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December 5, 2024
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Arrival | Registration | Trade Show
7:30  – 9 AM
BreakfastMeals & Socials
7:30  – 8:30 AM
Keynote: Black Earth Wisdom: Afro-Ecological Survival StrategiesLeah Penniman, Soul Fire FarmStewardship, KeynoteEcological humility is part of the cultural heritage of Black people. While our 400+ years immersion in racial capitalism has attempted to squash that inter-connection to the sacred earth, there are those who persist in believing that the land and waters are family members, and who act accordingly. In Black Earth Wisdom, Leah Penniman weaves together the lessons from today’s most respected Black environmentalists, those who have cultivated the skill of listening to the lessons that Earth has whispered to them. In this time, we are acutely aware of the fractures in our system of runaway consumption and corporate insatiability. The path forward demands that we take our rightful places as the younger siblings in creation, deferring to the oceans, forests, and mountains as our teachers. Those whose skin is the color of soil are reviving their ancestral and ancient practice of listening to the Earth to know which way to go. As Dr. Carver explained, “How do I talk to a little flower? Through it I talk to the Infinite. And what is the Infinite? It is that silent, small force… that still small voice.”
8:45  – 10 AM
Refreshments | Trade Show
Creating a Mutually Beneficial Work EnvironmentRenée Primeau, Tourne-Sol Co-operative FarmCommunity and BusinessCultivating a positive work environment on the farm is as important as, say, maximizing efficiencies. In fact the two are inextricably linked. Join Renée Primeau from Tourne-sol Co-operative Farm to hear how she and her team work to foster a positive work environment where employees return year after year resulting in more streamlined operations and a broader sharing of responsibilities.
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Non-native Fruit and Nut CultivationAllyson Levy, Hortus Arboretum | Scott Serrano, Hortus ArborteumHorticultureAllyson Levy and Scott Serrano are visual artists who moved to the Catskill Mountains in 1999. Their interests have expanded well beyond paper and canvas, and they now garden all year long at Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, a level II accredited arboretum. Trialing plants from around the world, their goal is to create a “living textbook” of plant life, particularly low-maintenance and underutilized edibles, that can be grown in New York’s Hudson Valley. These range from ancient fruiting trees like Medlar (Mespilus germanica), shrubs like Gooseberries (Ribes spp.), and Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles spp.) and vines such as Goji (Lycium spp.) and Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis). Hortus Arboretum is an arboretum and botanical garden in the mid-Hudson valley is recognized by the Morton Arboretum’s international ArbNet program as a Level II-accredited arboretum. The gardens have an extensive collection of unusual edible and decorative plantings. By trialing both native and exotic plants, their goal is to push the limits of what can be successfully grown in Zone 6b, and help fellow gardeners expand their knowledge base and incorporate some of these garden-worthy plants at home Allyson Levy & Scott Serrano are co-founders and executive directors of Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens located in Stone Ridge, NY.
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Seeding Interconnection Through Your Farm Work: In conversation with Leah PennimanLeah Penniman, Soul Fire FarmCommunity and BusinessJoin Soul Fire Farm's Leah Penniman to dive deeper into the themes of inter-connection presented in the "Black Earth Wisdom Keynote." Come prepared to share how you aspire to embody ecological humility on your farm or land project. We will share some practical ideas for implementing earth-wisdom on the farm - from cycles of fallow, to "rights of nature" clauses, to offerings and divination. This will be a conversational session.
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Breeding for Biomass and Beyond: Cover crop breeding progress, potentials, and farmer participationSolveig Hanson, Cornell UniversitySoil, Seed, Field CropsCover cropping offers an array of soil health and farm-system resiliency benefits, but much of the seed used for cover cropping is of unidentified origin and marketed as "variety not stated," such that growers cannot rely on its suitability for cover crop use or for their climate. The Cover Crop Breeding Network develops fall-sown legume cover crops and cereal rye for traits like winter hardiness, early vigor, high biomass, disease resistance, early flowering, seed yield, and soft seed. Solveig will describe the network's progress in breeding winter pea, hairy vetch, crimson clover, and cereal rye for traits that optimize cover cropping systems, including our first variety releases and efforts to offer improved cover crop germplasm through both formal and informal seed system channels. This fall, the CCB Network has launched on-farm winter pea variety trials, which include several Ontario growers. Solveig – along with any participating farmers in attendance – will describe the trials and welcome ideas and input for future participatory cover crop breeding.
