Workshop Descriptions

THURSDAY SEMINAR

A 1/2-day program, ‘Talking Turkey – Supply Management & The Freedom To Farm Progressively.”

FRIDAY SEMINAR PROGRAM

-4x 3-hour extended seminars

Seminar A Research, See Call for Papers.

Seminar B
(advanced)
9.00am – 12.00pm
Blueprints for Farm-based Breeding and Seed Systems
“The Future of Seed carries with it the Future of Humanity”
from Manifestos on the Future of Food & Seed, 2007, edited by Vandana Shiva

Organic agriculture and local food systems need seeds that are bred, grown, and saved on sustainable farms, for local ecological, economic and cultural realities. In this workshop participants will explore the practical opportunities and challenges for re-building bioregional seed systems in Canada by:

1) Developing a coast to coast national snap shot of regional farm-based seed and breeding efforts, with video presentations from Patrick Steiner of Stellar Seeds in BC (www.stellarseeds.com)/BC Seeds (www.bcseeds.org), Andrea Berry of Hope Seeds in New Brunswick (www.hopeseed.com) /the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network (www.seeds.ca/en.php?n=ecosgn_home), and questions and input from workshop attendees. Patrick and Andrea will discuss the challenges and successes they have had building local organic seed companies in British Columbia and New Brunswick, the progress being made on seed system development on the West Coast and in Atlantic Canada, and the dynamics of working with farmers to breed and grow high quality seeds for their bioregions.

2) Following Chris Wooding of Ironwood Gardens (www.ironwoodgardens.ca) through an in-depth visual and statistical tour of his Eastern Ontario efforts to grow, test, and rehabilitate selections from 70 heritage wheat varieties developed in the 1870s-1945. His presentation will explore elements of his farm-based research program, such as breeding techniques for horizontal resistance, the use of GIS satellite data to correlate variety performance against soil, climate, weather, latitude/day length, and his system for tracking adaptation over sequential years of growing trials and seed saving. He will also give us a glimpse of his number crunching on the profitability of growing wheat for sale as seed, grain, or for on-farm milling.

3) Exploring the history of the erosion of regional and public breeding and seed systems, and the challenges presented by the consolidation of the seed industry and its recent shift toward biotechnology. This 20th Century process went hand in hand with the industrialization of agriculture and the Green Revolution. Most recently, the biotech industry is using both legal (intellectual property rights) and biological (hybrid and, maybe soon, terminator seeds) approaches to increasing privatization and profiteering.

Criticism of corporate industrial control over our seeds is not enough. Concrete changes are required that help diversified farmers, seed growers and breeders become economically viable. We will summarize and discuss desired changes in terms of plant varieties and traditional knowledge; on-farm seed saving and selecting technologies and skills; breeding and research capacities (local plant breeding clubs and how to get scientists on farms helping farmers); local seed markets and seed profitability; required policy and legal reforms; and the interdependence of bioregional seed systems with developing local farm and food systems and regional ecologies, using Canadian and international examples.

4 Providing input on the future of regional seed and breeding systems in Canada. An audience driven review of stregths, weaknesses, challenges, opportunities on the ground and the implications for federal policy development/the People’s Seed Policy Project. Input will be gathered by Sarah Martin from the People’s Seed Policy Project (www.forumonpublicdomain.ca/node/257) a national consultation process currently underway as part of Food Secure Canada’s (foodsecurecanada.org) national People’s Food Policy Project (peoplesfoodpolicy.ca)

Presenter Bios:
Andrea Berry is the owner and operator of Hope Seeds in Knowlesville , New Brunswick . She is the former coordinator of Organic Agriculture at the Falls Brooke Centre (www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/agriculture/index.htm), where she started the New Brunswick Organic Farm Apprenticeship program (www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/agriculture/apprenticeships.htm). She now grows seeds for her own company and works with other regional farmers to develop varieties and supply Hope Seeds. She has worked with other seed grower-sellers to found the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network.

Andrew McCann, the workshop coordinator, is a farm and food activist from Kingston , Ontario . He has market gardened; volunteered at the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary (www.providence.ca/seeds/); co-initiated and co-coordinated Food Down the Road: Toward a Sustainable Local Food System for Kingston and Countryside (fooddowntheroad.ca); started and taught the online certificate program, Sustainable Local Food for All Canadians (www.sl.on.ca/parttime/OnlineCredit-SustFood.htm) and is currently working with Urban Agriculture Kingston and Kingston area farmers to found a wholesale local food distribution cooperative with on-site mill and bakery. He is turning his agroecology masters thesis into a book entitled Gauguin’s Potatoes: Local Food, Biotechnology and the Future of Seed.

