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2012 Conference Workshops, Feb. 24

Georgia Organics 15th Annual Conference & Expo
 

1. Mushrooms for Everyone - Beginner to Advanced Techniques
2. Permaculture in the Deep South
3. It’s All About Soil
4. Urban Farming
5. Economics and Marketing of Livestock on Small-Farms
6. Organic Produce Farming: Start it Right!
7. Farm Bill and advocacy training
8. Everyday Organic Living
 

If you think growing mushrooms is too complicated, here’s your chance to see how easy and rewarding it can be. This workshop will get you growing, and you’ll leave understanding the best ways to cultivate delicious mushrooms at home or on your farm.  You’ll learn about inexpensive start-up options for beginners, and many commercial ideas to expand on.

This class will energize your efforts and maximize your production!  Topics include: life cycle of fungi; mushroom behavior and intuitive growing; choosing, buying, and storing spawn; woodland mushroom farming (logs, wood chips, and composts); indoor production (small and large scale); converting existing structures into grow rooms (barns, chicken houses, storage containers): marketing your mushrooms (trends, demand, strategies); organic pest management; alternative product development (powders, extracts, composts). 

This workshop is taught by Tradd Cotter, founder of Mushroom Mountain in Liberty, SC. Cotter has been studying the art of identifying and cultivating mushrooms in the Southeast for over 18 years.

 
Permaculture in the Deep South/ sponsored by Cafe Campesino

Tripp Tibbetts, Small Batch Garden Permaculture

Permaculture is about observing and interacting with nature, capturing and cycling energy, fertility, water conservation and reuse, redirecting system outputs back into production, and increasing the use of renewable resources. In short, it’s growing food the natural way, which is covered in this workshop through the three ethics and 12 principles of permaculture, with real-world examples in place all over the world.

Tibbetts will unveil the value of living small and using slow, methodical solutions to solve problems in the garden and in larger life, instead of shotgun approaches that rely on prescriptive methodologies and long supply chains.  He will discuss the concepts of “right livelihood”, sustainable economic philosophy, relocalization, and the effects of energy on culture and food production.  Finally, the workshop will give attendees an update on real-world plans to transition a family farm.
 

It’s All About Soil
Alex Hitt, Peregrine Farms

So you've been working your soils for a few years now. Your production is good, but this workshop is an opportunity to make your soil even better.  Here are a few of the important issues Hitt will help you address: Where's your organic matter coming from? How are you managing your nutrients? Are you getting the seed bed you need?  Soil tests and bagged amendments are small parts of a successful soil management system.  With a degree in soils, three decades of working his farm, and one of the most reputable farmers in the southeast, Hitt will talk about all aspects of field-scale soil management in the humid south, from cover crops to rotations, along with in-depth looks at the systems for direct seeded spring crops, tomatoes, and peppers.

Urban Farming/ sponsored by Sodexo

Edwin Marty, Hampstead Institute  

Rashid Nuri, Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farm
 
More and more people are looking for ways to create a more sustainable food system, and that search often leads them to urban agriculture, a growing movement towards sustainable food production in urban environments. We are pleased to present two of the most notable and experienced urban farmers in the southeast for this workshop.

Edwin Marty recently became Director of the Hampstead Institute in Montgomery, AL, where he is developing a two acre farm in downtown Montgomery. 

Rashid Nuri is the founder and director of Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms, which has grown over 10,000 pounds of vegetables annually for the Atlanta community from multiple sites since 2006.  The newest TLW site is a 4-acre farm right in downtown Atlanta across the street from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Marty and Nuri will cover urban agriculture from its most applicable angles:
•  Who is urban farming today? (A snap-shot of current urban farms, a look at the diversity of farms around the country, and at for-profit and non-profit models.)
• Why is urban farming growing in popularity?
• How to urban farm (the technical  stuff – soils, compost, raised beds, weeds, pests, harvesting, etc.)
• Marketing urban farm products
• Urban farm organizational and financial structures
• Start-up funds for urban farms
 
Economics and Marketing of Livestock on Small-Farms/sponsored by White Oak Pastures

Dr. Curt Lacy, UGA, Extension Economist-Livestock
Bill Hodge, Hodge Ranch
Dan Glenn, Young Farms
Chad Carlton, Carlton Farms
Brad Fowler, Three Centuries Farm

This workshop combines livestock practice and economic theory by bringing together young and established producers and Extension Economist Dr. Curt Lacy, who is also starting a small meat goat herd of his own.  This livestock dream team will discuss the economic and marketing considerations of beef cattle, poultry, pig, and goat production.

That means taking a hard and realistic look at where livestock fits in best on a farm, given different resource requirements such as land, labor, capital, and management.   They’ll also share tips on determining operating costs and calculating fixed costs, like fencing.  Finally, they’ll talk about marketing and business plans for small- to mid-sized pastured livestock farms. 
 
Organic Produce: Start it Right!
Daniel Parson, Parson’s Produce
Paige Witherington, Serenbe Farms

Starting a farm operation can be daunting. But that’s only because there are about a million possible pitfalls that await beginning farmers.  This workshop will answer many questions about setting up a farm and avoiding those pitfalls that plague learning farmers. Topics include marketing, business management, farm infrastructure and planning, soil, and rotations.  Effective farmers always strive for efficiency, and Parson and Witherington will share their tips and hints on planning and growing an efficient farm operation.

Parson, of Parson’s Produce, and Witherington of Serenbe Farms, come with 14 and 10 years of passionate farming experience respectively,  producing highly diversified vegetables on 1.5  and 6 acres. They each market through farmers markets, CSAs from 60 to 100 members, restaurants, and wholesale accounts.  
 
Understanding the Food and Farm Bill 
Pam Roy, Executive Director of Farm to Table and the New Mexico Food Policy Council. Mrs. Roy is a farmer and also serves on the Community Food Security Coalition's Policy Committee.

 
Every five years or so, the US adopts a new Farm Bill. This massive piece of legislation sets the framework for what we eat, whether our food is nourishing and affordable, what assistance our society provides to feed hungry people, what crops farmers grow under what conditions, global grain and fiber markets, and how rural land is used. This session provides an overview of the farm bill, its programs and the latest progress in the development of the 2012 farm bill. Attendees will learn the basics, the politics involved, and the opportunities for advocates to make their voices heard as the policies are written and debated. Skills building will focus on setting goals, identifying targets, and developing effective strategies and tactics. 
 

Everyday Organic Living
Registered Dietitians: Jess Avasthi Jessica Avasthi MS, RD, LD
Janice Giddens MS, RD, LD

Jess and Janice want you to eat good, clean and fair food. They will demystify the terminology of the market including organic, sustainable, natural, free range and humane and will debunk the ‘elistism’ of organic foods. How?
Simply by demonstrating practical and affordable tips that can help make a difference in your health, the health of your family and your environment, no matter where you shop. They will inspire you with quick, easy menu plans and recipes to make family time and dinner time sync seamlessly. By the end of this, you’ll appreciate food, farmers and your health even more!