2016 Annual Conference Program

Join us near Dallas for our 2016 Organic Farmers & Gardeners Conference. Located 22 miles east of downtown Dallas, the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront hotel is a beautiful waterfront destination in the exclusive lakeside community of Rockwall, Texas.

Tracks

  • Crops
  • Livestock
  • Business & Marketing
  • Gardening & Homesteading
  • Texas Food Systems & Food Policy

CROPS

Topic Speaker
Introduction to Aquaponic Production Michael Hannan, Ten Acre Organics
Introduction to High Tunnel Production  Kim Martin & Laurie Bostic, Barking Cat Farm
Organic Orchard Management Tim Miller, Milberg Farm
Homemade Equipment & Tools for Market Gardening Larry Butler, Boggy Creek Farm
Abundance Through Diversity: Building Soil from the Ground Up Jonathan Cobb, Living Cover Seed
Sustainable Integrated Pest Management with Companion Planting Justin Duncan, NCAT Southwest
Planning Effective Production for School Cafeterias Justin Tuley , IDEA Schools

LIVESTOCK

Topic Speaker
On-Farm Bee Basics Brandon Pollard, Texas Honeybee Guild
Making Every Acre Pay: Multi-Species Ranch Integration Grady Phelan, Cobb Creek
Biosecurity and Predator Management for Pastured Poultry Kevin Ellis, NCAT Southwest
Restoring Your Pastures Steven Fulton, Bamberger Ranch Reserve
Pastured Pork Production in Texas Robert Hutchins, Rehoboth Ranch
Plan What? The Purpose & Process of Holistically Planned Grazing Walt Davis, Walt Davis Ranch
Matching Your Resources to Your Beef Business Sara Fairve-Davis, Wild Type Ranch

BUSINESS & MARKETING

Topic Speaker
The Economics of Small Scale Agriculture Tommy Garcia-Prats, Finca Tres Robles
Profitable Pastured Poultry Michael Marchand, Whitehurst Heritage Farm
Alternative Sales Channels (Food Hubs & Schools) Robert Maggiani, NCAT Southwest and Chad Julka, & Hunter Mangum
Marketing for the Small Farm Scott Snodgrass, Edible Earth Resources
Value Added Production Sue Beckwith, Beyond Fresh & Robert Maggiani, NCAT Southwest
The Business of Farming for Profit Glen Miracle, Laughing Frog Farm
 Promoting Local Foods in Schools Alyssa Herrold, TDA; Lacy Garner, SFC; & Jennifer DeHoag, Dallas ISD

GARDENING & HOMESTEADING

TopicSpeaker
Selling Your Weeds: Uncommon Uses for Common Wild PlantsMark Vordebruggen, Foraging Texas
Growing Food Not Lawns
Daniel Millikin, Edible Earth Resources
Preserving the HarvestMarilynn Simmons, Garden Inspirations
School Gardening AbundanceKim Aman, Moss Haven Farm; Andrew Smiley, Sustainable Food Center
Hugelkulture: Pros & Cons
Jason Ramsey, Perma-scapes
Forest Gardening & Farming Jason Ramsey, Perma-scapes
Community GardeningElizabeth Dry, Promise of Peace

TEXAS FOOD SYSTEMS & POLICY

Topic Speaker
State Food Policy Recap from 2015 session Judith McGeary, FARFA
Food Policy Listening Session Facilitator - Judith McGeary, FARFA
Sustainable Food Systems Scott Marlow, RAFI-USA
Urban Food Access: Dallas Corner Store Initiatives
Keilah Jacques, Children's Alliance for Health
Funding Farm to School Programs Nicole Zammit, USDA F2S; Sonia White, consultant to DISD Farm to School
Texas Issues in Food System Development
Panel Discussion
Impact of the Food Safety Modernization Act
Judith McGeary


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