Chris Wooding is an organic farmer and farm-based heritage wheat researcher at Ironwood Gardens, near Gananoque , Ontario . He has meticulously researched the history of wheat growing in Canada, obtained 70 varieties of seed stock and is in his third year of growing, observing, selecting, measuring and recording data in an effort to rehabilitate these heritage varieties for his bioregion. His presentation will be a progress report on this intensive effort, and it will include data not just on the wheat’s life cycle, but on the economics of production, processing and marketing his harvest for seed and for milling.

Patrick Steiner owns and operates Stellar Seeds in Salmon Arm, BC. He is well-known for his high-quality seeds as well as his involvement in seed growing education. He has worked for the last several years on seed security issues in Canada and abroad, including helping to found BC Seeds, and serving on the board of USC Canada (www.usc-canada.org) and writing a book entitled Small-Scale Organic Seed Production (www.bcseeds.org/seed-manual.php).

Sarah Martin is a food and seed systems researcher and activist based in Ottawa , Ontario . She is a researcher and writer for the People’s Seed Policy Project, and is working on a masters in Political Economy at Carleton University . Her undergraduate honours thesis is entitled From efficiency to authenticity: the contradictions of institutional foodservice and local food sourcing.

Seminar C Research, See Call for Papers.

SATURDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAM -

MORNING-11.00 AM – 12.00 PM – (these are 5 concurrent 1-hour workshops, all running in separate rooms)

ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

•Tom Manley

Organic Grain ‘Quality Control’ At The Farm Gate
The processor’s view of quality organic grain production – dockage, grade, storage & price. Alternative

Tom Manley will draw upon wide years of experience in receiving grain at the processing dock. Over the years, he has observed those latent weeds which kill the value of stored grain, which farmers want to sell him. So, how should farmers handle and condition grain in the field before storing in the bin and delivering it to Homestead? How can they measure moisture and control dockage, assess contamination, etc. How should farmers negotiate organic grain contracts with the processor, understanding all the challenges that processor faces? What single best lesson can an organic grain farmer learn when dealing with a grain handler who may be storing up to 2000 tons at a time? This workshop will give all current and would-be grain growers a glimpse into the pricing and handling challenges of the organic feed grain elevator. Homestead buys literally hundreds of loads of organic grain every year, so you can learn from this workshop whether you are currently a grain grower or even if you’re just thinking about it.

Contact Tom Manley prior to the workshop at: tom (at) homesteadorganics.ca

ORGANIC SOIL MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

•Glen Rabenberg, •Pieter Biemond

Calcium – The Answer To Higher Sugar Levels in Plants.
Speaker: Glen Rabenberg, South Dakota, assisted by Pieter Biemond, Ontario
Description: Calcium – The Foundation of Life. Proper levels of calcium within the plant strengthen the whole plant and allow for efficient use of sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen and mineral nutrients. Calcium allows nutrients to become available to the plant for higher energy and plays a major role in plant physiology by strengthening physical structure and helping in protection from disease attacks. This workshop addresses the vitality and health of plants in any situation and it would be beneficial to all attendees of the Conference because it will provide a very different approach to growing and maintaining gardens, crops, etc. The workshop will provide people with a detailed and highly researched foundation behind the health of their plants and how to address the problems in the soil.

Target: General – anyone who grows plants.
Level: Introduction/Intermediate.

NOTE: GSR Calcium has an Expo table in the Lower Level so be sure to come by their booth to discuss your issues.

CANADIAN ORGANIC ISSUES WORKSHOP

•Ted Zettel

ECOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP

•Cathy Nesbitt

FARMER DIRECT MARKETING ISSUES

•Anne Freeman & Panel of Producers & Marketers

The Farmers’ Market Forum: Challenges, Opportunities & Connections For Producers & Communities

The farmers’ market scene is rapidly growing and changing. A panel of market managers and producers will share experiences, insights and research findings. This one-hour forum will be just the beginning of a weekend-long conversation! Find our ‘markets activity room’ in the Lower Lobby of the Expo and spend some time telling us about your interests.

EARLY AFTERNOON-1.30 PM – 3.00 PM – (these are 5 concurrent 1.5-hour workshops, all running in separate rooms)

ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

•Darren Robinson – University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus and •Kristen Callow, OMAFRA, Weed Management (Horticulture)

Weed control in organic crops

This workshop will cover the several main weeds encountered in organic field crops. This workshop will appeal to production-scale growers but others may want to sit in to gain a grasp of the weed challenges in organic farming. Ample time for Q & A is planned.

