SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom | How to Run a Thriving CSA Business – Moon Valley was established on a half-acre as a one-woman show. Now on 70 acres and with a staff of 25, Emma will discuss the ins and outs of the CSA model, roles and responsibilities on the farm team, and share stories and tips about community engagement that support member retention and growth. (Emma Jagoz, Moon Valley Farm) |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd Floor) | Body Mechanics and Farming: Bending, Lifting and Kneeling OH MY! – Join Therese High to learn how to care for your body, how to properly use your body, and techniques to safely complete the necessary functions of farming.(Therese High, The Rainbow Garden, From the Ground Up, Licensed Chiropractic Assistant Duff) |
| Crop Production Spring Room | Harvesting, Drying and Processing Herbal Crops – From Ashwagandha to Passionflower, Goldenrod to Calendula, Lacey Walker will resent about the processing side of raising herbal crops. We’ll hit all the main crop parts of root, leaf, seed and flower and discuss main harvesting techniques, drying specifications and post-harvest processing options and tools. (Lacey Walker, Fox Haven Farm and Learning Center) |
| Soil Health & Livestock Ellsworth Room A | Small Ruminants: An Option for All – Come learn how small ruminants can be the sole enterprise on a farm or melded into an existing animal enterprise. This session offers a brief overview of small ruminants along with the how’s and why’s to add them to your operation. We’ll address both the pluses and the minuses. (Jeff Semler, University of Maryland Extension) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Ellsworth Room B | Collaborative Arrangements: Contract Growing for Farm to Food Bank – We will share strategies and lessons learned regarding the development of a collaborative funding program, led by local government and a community-based organization, to support table crop farm partners with infrastructure and equipment needs in exchange for contract growing for Farm to Food Bank.(Catherine Nardi, Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience, Jenna Umbriac, Manna Food Center) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room (2nd floor) | Uniting Farmers and Dietitians to Deliver Optimal Health Through Real Food – Join Chimene Castor for a presentation exploring how partnerships between farmers and dietitians can address food apartheid, especially in communities experiencing food insecurity. We’ll discuss how sustainable agriculture and community-based nutritional education improves access to whole foods, nutritional health, and aids in the prevention of chronic diseases, promoting community well-being and fostering food system equity. (Chimene Castor, Howard University) |
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom | Scaling Your Farm Operation, Lessons Learned from Scaling Moon Valley Farm’s ½ acre to 70 acres in 13 years -This session will present an overview of various scales, discuss the “why” behind growth, share stories on the realities of scaling and strategies for success. (Emma Jagoz, MoonValley Farm) |
| Beginning Farming Track Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Farm Financing Opportunities For Young And Beginning Farmers – Having difficulty accessing credit and capital to purchase a farm or start your farming operation? MARBIDCO, Horizon Farm Credit and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) will discuss financing opportunities they offer for young and beginning farmers. (Stacy Kubofcik and Allison Roe, MARBIDCO; Ellie Grossnickle, Horizon Farm Credit and USDA Farm Service Agency) |
| Crop Production Spring Room | Saving and Seed Production as a Farm Enterprise – Preservation of seeds is one of the foundations of sustainable food production. Learn about seed saving and seed production for your own farm viability and for possible sales to independent seed companies who contract directly with farmers – for both certified organic and ecologically grown seeds.. (Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange) |
| Soil Health & Livestock Ellsworth Room A | The Mid-Atlantic Local Grain Movement: An Introduction to Growing Grain for the Regional Food System – Learn the fundamentals of growing grain for local markets. Understand key considerations for incorporating grains into small and mid-scale farms, what qualities and attributes local chefs and bakers look for in local grain, and what regional grain markets are available. Learn about the Mid-Atlantic region’s local grain movement and how to get involved. (Madelyn Smith, Common Grain Alliance; Katarina Petonito, The Duck & The Peach; Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach; Ian Hertzmark, Migrash Farm and Mill) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Ellsworth Room B | Self-Care for Beginner Farmers – Join Sage