2007 Sustainable Agriculture Conference
O n - g o i n g Co n f e re n c e Ac t i v i t i e s
Exhibits
Educational, commercial and non-profit exhibits are a
valuable part of our conference, providing a variety of
information for growers, gardeners and consumers. The
fees, per table, are $350 for non-CFSA member commercial
exhibitors, $225 for CFSA-member commercial
exhibitors, and $75 for non-profit and government
exhibitors. Admission to conference sessions and meal
tickets may be purchased separately. Limited space is
available to display and distribute brochures or catalogs
if you are unable to attend the conference. To reserve
space, call the CFSA office at (919) 542-2402 or email roland@carolinafarmstewards.org.
Seed Exchange
Bring your seeds to swap! Or collect some so that you
can start growing and saving your own. We will also
have lots of information about how to save seed. Seed
saving and plant exchanges are key steps to regional
self-determination, preservation of genetic diversity,
and selection of regionally adapted and improved varieties.
Please bring bulk or prepackaged seed varieties
to share, packaged appropriately (25 for garden plants,
100-200 for field crops). Please label each seed or plant
variety with species and variety name, original source
if known, saver’s name, geographic place where grown,
methods (organic, conventional) and any comments on
the variety’s features, advantages, ornamental or craft
uses, etc. If you have questions, please call Lee Barnes
at (828) 452-5716 or lbarnes2@earthlink.net or Cricket
Rakita at (540) 894-8865 or cricket@savingourseed.org
Meals
The meals are the highlight of this conference! Fresh
produce, grains, meats, and dairy from local sources,
much of it donated, will tantalize your taste buds all
weekend long. If you have food to donate or have any
questions about meals, please contact Peggy Cook at
(919) 542 2402 or peggy@carolinafarmstewards.org.
Conference meals include social and dinner on Friday,
continental breakfast, lunch, social and dinner on Saturday,
and continental breakfast on Sunday. Register for “entire conference” package to receive all these meals.
Daily registration options are available with and without
meals.
Friday’s organic certification workshop, farm tours and
short courses include lunch.
Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is a fun and exciting fundraiser for
CFSA. Items generously donated by farms, households
and businesses include local crafts, garden supplies,
clothing, books, seeds and more! The auction will begin
Friday afternoon and end at 6 p.m. Saturday. Bid early
and often! Bidders must be present at the close of the
auction in order to claim items. If you have auction items
or services to donate or are willing to solicit donations
on behalf of CFSA, please contact Peggy Cook at (919)
542-2402 or peggy@carolinafarmstewards.org. Deadline
for auction donations to be listed in the program is
Friday, October 5. Unlisted donations accepted on-site.
Eve n i n g Co n f e re n c e Ac t i v i t i e s
Keynote Address: Michael Ableman- Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Michael Ableman is a farmer and founder of the Center for Urban Agriculture where he farmed from 1981-
2001. He is the author and photographer of From the Good Earth (Abrams, 1993), On Good Land (Chronicle
Books, 1998), and Fields of Plenty: A farmer’s journey in search of real food and the people who grow it
(Chronicle Books, 2005). Michael now farms on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia at Madrona Valley Farm
and is currently developing the 120 acre Foxglove Farm. Visit Michael at www.madronavalleyfarm.com or at
www.fieldsofplenty.com. Sponsored by Earth Fare.
“25 Years of Farming”-Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm in Graham, NC has been farming with his wife Betsy for 25 years. The Hitts were recently honored with
SARE’s Patrick Madden award for their contribution to sustainable agriculture in the southeast. Alex and Betsy have taught many
interns who have gone onto their own farming endeavors. Two time Terra Madre delegates, Alex and Betsy have found their niche
growing food with a face, a place and a taste. Known for
his business success, (and love of good beer) Alex will
speak about 25 years of farming and the work of CFSA
over the past 25 years.
Film Festival- Friday, 8:30 p.m.
Unnatural Selection
This stunning European documentary made available
for the first time in the US, reveals several harsh consequences
of genetic engineering worldwide. A failed GM
cotton crop prompts farmer suicides in India. Windborne
GM canola contaminates organic and conventional
farms in Canada. One farmer fights Monsanto in the
Supreme Court.
Hidden Dangers in Kid’s Meals (2005)
This 28-minute documentary makes a strong appeal
to parents and schools to remove GM foods from kids’
meals, particularly because children are most at-risk
from the potential dangers. As added incentive for
schools to make changes in their food service, the video
includes interviews with teachers and administrators
of Appleton, Wisconsin schools, where a change from
processed foods to fresh nutritious foods resulted in a
dramatic shift in the behavior and learning ability of the
students. And experts reveal how inadequate testing
and regulations put us at risk.
Beyond Organic (2000)
This film tells the story of this amazing farm and its long
battle to survive in the face of rapid suburban development.
It explores the efforts of Michael Ableman and his
staff to diversify the farm, open it to educational tours
for thousands of people -- especially schoolchildren
-- and defend it against angry neighbors, hostile public
officials and developers eager to re-zone the land for
condominiums. It draws a sharp contrast between community
supported agriculture and conventional chemical
farming, and it calls on organic
farmers to remember basic principles,
including fair labor practices, as their
farms grow in size and power.
Terra Madre 2006 Slideshow
Delegates from North Carolina will
share slides and stories from their trip
to
Turin, Italy for the second biannual
Terra Madre Food Communities World
Gathering.
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