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Digging Deep: AsparagusHeather Syposz, Agricola Cooperative Farm/Ferme AgricolaHorticultureAgricola Cooperative Farm relies on organic asparagus as an early season crop that their farm is known for producing. In addition to 10 acres of mixed vegetables and cut flowers, they have been farming 3 acres of asparagus since 2019 and the land on which they farm has a 40 year history of growing asparagus. The asparagus crop draws clientele to their on-farm kiosk and annual asparagus festival and has made the farm a destination for asparagus eaters. While it brings many benefits, this perennial crop comes with its own particular challenges and needs. Join Heather from Agricola for a deep dive into all things asparagus, learned from their own work with the crop as well as through the legacy of the farm’s previous owner. The session will touch on maintaining older beds, establishing new ones, seed and crown sourcing, dealing with weeds and pests, harvesting, and marketing.
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Lunch | Trade Show
12  – 1:30 PM
Meet-up for the Farmers Network for Black, Indigenous and People of ColourMeals & SocialsLet’s catch up after a busy season! A time to connect, relax, share stories and laugh with new and old friends. For current / former / aspiring farmers, food growers or producers and land stewards. Look for our tables with signage. Folks interested in also attending the Meet-up for Seed Growers are welcome to drop into both spaces.
12  – 1:30 PM
Meet-up for Seed GrowersMeals & SocialsThis informal lunch gathering is a unique opportunity for seed growers, on-farm breeders, and anyone passionate about seed work to connect face-to-face. Meeting in person allows us to build a deeper, more resilient community by sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and establishing relationships that will support our collective growth long after the conference ends. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, this meet-up is a chance to learn from each other, celebrate the joys and challenges of seed saving, breeding, and production, and discuss the vital role we play in building resilient seed systems. This is an open space to bring your questions, ideas, and aspirations, and strengthen our community as we work toward common goals. Let’s enjoy a shared meal, foster lasting connections, and support one another in cultivating high-quality, diverse seeds to meet the needs of our communities!
12  – 1:30 PM
A Bloom for Every SeasonAkos Asare, re.Planted Farm & Florals | Brenda Visser, Flowers of the FieldHorticultureLearn how cut flowers can be a year-round income generator for you. Join two experienced, Ontario flower growers who will share their tips for season extension, early blooms and when/how to use greenery to extend the flower income stream.
1:30  – 3 PM
Facilitation Fundamentals: Running a Great Farm(team) Meeting *Sponsored by AgWOHannah Renglich, Maddie MarmorCommunity and BusinessMeetings don’t have to be painful! Come learn how to plan, structure and run a team meeting that is effective, productive and joyful! In this workshop, we will work through scenarios to experiment with what works best for your context so that you leave equipped with practical skills to build morale and team cohesion on your farm. You will receive a template of how to run a meeting as well as tips and strategies to keep a meeting moving towards concrete and achievable next steps.
1:30  – 3 PM
On-Farm Research In ActionEric Barnhorst, Eva Mae Farm | Hailey Mayfield, Cold Spring Organics | Kara TremblayHorticulture, Field CropsThis session will provide a brief overview of EFAO's work with on-farm research including farmer-led research and the province-wide Living Lab-Ontario project, and you will learn about some of the latest innovations from on-farm research in Ontario. Kara Tremblay will give an overview of Leading Cloud Garden at Apitipi Anicinapek Nation and her collaboration with EFAO and Living Lab-Ontario; Eric Barnhorst will share about his trial looking at regenerating fallow fields for vegetable production done in cooperation with EFAO's research program; and Hailey Mayfield will share about her participation in two multi-farm endeavours trialing no-till potatoes using deep mulch and measuring plant availble nitrogen from cover crops, also in cooperation with Living Lab-Ontario.
