SATURDAY & SUNDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAMS

Final note…

When you pick up your registration badge and/or wrist band in Guelph UC103, read the back page of your Proceedings booklet carefully so that you can identify then “find” the room where your selected session takes place.

Reminder: a flat fee applies for each given day (adult fee or student fee), allowing you to attend all of the workshops that day FOR ONE SINGLE FEE.  These fees are shown at the menu item REGISTER HERE, above.  If you have absolutely “any” question about the registration process, prices, deadlines, etc., go to 2013 OVERVIEW or call one of us at the CONTACT US button.  Whether you are a 20-year certified organic farmer or an absolute novice, Guelph is for  you.

Saturday – February 2: (this is the BUZZ day for organics in Canada – one of the busiest days in the whole organic scene anywhere in the country)

• 5 streams of workshops – see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 below (1-crops, 2-livestock, 3-permaculture, 4-marketing, 5-communities)
• 4 workshops in each stream (9.30, 11.00, 1.30, 3.30).
• thus, 20 workshops running all day – your pre-registered badge or on-site wristband gets you into all of them

Sunday – February 3:

• 14 workshops (9.30, 11.30, 1.30)
• broad set of topics
• includes a 2-part BioDynamic stream + noon BD program - your pre-registered badge or on-site wristband gets you into all of them

The workshop descriptions will be updated as information comes in.

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SATURDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Reminder:  the single flat fee paid program, enables you to attend any & all of these 20 workshops (WHAT A DEAL!) – pay by cheque in advance, or PayPal in advance (to Jan. 14), or PayPal/full price up to cut-off date, or pay at the door by cash or cheque. For more information on pricing go to: Register

9:30 am – 10:30 am – Saturday, February 2 (60 minutes)

1A Controlling Weeds in Organic Cropping Systems – Roger Rivest

- Target Audience: Farmers who have persistent weed problems needing expert advice

2A Attaining Organic Certification in your Livestock Operation – Gary Lean & Bill Barkley

- Target Audience: Livestock Producers & Marketers and those entering the organic field who need the correct start-up info

3A The $100 Food Forest – Jennifer Osborn

- Target Audience: Permaculture Enthusiasts Wanting To Get Started – and those with innate curiosity on ‘what is permaculture’. Where do we plant it?, What do we plant in it? How do we get started?

These were the questions we asked ourselves when setting up our forest gardens a few years ago. Buying unusual permaculture plants from far away places is lots of fun, but can be expensive, and daunting if you just want to get started. We decided to find out if we could create an urban food forest using common plants available from common garden centres for $100 or less in a small space. The $100 Food Forest gives people a jumping off point to create their own food forest in their own backyard with commonly available plants from their local garden centre. Some of the topics covered include:

• permaculture ethics and principles
• what a forest garden is
• where to put a forest garden
• what plants can be used
• how to use the plants
• how the plants intergrate together
• where each are planted
• why the plants are planted where they are
• the benefits of incorporating perennial food plants into your gardening practice

For more information about All Sorts Acre and the $100 Food Forest please go to www.allsortsacre.ca

4A Marketing the Organic Message – Follow the Trends – Susan Ratz

- Target Audience: Small & large farmers wanting to frame their key messages

Do you feel overwhelmed by all the available marketing & communication options?  Looking for new ideas?  Let’s get your wheels turning, and your marketing efforts germinating!

For those who struggle with marketing the workshop will provide basic, practical ideas on how to get started.  The importance of a – Target market, thinking about your customer life cycle, tactical efforts vs branding, and basic marketing tools will be discussed.

For those who have more experience, the workshop will provide new ideas as well as an opportunity to stop and think about current marketing efforts.  Opt-ins, electronic newsletters, e-reports, online revenue streams and social media will be explored.

Susan Ratz of Milkweed Marketing will lead the presentation and share her business, marketing and communications expertise.

Something for everyone…  including independent growers, established businesses and not-for-profit representatives.

5A From the Ground Up – Building Your Resilient Farm-Centric Community – Angie Koch

- Target Audience: Small farmers wanting to build a resilient marketing network and those who intend to rely on local marketing for their primary market

Originally proposed workshop names: ••Food-Growing as Community Development: ••Building Resilient Food-Centric Communities from the Ground Up

Suggested Speakers: Angie Koch and 2 others who have community-building as part of their active mandate. The Stop in Toronto would be great to include. I run a (certified organic) CSA which  has become a neighbourhood hub. The Stop uses their community gardens not only to produce food for their kitchen and participants, but as part of their larger community-building mandate.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Description: Food naturally draws people together, be it the kitchen table or a potluck party. Local farms and gardens have a unique opportunity to contribute to building more resilient urban communities and facilitating the formation of stronger relationships within them. The CSA model is a natural fit, as are community gardens. Learn from growers who have actively integrated the goal of community-building into their models.

