Our conference theme, “Our Soil, Our Health” was developed in recognition of how the quality of our soil affects the quality of our food and its fundamental ability to nourish us. On the heels of the United Nation’s 2015 International Year of Soils, we want to elevate the discussion of the linkage between soil health, plant health, and human health. This theme will be addressed throughout the conference—in our keynote addresses, workshops, roundtables, a featured film Symphony of the Soil, and (of course) in a song or two.
In addition, the conference will have 87 workshops for commercial organic producers, localvores, homesteaders, and gardeners. There are three featured workshop tracks: a community and school garden series, in collaboration with the Vermont Community Garden Network; a Food Systems Solutions track, in partnership with UVM’s Food Systems Initiative; and a Direct Marketing track we are organizing, with leadership from organic farmers who direct market their farm products. There will be a seed swap hosted by High Mowing Organic Seeds, an exhibitors’ fair, Saturday evening social events, and an ice-cream social, hosted by Strafford Organic Creamery, to wrap up the weekend!
