Homesteaders and Gardeners at the Winter Conference

The Winter Conference isn't just for farmers – there are over 20 workshops this year designed with homesteaders and gardeners in mind! So whether you're interested in getting the most produce possible out of your raised bed, or getting more fruit from your apple trees, the Winter Conference has you covered. Saturday Workshop Spotlight: Hardy Nuts for Farms and Yards Black WalnutsKeith Morris will be on hand to guide you through the ecology and mythology of nut trees suited to growing on Vermont's farms and in our neighborhoods. Morris will focus on hardy proven nuts, and introduce the breeding and trialing happening at Willow Crossing Farm in Johnson, VT to help migrate some important nuts typically grown in slightly warmer regions. Sunday Workshop Spotlight: Poultry Breeds and Brooder Set Up for the Backyard Producer chickens2 It’s time to order those chirping wonders! Yet, those colorful, descriptive and plentiful poultry catalogs can be quite daunting. Join Bay Hammond, Farm Manager at Cerridwen Farm at Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT, and co-manager of Doolittle Farm in Shoreham VT to learn all about the different breed types, their benefits and shortcomings. There are additional workshops and networking opportunities for cooks, activists, educators, and more. See the complete list of conference workshops here, and stay tuned for more workshop spotlights in the coming week!