- Target: Direct-marketing commercial growers (especially CSA farmers) or community gardeners interested in using their businesses/organizations as ways to build stronger communities.

Other Comments: Local community resilience is a topic that is gaining traction. It is a focus of the Transition Initiative movement which is gaining worldwide momentum. In addition, with increased interest in local food systems has come an interest in the building of relationships between growers and eaters. Building stronger communities through organic food growing and distribution is a natural fit!

Larger theme possibility and potential other workshop topics in this stream: Food and Community Resilience.  Other workshop topics: •Organic school gardens, or •Building strong, local value chains in the organic industry, or •Developing Farmers Markets as Community Hubs

Contact: Angie Koch - angie@fertilegroundcsa.com - 226-747-2552

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11:00 am – 12.00 pm – Saturday, February 2 (60 minutes)

1B How to have your crop inputs approved for organic certification – Dave Lockman

- Target Audience: Developers of organic farming inputs, fertilizers and ingredients to be used in food production plus consumers who want a deeper knowledge of organic fertilizers and inputs

2BPastured pig primer – (Original title: Pastured pigs/overview before getting started – altered to be inclusive of all participants) – Tarrah Young

- Target Audience: Small-scale farm operators incorporating livestock, both for those absolutely new to the production method but also for those already involved who want further information.

Pastured Pig Primer – or Pastured Pigs 101 – An overview of the process & art of raising pigs outdoors.  The workshop is designed to be all-inclusive – so whether you are a new entrant or a seasoned producer, the workshop will have info which will help you either start, or improve your operation.

Issues to be addressed:

•some context & history of pastured pigs

•breed selection

•reasons for pasturing

•feed/the essentials (grain) & supplementary options (whey, fruit, nuts, etc.)

•3 categories of pig pastures

•examples of pasturing systems, case study: Joel Salatin

•putting pigs to work: pigs as rototillers, compost turners, etc.

•natural pig health

•to farrow or not to farrow

•issues to consider at slaughter time

•marketing & budgeting

In Tarrah’s words “This will be one busy hour” at Guelph from 11.00 am-12.00 pm, but please come ready to work and to learn.  During the 12.00 pm lunch period, some further questions can be answered if participants are interested.

Tarrah Young/GreenBeing, Neustadt, Ontario

3BThe permaculture life – creating your self-sufficient organic dream home – Ingrid Cryns

4B Organic claims – natural claims: sorting through the confusion – Dag Falck

- Target audience: consumers and marketers wanting to understand terms and language used on food labels

5B Learning from the first communities: ‘People of the Longhouse’ – Richard Hill

- Target audience: farmers and consumers who want to see the ancient history of food production and communities in Ontario

Learning from the Past: Haudenosaunee Garden Practices for a Productive Future

Speaker: Richard Hill, Coordinator of Research Projects, Deyohahage Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Six Nations Polytechnic

While the information might be introductory for most people, the appeal to more advance gardeners might be greater.

Description: Richard Hill will present an illustrated lecture on the origin and history of organic farming among the Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse – Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk and Tuscarora Nations). He will examine the underlying philosophy of cultivation as well as the special relationship between people and food plants.  He will share information on ancient cultivation practices that still have application today, sharing the current research and experiences of our organic farmers.  He has drawn from the work of Dr. Jane Mt. Pleasant at Cornell University and Clayton Brascoupe of the Traditional Native American Farmers Association.  There will be some information on Bi-Cultural Science as it relates to food production. He will have exhibition panels on heritage seeds of corn, beans and squash, samples of each seed, and provide handouts for group activities. He has conducted workshops many times and more recently organized the Haudenosaunee Seed Exchange, and Bi-Cultural Science training for Six Nations Teachers.

Target: The target is the general audience as there can be wide application of what is presented.

Comments: As I understand, there has not been significant dialogue between your participants and Indigenous gardeners as to the ancient practices that produced higher yields than industrialized farming, all without the aid of chemical fertilizers and plowing. This workshop is intended to explore ideas, and inspire people to practice mound agriculture.

POV – I would welcome anyone who has reliable research to show that the old style of mound agricultural was not more productive or healthier than most modern-day farming techniques.  I would also welcome anyone who has research to support the use of mound agriculture.

