You are here
Workshops & Keynotes
Conference Year: 2015
Select a track below or feel free to download our 1-page PDF conference schedule https://eco-farm.org/sites/default/files/EcoFarm%202020%201-page%20confe...
Wednesday
Opening Plenary
Hope Beneath our Feet – The Solution to Climate Change is Soil The new Rodale white paper—titled...
Presenter(s): Bill McKibben, Brock Dolman, Gary Paul Nabhan
Location: Merrill Hall (overflow in Chapel)
Thursday
Restaurants Commit to Local, Seasonal and Sustainable Foods
Farm to fork is all the rage these days, however few restaurateurs fully walk their talk. Our two...
Presenter(s): Emanuele Bartolini and Brad Briske, Carolyn and Rudy Rudolph
Location: Nautilus
Monarchs and Milkweed: Why Farms Matter
The North American Monarch butterfly population has declined by over 90 percent in less than 20...
Presenter(s): Gary Paul Nabhan, Scott Black
Location: Oak Shelter
Teaching Organic Farming: Resources for Farmer Educators
There are some great instructional resources for teaching beginning farmers, including the free...
Presenter(s): Jim Leap and Sky DeMuro
Location: Kiln
Climate Change and Agriculture: Good News Stories
With California’s drought and other weather extremes across the country, much attention has been...
Presenter(s): Paul Muller, Marc Los Huertos
Location: Chapel
Compost: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
As agriculture and urban communities have increased their use of compost, there has been a...
Presenter(s): Amigo Bob Cantisano, Pat Herbert
Track:
Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Merrill
Drought Proofing Your Landscape and Garden
Drought proofing your garden is a puzzle with many pieces. This workshop will put the pieces...
Presenter(s): Ken Foster
Location: Scripps
Exploring the Value of Organic Certification
Many young and beginning farmers adhere to organic agricultural practices but choose not to pursue...
Presenter(s): Sarah Brown, Jake Lewin, Pat Bollinger, Chris Hay
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Fred Farr
Discussion Group: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Reportedly, membership in many CSAs is down, as more and more online channels for buying fresh...
Location: Evergreen
Managing Mimicry: The Art and Science of Restoring Rangeland
For years cattle were classified as Enemy Number One by environmentalists. However, new...
Presenter(s): Nate Chisholm, Doniga Markegard, Byron Palmer
Track:
Permaculture, Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Heather
Assessing and Improving Your Farm's Carbon Footprint
Learn about different approaches to estimating and improving the carbon footprint of your farm...
Presenter(s): David Granatstein, Adam Kotin
Location: Oak Shelter
Bring Back the Pollinators: Attracting Native Bees and Beneficial Insects
Native pollinators and predatory insects are the unsung champions of the agricultural world. Join...
Presenter(s): Jessa Kay Cruz
Location: Merrill
Close the Circle of Waste
One farm’s waste is another farm’s fertilizer, feed, or even energy. Join three certified organic...
Presenter(s): Rebecca King, Jenny Lester Moffitt, Additional Speaker TBA
Location: Acacia
Demonstrating How to Embody Triple Bottom Line Values
Let’s look at how three companies: a farmer, a distributor, and a retailer live their values,...
Presenter(s): Nicole Mason, Simon Richard, Adriana Silva
Track:
Merchants, Handlers, & Distributors, Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Scripps
Growing Heirloom Produce on the Ark of Taste
The Ark of Taste is a biodiversity project designed to protect superior tasting and place-based...
Presenter(s): Linda Elbert, Gary Paul Nabhan, Jerry Thomas
Location: Kiln
Learning As If Whole Systems Mattered: Permaculture in Schools and Universi...
“Never let formal education get in the way of your learning,” said Mark Twain. This is a fun and...
Presenter(s): Ken Foster, David Shaw, Vanessa Carter
Track:
Permaculture
Location: Heather
National Organic Update
The annual update about what is going on with national organic issues will feature news from the...
Presenter(s): Melissa Bailey, Betsy Rakola, Zea Sonnabend
Track:
Activists
Location: Nautilus
Fostering Innovation in the San Francisco Peninsula Food System
The long-term sustainability of local farms and ranches is ultimately dependent on the health of...
Presenter(s): Jered Lawson, Wendy Millet, Hannah Mensing, Rob Trice
Location: Toyon
Urban Integrated Pest Management from an Agroecological Perspective
Learn about agroecological concepts that are used in urban settings to manage pests in schools,...
Presenter(s): Martín Guerena, Steven Zien
Location: Fred Farr
Scaling Up Sustainable Food Sourcing to Schools, Hospitals, and Colleges
Farm-to-institution projects have rapidly advanced across the U.S., providing an opportunity for...