Jackson to learn how to best protect your skin, eat to support your physical work, use farm plants for healing, and stay connected to a wider farm family. This session will also highlight clothing and personal equipment options that are useful to farm hands. (Sage Jackson, Common Good City Farm) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room (2nd floor) | Cultivating Community: Bridging the Language & Culture Gap in Agriculture – Dive into this fun, hands-on workshop exploring how embracing language and cultural diversity can transform agricultural communities. Learn practical strategies to bridge the English-Spanish communication gaps can foster stronger relationships and change perspectives. Discover how new language skills open doors, and enhance workplace culture, safety and productivity. Experience firsthand the power of cross-cultural understanding in agriculture. (Katherine Dotterer, AgvoKate) |
KEYNOTE: Renee Catacalos, FRESHFARM |
| 11:30 am – 12:45 pm Main Ballroom | Plus a reading from artist and poet Austen Camille |
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom | Deciding Which Vegetable Crops to Grow – Grow vegetable crops that fit your goals, whether for sale or for your household. Consider which crops are easy to grow, most profitable for the space or time, most suited to your conditions, high yielding, and undemanding. Use a DIY Crop Value Rating system to choose between options. (Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community) |
| Beginning Farming Track Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Creating Short Format Video + Intro to Canva – Learn how to create interesting content for Instagram and Facebook quickly and effectively. Gain information about how to utilize Canva for other marketing purposes. This session is geared towards beginners but will contain tips and tricks for current users too! (Kristin Hanna, Maryland Department of Agriculture) |
| Crop Production Spring Room | Growing Collectively: Cooperative Selling with Rock & River Flowers – The Collective is a group of five farms in three states, with a combined 50+ years of growing experience. This panel discussion will cover everything from selling collectively, learning how to build your own sales platform, communicate with wholesale buyers, and navigate transportation and administration. (Caroline Selle, Sage Devlin, Yeon Kim, Laura Zimmerman and Cory Lisk from Rock & River Flower Collective) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Ellsworth Room B | Farmer Educator/Advisor Meet-up –This session is for farmer educators and service providers to meet, network, share projects, and look for ways of collaborating to better serve farmers in our region. If this sounds like you, please join us! (Led by Gabi Salazar, American Farmland Trust) |
| Farmer-to-Farmer Chats Ellsworth Room A | Black Farmer Community Building Cooperative Economic Development facilitated by the Mid-Atlantic Black Farmer Caucus |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room | “Is the Grass Always Greener?” Book Signing and Presentation In this special book signing session, we will read excerpts and lead discussion about mid-life career changes to farming. (Catherine and Al Renzi, Yellow Springs Farm, LLC) |
KEYNOTE: Nick Wiseman, Little Sesame |
| 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Main Ballroom | Plus presentation of Farmer of the Foodshed Awards |
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Education and Funding Resources: A Focus on Small Farms and Urban Agriculture Operations – The Maryland Department of Agriculture is collaborating with University of Maryland to provide beneficial information to small scale and urban farmers. The small group setting will allow for direct inquiry of grant programs and technical assistance. The Grant Programs being highlighted are the Small Acreage Cover Crop, Urban Infrastructure Grant, Healthy Soils Competitive Fund, and Certified Local Farm and Fish Program. Technical information will also be presented regarding rainwater harvesting, nutrient management, production assistance, and value-added product services. Take this opportunity to learn and provide feedback on your education and funding needs and interests at this informative and interactive session focusing on small farms and urban agriculture operations. (Bill Tharpe, Martin Proulx, Mark Powell, Karen Fedor, and Nick Miller, MDA, Kayla Griffith, Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, Emily Woerner, and Qianwen Lu, UMD Extension, Megan Todd, ALEI) Sponsored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture |
| Crop Production Spring Room | Grafting Tomatoes – Tomato plant grafting is a helpful tool for improving yields and managing soil diseases for both high tunnel and field production of tomatoes. However, successful grafting requires a high degree of skill and attention to detail to have consistent results. Dan Gagnon of Broadfork Farm has combed the information available in academic and online settings and identified the need for a system to increase the success rate of growers grafting tomato plants on their farms. Dan has refined the protocol and tools to allow grower success with grafting tomato plants so that growers can enjoy the benefits of better plant health and yield while consumers enjoy the benefits of great tomatoes to purchase. (Dan Gagnon and Janet Aardema, Broadfork Farm) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Ellsworth Room B | Starting Where You Are as a Beginner Farmer – Hear from new farmers about how they dove in head first and got growing. (Jamie Shanklin-Spencer, Messiah’s Market and LaWann Stribling, STRIB’ble Treats, moderated by Monica Newman, Future Harvest) |
| Farmer-to-Farmer Ellsworth Room A | I’ve Been Farming for 10+ years, Now What?!? – This casual discussion is for folks who have made it over the challenge of being a “beginning farmer” and want to determine the path forward. What is our definition of success? Let’s discuss! (Led by Michael Protas, One Acre Farm) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room (2nd floor) | Dealing with Pests: Groundhogs & Livestock Predators – Experienced vegetable and livestock farmers Carrie and MK will review strategies for finding and trapping groundhogs using Havahart and Conibear traps plus how to fend off livestock predators. (Carrie Vaughn, Building Bridges Across the River; MK Barnet, Open Book Farm) |
Happy Hour |
| 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Main Ballroom & Exhibitor Hall | Cash Bar & Appetizers, plus Farmer Bingo with prizes and Farmington Adapts! A tabletop game for farmers and communities |
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH |
| 7:30 am – 4:30 pm | Registration Open & Exhibits |
| 8:00 am – 9:30 am Heated Tent | Coffee & light breakfast available |
| 8:15 am – 9:30 am Main Ballroom A | Annual Membership Meeting |
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom A | Data Driven Decision Making – A successful farm needs to capture and use data in order to make informed, effective decisions. Learn accessible systems for recording critical data and how to tap into the information you’ve carefully gathered to make your farm work better for you. We’ll talk ways to capture data during busy farm work days, make habits out of good data recording systems, and consistently use that data to inform decisions. (Janet Aardema and Dan Gagnon, Broakfork Farm) |
| Crop Production Main Ballroom B | Optimize Your Asian Greens Production – Grow many types of tasty, nutritious Asian greens outdoors and in hoop houses, easily and bring fast returns. The workshop includes detailed tips on variety selection of over twenty types of Asian greens; timing of plantings; pest and disease management; fertility; weed management and harvesting. For both market and home growers. (Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community) |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Beyond the Newsletter: 5 Strategies to Scale a 100+ CSA Program in Less Than One Season– Running a year-round CSA on the East Coast is no small feat. Scaling it is even tougher. Join Farmer Gale of Deep Roots Farm to discover how good products, community engagement, and technology can boost your membership to 100+ in one season, and leave with an actionable plan to implement today. (Gale Livingstone, Deep Roots Farm and Michelle Keniston, Head of Marketing & Operations at Farmhand) |
| Soil Health & Livestock Ellsworth Room A | What the Hay! What is Good Quality Hay? – Many livestock producers rely on hay to feed their animals during certain times of the year. When it comes to hay selection and purchase decisions, important factors to consider include bale type/size, affordability, hay quality, and hay quantity. This session will focus on what to look for and how to evaluate hay quality. (Amanda Grev, University of Maryland Extension) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Spring Room | Farm Community Engagement: Successes and Failures – Atiya and Liz will discuss their journey toward community engagement on their Baltimore City green spaces and farms. Drawing from their own successes and failures, they will outline how to get true buy-in from neighbors and a present vision for the future. (Atiya Wells, Backyard Basecamp and Liz Lamb, The 6th Branch) |
| Farming into the Future Ellsworth Room B | Advanced Farmer Discussion: Resilient Farm Planning as the Climate Shifts – How are you planning for climate uncertainty? Our region’s climate is projected to shift to warmer, wetter springs and drier summers with more variable precipitation overall. We’ll start with regional projections, case studies, and example climate resilience plans, then jump into discussion led by farmers in the group. (Thelonius Cook, Mighty Thundercloud Edible Forest, and Laura Beth Resnick, Butterbee Farm, moderated by Gabi Salazar, American Farmland Trust) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room | Veteran Farmer Meet Up |
