Join the Ecological Farmers in Ontario for 3 great workshops!

• Essentials of Ecological Farming – New Farmer Focus (Thurs Jan 26 & Fri Jan 27) 9am – 4pm
• Digging Deeper into Soils – Exploring and Understanding Different Approaches to Monitoring Soil Health and Fertility (Thurs Jan 26) 10am – 4pm
• Ecological Beekeeping (Fri Jan 27) 10am-4pm

For more details on this and all our Winter Events, go to their Courses and Events page!

Thousands of people have attended the Guelph Organic Conference in the past three decades. Their ages are as varied as their lifestyles, from budding young families to active seniors, fifth generation farmers to city gardeners, but they all have one thing in common: They make the environment a priority on the last weekend in January at the University of Guelph.

The atmosphere in the University Centre is charged with excitement. Newbies discover they are not alone in their pursuit of a healthier planet when they browse the organic expo and tasting fair- over 150  booths where they can nibble free samples of organic chocolate, frozen desserts, cheese and popcorn while learning about organic seeds, farming, clothing, wine and food, and even international development agencies working in sustainable agriculture.

For veterans of the original green movement, the conference is a festive rendezvous, with friends reuniting over complimentary fair trade organic coffee and hot cider, or browsing book stalls sharing tips on their latest good read. With so much going on, it is hard to keep an eye on the clock.

The wide range of workshops, though, from organic farming strategies to new research, backyard composting and climate change, make sticking to a schedule worthwhile. This year the Sunday morning Holistic Management workshop will be particularly helpful for anyone that has struggled with lifestyle choices that everyone in the family can live with. This kit-bag of priority-setting tools can help keep you on track when it comes to reducing your footprint on this planet.

“It is applicable to any family or small business, or to farmers and ranchers,” says Tony McQuail, who, with his wife Fran will present the Coles Notes version of this whole-life approach. McQuail points out that when your written plan considers future resources like clean water and a healthy environment to achieve your goals, it reminds you that you need to invest time and energy into preserving those resources. “Holistic Management is really grounded in the environment, and keeping family and your spiritual beliefs as core values.”

Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of organics, making lifestyle changes with your family’s future in mind, searching for opportunities as an organic farm apprentice, or hoping to reconnect with old friends, the 30th Guelph Organic Conference is the place to be at the end of January. Make a commitment to the environment, for your children, and for the future of your planet. Come to Guelph.

General inquiries: Conference Response Line – Mike Driscoll mikedriscoll@bell.net 519-824-4120 x56205
Media inquiries:  Katrina Simmons katrina@2020studios.com

Get your fingers going! The Guelph Organic ON-LINE Registration is open! Check out the Conference Overview to find out what is going on, and then sign up for the options you want. Hurry though, the Thursday and Friday workshops will fill up fast!

The 2010 Conference ran 15 workshops around several major themes: Organic Crop Production, Organic Soil Management, Canadian Organic Issues, Ecology & Biodiversity and Farmer Direct Marketing Issues.  Can you suggest other major themes which would interest you for 2011?

HOT OFF THE PRESS – “For all those interested in the detailed summary of the 2010 Guelph Conference, here is the document for your reading.  For those who want a printed hard-copy, please respond below.  We request a $10 donation for this postpaid copy.  It will be mailed to you if you provide a full mailing address in your response.  The bound copy of the Proceedings is a nice addition to your library and also makes a great donation to your local Public Library.”

Guelph Organic Conference 2010 proceedings