ORGANIC SOIL MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

•Anne Verhallen/OMAFRA

Soil Health • Building On Your Soil Biology

Soil health is the key to sustainable and profitable production. Using examples from established organic farms, Anne will examine in detail the management options (cover crops, manure, composts, tillage, etc) to build on the soil biota on your farm. Come along to add your experience to the discussion !

Anne Verhallen • Soil Management Specialist (Hort.)

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

Ridgetown, ON, N0P 2C0

CANADIAN ORGANIC ISSUES WORKSHOP

New Farmer Panel: Make Your Own Living and Lifestyle Out of Farming
By Caitlin Hall- National Farmers Union, Ali English- FarmStart, Harris Ivens- Farmers Growing Farmers & panelists:

This panel aims to provide a look into the intricacies of choosing farming as both a career and a lifestyle. Our panel of new farmers will share their farming stories and offer insight into:

Acquiring land
Working with others- partners, interns, employees, your community
Developing a business plan and keeping good records
Choosing a business structure and following through with marketing
Financing a new farm
Adjusting to farm life while maintaining a balance

About Ahren Hughes

Ahren was first exposed to farming were through the WWOOF program at Michael Nickels’ farm, Seven Ravens, on Salt Spring Island. Over a period of 8 months, which included a 3 month working trip to Kenya, he learned about permaculture, good hard work, and the real urgency of creating local sustainable food and resource systems. Back in Guelph, Ahren became involved in community gardening and founded the Laughing Toad Community Tree Nursery, which engaged in urban forestry and urban agriculture projects. In 2004 he started Blackshire Gardens establishing 300 nut trees and 100 fruits trees. The trees are grown in alleys, in between which he pastures his Berkshire pigs and grows annual crops such as dried beans, heritage corn and some perennial herbs and vegetables. In 2005 Ahren started experimenting with growing mushrooms on logs and has since been growing oyster and shiitake mushrooms at Four Fold Farm. In addition to the mushrooms, fruit/nut trees and pigs, he also grows dried beans using hand tools and completes the threshing and cleaning with low tech, homemade equipment. Ahrens main focus is growing food during the summer season for winter consumption with an overarching mandate of energy efficiency. Ahren is currently an urban, commuting farmer, living in the city and farming at 3 farms in the country. This has allowed him to slowly engage in farming while still holding down a carpentry career. The commuting is taking its toll, however, and in 2010 he hopes to begin living on a farm, so he can be more fully engaged in, and enjoy the farming lifestyle. info (at) blackshiregardens.com | www.blackshiregardens.com

About Robin Turner
Robin has been farming organic vegetables for five years, after completing a degree in Agriculture from the University of British Columbia. His experience includes working for three years on 300+ share non-profit CSA projects in Montreal and Boston. Recently Robin has been a partner in the significant expansion of two CSA and market farms near Ottawa. Robin believes success on the market farm or CSA hinges on minimizing costs, focusing on interesting varieties of well known common vegetables, and learning to foster a positive environment for volunteers, interns and employees. robin (at) justfood.ca

About Tarrah Young
Tarrah is a first generation farmer. She started Green Being Farm three years ago with her husband, Nathan, and they raise pastured pork, lamb, poultry, and vegetables on their 50 acre farm in Neustadt, ON. Tarrah decided to become a farmer in 2002, when she had virtually no agricultural experience, just a desire to do something positive for the earth. Her love for good food and an insatiable desire to farm for a living grew over the years as she amassed farming skills through formal training, volunteering, internships, incubating and management positions on farms throughout North and Central America. Her dream came true 2 years ago when she and Nathan finally acquired a piece of land to call their own. greenbeingfarm (at) gmail.com | www.greenbeing.com

ECOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP

•Nicola Ross – editor (at) alternativesjournal.ca

The Eco-Writer’s Intensive Workshop

“So you want to be an eco-writer” – the basics of good environmental writing, a.k.a. ‘how to get your environmental article published.’ Workshop presenter: Nicola Ross, executive editor, Alternatives Journal, Canada’s national environmental magazine since 1971. A biologist, Nicola Ross is an award-winning magazine writer and author of three books. Her stories have been published in The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Harrowsmith CountryLife, The Calgary Herald and more. She has taught freelance writing at Humber College and is currently the executive editor of Alternatives Journal.

This introductory program has as its objective:

- to provide participants with an overview of freelance writing opportunities and requirements for the environmental articles in the Canadian magazine and newspaper market.