Presenter(s): Diana Abellara, Tim Galarneau, Kendra Klein
Location: Evergreen
Soil Fertility for Organic Orchards and Vineyards
While the basics of N-P-K for organics are fairly universal concepts, the production of perennial...
Presenter(s): Amigo Bob Cantisano, Gregg Young
Location: Chapel
We’re All Eaters Here: Still Connecting to the Foods We Eat
Deborah Madison has helped shape how people think about food, cooking, health and nutrition. She...
Presenter(s): Deborah Madison
Location: Merill Hall (overflow in Chapel)
No-Till Vegetable Production for the Future
Tillage is one of the oldest tenets of agriculture. It can be difficult to imagine breaking away...
Presenter(s): Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser, Helen Atthowe
Track:
Permaculture
Location: Nautilus
Get to Know Your Farm: Planning Tools to Achieve Financial and Personal Goa...
Recordkeeping and planning are essential practices to ensure the viability of your farm. However,...
Presenter(s): Alan Haight
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Scripps
Pastured Pork
Demand for pasture-raised, high-welfare pork continues to grow. The benefits of pastured production...
Presenter(s): Guido Frosini, Tim Holmes
Location: Evergreen
Produce Marketing Is Like Compost for Sales
Farmers can turn their crop plans into money when they present their products in a top-notch way...
Presenter(s): Dina Izzo, Tammi Reidl
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Chapel
Viva EcoFarm! A Historical Look Back and a Hopeful Look Forward
The West Coast has led the way in the organic food movement, and the Ecological Farming Association...
Presenter(s): Amigo Bob Cantisano, Ken Dickerson, Thomas Wittman
Location: Oak Shelter
Bagrada Bug Research and Identifying Other Organic Research Needs
A two-part session: Organic controls for bagrada bug & discussion of growers' organic research...
Presenter(s): Dr. Shimat V. Joseph, Jeffery Dahlberg, Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, Chuck Boldwyn
Track:
Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Toyon
Food Justice Certification Presentation
Please join us to learn more about the Agricultural Justice Project's (AJP's) Food Justice...
Presenter(s): Michael Sligh, Vanya Goldberg
Location: Sanderling
Abuzz about Bees
One in every three bites of food comes from crops that are pollinated by honey bees. Yet in recent...
Presenter(s): Randy Sue Collins, Larissa Walker
Location: Kiln
Chinese Medicinal Herbs: An Emergent Organic Market
The expanding use of herbal medicine has greatly stimulated U.S. consumption of traditional Chinese...
Presenter(s): Michael Broffman, Michael McCulloch, Peg Schafer
Location: Heather
Creating Tools for the Small Organic Farm
This session will highlight the work of small-farm tool designers/makers as an inspiration for all...
Presenter(s): Jack Algiere, Barry Griffin, Michael McGowen
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Fred Farr
Managing Fire Blight Without Antibiotics
If left unchecked, fire blight can decimate pear and apple orchards. Now that antibiotics can no...
Presenter(s): David Granatstein, Rachel Elkins
Track:
Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Acacia
Crop Insurance for Diversified Organic Farms
Diversified organic farmers have historically been challenged in finding crop insurance products...
Presenter(s): Michael Alston
Location: Nautilus
Friday
Successful Organic Farmers
An EcoFarm tradition - Learn what these farmers do, why they do it, and what they’ve learned along...
Presenter(s): Don Tipping, Guido Frosini, Joe and Doug and Anthony Perry
Location: Merrill Hall (overflow in Chapel)
El Exito de los Agricultores Orgánicos
Guido Frosini Granjas “True Grass Farms”, Valley Ford, CA Esta tierra ha pertenecido a la familia...
Track:
En Español
Connecting with Customers through Online Channels
Online grocery stores offer an opportunity for farmers to provide a full line of products from...
Presenter(s): Judith Redmond, Tahnee Shields
Location: Kiln
Encouraging Urban Agriculture through Innovative Public Policy
Urban agriculture is hot. With limited space and high food prices, people are looking to their...
Presenter(s): Stephanie Goodson, Christina Oatfield
Track:
Activists
Location: Scripps
Excellent Seedbed Preparation
Good seedbed preparation is critical for a weed free and uniform stand of a range of small-seeded...
Presenter(s): Jim Leap, Christina Oatfield
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Fred Farr
Anticipating the Final FDA Food Safety Rules
While waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finalize the Food Safety Modernization...
Presenter(s): Jo Ann Baumgartner, Cathy Carlson
Location: Heather
Invasion Biology Science: Two Perspectives on Invasive Species
Should we try to control invasive species or should we let them be? On the one hand, invasion...
