2008 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
Your favorite tools. Books. Non-profit resources. Soil amendments and more. Exhibits are always a popular part of the conference, providing a variety of information for growers, gardeners and consumers. Come check out the stuff you can’t find anywhere else!
If you would like to exhibit, the cost per table is $245 for CFSA-member commercial exhibitors and $385 for non-member commercial exhibitors. For rates for non-profit and government exhibitors, contact Roland McReynolds at (919) 542-2402. Exhibitors can purchase meal tickets and entrance to conference sessions separately. If you are unable to attend the conference but would like to reserve space to display and distribute brochures or catalogs, call the CFSA office at (919) 542-2402 or email fred@carolinafarmstewards.org.
Seed Exchange
Bring your seeds to swap! Or collect some so that you can start growing and saving your own. 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 the following: 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
We all believe in fresh, local, and organic food and that bounty will be showcased at the conference. As prior attendees know, the meals are always wonderfully delicious and inventive. 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 Amy Nichols at 864-933-3529 or amyn@clemson.edu.
Conference meals include lunch, a social and dinner on Friday and Saturday. No meals are served Sunday. Register for the entire conference package to receive all these meals. Daily registration options are available with or without meals. Meals may also be purchased separately. Friday’s farm tours include lunch. (This year breakfast will not be provided except on a very limited basis, so plan accordingly.)
Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is a fun and exciting way for you to pick up some wonderful items. It’s also a great 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 precisely 6:15 p.m. Saturday. Bidders must be present at the close of the auction in order to claim items. Cash and checks are preferred. Bid early and often! If you have auction items or services to donate or are willing to solicit donations on behalf of CFSA, please contact Fred Broadwell at (919) 542-2402 or fred@carolinafarmstewards.org. Deadline for auction donations to be listed in the program is October 1. Donations also accepted on-site.
Poster Session
Doing great research? Let the world know about it through a research poster for this year’s conference! A poster is a great way to publicize the results of your research and looks mighty good on your CV. If interested, please contact Geoff Zender at Zehnder@clemson.edu. This year we will be awarding prizes to the top three posters as judged by an out-of-town expert.
Tables of Interest
Passionate about an issue but don’t see it on the agenda? Want to get a group of folks together who share interest in a topic? This year for the first time, we will set aside a few tables at Saturday’s lunch for folks to do some additional networking around a topic. So far we are reserving tables for the following topics: technology for the farm/farm websites and farm incubators. To suggest a topic, contact Fred Broadwell at fred@carolinafarmstewards.org or (919) 542-2402. At the conference, look for signs on tables toward the back of the lunch area.
Job Board / Bulletin Board
Need helpers? Looking for an apprenticeship or a job? Wanting to buy or sell a farm, a tractor or just some chickens? Check out our bulletin board in the exhibit area. This is also a good place to post messages to other conference attendees. |
