Registration Opens for Sustainable Food and Farm Conference

Registration is now open for an online conference for ecological farmers, backyard growers, and others committed to sustainable agriculture, local food, and green living. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) will hold its 42nd annual conference in February, and this year’s event is titled, “Our Time: Essential Links for a Strong Food Chain.”

“Through these challenging times of physical distance, more than ever, we need to be socially close,” said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. “In that spirit, the online conference will be different, but with the same intent and result: sharing information so that we can all succeed, moving our food system toward greater resilience and equity, and forging a strong and dynamic community.”

OEFFA’s conference will feature:

Keynote Speakers — Presented by Turner Farm

February 10 keynote speaker Will Harris is a fourth-generation cattleman at White Oak Pastures in Georgia. A leader in humane animal husbandry and environmental sustainability, he’ll share his story of building a successful, job-creating certified organic farm committed to regenerative land management and multi-species rotational grazing.
February 13 keynote speaker Dr. Elaine Ingham is founder and president of Soil Food Web and director of Soil Food Web School. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist, for the past four decades, she has pioneered research in the field of soil biology.
February 14 keynote speaker Navina Khanna is HEAL Food Alliance’s Executive Director and a 2014 James Beard Leadership Award winner. A first-generation South Asian American with more than 15 years experience transforming food systems, her worldview is shaped by growing up and growing food in India and the U.S.

Food and Farm School Classes

·The Soil Food Web: Structure and Function—Dr. Elaine Ingham will discuss how the correct soil biology can help plants, how to improve your soil food web, and share real world examples.
Happy Pigs Taste Better—Hog farmer Alice Percy of Fedco Seeds will provide an in-depth introduction on how to ethically and successfully manage pigs, taking into account natural behavior, diet, pasture, and health.
Raw Milk Risk Management—This Raw Milk Institute training focuses on the benefits of raw milk for direct human consumption, grass-to-glass risk identification, development of a risk management plan, and lessons learned from other raw milk dairies.

Workshops, Trade Show, Socials, Debates, Networking, and More

More than 60 workshops February 11-13 on sustainable farming, livestock, homesteading, gardening, and business with speakers such as Jo Ann Baumgartener, Dave Dowling, Kamyar Enshayan, Joel Gruver, Alice Percy, Holly Ripon-Butler, Mark Schultz, and Erin Silva
An interactive virtual trade show February 10-15
A free soil health workshop February 10
Debates presented by Earth Tools February 12-13
A farming and climate discussion with the Real Organic Project February 12
A mixology lesson with Western Reserve Distillers February 12
An OEFFA Open Mic Night February 13
A chefinar with Fēst February 14
A Community Day for Reflection, Regeneration, and Action February 15

Sliding scale rates, scholarships, and a NOFA-NY conference special are available.