1:30  – 3 PM
Get Yer Goat: The ins and outs of raising goats for meat and dairyLindsay, Goat Ridge Farm | Lauren Nurse, Small Spade FarmLivestock
1:30  – 3 PM
Break | Refreshments | Trade ShowMeals & Socials
A Conversation About Collaboration, Creativity and Compromise on the Farm Hannah Renglich | Maddie Marmor | Hannah Hunter, Ferme Agricola | Dan Brisebois & Emily Board, Tourne-Sol Cooperative FarmCommunity and BusinessDoes the word “collaboration” light you up or make you shudder? Come hear a range of experiences from farms and farmers who cooperate - what’s worked, what’s irked, and what would they do differently if they could try it all over again? After a brief introduction to few co-op experiences, you’ll have the opportunity to join a smaller group conversation that lets you dive deeper into a particular theme.
3:30  – 5 PM
Lessons From Urban Ag: Creating efficiencies at the micro scaleTMU Urban Farm Staff: Arlene Throness | Nicole Austin | Samantha Williams | Ines Lacarne Horticulture, Community and BusinessDid you know that Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has two rooftop farms, 80 crops in production, and distributes an average of 3,000 kg of produce annually, all in less than ½ an acre of growing space? The campus rooftops are dynamic spaces where the community can engage in ecological farming practices, research collaborations and hands-on learning opportunities, such as the Black Food Sovereignty initiative, the Indigenous Foodways program, and the Ecological Market Garden. These growing spaces demonstrate how green roof urban agriculture can increase biodiversity, reduce the urban heat island, manage stormwater run-off, and sequester carbon – all while connecting people to nature, to culturally significant crops and foodways, and to one another. Join us to learn some of the key practices and strategies that allow the TMU Urban Farm to produce a good amount of food on a limited footprint and how micro scale farming can support food sovereignty when land access is limited.
3:30  – 5 PM
Growing Your Business: Telling stories and counting beansBrent Klassen, Heartwood Farm & CideryCommunity and BusinessA growing business needs resonant stories to give it loft as well as solid metrics to keep it grounded. In this interactive session, Brent will talk a bit about how Heartwood Farm & Cidery thinks about marketing and growth, leaving room to focus on the areas most interesting to attendees.
3:30  – 5 PM
Social Networks for Healthy SoilsErin Nelson, University of Guelph | Baran Karsak, University of GuelphSoil, Community and BusinessThis workshop will focus on developing recommendations for how policymakers can support farmer-led research and other farmer-led knowledge-exchange networks that facilitate adoption of ecological farming practices. It is being held as part of the University of Guelph’s Social Networks for Healthy Soils project. Funded by OMAFA, this project is being done in partnership with the EFAO and Ontario Soil Network and aims to increase understanding of how farmer-to-farmer learning programs work and how they can be better supported in Ontario. The workshop will be highly participatory and is targeted at farmers, representatives of food and farming organizations, and anyone with an interest in agrifood policy. We will present findings from the research we have been doing since 2019 and share a review of best practices in farmer-led knowledge-exchange networks. We will then invite participants to share their feedback on our preliminary findings and provide insights to help shape the policy recommendations we will be presenting to OMAFA in the coming year.
3:30  – 5 PM
The Cows Are Out AGAIN? Livestock mishaps turned opportunities turned opportunitiesKatrina McQuail, Meeting Place Organic Farm | Sarah Martin-Mills, The New FarmLivestockJoin Katrina McQuail and Sarah Martin-Mills as they share mistakes and challenges from their experience raising mixed livestock - cattle, pigs and poultry. From fencing and feed, to disease and breeding, and everything in between, Sarah and Katrina will share stories of their journey and how things that may have seemed insurmountable in the moment turned out to be incredible lessons and even sometimes blessings in disguise.
3:30  – 5 PM
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