Wednesday, Jan. 21
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
         through
Thursday, Jan. 22
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

This year’s five intensive Short Courses have been expanded to 1.5 days of training to better serve your needs. These Short Courses are in-depth learning opportunities for those looking to start or expand a farming venture. Each short course is designed to give you the knowledge you need to be successful with your farming operation. Our veteran instructors have a wealth of practical experience and will provide, in detail, critical information based on their years of experience. This is your chance to learn from some of the best in the field.

Short Course #1
Start-Up Organic Vegetable Production & Marketing
Instructors:
Cathy Jones, Perry-winkle Farm (NC) and
Ken Dawson, Maple Spring Gardens (NC)

Short Course #2
Hoophouse Production and Marketing
Instructors:
Alison and Paul Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm (KY)

Short Course #3
Cut Flower Production and Marketing
Instructors:
Dave Dowling, Farmhouse Flowers and Plants (MD) and
Mark Cain, Dripping Springs Garden (AR)

Short Course #4
Meat Goat Production and Marketing
Instructors:
An Peischel, Tennesee State University (TN) and
Bill Legg, Legg Land and Livestock (TN)

Short Course #5
Pricing & Profits: Making the Right Financial Decisions for Small-Scale Farmers
Instructors:
Jim Munsch (WI) and
Alex Hitt (NC)

Click here to learn more about these Short Courses.

Morning
Mini Courses:
Thursday, Jan. 22
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Afternoon
Mini Courses:
Thursday, Jan. 22
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For those who learn best by getting out in the field, we offer five excellent field trips this year. Field trip participants will travel on comfortable motor coaches equipped with restrooms (no private vehicles permitted).

Field Trip #1
Organic Livestock, Vegetables and Row Crops
Riverview Farms

Field Trip #2
Diversified Sustainable Livestock
Sequatchie Cove Farm

Field Trip #3
Diversified Sustainable Vegetables and Fruits
Sequatchie Cove Farm

Field Trip #4
Organic Vegetable, Fruits and Plants
Crabtree Farms

Field Trip #5
Community Food Initiatives
Crabtree Farms and Greenlife Grocery

Click here to learn more about these Field Trips.

Each of the nine 20-minute videos in Southern SAWG’s Natural Farming Systems in the South series will be shown. Tour nine farms all in one afternoon! Learn about Cut Flowers, Organic Vegetables, Meat Goats, Pastured Turkeys, Pastured Broilers, Pastured Beef, Pastured Dairy, and Cheesemaking. Times for the showing of each video will be posted at door. (no ticket required)

“It Matters: The Connections Between our Health and the Ecology of Food”
In this special free pre-conference session Joel Kimmons will fill in another piece of the local foods puzzle: sustainable food systems, food, nutrition and health. Joel Kimmons grew up on a homestead near Chattanooga in a family that valued good food and the Earth. He is now a nutrition scientist and epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control, but he’s not straying far from his roots. In his work, Joel is exploring and promoting the use of sustainable food systems approaches to the massive health problems in our country. Research shows that fewer than 10 percent of Americans get the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. "The U.S. has the highest level of malnutrition in the world, when one considers that over-nutrition or obesity is malnutrition" Kimmons states. Armed with statistics showing the decline in human health in this country, he is looking for ways to stop this trend. Joel, in his friendly, down-to-earth presentation style, will provide information of importance to producers, community organizers, and advocates and will make us all glad we’re doing this good and healthful work.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Herbs for Diversifying Your Farm and Markets
The session will cover how to choose, grow, harvest, and get to market the particular herbs, varieties, and edible flowers that are most marketable as fresh culinary bouquets. The session will also cover the process for creating and marketing numerous value-added herb products. Plus, learn how perennial herbs create deer deterrents, which herbs and flowers provide habitat and food for pollinators and beneficial insects, and how even cover crops like red clover can be harvested and sold. Earcine Evans, Francis Flowers & Herb Farm (MS).