Richard Hill/Coordinator of Research Projects - Deyohahage Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Six Nations Polytechnic - P.O. Box 700, Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0 – 519-445-0023

Bio: Rick Hill (Tuscarora) is the Coordinator of the Deyohaha:ge: (Two Roads) Indigenous Knowledge Centre at Six Nations Polytechnic. His work focuses on teaching Bi-Cultural Science for increasing cultural awareness in our ecological relationships, and increasing our understanding of the history of the Haudenosaunee. He is the former Coordinator of the Joint Stewardship Board in Ohsweken, ON where he developed a plan for an environmental resource centre and a Haudenosaunee outdoor education program. He is a lecturer in Indigenous Studies, formerly teaching at the State University of New York at Buffalo; FNTI; McMaster University and Six Nations Polytechnic. Previously, he served as Assistant Director for Public Programs, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC.

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1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Saturday, February 2 (90 minutes)

1C Organic crop quality: advanced fertility strategies to get the best from your farmland – Ruth Knight

- Target audience: certified organic farmers who are producing crops for processors and grain brokers, from a consultant who deals daily with on-farm cropping challenges

2C Organic pasture management – forages, rotations, ration formulations – OMAFRA specialists Jack Kyle & Mario Mongeon + Eric Bowman organic grower

- Target audience: organic livestock producers wanting to improve herds and pastures

Pastures can provide a significant amount of feed for ruminant livestock at costs considerably below stored feed.  In this workshop we will discuss ways to optimize pasture production both from a productivity stand point and from an animal utilization perspective. As well, when concentrates are required to supplement pasture, knowing what type of feed, how much is needed and how it can be fed will optimize animal’s health and productivity. Maintaining productive pastures throughout the growing season even when the weather man does not fully cooperate will reduce your feed costs significantly.

ERIC BOWMAN – info

Pasture – known as Vegetarian Beef

Pasture has been an integral part of our farming practice for 4 generations. This just goes to show you that ‘what is old is new again.’ When we were dairy farming, we used rotational pastures but supplemented the cattle with dry hay and corn silage/grain.  2005 marked a major shift on the farm as we moved from dairy to beef and transitioned the farm to certified organic.  With this change, we increased our herd of cattle from 40-60 cows and the pastureland from 1 to 21 acres. At this point we were using 6 paddocks of approximately 3-4 acres per paddock. Each paddock provided approximately 3 days of pasture plus dry hay. This amount did not satisfy our herd requirements so another 10 acres was added to the pasture land. This piece was once again divided into 6 paddocks of approximately 1.5 acres. Each of these paddocks was divided into 3 and the cattle received a new 113 every day. Still a problem with overgrazing.

The herd numbers (all ages) increased over a period of 5 years and in 2012 we found the need for more pasture. At this point the generation of experience met the generation of new technology and research. All three of these qualities are essential to provide adequate food for the cattle. The fourth generation of Borman (Aaron) provided new thought on how to create the fourth pasture.

The first step was new-perimeter fencing and a water system for this 20 acre field.  This proved to be costly and time consuming at the onset but factored over 25 years it will be a very profitable expansion. We used some of our previously planted fall rye (5 acres) for pasturing in the spring . The remaining 15 acres of pasture was a refurbished old hay field. The introduction of tumble wheels and reels (front and back fence) makes the daily moving much more efficient. It also allows for two changes per day thereby reducing treading damage and improved utilization. The main goal of expanding pasture land is the benefits associated with proper rest periods.  We noted a definite increase in production per acre.  Thinking ahead, Aaron suggested pasturing grazing. With this in mind one of the original 6 paddocks previously spring grazed with fall rye (2012) was planted to corn silage. The 3-4 acre paddock was divided once more and each of these halves would be divided daily into 66 foot pieces. In September the cattle (55 cows and 25 caives) were turned into the corn and 44 more days of pasture was achieved. In previous years we would have fed 100-150 dry 5 foot round bales to supplement the pasture. This new system saved the use of hay equipment and man hours.  We raise our own replacement heifers and steers to market age. These animals have been presently broken into three separate groups which consist of grounding replacement heifer/steers, finishing steers and specialty breeds. The on farm market gave us more opportunity to control the marketing of our product. After the success of our pasture expansion in2A12 we have seen the importance of rest and better utilization our present pastures. The more experience we obtain the easier pasturing decisions have become. We hope to use our current pasturing ideas and experiences in our future decisions regarding pasturing.  Pasturing will always be at the heart of our operation as it provides the greatest return on investment while providing the greatest environment for the animals.

