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  • From: "Wiediger, Alison" <alison.wiediger AT hart.kyschools.us>
  • To: "High Tunnels Listserv" <HIGHTUNNELS AT LISTSERV.KSU.EDU>, "PasturePoultry" <PasturePoultry AT yahoogroups.com>, <homesteadhogs AT yahoogroups.com>
  • Cc: SANET Listserv <SANET-MG AT LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>, market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] It's Winter - and Conference time! Check out one of the best!
  • Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:37:16 -0600

Good afternoon folks!
 
I don't know about you all, but we have almost finished our outdoor season and are looking forward to a less busy time on the farm.  One of the things we really enjoy about the cool season is that it allows us the time to evaluate this year's efforts and start planning improvements for next year.  One of the ways we learn about new techniques is to go to some conferences and one of the best that we know of - if not THE best - is the Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference that SSAWG offers each year.  In 2010, it is again going to be in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 20-23, 2010.  There will be short courses - Startup Organic Vegetable ProductionHoophouse Production (Paul and I will be teaching that one), Management Intensive Grazing of Beef, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and Starting and Managing a Successful Farmers' Market interactive mini-courses, and field trips to local outstanding farming operations as pre-conference offerings. 
 
Then there will be two days of fabulous sessions on Friday and Saturday, a Taste of Tennessee dinner Saturday evening, lots of vendors with the things you really want to look at in person rather than in a catalog,  a silent auction that always has some really cool items (last year we bought an electric salad spinner and some wool roving), and perhaps most importantly, the assemblage of some of the best minds in sustainable agriculture in the South for all the hallway discussions.  The selection of sessions is so rich that the organizers are suggesting everyone come with a partner so you can split up and not miss anything.  I know Paul and I each have our list of "must attends" - and will be in very few sessions together! 
 
So, come to Chattanooga in January and join us.  Chattanooga is a beautiful city and the people are soooo nice!  There are free electric shuttle buses that leave from the front entrance of the conference hotel every 5 minutes and go downtown.  It's a lot of fun to ride them and explore all the great places to eat and cool shops. Last year we parked our truck when we arrived, and got back in it when we left. 
 
I guarantee that you'll have the time of your life and go back with many ideas for improving your farming operation.  All the details are here:   http://www.ssawg.org/conference-.html     The short courses and field trips often fill up fast, so don't put it off.   This year they have added online registration for your convenience:  http://www.ssawgconference.org/
 
Now that Thanksgiving is past, it's time to arrange to be away from your farm for a few days, get some education, meet some fascinating people and eat some great local food.   Wouldn't it make a memorable Christmas gift for yourself or a best-loved farmer?
 
See you in January in Chattanooga!
 
Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm
 
 
 


  • [Market-farming] It's Winter - and Conference time! Check out one of the best!, Wiediger, Alison, 12/01/2009

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