve test crops were prof-
itable, and potential future uses of
the transplanter.
Presenters: Matthew Glenn and
Liz Martin, Muddy Fingers FarmSunday 9:45–11am
MA
RK
ET
ING
& B
US
INE
SS
MA
RK
ET
ING
& B
US
INE
SS
34 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
N Y S E N T E R P R I S E S T R A C KN Y S E N T E R P R I S E S T R A C K
AGRICULTURALLY PRODUCTIVE BUFFERS: Agroforestry Strategies for Riverlands and Beyond
Agriculturally productive buff ers
(APBs) are an emerging agroforest-
ry option for vulnerable river lands
in the Northeast. APBs combine
crop production, conservation, and
fl ood resilience into a single man-
agement strategy. Th is workshop
will provide an overview of ecolog-
ical functions, crop systems, and
planning and economic consider-
ations for productive riparian buf-
fers. We will also discuss the use of
productive buff ers as an agroforest-
ry strategy elsewhere in the work-
ing landscape.
Presenter: Connor Stedman,
ecological designer and agroforest-
er based in southern Vermont and
co-organizer of the Carbon Farm-
ing CourseSaturday 8–9:15am
DROUGHT AND FLOOD-PROOFING THE FARM
Th is workshop will provide an
overview of the primary strate-
gies for decreasing one’s vulnera-
bility to problematic inundation
and drought. We will cover tech-
niques for handling major precipita-
tion events and for extending these
events to help a farm resist acute
drying when the rains stop. Th ese
include ponds, swales, hugelculture,
perennial crop and shade integra-
tion, among other strategies.
Presenter: Ben Falk, homestead-
er and author of Th e Resilient Farm
and Homestead, (Chelsea Green
Press, 2013) Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
FARMING WITH ROCKSDo you suff er from soil envy? Is
your farm lined by far too many
stone walls? Are rocks and pebbles
your best crops? If so, come to this
support group for those suff ering
from PRSS (Poor Rocky Soil Syn-
drome). We will share stories and
ideas on how to farm with this ter-
rible affl iction.
Presenter: Eric de Long, farmer
in Greene County, New York Saturday 2:45–4pm
BOUQUET MAKING BASICS: Floral Design 101 for New Flower Growers
Seasoned fl ower farmers and fl o-
ral designers will share how re-
warding and lucrative working
with local fl owers can be. If you’re
new to growing fl owers, chances
are you’ll pick up the growing tech-
niques; however, making market-
ing bouquets takes some know-how
and creativity. Learn tips on ba-
sic bouquet making and fl oral de-
sign including styles, materials, and
resources.
Presenters: Molly Culver, Youth
Farm and Molly Oliver Flowers, and
Deborah Grieg, East New York
Farms! and Molly Oliver Flowers Saturday 4:15–5:30pm
OT
HE
R N
EW
YO
RK
EN
TE
RP
RIS
ES
OT
HE
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EW
YO
RK
EN
TE
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RIS
ES
35www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
N Y S E N T E R P R I S E S T R A C KN Y S E N T E R P R I S E S T R A C K
SUGARING 101: Why Every Farm Should Have a Sugaring Operation Even if You Don’t Have Maple Trees
Th is workshop will explore the
benefi ts of developing a maple sug-
aring operation and off er ideas for
expanding existing sugaring opera-
tions. You will learn about the eco-
nomics of sugaring and marketing
opportunities with maple, birch,
and walnut sap. Several examples of
community-based sugaring models
will be covered to demonstrate how
you can work with others to develop
a sugaring operation through buying
sap, boiling it on shares, or leasing
other’s trees for tapping. If you don’t
already have a sugaring operation,
by the end of this workshop you’ll be
making plans to buy your fi rst evap-
orator, and if you are already sug-
aring, you will be well equipped to
expand your production and sales.
Presenter: Michael Farrell, Cor-
nell University’s Sugar Maple Re-
search & Education Center Sunday 8–9:15am
SUGARING 102: Tips and Tricks for Developing an Enjoyable, Productive, and Profi table Sugaring Operation
You already have a sugaring op-
eration. Now it’s time to focus on
the nuts and bolts of modern syr-
up production. Th is workshop will
highlight the most effi cient and ef-
fective technologies and techniques
that will help you save time, money,
fuel, and frustration as you gather
sap and process it into syrup. If you
would like some new ideas to en-
hance your existing operation, this
workshop is for you.