BIO: Eric is the third generation to farm at Bowmanview/Gallery on the Farm in Enniskillen, Ontario.  He graduated with his, Honours Degree in Animal Science from the University of Guelph in 1973.  In 1976 he started as a conventional dairy farmer and moved to a certified organic beef farmer in 2005.

His volunteer time is spent as a community member, (Durham Agriculture Advisory Committee), Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington – Director/Field Crops (15 years), member of the Durham Soil & Crop, past Provincial Director – (Ontario  Soil & Crop Improvement Association) and Durham East 4H leader (20 years).  Also, director on The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

FOR ANYONE WANTING TO CONTACT THE PRESENTERS PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP, TO GET ORGANIC PASTURE GUIDANCE, CONTACT: Jack Kyle/Grazier Specialist

322 Kent St W., Lindsay, ON K9V 4T7 - Phone 705-324-5855 jack.kyle@ontario.ca

3C Forest gardening – the roots of regeneration – Shantree Kacera

- Target audience: permaculture students wanting to start an acreage and those who want to learn from a generational practitioner

4C Transforming organic farming systems amidst chaotic climate change – Panel: Phil Beard, Ralph Martin, Ricardo Ramirez, Sally Ludwig

- Target audience: climate change advocates and those wanting to forge the link between organic farming and change

5C The Co-Farmer Movement: partnering growers & consumers – Panel: Organic Council of Ontario – Julie Daniluk, John Devlin, Jodi Koberinski

- Target audience: engaged consumers, organic activists, organic producers/ retailers, local community developers and those who want to re-ignite our organic movement

Description: As organic has become more successful in the business world, the sense of unity and being a “movement” amongst our consumers has waned, and the idea that “professionalization” of our movement has contributed to our loss of a sense of ownership as eaters over the movement. Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus at University of Missouri, spoke in 2012 to the OCO membership- the organic business and farm leaders in Ontario- about the need to include the consumer in the value chain if we are to have a truly sustaining food system.

The Organic Council of Ontario represents the full value chain from producer to eater. In 2012 OCO launched the “Co-Farmer Campaign”, an attempt to build consumer membership within our organization. With 5,000 dedicated organic eaters joining OCO each year, OCO would achieve our core funding goals and address the advocacy needs of the sector- in sharp contrast to our boom-bust cycles of primarily project funding. Connecting with those 5,000 potential members is the current challenge facing our organization.

Our panel includes Canadian superstar nutritionist and public speaker Julie Daniluk, a regular on the Marilyn Denis Show who also appears on Oprah and Dr. Oz, John Devlin of the University of Guelph and Jodi Koberinski of the Organic Council of Ontario. Julie’s experience as a motivational speaker and a nutritionist deeply engaged in promoting organics to the public offers the group insights into what motivates consumers to act beyond their grocery basket and become more active in supporting the work being done.

This workshop will provide insights for producers, retailers, activists, community organizers and engaged consumers on how we can re-invigorate our movement. We will explore the approaches we have taken in our first several months of our consumer campaign and share lessons learned about engagement in today’s climate. We will also be seeking input from participants on ways we can engage consumers: what do consumers need in exchange for supporting the movement? How can we best connect with engaged eaters?

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3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Saturday, February 2 (90 minutes)

1D Marketing the best quality organic grain – a buyers’ discussion of how to sell profitably – Panel: Tom Manley (Homestead Organics, an eastern Ontario organic feed processing operation), Marshall King (Organic Meadow grains division), Laverne Klecker (SunOpta Grains & Food Group from Minnesota, large processor of food-grade crops), Roger Rivest (Keystone Grains, organic grains processors and brokers based in Ontario and Manitoba)

- Target audience: organic grain growers wanting the latest info on crop prices and buyer requirements – also anyone who wants a greater understanding of grain growing, pricing, marketing, brokerage, truckload pricing and that part of the organic market-place which has carried the business forward over the last 25 years (grain crop production & marketing).  To all: the organic business in eastern Canada was built on organic grain growing.  Come to this workshop to get the facts.  Come to this workshop to market your organic grain, meet the buyers and possibly leave with a contract in-hand.