Making and Meeting Local Demand, Part II: The Nuts and Bolts
The second of two sessions, this interactive workshop will build on the prior session, focusing on starting, maintaining, and expanding a regional value chain for healthy farms and food. Among the topics discussed will be: the “chicken and egg” challenge of supply and demand; funding and developing packing, cooling, grading and distribution systems; pricing, product selection and choosing your market partners; linking supply chain efforts to farmers’ markets and community education; dealing with “seconds,” and more. Anthony Flaccavento, Appalachian Sustainable Development and Abingdon Organics (VA).

It's Not Too Hot: Hoophouses in the Summer
Hoophouses have become a valuable tool for extending the growing season through winter months. In this session, you will learn strategies for also making full use of this resource through the hot Southern summer, including increased crop production, organic seed production and soil building methods in preparation for winter crops. Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community (VA).

Our Story: Learning to Produce Beef
This farmer and others from his tribe received 5 beef cows each from Heifer International to help their community develop a source of food and income. Their production knowledge has grown and so has their herd. Hear how this group developed the skills to produce quality animals, how they are incorporating this into their vegetable production and what this is doing for their community. Randall Ware, Kiowa Tribe and Langston University Extension (OK).

Bring the Bus: A Very Mobile Farmers’ Market
This session will cover the lessons learned and the challenges faced creating a Mobile Farmers’ Market. Find out about the physical infrastructure of the red bus turned traveling market, the details of planning and funding, the legalities of operating, the sourcing of produce, the farmers’ role, how they determine where to take the market and their promotion strategies. See if bringing a market to communities, including residents of public housing, might work for you. Sally Causey and Rhonda Hensley, Rural Resources (TN).
This session will be repeated.

Small Fruits, Natives and Exotics: Successful Fruit Production in the South
The South has soils and climates suited for fruit production, the health benefits of fruits are numerous, and fruits consistently sell at market. Learn successful strategies to start fruit production, how to identify disease resistant and locally adapted fruits, how to market fresh fruits profitably and even get value-adding ideas for those bumper crops. Sustainable growing methods will be covered, including water conservation strategies and building guilds for healthier systems and risk management. Richard Moyer, Moyer Foods and Farm (VA).
This session will be repeated.

Participating in Local/State Committees that
Shape Implementation of Farm Bill Programs
This session will demonstrate the critical role farmers play on local/state FSA and State Technical Committees that implement Farm Bill programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and other programs including but not limited to conservation. Also learn how farmers have successfully enrolled and participated in the CSP and other programs. Ben Burkett, Federation of Southern Cooperatives (MS) and Mary James, Dogwood Nursery Farms, LLC (NC).

Extension Partnerships in Sustainable Food Systems
Whether you are a producer who wants to connect with your local extension agent or an extension agent who is looking to reach more producers, this session is for you. Hear from a local extension agent to see how Extension is working to ensure that public resources are used to assist community food programs. Also hear from a producer and activist how to connect effectively with your extension representative and how to tap into the numerous resources available. Come ready not only to receive information but to give Extension more ideas on how they can best serve your interests and you theirs. Marty Mesh, Florida Organic Growers & Consumers, Inc. (FL), Karen Wynne, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (AL) and Stephan Walker, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Cooperative Extension Service (AR).

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Our Story: Growing New Growers
Learn how established growers can “grow” new growers, above and beyond providing apprenticeships and education. An experienced grower tells how he helps support the establishment of new farm enterprises (on-site and off-site), and new farmers tell the story of the support that facilitated their transition from farm employee to operating under their own farm name. Alex Hitt, Peregrine Farm (NC) and Jason Roehrig & Shiloh Avery, Tumbling Shoals Farm (NC).

Early and Late Season Flowers for Your Farmers’ Markets
Flowers are common moneymakers at farmers markets in the summer, so why not also produce them in early spring and fall? Learn from flower grower and president of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Association what varieties are appropriate and what the tricks are for profitability. Dave Dowling, Farmhouse Flowers and Plants (MD).