Presenter: Michael Farrell, Cor-
nell University’s Sugar Maple Re-
search & Education Center Sunday 9:45–11am
OT
HE
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EW
YO
RK
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TE
RP
RIS
ES
OT
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36 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
P O L I C Y & C O M M U N I T Y T R A C KP O L I C Y & C O M M U N I T Y T R A C K
WHERE DO WE STAND WITH FDA’S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS?
With the Food & Drug Admin-
istration (FDA) now in the fi nal
rule-making phase for the nation-
al food safety regulations, there is
much that farmers and supporters
of localized food systems need to
know and prepare for. Th is interac-
tive workshop takes a proactive ap-
proach toward better protecting our
farms and positioning ourselves to
take the next steps.
Presenter: Steve Gilman, NOFA-
Interstate CouncilSaturday 8–9:15am
CLOSE THE LOOP! Food Scrap Collection, Composting and Rotstar Training
We will present an overview of
how the Close the Loop VT! food
scrap composting program was de-
veloped, the program’s role in im-
plementing Vermont’s new law
banning all organic materials from
landfi lls by 2017, and how to train
communities to implement com-
posting programs.
Presenters: Grace Gershuny,
Green Mountain College and High-
fi elds Center for Composting, and
Tyler Buswell, Highfi elds Center
for CompostingSaturday 1:15–2:30pm
A FARM BILL: For All of UsWe will go over a brief history and
lively discussion about the Farm
Bill and how and why the Supple-
mental Nutrition Assistance Pro-
gram (SNAP) is and should continue
to be a part of it. What’s the polit-
ical landscape, and what you need
to know to get engaged to change
the Farm Bill to better support or-
ganic, sustainable, diversifi ed farm-
ing, reduce the grip of agribusiness,
promote healthy foods and fami-
ly farmers, and sustain emergency
food programs.
Presenters: Liana Hoodes, Na-
tional Organic Coalition, and Mark
Dunlea, Hunger Action Network of
NY Saturday 2:45–4pm
PO
LIC
Y &
CO
MM
UN
ITY
PO
LIC
Y &
CO
MM
UN
ITY
37www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
P O L I C Y & C O M M U N I T Y T R A C KP O L I C Y & C O M M U N I T Y T R A C K
SEEDS AND BREEDS: Th e State of Classical Breeding in a GMO World
Organic farming is dependent on
diverse, locally-adapted seed and
livestock varieties, yet most pub-
lic and private funding for breeding
in recent decades has been for ge-
netic engineering. Th e state of pub-
lic varieties is in disarray and has
an eff ect on seed and breed avail-
ability. Learn how seeds are adapt-
ed to local conditions and changing
climates, the importance of locally-
adapted varieties to our local food
supply and continuing diversity in
the marketplace, the knowledge
and resources needed for public cul-
tivar development, and the status
and funding of non-GE breeding in
our public institutions.
Presenters: Liana Hoodes, Na-
tional Organic Coalition, and
Michael Mazourek, Cornell
UniversitySaturday 4:15–5:30pm
JUST LABEL IT! NYS Campaign to Pass GMO Labeling Legislation
Help NOFA-NY and the NYS
GMO Labeling Coalition pass leg-
islation this year! We’ll present up-
dates on actions so far, background
on the successful campaigns by
NOFA chapters in CT and VT, and
a draft plan of action. Bring your
ideas for how we can pass a bill this
year. Prepare to roll up your sleeves
and sign up for action!
Presenters: Elizabeth Hen-
derson, co-founder of Peace-
work Organic CSA and co-chair of
NOFA-NY Policy Committee, and
Danielle Pinkerton, lead orga-
nizer for the Rochester chapter, NY
March Against MonsantoSunday 8–9:15am
NOFA-NY’S FARMER’S PLEDGE
Th e Farmer’s Pledge was created
by the NOFA-NY Board and mem-
ber-farmers in 2002 as a means for
farmers to describe their sustain-
able growing practices for the con-
sumer. Each year, farmers are asked
to evaluate the stated principles
and make recommendations to the
Pledge. If you’re interested in learn-
ing more about this program and
how it might benefi t your farm, or
if you’re already a Farmer’s Pledge
farm and would like to contribute
to the program’s evolution, join us
for this annual workshop on our
Farmer’s Pledge program.
