FRIDAY MORNING – Seminars A & B – 9.00 am – 12.00 pm

All 4 seminars run in the Guelph University Centre in either UC442, PCH South Wing or PCH North Wing – please go to UC103/Main Registration Room, to get your badge.

Each seminar: $30 advance – Jan. 6/$50 at door (pick only one if attending at 9.00 am or if more than one person, please declare the individual selections on the registration form)

Seminar ‘A’ – Introduction
SEEDS – Part 1 of the Successful Agriculture Stream of 2 workshops running a.m. & p.m.
Introduction to seed production: covers isolation distances, cross-pollination, population size, wet & dry seed extraction, basic seed cleaning techniques. Presenters are active seed growers.
Target: farmers and gardeners.

Trainers: Daniel Brisebois (Ferme TourneSol), Kim Delaney (Hawthorne Farm), Greta Kryger (Greta’s Organic Seeds)

Seminar ‘B’ – Advanced
TRADE SYMPOSIUM – The Organic Council of Ontario (OCO).
Issues:
1) Aqua-culture standard led by Ted Zettel for input to proposed standard
2) ‘State of the industry’ update with Theresa Schumilas on current OCO research: production, sales outlets, processing sector challenges
3) Understanding growth on the organic value chain including current branding strategy update by J.P. Lacroix. Guests will be engaged in sector planning.
4) GMO policies concerning organics with input to go to form policy positions OCO leads multi-stakeholder effort with OFC help (OFC: Organic Federation of Canada).

Who should attend?  ***organic traders, distributors and brokers; ***retailers wanting to understand current organic marketing issues so they can transmit these to consumers; ***motivated consumers – the beauty of a seminar like this is that you can learn first-hand about the burning issues of the current organic business in Canada; ***government and academics: this sector is moving, is animated, has passion, is building cash-flow – and you have to incorporate it into your department; ***anyone who wants to get involved in the organic marketing business.  Why not?  It’s time.

Note: Organic Council of Ontario is one of 16 Official Sponsor of the Guelph Conference.  As such, they operate in the public sector and draw together multiple speakers and issues under one master symposium, such as this one.  Don’t forget to register for OCO’s Organic Awards, downtown Guelph, Saturday evening, 7.00 pm (see MEETINGS).

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FRIDAY AFTERNOON – Seminars C & D – 1:15pm – 4:15pm

Each seminar: $30 advance - Jan. 6/$50 at door (pick only one if attending at 1.15 pm or if more than one person, please declare the idividual selections on the registration form)

Seminar ‘C’ – Advanced
THE WHOLE FARM APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE - Part 2 of the Successful Agriculture Stream of 2 workshops running a.m. & p.m.
The whole farm approach to managing crops and livestock. Two well-known organic farmers share their work from their large acreages in west-central Ontario. Hack farms 1000+ acres at Kincardine/Lake Huron and Boettcher farms 600 acres in Huron County. This is a fully advanced presentation from two growers skilled in biodynamic ideas.

Trainers: Ulli Hack & Chris Boettcher – (Manager’s note: these are 2 of the most experienced organic growers in Ontario with deep family connections to the movement)

Seminar ‘D’ – Advanced
FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF SMALL-SCALE FARMING.

UPDATE, UPDATE

Small Farm Financial Sustainability Panel – January 15, 2012 UPDATE

This excellent sustainability panel is back once again with the growers talking openly about income + how they retain more of the wealth they generate on the farm.  Last year this workshop room session was full. Feedback from the questionnaires gave high marks for valuable + authentic information, plus commenting on the diversity and quality of the farmer-panelists.  This was a well-run session with lots of time for questions and answers.

This year the panel is focusing on the following themes:

***Farm Objectives – find out why these farms have chosen to stay small and what their long term objectives are.

***Scale of Farms– details on what works with small-scale farms and what does not

***Farm Management – Each farm monitors and makes decisions differently… so find out how they do it and why good management is necessary for a farm to be successful.