Bettering Black Plastic: Alternatives Practices for Reducing Negative Impacts
This session will teach how to use black plastic mulch to full benefit, decrease the environmental impact of using it, and reduce the labor and management it requires. Topics covered will include: improved retrieval methods; new prospects for post-use plastic utilization and/or recycling; new degradable alternatives; and mechanical control of weeds between rows of mulch. John Wilhoit, Tim Coolong and Mark Williams, University of Kentucky (KY).

Multi-Species Grazing
This session will cover the grazing of sheep, goats, and cattle in a mixed-species farming situation. The way each animal eats, what they prefer to eat, and how to manage grazing and rotations will be covered. You will learn details on fencing requirements and the priorities of management decisions from this NRCS specialist with years of personal experience raising cattle. Ron Morrow, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ozark Pasture Beef (AR).

Cow Shares
Want to sell your milk but find the regulations prevent this? Sell your customers a share of the cow and the milk is theirs! This session will cover the many economic and legal reasons why cow-share operations make sense for today’s farmer. Learn the pros and cons of each of the different types of direct marketing agreements and the basic info on how to start and expand your own cow-share operation. Tim Wightman, Yore Farm (OH).

Support for Organic and Transitioning Farmers in the New Farm Bill
This session will highlight key programs in the 2008 Farm Bill that will specifically benefit organic growers or those transitioning to organic. Several new opportunities will be discussed, including ones that provide financial support. Learn how you can take advantage of these new opportunities. Zach Baker, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (DC), Marty Mesh, Florida Organic Growers (FL) and others TBA.
This session will be repeated.

Contract Farming: What are Your Rights under the New Farm Bill?
The Livestock Title is a new development in the 2008 Farm Bill that establishes some basic rights for contract farmers. Farmers will learn about the new Contract Reforms, as well as existing rights of farmers producing livestock, poultry, vegetables and other crops under contract with large or small firms. Becky Ceartas, RAFI-USA (NC) and Sandra Corlett, Earth’s Promise Farm (KY).

Breaking Bread: Cultural Elements of Local Food Organizing
Every community food program reflects the culture of the people involved. Come to this session to hear about community food initiatives where organizers are putting culture at the forefront and why these programs have widespread appeal. You will hear from a young organizer who has led the way in her Native American community to highlight the importance of seed saving and bringing women together to nurture the food system. You will also hear from an activist working to reinvigorate the food system in the Virgin Islands. Learn how to highlight the cultural aspects of your program that may effectively broaden its appeal and effectiveness. Dale Browne, Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative (VI) and Margarita Garcia, Sembrando Semillas (NM).

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Our Story: Lessons Learned in the First Nine Years
These young farmers got their start working on a successful farm, then took the plunge to start their own farming business nine years ago. Now that they’ve learned the basics of producing crops on their new land, tested and experimented with their markets, and added a couple babies to their family, hear what they have to share about building and maintaining a sustainable family farm. Eric Plaksin and Rachel Bynum, Waterpenny Farm (VA).

On-Farm Organic Recycling: Composting, Vermiculture, and Teas
This session will cover the basics of small scale on-farm composting, vermi-composting, and using worm castings to build soil quality. Learn how you can convert organic residues into value-added products—compost, worm castings, worms, and compost tea—for increased soil quality, which leads to plant vigor and disease prevention, and as an additional source of farm income. Brian Rosa, North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (NC).
This session will be repeated.

Organic Certification 101
Learn about the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) requirements for getting your farm certified. This session will explain the standards and the steps to certification: how to get your farm operation ready, how to find a certifier, and how to navigate the application and inspection process. The emphasis will be on record-keeping, applications, resources, and approved materials lists. If you are thinking about getting certified organic, come! Daniel Parson, Gaia Farms (GA).

Economics of Organic Beef
Much is written about the strong market for certified organic beef and the opportunity it presents to farmers. This session will address the economic realities of production and marketing and how to construct a business from these realities that provides a satisfactory return on the investment of capital and labor. Jim Munsch, Deer Run Farm (WI).