Presenter: TBDSunday 9:45–11am
PO
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38 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
U R B A N F A R M I N G T R A C KU R B A N F A R M I N G T R A C K
SUCCESS ON THE GROUNDHit the ground running before
the fi rst seed is planted, wheth-
er planning an urban farm plot
or community garden. Learn how
to establish your organization’s
framework, form community alli-
ances, forge partnerships, connect
diverse constituencies, and commu-
nicate your success.
Presenter: Annette Nielsen,
food writer and sustainable com-
munity activistSaturday 8–9:15am
CREATING A COMPOST-HEATED GREENHOUSE IN THE CITY
Grow your own healthy seedlings
in an urban environment. We’ll re-
view the ins and outs of creating a
low-cost, off -grid greenhouse, heat-
ed by the power of composting ur-
ban waste stream materials. We
will go over the methods and re-
sults from a 2012–2013 SARE proj-
ect to study the feasibility and
eff ectiveness of a small-sized com-
post-heated greenhouse for both
winter vegetables and spring seed-
lings, and to provide tools for an ur-
ban farm to be more self-suffi cient.
We will also address particular ur-
ban growing issues for a greenhouse
such as utilities access, communi-
ty participation, vandalism, and
transportation of materials.
Presenter: Jesica Clark, South
Pine Street City Farm Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
UR
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39www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
U R B A N F A R M I N G T R A C KU R B A N F A R M I N G T R A C K
LOTS OF FOOD: Feeding Folks with Urban Food Forests
Got shade? How about urban
wildlife? Permaculture, a design
science rooted in natural systems,
informs us of how to plan produc-
tive perennial food forests that will
feed sub/urban dwellers in even the
most challenging environments.
Learn polyculture design basics
and advanced problem prevention
and solving to increase the biodi-
versity, health, and productivity
of your sub/urban garden or farm
while discovering some new foods,
regenerating the environment, and
reducing your workload.
Presenter: Patty Love, Barefoot
Edible Landscape and Permacul-
ture, and Lots of Food Saturday 2:45–4pm
FINANCES OF FARMING, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY
In this workshop we will dis-
cuss the important fi nancial met-
rics in farming including startup
costs, production, yields, sales,
and expenses. From experience in
space-limited environments like
rooftops and city lots, these lessons
can be translated into any space.
Learn how to assess a farm’s poten-
tial, quantify the value of diff erent
crops, set goals, and achieve them.
Presenter: Ben Flanner, Brook-
lyn Grange Rooftop FarmSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
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EMPOWERING YOUTH IN URBAN FARMING
A panel of adult and youth lead-
ers from two youth-in-urban-agri-
culture organizations will present
their fi ndings and experiences. We
will address core programming de-
tails that enable youth leader-
ship, what makes urban farming
programs exciting to youth, and
through discussion try to tackle
some of the biggest challenges to
engaging youth in urban farming.
Presenters: Maggie Cheney,
EcoStation: NY and Bushwick Cam-
pus Farm, and Erika Symmonds,
Green City ForceSunday 8–9:15am
GROWING URBAN SOIL FOR FOOD PRODUCTION
Focus on the soil, and the rest of
the urban farm can grow. Buff alo’s
Massachusetts Avenue Project’s ur-
ban farm has spent 10 years turn-
ing vacant, nutrient-dead city land
into a farm capable of intensive,
healthy organic food production.
Learn how MAP has created quality
soil to support the farm’s diff erent
elements of agriculture. Th is work-
shop will explore the urban farm
system including home grown com-
post, worms, chickens, fi sh farms,
crop rotation, youth employees, and
volunteers.
Presenter: Jesse Meeder, Massa-
chusetts Avenue ProjectSunday 9:45–11am
40 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
V E G E T A B L E T R A C KV E G E T A B L E T R A C K
NO-TILL, NO-HERBICIDE PLANTING OF SPRING VEGETABLES USING WINTER KILLED COVER CROPS
We all know the advantages of
no-till for soil health. But organ-
ic no-till using cover crops like
rye tends to exacerbate problems
with cold soils in early spring. Th is
workshop will explore recent re-
search in Maryland and Pennsylva-
nia where we have seeded directly
into low residue, winter killed cov-
er crops that leave a friable, weed-
free seedbed in spring. Th is
experimental system will elimi-
nate the need for spring tillage,
speed soil warming in spring, and
benefi t farmers economically while
providing the environmental bene-
fi ts that good cover crops can off er
including nutrient capture and cy-
cling, erosion prevention, and soil
compaction alleviation. Hear the
experiences of farmers from the
past two years.