2D Dairy calf & heifer management in an organic system – OMAFRA/Mario Mongeon + Harry Peeters organic dairy farmer

- Target audience: organic dairy producers

ORGANIC PASTURE COMMENTARY BY HARRY PEETERS, OMEMEE, ONTARIO  -  ”Here is my view of organic pasture management & dairy calf + heifer management” [all of these being closely related]

Main Points

**I’ve used intensive strip grazing for 40+ years

**I’ve used no antibiotics since 1992

**I’ve been certified organic since 2001

**My production: 35 kg./cow = 11,000 kg., 3.9% BF, 3.5% P.

**No protein supplements purchased

**Quote me: “Only great heifers make great cows”

**Everyone can milk cows but not everyone can get cows to milk

**Know what you are managing for

**Dairy is like driving a vehicle – speed, type of vehicle and the road you choose will determine how soon you arrive at your destination

**Translate that to dairy: knowing your driving ability (management) for your vehicle (cattle) and knowing your limits is vital

**Average age of American cows at culling time is 42 months

**My goal is for the cows on this farm to live 10+ years and produce 100,000 kg. of trouble-free milk lifetime

**2 years ago I sold cows and quota to my son Kurtis, who wants to take his own road and the comparisons are very interesting

**MY MOTTO: NEVER CHOOSE ORGANICS TO HIDE POOR MANAGEMENT

**The biggest question for this workshop to discuss: what does it cost to raise a heifer on your farm?

If you want to call Harry to “talk organic dairy” call him at (705) 799-7335. 

3D Permaculture in practice on the 200-acre farm scale at Whole Village Community – Brenda Dolling

- Target audience: permaculture enthusiasts who want to see how a large farm acreage is launching a permaculture cropping program over the long term; also, how an intentional community lays out a long-term plan to grow crops, develop personal relationships and succeed through principled struggle & compassion

4D Successful strategies for selling the health benefits of organics – Jackie McMillan

- Target audience: marketers and individuals who want to communicate organic messages, communicated from someone who has learned the messaging from personal experience

5D Building a sustainable, local organic food system in your community – Panel: Bruce Peninsula Environment Group

- Target audience: communities which want to learn from the example of a successful local group – the BPEG group being the solidifier of issues in a rural and beautiful area of central Ontario (Bruce/Lion’s Head, bio-region)

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SUNDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Reminder:  the single flat fee program enables you to attend any & all of these 14 workshops - pay by cheque in advance, or PayPal in advance (to Jan. 14) or pay at the door by cash or cheque.  For more information on pricing go to: Register

5 workshops – 9.30 am – 11.00 am – sunday, feb. 3 (90 minutes)

1A Electroculture: natural electro-magnetic influences for fertility, yield & crop quality – Yannick Van Doorne

- Target audience: small-scale market gardeners

Natural Electro-Magnetic Influences on Plant Growth.

New Applications for Fertilization, Pest and Weed Control

Electromagnetic Influences in Gardening

Electroculture & Magnetoculture, New Ways for Agriculture

Focus : The use of Magnetic & Natural Electrical Forces for Healthy Plant Growth.

 

Also: How to Increase Crop Yields and their Quality Through the Use of the Electromagnetic Forces of Nature.  Further issues: Plant, Soil and Pest Treatments, through the Use of Magnetics.  This presentation shall include new, practical and easy applications of Electroculture and Magnetoculture for improved plant growth.   Some of the areas that will be addressed are:

* How to complete or even replace classic fertilization by using natural electromagnetic fertilization to achieve better crop yields.

* How to restore and heal trees to help them grow better.

* How to heal bee hives with magnets and a copper wire.

* How to increase the vitality of the water used for irrigation or pest treatments.

* How to increase/regulate the vitality in crops to give better yield + quality.

* Innovative ways to understand and regulate weeds.

All of the above is  achieved without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.  It is achieved only by the understanding of magnetic and natural electric forces present in our environment and how to use them correctly.  This presentation shall also incorporate some of the new prototypes of antennas and magnetic systems for gardens and agricultural use:  Beeswax Capacitors for the field and garden, Magnets to help bee hives,  Lakhovsky coils for plants, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTES FROM YANNICK VAN DOORNE

Electroculture or magnetoculture techniques use the earth’s Magnetic and Atmospheric electrical natural forces to boost plant growth, crops, harvest quality, shelf life and pest control.   These techniques make it possible to increase the harvest by more then 30% and increase vitamins and dry weight by 20% of almost all crops in comparison to conventional non organic farming.   All of this is done without fertilizers or pesticides.  Earth Magnetic, Paramagnetic, Telluric and Cosmic forces are used to boost the energetics of plant growth, pest control, vegetables and food quality, boost shelf life, increase water quality and much more.  You will be able to see the influence of these energies on your own health, water quality, plant growth and even possibilities for weather modification and climate régulation are observed.  Simple experiments that you can test at your farm will be shown.  This presentation includes demonstrations, applications, photos and a video.