Presenter(s): Mark S. Hoddle, David Theodoropoulos
Location: Evergreen
Make Your Farm Energy Self-Sufficient
Solar energy, wind power, veggie oil fuel, and other alternative forms of energy are not as novel...
Presenter(s): Lou Preston, John Teixeira
Location: Oak Shelter
On-Farm Soil Health Strategies
This workshop will explore the challenges of managing for soil health on organic farms. Producers...
Presenter(s): Sarah Brown, Chris Hay
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Chapel
Estrategias para la Salud del Suelo en las Granjas
Este taller explorará los desafíos en cuanto al manejo de la salud del suelo en granjas orgánicas...
Presenter(s): Sarah Brown, Chris Hay
Track:
En Español
Location: Chapel
Film Screening: "Ground Operations"
Ground Operations is an award-winning documentary film and social action campaign that champions...
Presenter(s): Dulanie Ellis
Location: Toyon
Demeter Presentation: Farming to the Demeter Biodynamic Farm Standard
The Demeter Farm Standard is based on seven principles that comprehensively outline the Biodynamic...
Presenter(s): Jim Fullmer
Location: Acacia
Psychoactive Substances and their Impact on the Organic Farming and Ecology...
The past 50 years have seen a significant shift in consciousness about the beauty, vitality,...
Presenter(s): Amigo Bob Cantisano, Carolyn Garcia, Mariavittoria Mangini, Stephen Pavich
Location: Merrill
What Is a B Corp? Discover the Why and How of It
B Corporations are a new type of company that use the power of business to solve social and...
Presenter(s): Andy Fyfe, Shira Tannor
Track:
Merchants, Handlers, & Distributors
Location: Nautilus
Discussion Group: Pastured Poultry for Diversified Farms
Join fellow poultry enthusiasts to share the successes and challenges of raising chickens, turkeys...
Location: Sanderling
Crowdfunding to Raise Capital for Your Business
The last few years have seen a proliferation of new mechanisms for raising money for your business...
Presenter(s): Eileen Gordon, Thomas Nelson, Elizabeth Ü
Location: Chapel
Cultivating a Relationship with Your Weeds
Farmers have different approaches to their weeds. Some have worked to integrate weeds into their...
Presenter(s): Jack Algiere, Bob Cannard
Location: Kiln
Cómo cultivar una relación con sus malezas
Los agricultores tienen distintos enfoques en lo que respecta a sus malezas. Algunos de ellos han...
Presenter(s): Jack Algiere, Bob Cannard
Track:
En Español
Location: Kiln
Dinosaurs Rise Again: The Produce Professionals, Past and Present
Sharing the collective history on how the organic produce trade got to this point provides...
Presenter(s): Bonnie Poux
Track:
Merchants, Handlers, & Distributors
Location: Nautilus
Discussion Group: Biodynamic Peer Learning
The deep principles and innovative practices of biodynamic agriculture can be taken up by any...
Presenter(s): Thea Maria Carlson, Robert Karp
Location: Triton
Do Farmers and Water Districts Really Have Water Rights?
Beginning in June, California farmers and water districts with hundred-year-old water rights to...
Presenter(s): DeeDee D'Adamo, Jay Lund, Nancy Weber
Location: Merrill
EcoFarm Farmers’ Association
Discussion Group: The Farmers’ Association is a farmer-directed program of EcoFarm working to...
Location: Sanderling
Farming with Wild Nature: Insights from Three Farmers
Sustainable agriculture holds promise as farmers learn how to farm with nature. Hear from three...
Presenter(s): Alan Haight, Paul Hain, Dan Macon
Location: Fred Farr
Find Land You Can Afford: Partnering with a Land Trust to Secure Farmland
This session will provide farmers with tools to partner with land trusts and other land-holding...
Presenter(s): Melissa Campbell, Holly Rippon-Butler, Dan Hulse
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Heather
Growing Food and Touching Lives
Over the past four and a half decades, Michael O’Gorman’s farming ventures have involved thousands...
Presenter(s): Michael O'Gorman
Location: Acacia
Next Steps in the Fight Against GMOs
As the public has become increasingly aware of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in the overall...
Presenter(s): Rebecca Spector, Gwendolyn Wyard, Zea Sonnabend
Track:
Activists
Location: Scripps
Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture: Creating an Edible Ecosystem
Creating an edible food forest is both an art and a science. Learn the 10,000-year-old layered...
Presenter(s): Christopher Shein
Track:
Permaculture
Location: Evergreen
Science Supporting Organic and Applied Organic Research Needs
This workshop will cover the current science supporting organic agriculture, as well as the...