Presenters: Tianna DuPont,
Penn State Extension, and Nicole
Shelly, Gottschell FarmSaturday 8–9:15am
MANAGING INSECTS AND INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE FOR ORGANIC POTATO PRODUCTION
We will discuss management op-
tions for Colorado potato beetle
and potato leafhopper in organ-
ic potatoes. Pest biology, cultural
practices, allowed insecticides, and
managing insecticide resistance in
Colorado potato beetles will be the
primary topics covered.
Presenters: Abby Seaman, Cor-
nell IPM, and Mitchell Baker,
entomologist Saturday 2:45–4pm
GROWING BETTER MELONS, SUMMER SQUASH, AND CUCUMBERS
Growing organic cucurbits—spe-
cifi cally melons, summer squash,
and cucumbers—can be a chal-
lenging endeavor. Hear about best
management practices for getting
your crops through the onslaught
of insects and eventual disease that
threaten the potential of bounti-
ful and delicious harvests. Results
of trials of dozens of diff erent cul-
tivars will help growers select vari-
eties that will fi t into their growing
and marketing systems. Share your
knowledge from your own experi-
ences and help guide future trial-
ing and breeding to meet grower’s
needs.
Presenter: Michael Glos, Cornell
Horticulture ProgramSaturday 4:15–5:30pm
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41www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
V E G E T A B L E T R A C KV E G E T A B L E T R A C K
ADVANCED SEED SAVING: Biennials
Saving seed in the Northeast can
be a challenge, particularly for bi-
ennial crops. Come learn the fun-
damentals of planting, selecting,
storing, and saving seed of common
biennials from onions to cabbage,
kale to carrots. Expect to come
away with understanding, inspira-
tion, and an expanded seed saving
confi dence.
Presenters: Petra Page-Mann
and Matthew Goldfarb, Fruition
SeedsSunday 8–9:15am
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GROW TOMATOES AND POTATOES DESPITE THE BLIGHT
Th is devastating disease has been
occurring more, especially on toma-
toes, because new pathogen strains
are more aggressive and more toler-
ant of summer temperatures . Th e
goal of this workshop is to enable
farmers to optimize management
of late blight by combining knowl-
edge from research with farmer
experience. Following the presen-
tations from a research-extension
perspective, farmers will be asked
to share their experiences with late
blight to start a discussion where
attendees will be encouraged to
comment about their successes and
failures managing late blight with
copper, biofungicides, and resistant
varieties, and utility of monitoring
information on the Decision Sup-
port System at the USABlight.org
site.
Presenters: Meg McGrath, Cor-
nell University, and Abby Seaman,
Cornell IPMSunday 9:45–11am
MAXIMIZE NEW FARM GREENHOUSE SPACE: Transplants and More
Join us for a discussion about all
aspects of getting your green houses
and high tunnels up and going in
the context of larger start-up farm
planning and infrastructure devel-
opment. Th is workshop will cover
the basics of growing organic trans-
plants, as well as how to best use
your greenhouse spaces after the
starts get in the ground.
Presenter: Jamie Edelstein,
Wyllie Fox Farm, NOFA-NY Board
of Directors Saturday 1:15–2:30pm
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42 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
Friday
SAND PAINTING MANDALASWho are we? Who do we want to
be? We’ll warm up with games and
yoga, and get comfortable with each
other. We will be led in creating
sand painting mandalas as a way to
express our hopes and dreams for
ourselves. Sarah is a trained yoga
teacher and shamanic practitioner
in the Jaguar Path tradition.
Presenter: Sarah van Leer, home
gardener Friday 9:00am–12:15pm
Lunch Parents will need to pick up their
children promptly at 12:15pm; no
children’s programming or childcare will
be off ered during lunch.
