NOFA-NY Winter Conference 2012

Hi everyone, Kimberly here. The Northeast Organic Farmers Association, New York chapter’s annual winter conference was just held, and I was lucky enough to have been able to attend. Your farmers, Chris and Eve, are active members (yes, I ran into them there, along with their staff members Hasleer and Lisa, and they even donated some sweet potatoes to the conference’s food), and I believe are certified organic through them. NOFA-NY also has an excellent Farmers’ Pledge program, as an alternative for farms who cannot afford the fees that go along with certification, or choose not to be certified because they think the national organic standards are not strong enough.

The conference was held this year in Saratoga Springs, a little north of Albany (about a 4 hour trip by car), a lovely small city with a quaint downtown and where people still go to “take the waters”. I was there as a beginning farmer with an eye to make the most of the workshops (like the one on no-till farming being held by Four Winds Farm, a farm close to my new farm and by chance we plan this year to emulate their system), and they did not disappoint, except that some of them could have gone on longer!

The conference’s theme this year was “The Cooperative Economy”, and I found that even more important than the workshops was the chance to meet so many other like-minded people; it was so nourishing to be able to sit down randomly at one of the big, round breakfast/lunch/dinner tables, and be welcomed by strangers and have the most amazing conversation with them! Btw, did I mention how amazing the food was (much of it was donated by member farms and cooked by the creative hotel staff)?

In addition to the workshops and food, there was an exhibit hall, book shop, silent auction, key note addresses (this year included author and professor John Ikerd, Appalachian Sustainable Development director Kathlyn Terry, and NOFA-NY Farmers of the Year Paul and Maureen Knapp), early morning yoga (no, I never made it in time) and for the first time an Organic Research Symposium. At the fundraiser dinner, Just Food was given an award which Paula Lukats (who runs their CSA in NYC program) accepted on their behalf. There were also some great social events, including a Contradance (square dancing, people! SO MUCH FUN even for a beginner like me!) and a motivational worksongs singalong (which went on until midnight, when we were kicked out because security needed to close up the room). And I heard the joyful refrains of, but didn’t participate in (duh!) , the Children’s Conference, which kept kids ages 5+ busy during the day (childcare for ages 3-5 was also available).

Despite its name, the organization welcomes gardeners, homesteaders and consumers as members, and their commitment to that sector showed at the conference, with quite a few workshops appropriate for non-farmers, so please check out their website and consider becoming a member. Please note: each April (in honor of Earth Day) and September (in honor of the Locavore Challenge) they offer a special introductory membership of only $10!!