The 2012 Conference of the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) has put together a lively, diversified agenda for its three-day event at the Mesquite Convention Center Feb. 17-19 with more than 50 separate presentations on just about anything you’d want to know about organic farming and gardening in Texas.
You can peruse the whole program here.
For gardeners, there is a special Saturday Gardening track with presentation on subjects such as Heirloom Tomatoes, Soil Biology and Improvement, Garden Design for Beneficial Insects and Pest Control and many more.
For farmers, there are presentations on how and what to grow including growing microgreens, drought management, Serengeti Grazing and organic fruit production as well as sessions on the business of growing including one on “Building a Compelling Business Plan” and another on “Marketing the Food Your Grow” (presented by yours truly and EatGreenDFW co-founder Rich Shoen).
But even before the conference officially gets underway Friday at noon, the folks at TOFGA are offering farm tours (four of them—two on Thursday and two on Friday morning)and three Friday morning pre-conference workshops that run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The workshops are “New Farmer” which features Brad and Jenny Stufflebeam and Steve Carlson talking about what new farmers need to know about getting started; “Food Policy Councils” which features Mark Winne presenting the basics of food policy councils; and “Butchering” where Matt Hamilton of Local Yocal will provide a hands-on experience that will teach participants everything they need to know about cuts of meat. “New Farmer” and “Food Policy Councils” sessions will be held at the Mesquite Conference Center while the “Butchering” class will be held at Local Yocal’s butcher shop in McKinney.
Other highlights include a Friday evening screening at 7:30 p.m. of “The Greenhorns,” a documentary that explores the lives of America's young farming community; and a Saturday evening “Organic Banquet with Mark Winne.” Winne has worked for 40 years as a community food activist, writer, and trainer. Formerly the Executive Director of the Hartford Food System, he is now a national consultant on food policy councils with the Community Food Security Coalition.
To register for the conference or the Gardeners Saturday track, visit the TOFGA website.