C H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R EC H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R E
MINERAL SPRINGS TASTING TOUR
We’ll head over to the Sarato-
ga Spa State Park for a guided tour.
We’ll taste the mineral springs,
learn about geology, discover the
folklore of Saratoga Springs, and
practice our map reading skills.
Please bring a small backpack and
come dressed in warm layers and
skid-proof boots for this icy out-
doors experience. Parents: you’ll
need to drop off and pick up your
child(ren) at Park headquarters at the
State Park (you are also welcome to
join us if you wish to). Maps, direc-
tions, and carpool arrangements
will be available in the morning.
Latecomers please check with regis-
tration before joining us.
Presenter: Alli Schweizer, envi-
ronmental educator Friday 1:05–4:45pm
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FRIDAYFRIDAY
Each year we encourage attendees to bring their children ages 6–12 to at-
tend our special Children’s Conference. Space is limited, so register ear-
ly. Sorry, no walk-in registrations. Children’s Conference Coordinator
Rebekah Rice will be available throughout the conference to keep things
running smoothly. Check out this year’s schedule:
43www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
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C H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R EC H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R E
Saturday
MYTHS AND CREATION STORIES
Myths and creation stories are an
exciting part of our traditions. Join
us as we weave together community
building games with art and story-
telling. You can count on a playful,
magical and creative workshop!
Presenter: Jillian Hirsch, artist,
educator, gardener Saturday 7:55–9:30am
YOUNG FARMER’S CIRCUSParticipants will learn acrobat-
ics, dance, creative movement, and
songs related to themes of land
and food. Th ere will be something
for everyone! We will decorate our-
selves and perform for each other.
Presenters: Leah Penniman and
Jonah Vitale-Wolff , organic farm-
ers, educators, parents, activists Saturday 9:45–11:15am
SATURDAYSATURDAY Lunch Parents will need to pick up their
children promptly at 11:15am; no
children’s programming or childcare will
be off ered during lunch.
HERBALISM 101Herbalism is the study of the me-
dicinal properties of plants, and has
been widely practiced across cul-
tures and throughout history. Join
us for this fascinating introduction
to herbalism where we will learn
how to make traditional salves,
tinctures and teas.
Presenter: Jenn Baumstein,
community engagement organizer,
herbalist, writerSaturday 1:10–2:30pm
44 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
Sunday
SEED PACKET ART Have you ever looked at how
diff erently seeds are packaged in
nature? We’ll look at lots of seed
heads and pods, clean up the ones
we want to save, and create our
own seed packet art using collage
and paints.
Presenter: Rebekah Rice, Nine
Mile Farm, artistSunday 7:45–9:30am
PANCAKES FOR BRUNCH!We’ll use a bicycle mill to grind
locally grown grains, mix up
some batter, heat up the griddle,
and have a feast. Amy loves and
writes about grains of all sorts,
and Howard grows grain in Troy
and enjoys inventing new equip-
ment for community use.
Presenters: Amy Halloran,
writer, and Howard Stoner, ur-
ban farmer Sunday 9:30–11am
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C H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R EC H I L D R E N ' S C O N F E R E N C E & C H I L D C A R E
FOOD SCULPTUREMake and photograph a food
sculpture with multimedia story-
teller and food artist Ellie Markov-
itz. We’ll make delicious smoothies,
too! Ellie created Troy’s StoryHar-
vest and StoryCooking.com in order
to work with food literacy, which is
her true passion.
Presenter: Ellie Markovitz, mul-
timedia storyteller, food artist Saturday 2:30–4pm
TELLING OUR STORIES IN SONG AND MOVEMENT
We’ll wrap up the day by tell-
ing our stories through song and
movement and by creating a song
together in this songwriting work-
shop. Cathy is a long-time singer
songwriter who does workshops in
camps, libraries, and schools.
P re s e nte r : C at hy W i nte r,
songwriter Saturday 4–5:30pm
SUNDAYSUNDAY
45www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
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CHILDCAREChild care will be available for youth ages 3–5 and includes many ac-
tivities to keep your young ones engaged and inspired. Th e childcare
program will be led by Linda Stallard, an experienced teacher and af-
terschool leader at the Saratoga Waldorf Schools since 1987. Each day
will include a walk outside and fun inside crafts and activities. Chil-
dren must bring warm outside clothes (boots, snow pants, jackets,
hats, mittens, etc., and an extra change of clothes).
