Agriculture & Food Conference of Southeastern Massachusetts

March 22, 2014

 

You're invited to our 7th Annual Conference!

Presented by SEMAP and Bristol County Conservation District
Saturday, March 22, 2014, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
GNB Voc Tech High School, 1121 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA

Program Updates:

CANCELLATION: "Got Worms? Vermicomposting with Red Wigglers" with Jenny Galli of the Worm Ladies

Workshop Schedule Posted! Click here to view the day's workshops.

Todd Sandstrum of the South Shore Great Pumpkin Challenge will be presenting the story behind this innovative educational program at the SEMAP annual conference! His presentation will take place in the school auditorium between lunch and the 2nd workshop session. Not to be missed!

The "Ask the Expert" one-on-one sessions with the Carrot Project have been filled! If you are interested in speaking with a Carrot Project farm financing professional, please contact Dorothy Suput at dsuput@thecarrotproject.org.

About the Conference: Whether you're a professional farmer, a backyard gardener, or just curious about locally grown food, this is the event for you! This year's offerings include workshops for the general public as well as info-packed sessions for farmers and gard eners of all experience levels and workshops specific to organic methods.

Registration includes a locally-sourced lunch prepared by the Voc Tech's own Culinary Department students, led by Chef Henry Bousquet, and at the Resource Fair you'll learn about local organizations and businesses that provide services and products to help you grow, whether you've got a hundred acres or a couple of window boxes. Registration by March 1st is just $25 for SEMAP members and $35 for non SEMAP members. After March 1st, the fees will increase to $30 and $40 respectively, or $35/$45 at the door.

The deadline to submit sposor and exhibitor contracts has been extended! Businesses or organizations interested in sponsoring or exhibiting can contact Kristen at kirvin@semaponline.org.

Be sure to check back for updates and descriptions of conference workshops! 

REGISTRATION FEES

Early Bird Rates - Extended! Through Friday, March 14th:

SEMAP Members: $25

Non-SEMAP Members: $35

March 15th - March 21st:

SEMAP Members: $30

Non-SEMAP Members: $40

At the Door (March 22nd):

SEMAP Members: $35

Non-SEMAP Members: $45

Student Discounts:

Discounted price for high school students in Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties: Just $15 - includes lunch, too! Please email Kristen Irvin at kirvin@semaponline.org if you'd like to register at the student price.

Want to get the SEMAP Member rate for registration? Sign up to be a member now!

Please Note:  Online registration will close on Friday, March 21st. You may show up at the conference Saturday (cash or check ONLY), but we cannot guarantee a lunch for same-day registrants.

Register Now! 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE - PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES!

8:30   Registration begins and the Resource Fair opens for browsing and networking  |  One-on-One "Ask the Expert" Sessions with The Carrot Project*

9:30-11:00   Workshop Session #1

11:00  Welcome, Conference Plenary Presentation by Todd Sandstrum, South Shore Great Pumpkin Challenge

11:30 Locally-sourced lunch is served  | One-on-One "Ask the Expert" Sessions with The Carrot Project

1:00 - 2:30   Workshop Session #2

3:00 - 4:30   Workshop Session #3

5:00   Conference concludes

Workshops & Panels for the 7th Annual Ag & Food Conference:

Click here to view full descriptions of workshops

Workshop Session 1: 9:30 – 11:00

Land Leasing Panel -- Fred Ames, Easton land owner; Bill Braun, Ivory Silo, Westport; Ashley Brister, Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth; Moderated by Margiana Petersen-Rockney, Beginning Farmer Network

Rotational Grazing as a Management Strategy for Conservation Land, Geoff Beresford, Beresford of Tiverton, pasture-based livestock

Growing Hops and Brewing Beer, Sanne Kure-Jensen, NOFA/RI, Agricultural Writer & Grant Writer

Improving Production for Medium/Large-size Gardens, Steve Walach, Friends Academy School, Dartmouth, MA

Intensive Tomato Production in the High Tunnel, Andy Radin, URI Extension

Food Safety Modernization Act Update & The MA Commonwealth Quality Program - Richard Bonanno, University of Massachusetts Extension; Michael Botelho, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources 

Workshop Session 2: 1:00 – 2:30

Soil and Nutrient Management in High Tunnels, Geoffrey Njue, UMass Extension, Green Industry Specialist

Starting Your Organic Garden, Jim Lough, founder of Backyard Gardens, Buzzards Bay, MA

Building a Strong Brand to Increase Sales and Build Customer Loyalty, Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing, Boston, MA

Growing Strawberries: Focus on Insect and Disease Management and IPM -- Sonia Schloemann, UMass Extension Fruit Program; Jim Ward, Ward’s Berry Farm, Sharon, MA

Cucumber Production in the High Tunnel & the Field -- Brad Clegg, 4 Town Farm, Seekonk, MA; Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm, Dartmouth, MA

Workshop Session 3: 3:00 – 4:30

CSA Panel -- Panelists: Susan Murray, Apponagansett Farm, Dartmouth, MA; Steve Murray, Heart Beets Farm, Berkley, MA; Moderated by Ashley Brister, Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth, MA

Eating Farm Fresh in Every Season, Nicole Cormier, Delicious Living Nutrition, Sandwich, MA

A Community Tree Farm in Fall River -- Perry Long, Director, Office Neighborhood Development, Fall River, MA; Matthew Thomas, Attorney

Growing Organic Carrots for CSA Into Winter / Carrots: Post-Harvest Methods & Storage -- Laura Tangerini, Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm, Millis, MA; Ruth Hazzard, UMass Extension

 (CANCELLED) Vermicomposting with Red Wigglers, Jenny Galli, formerly of The Worm Ladies of Charlestown

 

 

Register Now!