The Ins and Outs of Community Supported Agriculture
Wes and Charlotte Swancy have been running a CSA for 8 years. It has grown from 10 members to 350 members. Discussion will include everything from different methods of organizing and managing happy eaters, to planning and planting vegetables to fill the boxes. Come learn how to build a CSA that suits your particular farm and market. Charlotte Swancy, Riverview Farms (GA).

Kitchens, Cooperatives and Customers: Matching Methods with Markets
From nine years of experience in rural Tennessee, Jubilee Project Director Steve Hodges will share practical do’s and don’ts of using community processing kitchens to create value-added farm products and producer cooperatives to sell to wholesale, retail, institutional, and direct markets. He’ll include ways of overcoming policy and distribution barriers and next steps in this work. Steve Hodges, Jubilee Project (TN).
This session will be repeated.

Rebuilding Local Livestock Infrastructure and Processing:
Reshaping Policies and Regulations
The session will highlight farmer success stories in establishing local meat processing facilities, address existing policy constraints, and explore ways to design regulations that support small scale livestock farmers serving local/regional markets, while protecting public health. The session will also cover new opportunities offered in the 2008 Farm Bill that allow some small-scale meat processors to sell through interstate commerce. Aimee Witteman, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (DC), Will Harris, White Oak Pastures (GA) and Alan Birkenfeld, Pia Dom Meats (TX).

Curbside Consulting
Did you know that there are a number of organizations looking to help you, at little to no charge, to improve your work? Hear from representatives of Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON), the University of Illinois-Chicago and the Community Food Security Coalition about how they can provide advice and resources for your community food systems work and what they have to offer. This session will be hands-on and interactive. Cynthia Hayes, Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (GA), William Kling, University of Illinois at Chicago (IL) and Jeanette Abi-Nader, Community Food Security Coalition (VA).

STATE NETWORKING SESSIONS
Gather with those working for sustainable agriculture from your state to learn what’s happening in your state, how you can benefit, how you can be involved and how you can make a difference. We’ll provide a room for each of the 13 Southern states and a facilitator. You make the discussion useful.

SILENT AUCTION OPEN
The terrific selection of auction items and the generosity of donors and bidders make this an exciting event every year. This fun event helps raise funds to support the critical work of Southern SAWG. Donations and high bids are greatly appreciated. Click here to learn how you can make your donation.

GROUP NETWORKING SESSIONS
You asked for time to network with your peers from across the region, so here’s your chance! As requested, we’ll provide a facilitator and a meeting room for the following: Youth in Agriculture, Women in Agriculture, Young Farmers, Aging & Retiring Farmers, Organic Farmers, Mid-Scale Farmers, Flower Producers, Vegetable Producers, Poultry Producers, Beef Producers, Meat Goat Industry and Social Justice in Agriculture. It will be up to you to make the discussion useful!

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Excel Record Keeping: Vegetable Crop Yields in Yearly Crop Planning
Using excel spreadsheets, you will learn how you can set up a system for tracking actual yields for over thirty vegetables and herbs, on a dollar per square-foot per month basis. These yield records can then be used to target yearly production goals and optimize crop scheduling. This session will be beneficial for those currently using computer record keeping and those with no previous Excel experience. Manual record keeping will also be covered. Patrice Gros, Foundation Farm (AR).

Small Fruits, Natives and Exotics: Successful Fruit Production in the South
The South has soils and climates suited for fruit production, the health benefits of fruits are numerous, and fruits consistently sell at market. Learn successful strategies to start fruit production, how to identify disease resistant and locally adapted fruits, how to market fresh fruits profitably and even get value-adding ideas for those bumper crops. Sustainable growing methods will also be covered, including water conservation strategies and building guilds for healthier systems and risk management. Richard Moyer, Moyer Foods and Farm (VA.
This is a repeat session.

Working with the Nature of Your of Soil
Learn to go beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach to organic soil management. It can become seductive to use the popular analysis formula that seems to always work as "law", whether about a correct Ca to Mg ratio or bacteria to fungi ratio. But in reality, doing what works for others may be exactly what you don’t need to be doing. This advanced session will cover methods for assessing your particular needs toward increasing soil health and implementing soil improvement strategies. Ray Weil, University of Maryland (MD).