Seminar Outline:

-participants will learn about the elements of a feature environmental story; how to find and research a story, pitch it to editors and come up with a feature article suitable for publication.

Topics to be covered include:

Elements of a feature story
Finding story ideas
Researching a story
Interviewing skills
Writing a query letter
Opportunities in Canadian magazines

This seminar would appeal to Conference guests who are interested in gaining a better understanding of how they could have their environmental stories published. Participants could range from those individuals with several published articles to those with none (i.e. would-be eco-writers). If there is to be increased take-up of environmental ideas and actions, including those about organic food, then the sector needs people who can write well and get published. This workshop will help them do that.

FARMER DIRECT MARKETING ISSUES

•Maureen Giffen

The next big thing in CSA marketing – profitability

www.edencrestfarms.com

(just west of Barrie, Ontario)

10 minutes Introduction – of Jim and Maureen Giffen
20 minutes about our diversified farming operation
30 minutes – “thinking out of the box” for more profit! We will discuss different types of CSA models that could work for your farming operation and how to market them.
30 minutes for Q & A and brainstorming with workshop participants

Purpose:

This workshop will get you thinking outside of the standard CSA model, to find more opportunity and more profit! We will discuss different marketing tactics and a wide variety of CSA models that you can incorporate into improving your farming income.

Payoff:

You will walk away from this session with inspiration and new ideas that will have you calculating the possibilities…….. and that’s before you even get home! We will even provide the paper and pencils ! See you in January.

LATE AFTERNOON-3.30 PM – 5.00 PM – (these are 5 concurrent 1.5-hour workshops, all running in separate rooms)

ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

•Ulli Hack

Organic field crop rotations with high fertility & weed control (ADVANCED)

CONF. MANAGER’S NOTE: this is an extremely technical and detailed description of a workshop program. Several unfamiliar terms may be used. If you have any questions prior to attending this workshop on Jan. 30, 2010 at the Guelph Conference, please contact Ulli Hack, presenter, Kincardine, Ontario, at: uhack bd(at) bmts.com

Ulli Hack and the family actively farm about 1000 acres of mixed crop land on the shores of Lake Huron. This ‘advanced’ workshop is a variation of others which Ulli previously presented at the Conference (see past Proceedings documents for those summaries).

Managing good fertility and weed control are 2 key elements for a successful organic operation. But the challenge is also in achieving that. Soil life is the key. Soil life needs air, thus soil compaction needs to be avoided, as it can produce years of troubling weeds and reduced fertility caused by the acids of anaerobic fermentation in the soil. Also resulting is the reduced fertility caused by the death of fertility-producing soil life. Soil life also needs food. MORE ON THIS WORKSHOP

ORGANIC SOIL MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

•Hida Manns

Benefits of Mycorrhizal fungal associations with plants – a soil insurance plan

Target Audience: Gardeners, market gardeners, farmers

Theme: Relationship of soil to health and sustainability

Significance: One of the advantages of organic farming is that it stimulates the presence of mycorrhizal colonization. This fungal association with the plant roots benefits plant growth from economizing nutrients and moisture and improving soil structure, and is also associated with disease and insect resistance, improved plant nutrients and keeping quality.

Description: Mycorrhizas are a fungal colonization of plant roots that improve nutrient uptake and soil moisture acquisition from soil in natural systems. The addition of organic matter and cover crops improves the mycorrhizal colonization of agricultural crops and may explain the equivalent yields/advantages between organic and conventional practices. This past year, with excessive rainfall, potatoes from my organic stock kept well, while new commercial seed rotted within a month and I have noticed this problem with pumpkins in previous years. I will discuss my experience and research on factors affecting mycorrhizal colonization, and subsequent benefits on plant yield, health, nutrition and keeping quality.

CANADIAN ORGANIC ISSUES WORKSHOP

•Kevin Laidley, OMAFRA representative and •Bob Watts Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada representative

Growing Forward – discussion of federal-provincial-territorial organic program funding opportunities

Growing Forward is a five-year commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to support the development of a profitable, innovative agri-food sector that is adept at managing risk and responsive to market demands.

Growing Forward builds on the Agricultural Policy Framework, which it replaces, but provides new opportunities to strengthen competitiveness.

For more information in advance of the workshop, go to: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/growingforward/index.htm

ECOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP

•Kerry Hackett

Eat Your Weedies!

PREAMBLE – for why this workshop is being offered: as of April, 2009, the Ontario cosmetic pesticide ban is in place! So, rather than attacking those persistent weeds, why not employ them for nutrition, herbal medicine and first aid?