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| Business of Farming Main Ballroom A | Moving Towards Biological Farming – This lecture will review the use of microbial seed inoculants, nitrogen and phosphorus fixing microbes, biological pesticides and fungicides, and the use of effective and indigenous microbes on the farm to enhance compost soil, and plant health. (Dr. Nazirahk Amen, Purple Mountain Organics) |
| Crop Production Main Ballroom B | How to Grow and use Garlic, Perennial Onions, Shallots and Other Unusual Alliums – Most gardens contain at least one row of onions, usually planted in the spring. Fall-planted onions are less well-known. Learn about what distinguishes the different alliums, both uncommon and everyday. Look at samples and learn how to add garlic, shallots and these other easily grown alliums to your garden, CSA Baskets and your everyday meals. (Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Spring Room | Creating a Scalable Farm to Community Food Access Program – How a non-profit built a food hub of community connections (without the infrastructure and costs of a physical building) to deliver farm fresh food directly to local area pantries, feeding 4,000 people every week. The program addresses food equity while providing small farmers with fair prices for locally grown foods. (Eleanor Shue, Historic Lewes Farmers Market and Nancy Staisley) |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Starting and Excelling in Conservation with EQIP and CSP -This presentation will cover the application process through contracting for the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Our goal is to provide education and information to empower individuals when applying for these conservation programs, including verbiage and best practices. (Sherri DeGraphenreed & Sharlyn Handcock, USDA NRCS Maryland) |
| Registration | Tour FRESHFARM Downtown Silver Spring Market |
| Farming Into the Future Ellsworth Room B | High Tunnel and Greenhouse Energy Efficiency: This session will focus on energy use and conservation in high tunnel and greenhouse production. Energy costs can be substantial in a smaller diversified production system and understanding energy costs, and how to approach an energy assessment of your farm can help the bottom line. Based on that assessment farmers can implement cost effective measures in their high tunnel and greenhouses to reduce energy use. This session will cover energy efficient designs and materials for new structures and energy retrofits for existing structures. (Chris Lent, NCAT) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room (2nd floor) | Indigenous Farmer Meet Up |
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom A | The How and Why of What to Buy: Making Investments in Your Vegetable Operation – Learn from advanced vegetable growers about how to make strategic investments in your farm business. We’ll dig into the how and why of making decisions about equipment and infrastructure using specific examples from the real life experience of production farmers. (Hana Newcomb, Potomac Vegetable Farm, Dave Paulk, Sassafras Creek Farm, and Pamela Jones, Gathering Springs Farm, moderated by Liz Whitehurst, Owl’s Nest Farm) |
| Crop Production Ellsworth Room A | More than One Way to Sling a Flower – Part 1 – While new growers may seek “the best way” to sell their flowers, there is no one best way. Geography, personality, and growing preferences all contribute to choosing a sales model that works for a flower farmer. This session will dive deep into a comparison of two successful business models with Roots Flower Farm and Butterbee Farm. This workshop spans two sessions and continues during Session VIII. (Laura Beth Resnick, Butterbee Farm and Michelle Elston, Roots Flower Farm) |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd floor) | From Urban to Acreage – A beginning farmer transitions from an urban farm to a rural farm and learns lessons along the way. Participants will hear lessons learned, have a guided discussion about considerations for their own transition and begin to document their transition plan and considerations during the workshop. (Maura McCasted, Ad Astra Farms) |