Genetic Improvement in Livestock: Successful Applications for Goat Producers
This session will cover genetic improvement of livestock in general and selecting "best genetics" for a desired trait, plus how to successfully apply the established research in other livestock to improve your meat goat herd. You will also learn how to track individual animals based on performance and pedigree and to use record keeping as a practical tool to identify your best breeding stock. A record keeping software tool suitable for meat goat operations will be demonstrated. Nada Nadarajah, Auburn University (AL).

Our Story: How Sustainable Practices and Direct Marketing Saved Our Farm
This pioneer in year-round grazing tells the remarkable story of bringing his dairy farm back from the brink by applying basic sustainable agriculture principles. These experiences provide much inspiration and many good lessons for all farmers. Tom Trantham, Twelve Aprils Dairy and Happy Cow Creamery (SC).

Faith-Fed: Congregationally Supported Agriculture
How can a partnership between faith-based institutions, youth, farmers as well as community advocates help increase the access to fresh, local food for everyone— especially people in low-wealth communities? How can faith institutions support small, beginning, and even immigrant growers through innovative advocacy, gardening, and direct marketing relationships? This interactive roundtable discussion will tap into the collective experience of a range of urban and rural faith-based initiatives that are currently being explored and implemented. Participants will take away new ideas, approaches and strategies that enable them to effectively collaborate with faith-based institutions in addressing sustainable, community-driven food system needs. David Hiney, Heifer International (GA), Sally Allocca, Promoting Empowerment and Enrichment Resources (PEER) & East Lake United Methodist Church (AL), Fred Bahnson, Anathoth Community Garden & Cedar Grove United Methodist Church (NC), Julie Bartholomew, Peachtree Farmer’s Market & Cathedral of St. Philips (GA), Jim Embry, Sustainable Communities Network, (KY) and Chris Jackson, Jenny-Jack Sun Farm (GA).

Support for Organic and Transitioning Farmers in the New Farm Bill
This session will highlight key programs in the 2008 Farm Bill that will specifically benefit organic growers or those transitioning to organic. Several new opportunities will be discussed, including ones that provide financial support. Learn how you can take advantage of these new opportunities. Zach Baker, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (DC), Marty Mesh, Florida Organic Growers (FL) and others TBA.
This is a repeat session.

Model Practices & Approaches: Tennessee Community Food Systems
Tennessee is quickly branding itself as a Southern state that is systematically addressing many aspects of the food system. Come to this session to learn about great work being done on food policy, community organizing and local food sourcing. You will hear from the director of the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee where regional partners are working together toward their collective vision for creating a healthy food system. You will also hear from a Chattanooga restaurant chef committed to keeping local and sustainable foods on the menu. Cassi Johnson, Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee (TN) and Daniel Lindley, St. John’s Restaurant (TN).

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

It’s Almost TAX Time!
In this session learn what write-offs are allowed for farming operations, what records you need to be keeping to take advantage of the allowable deductions and how to set depreciation schedules. You’ll learn what pitfalls to avoid and what mistakes may get you audited. Plus, get tips on how to complete Schedule F with ease. Mary Mafuyai-Ekanem, North Carolina Extension (NC).

Ancient Grains for Grazing and Food Crops
This session will cover the key advantages of ancient grains and old open pollinated corn over modern high input, high cost grains, such as lower seed costs, lower input, drought tolerance, more nutritious, greater biomass contribution, plus can be grazed and then harvested as a food crop in the same growing season. Learn the particulars about growing and marketing these superior grains. Glenn Roberts, Anson Mills (SC).

Cover Crops as Soil Management Tools for Flower and Vegetable Producers
Plants can be effective tools for soil improvement, often more so than the steel and amendments we use in our fields. The America southeast happens to be an especially accommodating place to use cover crops for soil management. Focusing largely on new cover crops in the Brassicaceae family, this session will investigate how to make cover crops pay for themselves by alleviating soil compaction, reducing erosion, saving water, suppressing weeds, improving nutrient cycling and tuning up the microbial community. Ray Weil, University of Maryland (MD).