Pre-registration is required, and no childcare services will be
off ered during lunch. Parents should plan to pick up their children
promptly after the morning sessions end, and then again following the
afternoon’s last workshop.
Friday: 8:45am–12:15pm and 1:10–4:35pm
Saturday: 7:50–11:50am and 1:10–5:40pm
Sunday: 7:50–11:15am
WORKING WITH TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
Using lumber milled on his farm
from diff erent types of trees, ar-
chitect John Inman will show us
how to work with traditional ma-
terials in this hands-on workshop.
We’ll experiment with pine, oak,
and black locust planks and fi nd
out for ourselves how the strengths
of these various materials are
diff erent.
Presenter: John Inman, Nine
Mile FarmSunday 11am–12:15pm
Lunch Parents will need to pick up their
children promptly at 12:15pm; no
children’s programming or childcare will
be off ered during lunch.
46 NOFA-NY • 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE www.nofanyconference.org
DRIVINGFrom the South: Take NYS Th ruway (I-87N) to exit 24. Take Adirondack Northway
(I-87) to exit 15. Turn left off exit. At the 5th traffi c light, turn left onto Rock Street. At stop sign turn right onto Maple Ave. Th e Saratoga parking lot is on your right.
From the East: Take Mass. Turnpike-West to NY Th ruway, take exit B-1 (I-90 Bypass) to I-787N for approximately 6 miles to Route 7-W for approximately 2 miles to Adirondack Northway (I-87) for approximately 22 miles to exit 15. Turn left off exit. At the 5th traffi c light, turn left onto Rock Street. At stop sign turn right onto Maple Ave. Th e Saratoga parking lot is on your right.
From the West: Take NYS Th ruway (I-90 East to exit 24). Take Adirondack Northway (I-87N) to exit 15. Take left at exit. At the 5th traffi c light turn left onto Rock Street. At stop sign, turn right onto Maple Ave. Th e Saratoga parking lot is on your right.
From the North: Take Adirondack Northway (I-87S) to exit 15. Take right at exit. At the 4th traffi c light turn left onto Rock Street. At stop sign, turn right onto Maple Ave. Th e Saratoga parking lot is on your right.
HOW TO GET THERETh e Saratoga Hilton534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866888-866-3591 • 518-584-4000 • www.thesaratogahotel.com
Hotel AccommodationsHotel rooms at the Saratoga Hilton
are available at a rate of $100/night, based on double occupancy. To re-ceive this discounted rate, you must identify yourself as a NOFA-NY Conference Attendee. To make a reservation, please visit the Winter Conference Hotel Reservation site at www.nofany.org/hotel and use the
promotional code AKEL or call the Hilton Reservations Department at (888) 866-3596. Rooms go quickly!
Interested in arranging to share a room? We have set up a page on Ride-Buzz.org so that you can arrange your own room shares. Go to http://tinyurl.com/WC2014rideshare.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONAir: Albany International Airport (ALB)
Train: Amtrak off ers direct service to Saratoga Springs. Use discount code X74Q-980 when you call Amtrak at (800) 872-7245 or use www.amtrak.com. Discount is valid for travel 1/21/14–1/29/14.
Bus: Greyhound, Adirondack Trailways and Pine Hill Trailways service Saratoga Springs.
Taxi: Saratoga Central Dispatch (518) 584-2700.
SAVE GAS & MONEYShare a Ride!
Are you concerned about carbon emissions and/or interested in saving a few
bucks? Share a ride! We have set up a page on RideBuzz.org so that you can ar-
range your own ride shares. Go to http://tinyurl.com/WC2014rideshare to arrange
your own ride.
47www.nofanyconference.org PRESERVING THE PAST, SEEDING THE FUTURE
THANKS TO OUR 2014 THANKS TO OUR 2014 WINTER CONFERENCE SPONSORSWINTER CONFERENCE SPONSORSPATRON OF ORGANICSPATRON OF ORGANICS
PLATINUMPLATINUM
GOLDGOLD
SILVERSILVER
An employee-owned company
Downto EarthFARMERS MARKETS- formerly Community Markets
United States Department of AgricultureRisk Management AgencyThis institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Deep GrassDeep GrassNurseryNursery
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