If you are planning to operate, or if you currently operate, a small farm and are wondering if you can make money doing it – then this workshop will be invaluable to you. The panel is made up of farmers who have been doing agriculture on a small-scale for many years.  In some cases, their experience is in decades. The scale of farming ranges from 2 acres to 150 acres. These people have different ways of increasing sales and lowering costs – some are mechanized and others rely on little mechanization – this is your choice. Amongst the farms, there is also a mix of marketing practices including CSA (community shared agriculture), farmers markets and farm-gate sales. Learn what is common to each of these successful farms and what differs. Be part of the question answer period.  By participating in this 100-person intensive seminar, you can then consider what changes will improve your own small farm financial sustainability.  Not to be missed.

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A continuation of 2011′s seminar, providing solutions to multiple challenges. Topics: management (bookkeeping, office operations, record keeping); scale of operation (managing diversity/complexity); land (rent/own); CSA; communicating with clients; marketing issues (small farm synergies). Four farms will share their successes while helping attendees with their own operations.

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Presenters – some of the most experienced in the Ontario-Québec area: The New Farm (Brent Preston & Gillian Flies), Meeting Place Farm (Tony & Fran McQuail), TourneSol Farm (Daniel Brisebois), [NEW] Ann Slater organic farmer, ManoRun Farm (Chris Krucker).

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FRIDAY EVENING – Friday, 4:10 – 7:10 pm

DINNER - The Conference’s “Organic Food & Wine Dinner” ($50 + HST – max 200 tickets) 

(NOTE: final dinner seating is at 5:15 sharp – please don’t be late because the ace U of Guelph Hospitality Team is anxious to present you with a fine organic menu!  Then, for the first time, we’re extending the casual time to after 7.00 pm, so be sure to linger over coffee & dessert till 7.10 pm or whenever the Trade Expo set-up crew ushers you out of the hall)

Meet the Conference speakers, traders, sponsors and guests at the Guelph University Centre – Peter Clark Hall, Basement Level.

This is the long-running “Meet The Presenters Organic Food & Wine Dinner.”  This year there will be short presentations by various personalities [a co-op welcome by Ted Zettel, a Big Carrot call to action, Miriam MacGillis with an inspirational call] then a door prize draw at 6.00 pm for several really neat prizes.  The University of Guelph, Hospitality Dept. sources organic foods and wines from a wide variety of local suppliers.  As of Jan. 15, there are approx. 20 Dinner tickets left.

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THE KEYNOTE FORUM

FRIDAY EVENING – Friday, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

THE KEYNOTE FORUM ($10/person + HST) at Thornbrough Hall Auditorium (just 25 steps across the lane from the U.C.)

How Green Is My Valley? A down-to-earth agricultural conversation about inspiration & transformation. Miriam MacGillis of Genesis Farm, New Jersey, advocate of ‘earth literacy’ will present ideas on the craft of farming from a community grower’s eyes.  Genesis is a haven for inspirational people and ideas. Margaret Webb, Toronto author, will talk about the inspiration received from meeting biodynamic farmers on her extensive countrywide travels seeking a ‘stewardship chord.’ With the Forum’s open microphone at 8.30 pm, guests are welcome to pose questions arising on spirituality, ethics, food production, green marketing or any issue which moves you.  

Exciting news just confirmed (January 1st) – the Forum will be moderated by Tarrah Young, Green Being Farm, Ontario. 

For more information on Miriam MacGillis’ work, please see the Web Site for her New Jersey farm – www.genesisfarm.org/ 

For more information on Margaret Webb’s eclectic Canadian food writing escapades, please check out – www.margaretwebb.com/apples_to_oysters/ 

For more information on Tarrah Young’s Green Being Farm, please go to www.greenbeingfarm.ca/ 

Where else can you experience an inspirational forum with a friendly floor microphone at which you can actually get a personal question answered !?