Raising Pastured Poultry and On-Farm Processing: Mobile Units
This session will cover integrating pastured poultry on a small vegetable farm. You’ll hear about how to fund, develop, and manage an exempt, on-farm processing mobile unit and farmer cooperative in your own state. The NC Mobile Processing Unit will also be on site in Chattanooga for touring. Casey and Meredith McKissick, Crooked Creek Farms and Foothills Family Farms Co-op (NC).

Kitchens, Cooperatives and Customers: Matching Methods with Markets
From nine years of experience in rural Tennessee, Jubilee Project Director Steve Hodges will share practical do’s and don’ts of using community processing kitchens to create value-added farm products and producer cooperatives to sell to wholesale, retail, institutional, and direct markets. He’ll include ways of overcoming policy and distribution barriers and next steps in this work. Steve Hodges, Jubilee Project, (TN).
This is a repeat session.

Bring the Bus: A Very Mobile Farmers’ Market
This session will cover the lessons learned and the challenges faced creating a Mobile Farmers’ Market. Find out about the physical infrastructure of the red bus turned traveling market, the details of planning and funding, the legalities of operating, the sourcing of produce, the farmers’ role, how they determine where to take the market and their promotion strategies. See if bringing a market to communities, including residents of public housing, might work for you. Sally Causey and Rhonda Hensley, Rural Resources (TN).
This is a repeat session.

New Grant Programs for Organizations Working with Farmers
The 2008 Farm Bill includes new and expanded grant programs for organizations working directly with farmers in various capacities. The Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) has expanded substantially, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and the Rural Microenterprise Grants Program is funded for the first time, and the Value-Added Producer Grants program has been re-prioritized to focus on small and medium sized farms. This practical session will to assist organizations in accessing these grant opportunities. Jon Bailey, Center for Rural Affairs (NE).

Youth Leadership and Institutional Purchasing: Farm to College
Last year’s program on youth leadership not only had excellent presenters but provided a forum for participants to exchange ideas. Come to this year’s youth forum to learn about youth leadership potential in the South including a young woman who is using hip-hop and stepping to excite children in a metro-Atlanta school about healthy foods. You will also learn more about The Food Project in Boston and their approach to youth organizing locally and nationally. Anim Steel, The Food Project (MA) and Caree Jackson, University of Georgia (GA).

SILENT AUCTION FINAL BIDDING
The terrific selection of auction items and the generosity of donors and bidders make this an exciting event every year. This fun event helps raise funds to support the critical work of Southern SAWG. Donations and high bids are greatly appreciated. Click here to learn how you can make your donation.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Developing a Crop Rotation Plan
Crop rotation is essential to sustainable farm management and is required by the National Organic Program (NOP). However, there are few resources available on the subject. This session covers the big picture, as well as the specific details of why crop rotation is important and how to develop a crop rotation plan that includes cover crops and market crops. Daniel Parson, Gaia Farms (GA).

Mushrooms for Cultivation, Composting, and Biological Filters
Gourmet species can be grown on logs, wheat bales, wood chips, cardboard, vegetable waste, and much more. Intercropping mushrooms and vegetables in the garden or greenhouse can improve your yields and create an additional low-tech method for protein production while metabolizing gases. Fungi can also boost your compost production, and growing systems can also serve as powerful biological filters on organic farms to clean contaminated water and soil. Tradd Cotter, Mushroom Mountain, LLC (SC).
This is a repeat session.

What’s an Organic Grower To Do About Those Pesky Pests?
Cucumber beetles, flea beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borers and leaf-footed bugs are some of the peskiest pests for organic growers. Debbie Roos will lead a discussion of what techniques growers are using that work and don’t work to control these pests (plan to join the discussion!). To assist the discussion, she will have slides of these pests in various stages of maturity and of the beneficials that help control them. Debbie Roos, North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NC).