This workshop will explore the use of everyday weeds as plants bursting with nutrients and medicinal qualities. Recipes for both food and medicines will be included in the presentation.

The workshop focus is general – in other words, to all levels of interest. However, as Kerry is a previous presenter at this Conference, guests can follow up on any questions left over from last January. This Power Point Presentation will be a full 90 minutes but will allow for many opportunities for your informed Q & A.

Kerry Hackett’s Bio: she runs a full-time private practice as a Medical Herbalist in Stratford, Ontario. Member of: National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK). Ontario Herbalists Association (Past President). Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association.

FARMER DIRECT MARKETING ISSUES

•Shane Eby

Eco-Grown Cut Flowers: Intro To Production & Marketing

Further workshop names & concepts: Cut Flowers: Production & Sale… or Growing & Selling Specialty Cut Flowers. Guest speakers are active producers Shane Eby, Julia Hitchcock & Dan Riegler – this is a group presentation by under ground organics – www.undergroundorganics.net

Presentation level – Introduction to Intermediate (involved but seeking to refine market approaches).

Cut flowers offer a wide range of opportunities and benefits for farm businesses. Discussion topics will include a brief overview of the current industry and how people interact with cut flowers, focused information on potential cut flowers to be grown for sale, propagation/cultivation, field management, handling/storage and equipment. Also, information will flow on how and where to sell the product, including CSA, Farmer’s Markets, Florists, Pick Your Own, Event Planners, Weddings, as well as Special Occasions.

The ideal target of this workshop is organic growers and/or market gardeners.

The presenters say: “We don’t eat flowers, so why should they be organic?” This is a very common sentiment. The existing ‘Cut Flower Industry’ in Canada and beyond our borders is heavily reliant upon intense chemical regimes and international imports. Both of these elements need to be, and can be, addressed by the local, organic community. Flowers have meaningful potential within a farm business and offer a diverse range of benefits from saleable crops, elements of biodiversity and health related applications yet rarely are presentations or forums presented for anyone to learn, discuss and exchange knowledge.

Please Contact Shane Eby for further information.

under ground organics

1257 Westover Rd, Millgrove, ON, L0R 1V0

(905) 659 6267 eby (at) hushmail.com

SUNDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAM

4 MORNING SEMINARS-9.30 AM – 11.30 AM

Holistic management:

•Tony & Fran McQuail

Holistic Management: harmonizing your spiritual, social, environmental & economic values

For over 25 years, Holistic Management has been helping farm families unleash the energy of a shared ‘Quality of Life’ statement. Working together, they explore their values and dreams and develop a vision that all can support. The Holistic Goal becomes the ‘north star’ which guides long-range plans and day-to-day decision making to ensure that as individuals and as a group they are moving toward the future they want to build.

Holistic Management has a series of guidelines which help test decisions to ensure that they consider environmental and social as well as economic aspects. The Holistic Goal embodies shared values and guides its users to a life which becomes increasingly consistent with their values.

When our daily choices and the life we build from them are aligned with our deepest values it gives us great strength and resilience. Holistic Management is a process for living a meaningful and balanced life by harmonizing our spiritual, social, environmental and economic values. It helps farm families keep their eyes on the big picture while providing the tools to make wise decisions on the nitty-gritty choices when managing a farm.

During the workshop, we will use exercises and reflection to explore our values. We will then examine how the Holistic Management framework can help us incorporate them into our decision-making and life choices.

Tony & Fran McQuail are the owners of Meeting Place Organic Farm which is organic now for over 30 years. They took their first Holistic Management course in 1995 and have been using HM to guide their farm and family since then. They are becoming Holistic Management Certified Educators so that they can share the benefits of HM with other farm families.

Urban Agriculture:

•Shannon Lee Stirling & members of Backyard Bounty Urban Farming Project

Urban Agriculture: Opportunities For Action – Shannon Lee Stirling, Project Coordinator of Backyard Bounty Urban Farming Project is the lead presenter and is joined by members of the Executive Committee for the Urban Ag. Conference – Opportunities For Action, was held November 21, 2009 (Guelph Arboretum). Our Guelph Conf. presentation will report on the discoveries of November’s urban agriculture conference. We call it ‘Backyard Bounty’ and it will bring together the movers and shakers in the Urban Ag. scene. The conference will inspire action and address key issues enabling our movement to advance. Our lead presenter is Dr. Karen Landman, who will share with us her research on a diversity of urban agriculture projects from towns and cities across North America. Then follows a panel discussion that brings together the views of those dedicated to work in the field of urban agriculture, including overcoming barriers, seeking solutions and setting actions. Growing organically in an urban setting will be addressed, for both personal and commercial growers. The target audience will be those interested in the various issues concerning organic urban agriculture, but the workshop is open to all wanting information. Future themes to be explored would include: **organic growing for a sustainable future and **urban ag: promoting organics in the city This has become a huge buzz word because urban ag projects are popping up everywhere from Victoria to Saskatoon and even all the way down to Colorado. The phenomenon that well established professors are taking sabbaticals to go visit urban ag projects all over North America is a sure sign that it’s due time for this business to take off. How the activists incorporate organics into urbanag. is a valid and often-asked question. At the Conference, this serious issue will certainly generate new interest.The new reality is that a younger generation of farmers is specifically interested in urban farming for those social and cultural links which are inherent in the emerging sector. Whether you are a rural farmer or an urban farmer, we are all travellers on the same path. A noon consultation will take place right after the end of the workshop.

Permaculture on the farm & in the city:

•Brad Peterson

Brad says (edc (at) sentex.net, www.bradpeterson.ca): Organic farming will continue to diversify into urban agriculture in order to satisfy society’s demand for food quality and security. Permaculture provides a basis for organizing sustainable land uses both in cities and on traditional farms. My particular workshop is called ‘PERMACULTURE ON THE FARM AND IN THE CITY’ – which I will deal with in two parts, one hour each for *farm and *city. This is an introductory workshop which will launch related discussion topics. Permaculture mimics the stability and complexity of natural eco-systems. Organic farms and urban polycultures can benefit from ‘permaculture design’ – i.e. design that reduces demand on resources, improves resilience against pests, increases energy efficiency and reduces carbon emissions while diversifying the production of food and biomass. Permaculture includes organic and other holistic farming techniques and does not compete with them. Permaculture supports intensive urban garden plots and sustainable community and social development.

Target participants of this workshop can be both *interested organic farmers as well as *urban growers. If we were in fact to run this as a series of workshops in a larger theme, the other workshops could be sequenced as: *URBAN MARKET FARMING, *FARM DIVERSIFICATION and *INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.

Permaculture is accessible to all; it works at any scale; it can be

interpreted to any degree. Permaculture systems may involve not only food production but are in fact, best expressed when integrated with other innovative ideas for green buildings, water re-use, nutrient recycling, renewable energy production and other systems for sustainable living. Crops can be either intensive, field level, orchard-based or biomass-oriented. Key concepts: diversification, sustainable living, permaculture environments, stability, self-regulation, positive redundancy (bio-mimicry). Plus others – this workshop is certain to run out of time after a full 2-hour discussion.

Bottom line, Permaculture as I will present it is “ADAPTABLE TO ANY NEED.”

Brad asks: “please send your questions in advance.” Note that Brad also has a Trade Expo booth in Lower Level Lobby, so plan to drop by for a visit.

BioDynamic Seminar Series – Morning Program – ‘Challenges’:

Anticipating some of the challenges facing agriculture in the decade ahead – how BioDynamic principles can help.

•Fred Kirschenmann/Leopold Center, Iowa

We are likely to see more changes in agriculture in the next 50 years than we have seen in the past 50. These changes will come as a result of the end of cheap energy, depleting fresh water resources and the onset of more unstable climates. Simply meeting the current requirements to become either an organic or biodynamic farmer will not necessarily prepare our farms to survive under these new realities. However, there are principles embedded within biodynamic agriculture that we may find useful in our efforts to redesign our farms to meet these new challenges. For example, Steiner’s admonition that “within our farms we should attempt to have everything we need for agricultural production, including, of course, the appropriate amount of livestock” may be one of the most important insights to prepare us for our new future. His realization that the “soil is the foundation of agriculture” and that “nobody understands the essence of Manuring anymore” will likely become a more relevant, practical proposal in our new future than at anytime since he proposed those wise insights. And likely his recognition that we need to “consider life’s larger relationships and to investigate not just the forces and substances that are crudely material, but also those that are more spiritual” will likely be recognized by us in fresh, important and practical ways as we redesign our farms to perform sustainably in our new world.

NOTE: the following research program runs during the noon workshop break and is designed to provide an easy forum for farmers and researchers to talk freely about the issues needing research exploration. Grab a pizza slice and a coffee and come on up to the consultation room (room # to be announced shortly).

