Monday, February 1, 2016

34th Annual Winter Conference ~ Connecticut’s Largest Organic Food and Farming Conference



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Connecticut’s Largest Organic Food and Farming Conference Returns for 34th Year
Organic community to unite for a weekend of education, inspiration and celebration

Derby, CT, Feb. 1, 2016 – The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA) is pleased to invite the public to its 34th Annual Winter Conference on March 12 and 13 at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in Danbury. Guests will discover new ways to strengthen Connecticut’s local food system and help combat climate change using practices rooted in organic farming and land care. Keynote  speaker Travis Marcotte, Executive Director of the Intervale Center in Vermont, will inspire and energize guests about building community food systems as the conference kicks off.
 
Saturday programming features more than 60 workshops taught by industry experts about organic gardening, land care, homesteading, farming and do-it-yourself foods including kombucha, ginger beer, wine, and fermented vegetables.  Gardeners will learn how to graft fruit trees, grow roses organically, and cultivate mushrooms while land care professionals further their expertise in soil biology, creating landscape designs for feathery friends, and using beneficial insects for pest management. 

Jack Kittredge, longtime NOFA Massachusetts leader and author of The Natural Farmer newspaper, will lead a soil carbon restoration workshop designed to teach farmers techniques for returning carbon to the soil and restoring soil health. Farmers can explore climate change adaptation strategies with Kip Kolesinskas, Conservation Scientist at American Farmland Trust, and learn a practical approach to cover crops with Dr. Elizabeth Dyck, a plant scientist and founder of the Organic Growers' Research and Information-Sharing Network (OGRIN)

We are very excited to present two days of outstanding programming for our diverse and growing membership and community of supporters” says CT NOFA Executive Director Jeff Cordulack “and look forward to sharing inspiring news about the power of regenerative ‘carbon farming’ to absorb carbon from the air and help reverse climate change. Our organic mission has never been more relevant than it is today.”

Guests may purchase lunch tickets for $15 and enjoy their choice of delicious and locally-sourced dishes prepared by generous lunch sponsors including Barcelona, The Whelk, Kawa Ni, Sugar & Olives, Mill Street Bar & Table, Wave Hill Breads, New Morning Market, Plan B and Sodexo. A complimentary tasting of locally-roasted, organic coffee is being sponsored by Shearwater Coffee Roasters and at lunchtime, organic teas are being sponsored by local tea producer Harney and Sons.

Saturday admission includes access to workshops and more than 60 organic food and farm exhibitors. Sunday features a choice of intensive workshops for farmers and serious backyard gardeners, including programs for beginning farmers who want to improve their crop planning and business skills. 

Register online at ctnofa.org for CT NOFA’s 34th Annual Winter Conference for the organic food and farming community held on Saturday, March 12 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday, March 13 from 9:00-3:30 pm at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Saturday admission is $60 for non-members and $50 for members; Sunday admission is $50 for non-members and $35 for members; combined Saturday and Sunday admission is $110 for non-members and $85 for members.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support.




CT NOFA's 34th Annual Winter Conference is being brought to you in cooperation with Western Connecticut State University and its Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies.  



 This Program is a cooperative effort of CT NOFA, UConn Extension, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and the Risk Management Agency/USDA.
 

  



About CT NOFA
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, Inc. (CT NOFA) is the first and leading grassroots association advocating for organic food, farming, gardening and land care in Connecticut. We connect people in the local-sustainable food and land care movements with organic resources and cutting-edge educational opportunities. Our organization’s emphasis is on training organic farmers, gardeners and land care professionals on the latest sustainable practices; promoting organic products and practices to consumers; and bringing attention to critical state and federal policy issues affecting our international food system and global environment. CT NOFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1982 and one of the seven State Chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association.

Media Inquiries:
Contact:
Analiese Paik
Communications Director
203-520-3451

Jeff Cordulack
Executive Director
CT NOFA
126 Derby Avenue, Derby, CT 06418
(203) 613-8813

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