2009 Pre-conference Mini Courses

Morning Mini Courses:
Thursday, January 22, 2009 • 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Afternoon Mini Courses:
Thursday, January 22, 2009 • 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

We are offering 4 half-day mini courses this year, aimed at those looking for targeted, intensive and interactive learning. If you are seeking a chance to explore these topics in depth with leaders in the field, these courses will fit the bill!

The morning courses will appeal to those involved in developing local food systems. They will provide participants with “next-steps” thinking and strategies that can deepen the impacts in their community. Through partnerships with the Babcock Foundation and USDA Risk Management Agency, these three-hour Mini Courses are being offered at a reduced rate of $35.

The afternoon mini courses will appeal to producers ready for some help solving problems with weeds in their vegetable crops or for some help learning how to optimize pasture production. These courses will provide in-depth instruction, plus a “clinic” for solving your in-the-field problems. You’ll get practical information with plenty of hands-on instruction from our expert instructors. The fee for these four-hour Mini Courses is $50.

Note that the morning Mini Courses overlap the last portion of the Short Courses and the afternoon Mini Courses overlap the field trips.

The number of participants in each Mini Course is very limited. Register early to guarantee your place in one of these exceptionally valuable Mini Courses.

Mini Course #1: CFS Communications and Policy

Mini Course #2: CFS Leadership and Advocacy

Mini Course #3: Sustainable Weed Management for Your Vegetable Crops

Mini Course #4: Pasture Management for Grass-Fed Beef

(scroll down for descriptions or click on mini course title of choice)

Mini Course #1
CFS Communications and Policy
(morning)

The work of food policy councils and local food system networks has exploded over the last few years. Groups like yours have impacted the food system by garnering more public resources and attention for a variety of food, nutrition, and agriculture issues. This mini course will focus on effective development and communications of food systems organizing efforts and is led by a food systems author and a regional community food systems organizer. The course is appropriate for those who are just beginning to think about food networks as well as for those whose councils are in their early to mid stages.

Mini Course #2
CFS Leadership and Advocacy
(morning)

How do you gain traction at the grassroots level on issues impacting your food system? What strategies are effective toward getting other people to buy into your perspective on the current state of affairs? There is much advocacy work to be done for sustainable community food systems. Come to this 3 hour mini course to learn how to affect stronger leadership and advocacy in the food policy arena from an attorney and a community development expert who have worked on social justice, food systems and urban and rural issues.

Mini Course #3
Sustainable Weed Management for Your Vegetable Crops
(afternoon)

Tired of having unwanted vegetation eating into your profits? Weeds have been identified by organic growers as their number 1 problem. Instructor Mark Schonbeck’s conference session on weeds was so well-received last year, we’ve decided to expand it to a 4 hour mini course “clinic” so you can get help solving your specific weed problems. With an in-depth presentation on effective organic weed management, including cultural, mechanical and biological weed management, the course will cover identification; prevention techniques; suppression techniques; useful tools; managing seedbanks; and critical timing for weed control. Then participants will be invited to present their most challenging weed problems for group discussion to find best means for control. Be sure to bring your priority weed questions and/or mystery weeds to share. Mark Schonbeck brings years of experience researching weeds, working directly with producers and other weed ecologists to find organic solutions to weeds and pulling a few million weeds in his own fields. Put this experience to work for you and come find the solutions for your weed problems.

Mini Course #4
Pasture Management for Grass-Fed Beef
(afternoon)

Pasture management is fundamental to successfully raising any animal on grass. Thriving pasture leads to healthy cattle, increased weight gain and higher profits. Ron Morrow, a grassfed beef producer himself, has spent 30 years studying and teaching grazing with the University of Missouri, ATTRA, and NRCS. Ron’s also led several trainings for Southern SAWG that have been extremely well-received because of his down to earth methods. Ron's practical approach is encapsulated in this quote, “When people ask me: what kind of pasture should I plant? My common answer is, 'plant only fence posts for the first three years'…" Ah, but there’s more to learn than just what to plant. And what do you plant after year three? You'll gain further insights in this 4 hour mini course as Ron introduces the basics of pasture management covering: grazing systems; pasture diagnosis; forages; managing fertility; weed and brush control; water; fences; and management intensive grazing. This mini course will also include a “clinic” to help participants solve their specific pasture management issues. Be sure to bring your questions, pictures, or samples for the one hour practical problem-solving exercise at the end of the course.