RESEARCH NEEDS/SUNDAY NOON CONSULTATION FOCUS: come discuss the role of research in this rapidly growing sector of organic agriculture. This noon-time session draws together farmers & researchers in an open forum. GOALS: to discuss research priorities, brainstorm research funding,inventory those resources which may be available and finally, how to conduct research on the farm. Consultation leader: Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC). To express interest, contact Andy at OACC ahammermeister (at) nsac.ca

4 AFTERNOON SEMINARS-1.00 PM-3.00 PM

Genetic Engineering and Corporate Control:
Participatory Workshop for Taking Action in 2010

Organized by: Canadian Biotechnology Action Network and GeneAction www.cban.ca

Frustrated about genetic engineering and corporate control? Tired of being an armchair activist? Take Action in 2010!Join us for a fun, participatory and seriously constructive workshop.

Workshop Summary:
The workshop starts with a rollicking good time tearing apart corporate PR on GE and continues with information presentations, Q&A and lots of action discussion.

Our goal is to provide you with:

A truly fun time digging into the issue of corporate control over seed
The best, most accurate information on GE this side of Europe
Time for all your questions
Personal opportunities for action
Collective opportunities for action

Part 1 – 12:00 – 1:20
Monsanto and Control Over Seeds: What’s Love Got to do with it?

It’s the famous Seeds of Love Dating Game! Farmers and Seeds finally make it onto their own game show. Help Farmer Caitlin choose the right seed for her farm – will she choose farmer-saved seed or genetically engineered seed? What’s the difference? Will Farmer Caitlin fall in love with Monsanto’s products? What does she need to know before she makes her most important decision?

The Seeds of Love Dating Game is part of a popular education workshop on food sovereignty that was developed by a team of youth from across the country – from the Dig In! project of CBAN, the National Farmers Union Youth and Check Your Head. For more information www.cban.ca/digin

In Part 1 of the workshop, this and other participatory activities will help us talk together about the most critical issues of control over seed and what we can do about it.

Facilitators: Caitlin Hall, ReRoot Organic CSA; Terran Giacomini, researcher and MA student University of Guelph

Part 2 – 1:30 – 3:00
Information and Strategy for Taking Action in 2010

This is your chance to get the most recent information and ask your questions.

1:30-2:00 Information Presentation and Q&A
Everything you wanted to know about GMOs but didn’t know who to ask. How common are GMOs? Where are GMOs on the shelves?

Presenters: Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

2:00-2:30 Personal Opportunities to Take Action
How powerful are you as a consumer? What is the Non-GMO Project, and how can it empower you to help create a non-GMO future? Learn about this initiative to present North Americans with independently verified non-GMO choices.

Presenters:
Megan Westgate Executive Director, Non GMO Project
Patrick Connor, The Big Carrot
Dag Falck, Nature’s Path

2:30 – 3:00 Collective Opportunities to Take Action
How can we stop Monsanto’s new eight-trait SmartStax corn? What is happening with GM sugarbeets in Ontario? Is GM alfalfa on its way? GM Wheat? 2010 will be a turning point for action against GM in Canada. You can be a part of the action.

Presenters: Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Presenter and Facilitator Biographies:

Patrick Connor: Patrick is a Member/Owner of The Big Carrot Natural Food Market in Toronto. His duties include Health and Safety, Human Resources, and he is currently Chair of the Standards Committee. Patrick is active with other groups, serving on the Board of Directors for Carrot Cache and The Non-GMO Project.

Dag Falck: Dag is the Organic Program Manager for Nature’s Path Foods. He is participant in private, NGO and government organic initiatives returning to healthy environments, clean and healthy food, and great natural taste. Nature’s Path was an early supporter of the Non-GMO Project and Dag is currently a board member.

Terran Giacomini: Terran is an activist and researcher completing her Master of Arts degree in rural sociology at the University of Guelph. She has a wide range of experience working with international social movements including participation at the World Social Forum in Nairobi and the Klimaforum at the COP15 Climate Summit in Copenhagen. She is also a member of Canada’s National Farmers Union Youth and publishes in their journal the Union Farmer.

Caitlin Hall: Caitlin started reroot organic CSA in 2007 on land borrowed from Mapleton’s Organic Dairy. She spent three previous seasons working on organic CSA farms in Ontario. She has a BES in Environment and Resource Studies, and has been involved with a variety of initiatives such as the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT); and the National Farmers Union (NFU).

Dwight Lyons: Dwight is a long time member of grassroots group GeneAction (Toronto). He has staffed tables at the Guelph Conference, Canadian Organic Growers (Toronto Chapter) and Seedy Saturday. He has spoken to students, seniors groups and at various health shows in Toronto. For the last few years, GeneAction has shown videos about genetic engineering at the Guelph Conference.