Presenter(s): Brise Tencer, Jessica Shade
Location: Oak Shelter
Large-Scale Organics with Integrity: Costco and Nutiva
As a community, EcoFarm has worked for 35 years to convert the U.S. food and farming system to one...
Presenter(s): Dennis Hoover, John Roulac
Track:
Merchants, Handlers, & Distributors
Location: Kiln
Pest Resistance Management: Alternating Materials for Better Organic Pest C...
It is well known in both organic and conventional farming that pests and diseases can develop...
Presenter(s): Doug O'Brien, Pam Marrone
Track:
Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Heather
Biodynamic Beekeeping
Biodynamic apiculture turns much of conventional beekeeping wisdom on its head by viewing honeybee...
Presenter(s): Thea Maria Carlson, Michael Thiele
Location: Acacia
Productive Perennial Polycultures: Designing an Ecosystem of Abundance on t...
Across the nation, food forests and edible forest gardens are gaining attention in public projects...
Presenter(s): Timo Granzotti, John Valenzuela
Track:
Permaculture
Location: Merrill
Discussion Group: Farming with Wild Nature
Farming that values natural systems and works with the wild, remedies the consequences of chemical-...
Location: Oak Shelter
Discussion Group: GMOs - A Strategic Planning Session
Join LabelGMO's Pamm Larry, Mom Across America's Zen Honeycutt and California Grange Presidend Bob...
Location: Triton
Discussion Group: Women in Eco-Ag in California and Beyond
Come and connect with your fellow female farmers, share your stories and experience as we move...
Location: Scripps
The Carbon Ranch
The idea of the carbon ranch involves the potential for removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the...
Presenter(s): Courtney White
Location: Nautilus
El Salvador’s Small-Scale Farmers Reclaim Organic Wisdom and Ancestral Valu...
EcoFarm is pleased to host a delegation of Salvadoran farmers whose work has been central to their...
Location: Fred Farr
Agricultores a pequeña escala de El Salvador reivindican la sabiduría orgán...
EcoFarm tiene el placer de recibir a una delegación de agricultores salvadoreños cuyo trabajo ha...
Track:
En Español
Location: Fred Farr
Food Sovereignty in Tribal Communities
Join three diverse speakers as they explore the intersection of food, agriculture, health, and...
Presenter(s): Kouslaa Kessler-Mata, Leah Mata, Melissa Nelson
Location: Evergreen
Forgotten Practices that Save Water on the Farm
Most farm water conservation measures focus strongly on irrigation practices such as improving...
Presenter(s): Rich Casale
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Chapel
Saturday
The World of Creepy Crawlies: Ants and Spiders
Even though all plants and pests have a relationship with ants and spiders, these important...
Presenter(s): Kristen Erik Tollerup, Devin Carroll
Location: Fred Farr
Building Bridges: Climate, Agriculture and Justice
The climate crisis has wide-ranging implications and challenges, not only for farmers but also for...
Presenter(s): Diana Abellara, Veronica Garibay
Track:
Activists
Location: Merrill
Farmland Conservation and Land Access in California
Through a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation...
Presenter(s): Misti Arias, John Guardino, Jaclyn Moyer
Location: Nautilus
Growing, Cooking and Crafting a Diverse Community
This workshop will focus on stories of Latino immigrants whose food and farming innovations are...
Presenter(s): Barbara Goodell, Carmen Herrera-Mansir, Maria Elena Mendoza, Nancy Porto, Angeles Segura
Location: Kiln
On-Farm Mobile Poultry Processing
Mobile poultry processing allows small farmers to raise and then slaughter meat chickens, turkeys,...
Presenter(s): Patty and Rob Bielen
Track:
Seasoned Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Oak Shelter
Practical Earth Magic
The earth is sacred, and to live in sacred balance is both a spiritual and a very practical...
Presenter(s): Starhawk
Location: Scripps
The Basics of Seed Saving
Explore the exciting art of seed saving. Learn how to plan your garden for saving seed and how to...
Presenter(s): Matthew Hoffman, Steve Peters
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
Location: Chapel
Slow Tools Roundtable Discussion
Small-scale diversified farmers cannot easily meet market opportunities without improving the...
Presenter(s): Jack Algiere
Location: Evergreen
Wise Words from Well-Seasoned Farmers
We are again in for a great treat, as our panelists detail their many decades of farming experience...
Presenter(s): Nash Huber, Silvia Prevedelli
Location: Heather
Walking the Edge: Deepening our Magic
In nature, edges, where one ecosystem meets another, are the places of greatest dynamism, energy...
