FEB 24-25: CORNWALL, ON – Eco Farm Days with Canadian Organic Growers

Posted by Moss Dance on January 15, 2018

Eco Farm Days

Canadian Organic Growers Ottawa – St Lawrence – Outaouais Chapter (COG OSO) is ready to announce the program for Eco Farm Days 2018, coming to Cornwall, ON this February 24 and 25, 2018. The theme this year is one simple word – Adaptation. In the context of agriculture, however, that single word conjures up a great many different issues facing farmers. Some ideas we will explore at Eco Farm Days are: How can farmers adapt to a changing climate; how do plant nutrient needs change over time; breeding new plant varieties for your farm; exploring better ways to feed your animals; and more.Keynote: Mary Howell and Klaas Martens, organic mixed farmers, owners of Lakeview Organic Grains in New York, and regular contributors to ACRES USA

Feb 24: Keynote address, 40 exhibitor trade show, organic lunch and a dozen workshops relating to plants, livestock, and soils.

Also a reception dinner and screening of the new documentary Modified, by Aube Giroux, in partnership with Transition Cornwall+ and All Things Food.

Feb 25: ALSO JOIN us for one of two full day, intensive and participatory workshops:

  • Polyculture Livestock:  Synergizing multiple livestock species into a single pasturing system, with veterinarian Dr Hubert and Suzanne Karreman, of Reverence Farms and Café.
  • The Permaculture Market Garden: Apply Permaculture principles without jeopardizing production, with Zach Loeks, author and farmer at Kula Permaculture Farm.  

Check www.ecofarmday.ca and www.facebook.com/cogosochapter and www.twitter.com/ecofarmday for details and updates

Keynote Presenters

Keynote presenters this year are Mary-Howell and Klaas Martens, who farm about 1400 acres of organic grains and vegetables, and own Lakeview Organic Grains seed and feed mill in the Finger Lakes region of New York (www.lakevieworganicgrain.com). “The Martens long-term vision for an agriculture that can adapt to future challenges is grounded in decades of practical experience running a farm and meeting the daily needs of their feed mill customers,” says Rob Wallbridge, Organic Specialist at Thompsons Ltd. “There are few people with the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience they possess.”

Apart from their keynote presentation, Mary-Howell will give a presentation on Feed Quality, while Klaas will present on Crop Fertility and Reduced Tillage. Other Eco Farm Days presentations will cover topics such as Climate Change, supporting native pollinators and honey bees, soil nutrient management, plant breeding systems, garlic production, moveable greenhouse management, fodder production, alternative healthcare for livestock, multi-species grazing, and more. There will also be an extensive trade show with a range of exhibitors with goods and services relevant to organic and organic curious farmers.

Evening Social

To bridge the two days of conference material, and to add a social element to Eco Farm Days, there will be a dinner reception on Feb 24 at the popular Cornwall restaurant, Schnitzel’s, and in partnership with Transition Cornwall+ and All Things Food. This will include a screening of the just-released documentary, Modified, by award-winning food blogger and cooking show host, Aube Giroux, about how our relationship to food is changing as genetic engineering becomes more prevalent in our food system (www.modifiedthefilm.com). Aube will be present at the screening and will lead a discussion about issues raised in the film.

To Register

There is separate registration for Saturday and Sunday sessions, with a discount for those registering for both days. Eco Farm Days 2018 will take place at the Ramada Inn, 805 Brookdale Ave, Cornwall, ON where overnight rooms can be booked by conference attendees (www.cornwallramada.com). As usual, an organic and mostly locally-sourced lunch is included in the registration fees for both days.  The dinner and film screening for Saturday night also has separate registration and is limited to 50 people due to limited space at Schnitzel’s.

Details and additional information, as well as registration is available at www.ecofarmday.ca, by emailing ecofarmday@cog.ca or by calling 613-487-2257. Developments can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cogosochapter and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ecofarmday.