Lucy Sharratt: Lucy works as the Coordinator for the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) in Ottawa. Lucy was Coordinator for the International Ban Terminator Campaign 2005/2006. She was also previously the Coordinator of the Safe Food/Sustainable Agriculture Campaign at the Sierra Club of Canada and worked as a researcher for the BioJustice Project of the Polaris Institute in Ottawa.

Megan Westgate: Megan is a founding board member and the Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization committed to providing consumers with clearly labeled, independently verified non-GMO choices. The Project offers North America’s first consensus-based standard and third party verification for food and products produced according to best practices for GMO avoidance.

Sheep husbandry forum:

•Achim Mohssen-Beyk & co-presenters/researchers

Managing/controlling parasites in sheep – dealing with major issue of sheep husbandry in organic systems.Achim Mohssen-Beyk (producer) and Dr. Sylvina Fernandez (Sheep Parasite Study) will co-present their findings. This 2-hour seminar is billed as ‘advanced’ which means that participants will either be interested, motivated or active in organic sheep production, or will already be producing and marketing. The presenters admit that ‘managing intestinal parasites in sheep and goats without the use of de-wormers is challenging.’ This workshop will attempt to give the scientific background for performing this task organically while suggesting alternative husbandry or management methods. While the target group to benefit from this workshop is livestock farmers and existing sheep and goat producers… this is truly an open forum. The reason: it’s important to hear about everyone’s experience. The critical economic fact concerning this workshop is that there is clearly a rising demand for sheep meat and goat’s milk in the southern Ontario market-place (and possibly elsewhere in Canada). To produce an animal economically, intestinal parasite control has shown itself to be an overwhelming challenge for organic farmers who do not or cannot use dewormers. A lot of growers are not sure what to do and so they try different things to achieve effective control. This workshop will do its best to give the scientific background to the entire complex discipline of sheep parasite control, while suggesting husbandry methods which have worked in practice.While no brand name products will be suggested within the workshop, if any product name comes up in the context of an objective discussion, its utility can be discussed. The various key focuses of discussion will be **hygiene, **husbandry and **grazing methods. To repeat, this timely workshop welcomes all participants whether you’re an active producer or someone just considering buying a farm and building a sheep flock.

A 2010 Climate Change Think-Tank:

How Can the Organic Movement Respond to the Climate Breakdown Challenge?
Moderators: Rod MacRae, Phil Beard; Facilitator, Ricardo Ramirez
Purpose: The organizers hope that the organic sector will play a leadership role in helping society develop a way forward for dealing with climate change and ecosystem degradation both collectively and individually.

The workshop will build on the Fred Kirschenmann’s challenge to the organic sector to:

develop a more ecologically sound food system
eliminate our dependence upon fossil fuels
encourage more people to get involved in agriculture and food production

The workshop will focus on two key questions:
1. To what extent has the organic sector moved to strategically and more deliberately insert itself into the climate change and ecosystem breakdown solutions discussions? If the progress is limited, what does it need to do to make this happen?

2. What can we do to encourage and support the organic sector to improve it’s own environmental performance in order to be a more credible player in the climate change and ecosystem breakdown debates?

Format:
Representatives from the major organizations and businesses involved in the organic sector have been invited to attend this workshop to discuss these questions. Following their presentations, the moderators will comment and respond. We will then open the discussion to the audience.
Other interested individuals are welcome to attend as well.

For those who wish to learn more about Fred Kirschenmann and the need to develop a new agriculture: Please read “Do Increased Energy Costs Offer Opportunities for a New Agriculture?” as outlined in the October issue of the Monthly Review. Available online.

Rod MacRae is a Professor in Food System Studies at York University; Phil Beard works for the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority; and Ricardo Ramirez is one of the founders of the Organic Conference and an independent researcher and consultant.

Biodynamic Seminar Series – Afternoon Program -’Solutions’:

Creating a resilient agriculture – can we build a certification system that can help?

• Fred Kirschenmann/Leopold Center, Iowa

Our ‘industrial agriculture prescription’ has forced most farmers to try and achieve a single goal: maximum, efficient production… a goal that also influences the designs of modern organic as well as biodynamic farms. Most modern certification programs attempt to “green up” such modern farms by forcing them to operate by a set of requirements that achieve such environmental objectives in industrial operations. In the U.S., national organic certification standards are designed primarily to tell farmers which inputs they can use and which are unacceptable. Farms of the future will need to be redesigned for resilience. Can we rethink certification programs to promote resilience rather than simply providing the “do’s” and “don’ts” of maximum, efficient perform sustainably in our new world.

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*Send us comments about any workshop interests you have.

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