2012 program
2012 Virginia Biological Farming Conference
"Transitioning to Organic Agriculture"
Feb. 10-11, 2012
Holiday Inn, Koger Center
Richmond, VA
Pre-Conference Options
(beginning at 10 am)
| Growing Elderberries in Virginia - Rodger Lenhardt of Elderberry Life, Pittsboro, NC |
| Practical Tools for the Farm and Garden - Nazirahk Amen, Purple Mountain Organics, Takoma Park, MD |
| Commercial Production of Organically-Grown Seeds - Richard Moyer, Castlewood, VA and Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Mineral, VA |
| Diversified Production of Livestock for Direct Marketing - Scott Wilson, Full Quiver Farms, Suffolk, VA |
Trade Show begins at 11 am
Potluck Lunch (bring your favorite food to share)
CONFERENCE begins at 1 pm (Youth Program also begins at 1 pm)
Plenary Session: Thinking Upstream - Decision Making For Organic Farmers, Even in Tough Years - Mary-Howell and Klass Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain, Penn Yan, NY
Breakout Sessions:
| Bio-Extensive Market Gardening - Anne and Eric Nordell, Beech Grove Farm, Trout Run, PA |
| Pastured Poultry Palooza - Eliott McGann, Hope Grows, Sylvania, GA |
| Organic Production of Grass and Legume Hay - Dr. Chris Teutsch, VA Tech So. Piedmont AREC and Dr. Sue Ellen Johnson, Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Organic Production and Processing of Edamame and Sweet Sorghum - Dr. Michael Bomford, Research and Extension Specialist, Organic/Sustainable Agriculture, Kentucky State Univ. |
Dinner
Evening Plenary Presentation
ECO City Farms - A Model for Urban Agriculture - Renee Catacalos, Director of Strategic Communications, and Christian Melendez, Edmonston Urban Farm Coordinator, ECO City Farms, Edmonston, MD
Taste of Virginia (starts at 9 pm)
Join us as we enjoy a taste of Virginia milk, Virginia cider, and Virginia wine.
Saturday Feb. 11
Fruit Caucus (7:30-8:30 am) - Join members of North American Fruit Explorers to talk about the types of fruit you grow and other "fruity" items of interest.
Breakout Sessions (beginning at 8:30 am)
| Mushroom Cultivation for Everyone, Beginner to Advanced - Tradd Cotter, Mushroom Mountain, Liberty, SC |
| Free Range Poultry, Redesigning the System Through Innovation and Cooperation - Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Director Rural Enterprise Center, a Program of Main Street Project, Northfield, MN |
| Managing for Alternative Pollinators - Nancy Lee Adamson, Pollinator Conservation Specialist, USDA-NRCS East National Technology Support Center & The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Greensboro, NC |
| Organic Management of Weeds - Klaas Martens, Lakeview Organic Grain, Penn Yan, NY |
Breakout Sessions (beginning at 10:30 am)
| Organic Production Systems for Onions and Colored Bell Peppers - Dr. Tim Coolong, Dept. of Horticulture, Univ. of Kentucky |
| Transitioning to Organic Production of Sheep and Goats - Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist, Western Maryland Research & Education Center, Univ. of Maryland |
| Organic Production of Peanuts, Cover Crop Seeds and Vegetables - Relinda Walker, Walker Organic Farms, Sylvania, GA |
| Cover Cropping, Pollinator Habitat and More: Conservation for the Transitioning Organic Farm - Mark Schonbeck, VABF Liaison to Southern SAWG and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Floyd, VA; and David Lamm, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Greensboro, NC |
Lunch
Breakout Sessions (beginning at 1:30 pm
| Production of Specialty Crops in High Tunnels - Dr. Reza Rafie and Mr. Chris Mullins |
| Management Systems for Coyotes, Deer and Voles - Dr. Pete Bromley, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Eden, NC |
| Homeopathy in the Field - Nazirahk Amen, Purple MOuntain Organics, Takoma Park, MD |
| National Organic Program of USDA: Approved Practices, Procedures and Materials Brian Cricket Rakita, Quality Certification Services, Louisa, VA |