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to our 2012 Conference Sponsors!
It's not too late to join them in support of the southeast's ultimate sustainable living convergence! We're expecting close to 2000 people at UNC-Asheville March 3-4, 2012.
If you haven't already marked your calendar for March 3 & 4, 2012...it's time to get out the memo book. The Organic Growers School's 19th annual Spring Conference is scheduled for that weekend at UNC in Asheville, NC, and promises to be better than ever. Last year, we had just shy of 1700 attendees from 18 states and Canada. Green thumbs the nation-over came out for classes ranging from starting your first vegetable garden to transitioning your commercial farm. In between we baked bread, made fire from friction, and pontificated on the future of bio-char and food policy. What's to come in 2012? Well...THAT IS UP TO YOU. We've already combed the 2011 conference evaluations for your class ideas, and our team is currently pulling together another dynamic class line up for 2012. What do you want? TELL US, please via a comment on this post, or an email. Can't wait to hear from you!
ALSO, if you're hankering to get signed up for a vendor booth, or a sponsorship opportunity, you can download details here.
If you've never heard of the Conference, you can read more about it here.
Thanks to all the participants at our 5th annual True Nature Country Fair this past Saturday at Highland Lake Cove in Flat Rock, NC. We had fabulous weather, and in between the cider pressing, basket making, bread baking, contra dancing, plant walks, blacksmithing, horse logging, visiting with friends, (and a whole lot of other stuff), it was an awesome Saturday to be in good company under the autumn sunshine. If you're looking to follow up on anything you saw or heard at the event, feel free to contact Karen Vizzina, the Fair's manager via email. Hope to see you next time! Pictures coming soon!!
Well, despite the rain and snow, the Conference was again a great success! 1679 participants from all over the nation (and Canada) came out for a weekend of action packed learning and networking. Thanks to all the passionate participants, speakers, volunteers, and others who came together to make this weekend happen. I usually don't get away from my desk much at the event, but at one point on Sunday I was able to sneak down to the artisinal bread baking class. Flour was flying everywhere, and all participants were so engaged in their kneading that no one even noticed I was there. Usually, from my angle, I get to see our staff's logistical maneuvering, our instructors' hard work, and the participant's excitement as separate forces. To see all of these forces coming together on Sunday in that one class, I witnessed a true testament to why this event has been such a success over the years. I hope everyone learned, grew, and most of all felt the same positive energy that I felt when looking into that class. It seems, that with everything going on in the world today, a place where we can all come together, work together, and share in a positive way is a bright spot that deserves to be recognized. So thank you...from all of us at OGS!
We're hard at work getting speaker materials uploaded to our Conference Library, and hope that if you haven't already done so, you will take the time to fill out an evaluation of the event. We read and record these word for word, so you can be sure that your feedback is truly considered!
Dear Friend,
As the Organic Growers School wraps up another year, we are amazed at the growth of the sustainable food movement over the last two decades. In the early nineties, demand for region-specific organic agriculture resources in the mountains provided the impetus for our first annual conference. Now, eighteen years later, we find ourselves serving 50% more clients every single year, from consumers just beginning to discover the power and importance of their food choices, to farmers seeking to train the next generation of organic food producers.
By far, 2010 has marked our most exciting year of expansion yet. This past year, our CRAFT farmer training initiative grew by leaps and bounds, with over 20 farmer mentors and more than 60 student apprentices taking part in the program. Our recently established alliance with area partners brings our technical programming together with business and marketing opportunities to provide comprehensive and progressive opportunities for farm business owners to realize success. We believe that this collaboration is a giant step toward ensuring the longevity of training and resources for farmers in the southern Appalachian region, and will allow future opportunity to reach farmers in untouched communities through coordinated action. In addition to our farmer programming success, our Spring Conference attracted more attendees than ever in 2010, as 1500 people converged to learn, network, and celebrate our common goals. On top of programmatic success this year, our staff has also doubled, allowing us to better serve our audience. You’re receiving this letter because we are proud to count you among the supporters of safe, local, healthy food. Your support, be it through conference attendance, volunteer participation, or private donation in 2010 make it possible for us to continue building the organic food community.
Looking forward, there is no doubt that cohesiveness and perseverance within our community is all-important. The prominence of food safety legislation on the political horizon in 2010 provides just one example demonstrating that power and influence can and will be used in an attempt to deconstruct the grass roots movement behind sustainable local food systems. The continued work of the Organic Growers School within this movement is crucial, because our mission has drawn in ever-more stakeholders from diverse communities and walks of life. Our mission has been and will continue to be based on accessibility and affordability. Everyone is a stakeholder, and everyone has a voice.