MANAGER’S NOTE ABOUT THE VAN DOORNE DESCRIPTION: THE FULL TEXT WAS MUCH LONGER – THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE HERE TO PUBLISH IT ALL.  TO GET THE FULL TEXT & IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKSHOP IN YOUR PRINTED PROCEEDINGS BOOKLET, PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE SUNDAY, FEB. 3 PROGRAM.

2A The world of vermicomposting from small to mega-scale – Cathy Nesbitt

- Target audience: Suitable for anyone interested in understanding vermiculture and how worms help the environment. An advanced discussion about the current state of vermiculture.

Vermicomposting is composting using worms to convert food scraps and other organic material into a valuable natural fertilizer called vermicompost, or castings.

This workshop will discuss how worms will play an ever-increasing role in waste management,  soil production and therefore food security. We will explore the deeper issues concerning worm composting. Advances in vermi-technology will be discussed as well as the current state of vermiculture in Guatemala.

Many municipalities have introduced organic collection programs, and composting is already widespread. Worm composting is a great alternative for use in commercial and multi-residential settings. The solution to the garbage crisis is several solutions, one of which is vermicomposting.

During this session, Cathy will also discuss the benefit of sprouts. Worms for amending the soil and sprouts for consuming will help solve world hunger.

Benefits of vermicomposting:

• Reduces dependence on chemical additives
• Removes organic matter from the waste stream
• Worm castings, nature’s finest soil additive:
• provides stable organic matter for plants
• conserves moisture
• enhances growth and yields
• improves health of plants

Note: Visit Cathy at booth #94 in the lower level trade show.

Bio: Cathy Nesbitt is a worm advocate and founder of Cathy’s Crawly Composters. Established in 2002 this environmental business specializes in vermicomposting and organic diversion. Cathy has been involved in numerous collection/composting research projects and diverted several tonnes from landfill.

Through inspirational story telling and an incredible sense of humour, Cathy has raised the level of awareness about sustainable living and environmental conservation. Cathy lives by her word by constantly reducing her own ecological footprint. Her thought-provoking style of speaking inspires individuals to take action and do something. Over 50,000 have seen her presentation!

Cathy has spoken on vermiculture at provincial and international conferences. Cathy has been featured in a variety of media including print (150+), television and radio as well as blogs, podcasts and other social media outlets. Now available on DVD Squirm, The Story of Cathy’s Crawly Composters. Cathy has been acknowledged with several environmental and business awards.

 

3A Urban agriculture & city farming: panel of activists from Everdale Farm (Gavin Dandy & several presenters)

- Target audience: all those wanting to see the practical application of urban food programs – using examples of Everdale’s current work at a Toronto ‘urban farm’

4A Taking seed saving to the next level – Daniel Brisebois

- Target audience: seed growers and market gardeners wanting to profit from past & current seed workshops – Sub-Theme: Integrating seed in the Market Garden

Daniel Brisebois - Tourne-Sol co-operative farm

Vegetable growers have unique opportunities as seed growers. They are equipped to handle diversified crops, they are familiar with what they want in vegetable varieties, and they can harvest portions of crops going to seed as a market vegetable. Of course you need to consider labor, isolation distances and space requirements as you add seed crops to your farm. But it’s well worth it to increase on-farm agro-ecological diversity, reduce expenses, guarantee a supply of critical varieties, and potentially diversify your farm revenue.

Comparing seed crops with vegetable crops (headings):

Planting times

Overwintering

Weeding needs

Pollination

Irrigation

Seed Harvest

Rotation

Field Layout

Crops to consider (easiest to hardest):

• Fruits that don’t easily cross pollinate: Tomatoes; peppers; and eggplants
• Annual greens you can cut as salad greens: Asian greens; lettuce; spinach
• Fruits that that saving seed will impact veg yield: Beans; peas
• Fruits that cross-pollinate easily
• Biennial greens you can cut as salad greens: Kale, Chard, Chicories
• Biennial roots that you can sell discards: Carrots, Beets, Turnips, Radishes

About Daniel Brisebois

Daniel Brisebois is co-author of Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers and blogs about growing seed  (goingtoseed.wordpress.com). He is one of the 5 members of Tourne-Sol co-operative farm (www.fermetournesol.qc.ca) in Les Cedres, Quebec. Tourne-Sol produces certified organic vegetables, flowers, seeds, seedlings and herbal teas on 12 acres rented from an organic grain farm. Tourne-Sol’s products are distributed through a 250-share CSA, farmers market, and on-line seed catalogue.  Daniel has a B. Sc. in agricultural engineering from McGill University. He is also president of Canadian Organic Growers and on the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network’s steering committee. You can reach Daniel at daniel@fermetournesol.qc.ca

5A BIODYNAMIC WORKSHOP A (morning) – Towards an understanding of the stars in agriculture: Astrology, Astronomy & Astrosophy – Mary Stewart Adams

- Target audience: those wanting to understand cosmic cycles

Theme: like the environment they describe, contemporary concepts in star knowledge are ever-changing. What informs these concepts and how do they effect activity on earth, particularly agricultural activity?

