Sixth Annual Alabama Organic Production Conference & Trade Fair
Meeting the Challenges of Organic Farming in
Alabama
Come Share the Harvest: Taste the Food and Hear the Experiences of Local Farmers Practicing Organic Production Methods.
All meals feature local, organically grown vegetables and meats.
Dates:
Tuesday and Wednesday, November 11-12, 2008
Followed by ASAN’s Community Food Leaders Forum, Wednesday
afternoon-Thursday
Place:
Solon Dixon Conference Center – Andalusia, AL.
Program Schedule:
Tuesday: November 11
10:00 a.m. Registration
10:30-11:30 a.m. Albert Bates, The Farm, Summertown, TN. Climate
Tipping Points: How to Get the Ones We Want.
11:30-12:00 “Eating Alabama”
12:00-1:00 Lunch provided at Solon Dixon – Presentation by “Eating Alabama”
During Lunch: Each lunch table will have large placement cards identifying various subjects of interest within organic vegetable production, such as different types of crops (fruits, cover crops, etc.), different regions of the state, and other areas of discussion. Lunch participants can choose a table and chat with other farmers, researchers and Alabama residents about these topics.
1:15-3:00 Concurrent Sessions:
- Soil Building – Karen Wynne, Rosita’s Farm. Justin Taylor and Jayme Oates, Mahone Creek Farms.
- Pests and Disease control- Russell Stackhouse, Sand Mountain CSA. Gary Weil, Red Root Farm.
- Greenhouse Production – Jane Hoehaver, CJ McGrath, (Auburn University), Melanie Hernandez (Youngs Mill Farm, GA).
- Permaculture – Albert Bates
3:15-5:00 Concurrent Sessions:
- Marketing Opportunities for Alabama’s small scale organic/naturally grown farmers- discussion of various ways to get products to market. Facilitator- Mecca Lowe (AU), Les Rivet (Jay’s Garden Variety), Rod Havens (Blueberry Havens), Melissa Boutwell (Boutwell Family Farms).
- Mushroom Production and Marketing - Cathy Sabota, Alabama A&M. Simon Bevis- Noah Valley Farm.
- Seed Saving- Charlotte Hagood and Dove Stackhouse (Sand Mountain Seed Bank).
- Alternative Production Techniques- Stan Roark, facilitator. Grafting Tomatoes for Disease Resistance, Bagging Fruit for Organic Production.
5:30-6:45 Trade Fair and social with live music from the Gold Hill Clothesliners. Wine from local wineries and beer from Good People Brew Pub, goat cheese and crackers, and other refreshments.
Please contact Jane Hoehaver to reserve a table in the Trade Fair. hoehaje@auburn.edu
7:00 Dinner & Keynote: Melissa Boutwell (Boutwell Farmily Farms), “Season for Sustainability: The Changing Environment of Food”.
Wednesday – November 12
7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast.
7:30 Joe Molnar (AU) – “Establishing a Commodity Organization: Advantages and Disadvantages for Low-input and Organic Producers"
8:15 – 10:00 Concurrent Sessions:
- Small Fruit Production - Bryan Hunt, (BC Hunt Farms), Rod Havens (Blueberry Havens), Harold or Carol Hackman (Waterberry Farm).
- Horsepower on the Farm – Ian Snider (Mountain Works Sustainable Development).
- Organic Row Crops- Mark Boudreau (Hebert Green Agroecology, Inc.), Arnold Caylor (North AL Horticultural Research Station).
- Online Marketing Tools and Strategies- Eric Wagoner (locallygrown.net), Joe Brown (Fig Leaf Farm, University of AL).
10:15 – 12:00 Concurrent Sessions:
- Meeting research and information needs of Alabama’s small-scale LIOP farmers– University researchers and farmers discussion. Roundtable discussion with researchers and farmers. Opening presentation by Lina Cui (AU) on recent survey to AL’s Organic or Low-Input Producers about their research and information needs. Auburn University: Joe Molnar, Jan Garrett, Joe Kemble, Lina Cui, Mecca Lowe; Tuskegee University: Kokoassee Kpomblekou, Tasha Hargrove; A&M: Rao Mentreddy, Cathy Sabota, James Bukenya; University of Alabama: Joe Brown, Kathy Oths; Hebert Green Agroecology, Inc.: Mark Boudreau; UGA: Justin Ellis; AU Extension; farmers.
- Snapshot of an Alabama Farmer: The Randle Family (Randle Farms).
- Tour of Longleaf Pine Communities at Solon Dixon
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
Cafeteria: A word from the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network – Karen Wynne.
Remainder of the Day: Community Food Leaders Forum hosted and planned by ASAN.