How will your voice be heard in the year to come? Your continued participation in the fight for real food, whether it takes the form of a tailgate market shopping list, calls to your senator, or volunteer work in your community, you are an integral part of our crusade. As we approach a new year in local and organic food, the Organic Growers School charges you to think critically about the needs we face. Despite successes over the life of our organization, there is hard work ahead. As the current generation of farmers ages and we face the largest transfer of land in many, many years, how do we ensure this land is placed responsibly within the ethic that seeks to preserve natural resources for future generations? As farmers face threatening regulation, how do we assist all community members in understanding how these regulations threaten the sustainability of our economy as a whole? In addition to shopping lists and victory gardens, how do we make real change? What is a realistic way for us to band together and display the cohesiveness and perseverance we so need?
Through our work, the Organic Growers School attempts to tackle these questions every day. Our partnerships with other non profits and our expansion into underserved regions are keys to unified success in the campaign for sustainable food. Will you join us? As you give this holiday season, please consider the Organic Growers School. Aside from personal action, your support of charitable non-profits such as ours serves as an extension of your choices at home— and broadens the impact of our grassroots effort. Consider that:
$50 would enable a beginning farmer to receive training through our farmer mentoring program
$100 would allow our staff to reach out to ten more farmers seeking assistance in understanding current regulation that affects their business
$500 would pay a farmer to record their knowledge and conduct farm research for the benefit of current and future organic growers.
$1000 would allow a class of school children to receive hands-on learning about our agricultural heritage, and help instill in them a sense of ownership over the future of food.
Please give as you are inspired, and know that as you assist us in our mission, you create ripple effects in the food movement that will touch us all. Donate Now!
This holiday season, the Organic Growers School wishes to salute everyone who has committed to local, sustainable food systems. Through hard work on the farm, time volunteering to raise awareness, or through the generous extension of financial resources, you are the community of committed citizens that make our common goals attainable. Thank you for your heroic effort, and we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with family, friends, and fabulous local food.
If your calendar is blank for next March, we've got some dates for you!
MARCH 5 & 6, 2011 join over 1500 farmers, gardeners, chefs, food activists, and conscious consumers for the largest sustainable living conference in the Southeastern US! We'll be gathering in Asheville, NC, on the Campus of UNC, right inthe heart of downtown. Class schedule and registration become available in January. For just $40 per day, you can be there for an incredible weekend of positive energy, networking, and learning. See you there, green thumb!
NEW TRACKS for 2011: Fruit Production, Urban Farming, Primitive Skills, and All About Poultry
PLUS: Gardening, Farming, Food Preservation, Cooking, Herbs, Sustainable Forestry, Alternative Energy and more!
WANT TO SPONSOR? EXHIBIT? Download the info packet now.
The 4th Annual True Nature Country Fair was a great fall event last weekend. Hundreds of folks enjoyed classes on all aspects of sustainable living, sent their kids to the SPROUTS kids program, grooved to live music, competed in the fiddle contest, learned to contra dance, enjoyed local and organic food, browse dthe trade show and silent auction, and MORE! Thanks to all the amazing sponsors, speakers, musicians, friends and volunteers who made this event happen.
For more information, or to contribute your feedback about the Fair, contact Fair Coordinator Karen Vizzina at earthstarnc@earthlink.net.
The 17th annual Organic Growers School conference ended yesterday, and over 1500 gardeners, farmers, chefs, food activists, and consumers left the campus of UNC-Asheville ready to kick of the spring season. "I have so many skills now because of this event" says veteran volunteer Dee Casey. "I've been coming for so many years and every year I gain so much more." Casey takes part annually in the OGS volunteer work exchange program, which gives over 100 people the opportunity to pitch in and make the conference happen in exchange for free or reduced admission to classes. Even from the registration desk, the energy was contagious, as I overheard people talking about the classes they attended and the workshops they have planned for later in their day. Popping my head in on class after class, it always makes me smile to see the learning and networking that happens through this great community event. Still need to fill out your Conference Evaluation? You can do it online up until April 1st!
Also check out "10 Things learned at the Organic Growers School", written by attendee and local blogger Alisa Hixson. Stay tuned for next years dates, and new additions to our Spring Conference Library, which we expect to unveil soon!
Thanks to everyone who assisted and attended, and we hope to see you again soon!
The ultimate spring kick-off is just days away! If you've already registered, we suggest you take a look at the campus map and recommended parking. Note that registration will be on the 1st floor of the HighSmith Union Building. NEED DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO UNCA?
Online registration is now CLOSED. YES! You may register at the door.
Join over 1300 farmers, gardeners, activists, and consumers March 6 & 7, 2010 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) for the southeast's largest sustainable living conference. Registration is only $55 per day, and buys you a general registration, and access to over 60 classes! The 6th annual Childrens Program is for kids aged 7-12, and costs $30 per day. Additional hands on workshops and cooking classes are $5 each. See you there, green thumb.
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