NOTE: SUNDAY NOON IN THE BIODYNAMIC WORKSHOP ROOM.  THE ORGANIZERS WILL CONTINUE WITH AN INFORMAL PROGRAM IN THIS ROOM.  PLEASE INQUIRE AT THE SOCIETY FOR BIODYNAMIC FARMING BOOTH IN THE GUELPH EXPO (TABLE #18, MAIN LEVEL).

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4 workshops – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – sunday, feb. 3 (60 minutes)

1B The Food Web – Organic food & international flyways – Antony John

- Target audience: environmentalists and organic growers wanting to understand international eco-systems from a certified grower and world traveller

2B Local food meets the healthcare paradigm – Fay Rakoff

- Target audience: community developers wanting to integrate local/organic foods into healthcare

Speaker: Fay Rakoff – Sustainability & Food Security student, Ryerson University, Toronto

Abstract – This paper examines motivations, challenges and solutions regarding hospitals procuring more local, sustainably produced foods, and more optimal handling of food wastage.

In 2010 the Ontario Provincial Government began issuing grants for R&D, specifically to increase Ontario-local food consumption at public institutions, thereby stimulating provincial economic growth and agricultural sustainability.

My personal involvement with the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care began in 2011, as a thesis towards my Sustainabilty Certificate. I performed a food origin audit at a 900 bed teaching hospital in downtown Toronto. Data was gathered by interviewing distributors, suppliers and, where possible, by drilling down to source farms. The audit indicated that only a small fraction of the food was locally sourced, with most ingredients coming from other Canadian provinces, the US and South America. Interviews did reveal a tendency amongst hospital administrators and commercial food suppliers of increased awareness of the benefits of local organics.

Subsequently, I designed a food satisfaction and consumption survey for a 200 bed, southern Ontario, regional hospital. This survey provided insights if locally grown, fresher ingredients would improve inpatient food satisfaction, thereby reducing wastage.

During fall 2012, I conducted an in-depth analysis of food wastage at a Kitchener Long-Term Care Facility, to explore opportunities to reduce surplus food production and better handle the food waste that is inevitably generated. Key waste reduction recommendations include the establishment of on-site institutional composting and edible gardening, aiming for closed-loop operation.

The assertion is that, as hospitals demand more local and sustainably produced foods as raw ingredients, farmers, suppliers and distributors will trigger policy change at local levels and further up the chain, spawning a shift from the industrial agri-business model to a more local, sustainable food supply.

In 2013, hospitals will be encouraged to take the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge to support sustainable food procurement and practices.

My volunteer work with Seeds For Change, a grass-roots community organization, supplements the vision of building healthier neighbourhoods through community gardens and the creation of a food policy charter.

Key words  -  *farm to hospital  *sustainable local food systems  *inpatient food service satisfaction & consumption  **surplus food production  **Institutional composting  **policy reform  **community gardens

Bio – I am a “mature” student, at the Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University. I have my Certificate in Sustainability and now am well into meeting requirements for my Food Security Certificate. My focus is local, sustainable food for health care. My studies and related volunteer activities have become an all-encompassing, life-style changing, passionate hobby.  In my professional life, I am the Director of Operations for “epost”, the electronic mail delivery arm of Canada Post. I started out with a Computer Science degree, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and have been immersed in the IT industry ever since. In my current role, I run a 24*7*365 data processing shop that delivers electronic mail on behalf of Canadian financial and commercial institutions.

3B New thinking will save agriculture - Melisa Luymes

- Target audience: farmers & policy makers seeking a critical discussion on agricultural problem-solving.