| Soil Health & Livestock Ellsworth Room B | Composting 101: Getting Started & Making Compost a Value-Add – Tired of spending thousands of dollars every year on finished compost for your garden? Want to not only add composting to your agricultural system but also have it bring in revenue? Learn to compost from the Compost King and find out what kind of system is right for you! (Wes Mahmud, Common Good City Farm) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Spring Room | Bringing Back the Fish Pepper – Chef/restaurateur Spike Gjerde and farmer Denzel Mitchell tell the story of how they helped revitalize a nearly forgotten heirloom pepper developed and utilized by African American communities around the Chesapeake Bay. The story illuminates how reviving lost varieties can help farmers increase biodiversity, grow locally-adapted plants as the climate changes, and reclaim cultural connections. (Denzel Mitchell, Farm Alliance of Baltimore and Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen |
| Farming into the Future Main Ballroom B | Legal Considerations of Direct Online Marketing & Intellectual Property – A comprehensive overview of the legal considerations for farm businesses engaged in or planning to engage in direct online sales and marketing. Key issues include food safety, labeling regulations and food delivery obligations for direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of food, digital marketing and advertising laws, trademark and copyright infringement avoidance and intellectual property protection, compliance with disability rights and privacy laws, online sweepstakes and contests, general e-commerce compliance and sales tax regulations. (Megan Todd, University of Maryland Agriculture Law Initiative and Nicole Cook, University of Maryland Eastern Shore) |
| Special Sessions Colesville Room (2nd floor) | Queer Farmer Meet Up |
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH |
| SPECIAL FIELD TRIP | Field Trip to Koiner Farm! – Enjoy a brisk walk to Koiner Farm (5 blocks from conference) followed by a bonfire and warm teas. We will focus on community engagement and inclusion with an emphasis on resilience building in at-risk communities. Guests will have the opportunity to see the off-grid solar powered hoop house and barn and learn more about the role that urban farms can play in helping communities prepare for climate disasters. (Walk from the Civic Center to 737 Easley St.) |
| Business of Farming Main Ballroom A | Debt: Perspectives on Borrowing Money to Grow your Farm Business – This panel will feature experienced farmers candidly sharing their experience with debt. Taking out loans to grow your business can be an important part of growing your business, but it can also be intimidating. Learn from a variety of perspectives and get practical tips in this workshop for those just starting out as well as more experienced farmers. Bring questions! (David Giusti, Second Spring Farm and Casey Gustorawow, Fireside Farm, and Sarah Rider, Flying Plow Farm; Moderated by Liz Whitehurst, Owl’s Nest Farm) |
| Soil Health & Livestock Ellsworth Room B | Knowledge is Power: Know Your Rights for Farmers Working with The USDA – The USDA has a documented pattern of discrimination and poor service for farmers of color and historically underserved farmers. This session is designed to equip beginning, limited-resource, farmers of color with knowledge of their rights, how to advocate for themselves, and clear strategies for working with the USDA to advance their farm goals. Join us to learn practical tools for navigating USDA programs from a farmers perspective, ensuring fair treatment, and responding to adverse decisions. (Nia Nyamweya and Nick Walker, Beauty Blooms Farm) |
| Beginning Farming Fenton Room (2nd floor) | Farm Like a Mother: the Dirt on Farm Parenthood – All too often, parents are expected to be able to “do it all”, both excelling in their careers and raising a family. Farming as a chosen career presents its own unique parenting challenges. Pam, Sarah, and Mo will share their journeys becoming parents and their challenges and joys as full time farm mothers. Discussion encouraged! (Pam Jones and Sarah Obuchowicz, Gathering Springs Farm and Mo Moutoux, Moutoux Orchard) |
| Crop Production Ellsworth Room A | More than One Way to Sling a Flower – Part 2– Continuation of Part 1, described under Session VII. (Laura Beth Resnick, Butterbee Farm and Michelle Elston, Roots Flower Farm) |
| Wellbeing, Environment & Community Spring Room | Farmer Vs. Stormwater: How Farms Can Be a Force for Community Stormwater Management – Since the Community Ecology Institute purchased Freetown Farm in 2019 stormwater management issues have had both ecological and financial impact. In this workshop we will cover our approach to projects managing flooding and erosion as a small, urban farm practicing regenerative agriculture and how we fund them. (Simon Sauvageau and Justin Chen, The Community Ecology Institute) |
| Farming into the Future Main Ballroom B | 25 Years of Waterpenny Farm – We will tell the story of our farm, including the formation of our unique long term lease, ecological growing methods, and marketing. Rachel & Eric’s son, now a film student at Carleton College is making a creative film about the farm that we will also share. (Rachel Bynum and Eric Plaskin, Waterpenny Farm) |
| Special Sessions | Latinx Farmer Meet Up |