Year Round Grazing with High-Performance Pastures
Lush April pastures provide rich nourishment for livestock. Learn from the pioneer of year round grazing in the South how to achieve April-like high-performance forages twelve months out of the year. Learn what forages to plant, when to plant them and what blends to plant. Planting techniques and mowing intervals to help keep the pastures in top shape at all times so your animals are getting nothing but the best will also be discussed. Tom Trantham, Twelve Aprils Dairy and Happy Cow Creamery (SC).

Our Story: Realizing the Vision of Diversified Family Farming
Mary James and her husband Nelson, a third-generation farmer, own and operate Dogwood Acres, a 35 acre farm in Eastern NC. They produce vegetables, flowers, rabbits, ducks, Cornish hens, free-range chickens, heritage turkeys, brown eggs, and pasture-raised hogs. They also grow ornamental plants, grow their own hog feed, and market their own produce and meat products direct through farmers’ markets, a CSA, and on a new website. Come learn how their vision and passion has made this a model farm. Mary James, Dogwood Nursery Farms, LLC (NC).

On-Farm Organic Recycling: Composting, Vermiculture, and Teas
This session will cover the basics of small scale on-farm composting, vermi-composting, and using worm castings to build soil quality. Learn how you can convert organic residues into value-added products—compost, worm castings, worms, and compost tea—for increased soil quality, which leads to plant vigor and disease prevention, and as an additional source of farm income. Brian Rosa, North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (NC).
This is a repeat session.

Quit Griping and Start Winning:
Growing Leadership through the Southern SAWG Policy Program
This session will engage participants in a discussion of priorities for Southern SAWG’s Policy Program. How do government farm policies affect you, and how can Southern SAWG work most effectively to help you get the most out of new and existing programs under the 2008 Farm Bill? Help us identify those issues most important to family farmers in the South, and set priorities for our policy advocacy work in the region. Lydia Villanueva, Southern SAWG (TX).

Funding Successes from Private Sources
Many of us look to public funders for assistance in our community foods work. Come to this session to learn about private sources that can support your work and the appropriate channels for obtaining those resources. These funding priorities range from those targeting key issues such as poverty to others focusing on distinct geographic areas like Mississippi. You will leave this session with a better understanding of the ways that you can find private resources to support your work. William Buster, WK Kellogg Foundation (MI), Sandra Mikush, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation (NC) and Mary Rowe, Blue Moon Fund (VA).

TASTE OF TENNESSEE DINNER
Through a partnership with the Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program, food produced by sustainable farmers in Tennessee will be featured at this plated dinner. (Ticket required. One ticket is included in the conference registration fee.)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
“Why Sustainable Farming is Critical for the Future of the World”
John Ikerd

John Ikerd has written insightfully and extensively about the relationship between farming, environment, communities, individuals and economics. His professional career in agricultural economy gave him a unique perspective, allowing him to see firsthand the flaws of our industrial agriculture and to develop an understanding of the importance of sustainable agriculture, family farms and local food systems.

In his keynote address, John Ikerd will explain how sustainable farms will be essential in meeting the ecological and social challenges currently confronting U.S. and global society. He says that while the notion of family farms still evokes impressions ranging from nostalgia to idealism, valuing the greater importance of family farms will come as we develop an understanding that we, as a society, are critically interconnected with other people and with the earth. Americans must face the uncomfortable reality that our national food security and the future of humanity depend on sustainable family farms. What is our role in this reality?

FREE BONUS EVENT!

USDA GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
This FREE grant writing workshop is for those working with community based organizations and institutions that serve the agricultural community. If you are interested in becoming more successful in developing winning proposals, please plan to participate in this interactive grant writing workshop. You will have the opportunity to meet USDA staff from grant funding agencies such as the Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, Rural Development, Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Office of Outreach, and the SARE Program. Get the answers to your grant writing questions and much more at this interactive, participatory workshop session. Don’t miss this unique opportunity! For more information please contact Dr. Denis Ebodaghe at 1-800-583-3071 or debodaghe@csrees.usda.gov.