In this workshop, I will highlight key thinking among farmers and in farm media that is actually hurting agriculture. My presentation will be based on my Master’s thesis in rural sociology here at the University of Guelph, in which I studied farm magazines, the general farm organizations and interviews with farmers. I found that farmers’ views on educating consumers, their mistrust of their neighbours, their discrediting the government while advocating for global free trade and ‘personal freedoms’ are actually not in their best interests but work mostly to benefit large agribusiness corporations. Though organic production methods are counter to the status quo, the thinkingof organic producers might not be. By changing the way we think, we can change the way we act and we can change Canadian agriculture for the better.  My presentation will be followed by an opportunity for participants to share their own thoughts, in order that we can begin an important and honest discussion about how we can rescue agriculture, for the benefit our farmers, our health and our environment.

Melisa works on an Ontario family farm with her own small CSA market garden.

4B Kitchen Gardening – Grow Your Own Microgreen Business - Lisa Mumm (Mumm’s Sprouting, Saskatchewan)

- Target audience - Small farms, especially those with CSAs; farmers who sell at markets and/or have farm-gate sales; backyard/urban gardeners.

Why Microgreens? Expand the scope of your farm operation to include microgreens, a largely untapped market.  Offering your community this year-round resource can be a great way to diversify your operation. With a 1-4 week growing season, microgreens offer the ability of quick farm income.  One of nature’s greatest superfoods, microgreens appeal to both restaurants and the consumer market.

Workshop Description This workshop will teach you how to bring the nutritional potency of microgreens to your community. Using a ten-step how to grow process, we will cover a series of best practices to help you establish a microgreen production system suited to your environment. We’ll cover both soil-based and hydroponic methods, and examine best practices not only for the ‘big three’ microgreens (wheatgrass, pea shoots, and sunflower greens) but explore options for brassicas, herbs, and others.  For the experienced grower, this workshop will help you to scale up production by minimizing mould  and rot, uneven growth, and other yield related issues. We’ll also touch on specialty microgreens, which help to diversify production and allow greater access to specialty markets.  We’ll also look at a variety of composing methods.

Difficulty - Beginnner (those getting started) to intermediate (those with experience)

Speaker - Lisa Mumm and her family run an organic seed farm and sprouting seed business, Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds. She has experience in the entire microgreen life cycle, from seed production to planting and harvesting microgreens.

Questions prior to Conference? Contact lisa@sprouting.com  –  or attend the GMO Impacts seminar on Friday afternoon (Feb. 1) where Lisa will be a lead presenter.  Lisa is also one of the 3 panelists in the Friday evening Keynote Forum “The Greening of Agriculture.”

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5 workshops – 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, sunday, feb. 3 (90 minutes)

1C Wood mushroom cultivation options – indoor, outdoor, market garden & woodlot – Bruno Pretto

- Target audience: small-scale growers wanting to build a log mushroom component into their business

2C Seasoned medicine: using kitchen herbs & spices – Kerry Hackett

- Target audience: individuals wanting to understand medicinal herbs

3C Small-scale equipment for up to 100 acres for green manures & cash crops – Lorne Jamieson

- Target audience: farmers wanting a hands-on explanation of how equipment works – Lorne has been part of 2 previous workshops on equipment use; Lorne is the lead farms manager at Ignatius Farm just north of Guelph where multiple organic crops are grown.

4C Attracting wild pollinators to your farm – Susan Chan

- Target audience: small farmers or small acreage owners wanting to attract pollinators.  See also the Friday major 3-hour seminar on ‘Pollinating The World’ in which Susan is presenting.

5C BIODYNAMIC WORKSHOP B – The Stella Natura Kimberton Calendar – Sherry Wildfeuer

- Target audience: individuals wanting to go deeper into BioDynamic Agriculture.

Sherry Wildfeuer, from Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Pennsylvania

The title is: “The Inspiration behind Biodynamics” — a one hour presentation on “Who was Rudolf Steiner and What were his essential Contributions to Agriculture?”

…. followed by a workshop on how to use the Stella Natura biodynamic planting calendar.

 

 

BY THE END OF THE SUNDAY PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE EXHAUSTED.  THEN, TIRED BUT HAPPY, YOU CAN WEND YOUR WAY HOME, KNOWING THAT NEXT YEAR’S GUELPH SHOW WILL BE BIGGER & BETTER THAN EVER.  YOUR CARRY-BAGS WILL BE FULL OF GOODIES AND YOUR SATCHEL WILL BE FULL OF PRINTED INFO.

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TRYING TO PLAN “WAY AHEAD” FOR LATE JANUARY, 2014 – Conference guests: please send us your comments about future workshop interests, ideas, themes, streams, snippets of what interests you. We look at ALL workshop topics that you send us – the more specific your title and suggested speaker, the easier for the organizers to source the speaker.

For more info go to: http://www.guelphorganicconf.ca/workshop-proposals