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FARMER BRAD ON TOUR
What are people
saying about the Symposium?
2009 Promoted by the Texas Dept. of Ag,
click here >>
"I thoroughly enjoyed the
Grower's Market Symposium. The topics were informative, the Q&A sessions
enlightening, and the on site farm demos/talks truly instructive. Your guest
speakers were terrific from the perspective of the information they presented
and how they presented it. They were delightful people, which just goes to
show you that folks who are in touch with the land are something special...
You have provided a great service to people looking to make their living
through sustainable small family farming operations. I can hardly wait to see
how quickly this movement starts picking up steam. Back to the farm y'all!"
- Cecilia Nasti, Radio Show Host, Growing Concerns
"Thanks to everyone that put
together the symposium. We are energized and excited about the upcoming
season. We learned more than we expected
and met some great people." - Tony
"Thanks Brad and Jenny. I
really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and experience,
many people would keep their experience close to their chest as a competitive
edge. Your enthusiasm is infectious... I attend many conferences' and
seminars and usually glaze over about halfway
through but yours was gripping and every aspect valuable... Through
your love of the land, enthusiasm and passion for what you are doing your
dreams are coming true."
Thanks so much for opening
your farm to all of us. Letting us see the real thing! We love you for
sharing your successes and a few of your seasonal mishaps. I loved the tours
of the farm the best........and the discussion of your CSA farm
you and Jenny did. You both have a great sense of humor and wonderful farm
stories. I hated to see that workshop end." - Ronny and
Pamela, Rose Creek Farms
It was a great symposium...
Thank you Brad and Co. for your work. Getting together needs to happen more
often. - Glen
It was an awesome treat to
come see how a successful operation works. Thank you for opening up
your farm and hearts to us, Brad and Jenny. With more of this
networking, we can DO IT - feed our communities. - Marie Tedei, Eden's
Garden
"You and Jenny organized a
GREAT market symposium. The site of all those participants was
completely awesome! I was amazed at the diversity of the
group.....students, seasoned growers, young families, and from all around.
I'm sure this isn't the last of the symposiums." - Tatum Evans, The
Pearl Brewery Farmers Market Manager
"Although [we] are not yet
commercial growers, seeing your farm and feeling the energy and enthusiasm of
everyone in the room, might just be the boost we needed to start plowing up
the field in front of the house." - Simon & Ann, Industry, TX
Do not miss this or future
events!
sign up for our
Newsletter to receive an invitation (at the top of this page)
Call 979-251-9922
Email
info@homesweetfarm.com
|
Hosted by: HOMEsweetFARM
March
11 & 12, 2010
Brenham, TX
Get ready for your
best season!
 Join
us for this two-day event designed to help new and experienced growers get the job
done. Network and meet with experts in the field for technical
discussions and then experience a hands-on farm tour to deepen your
understanding. Lunch includes seasonal surprises prepared by some of
the leading Texas chefs promoting local food…
Network and get
connected! Market
Managers and Distributors can recruit new farmers, expand your local food
market and buy direct from family farms in the community.
Classroom sessions
with technical discussions on diversified vegetable farming, disease and
pest controls, propagation techniques, marketing, variety selection and more
from experienced experts in the field.
Technical Farm Tour at HOMEsweetFARM, a 22 acre diversified CSA
vegetable farm serving the Austin and Houston area. Hands-on applications
covering horse power on the farm, greenhouse production, bed preparation,
soil amendments, cover crops, rotational grazing, irrigation, equipment,
planting techniques, distribution, customer care and much more.
Do not miss this unique event!
For more information: Call 979-251-9922
Email
info@homesweetfarm.com
“Clearly, our present ways
of agriculture are not sustainable, and so our food supply is not
sustainable. We must restore ecological health to our agricultural
landscapes, as well as economic and cultural stability to our rural
communities.”
- Wendell Berry & Wes
Jackson
Speakers:
Larry Butler –
Local food pioneers, Larry
and Carol Ann Sayle own and operate the infamous
Boggy Creek Farm which includes a 5 acre urban farm in
Austin,TX as well as a rural 40+ acre farm near Gause, TX. Boggy Creek
Farm produces certified organic vegetables sold at their popular farm stand
in Austin (5 miles from downtown), to local chefs and to Whole Foods.
Steve Divers -
Ag Consultant/Researcher,
Sustainable Growth Texas (SGTX), Granger, TX. Steve moved to Texas to work
for SGTX three years ago. Prior to that he was a Senior Agriculture
Specialist with ATTRA for 18 years. SGTX is a Texas service company that
helps farmers and landowners (pastures, prairies, orchards, vineyards, and
market gardens) develop natural growing systems that emphasize LIFE in the
soil and nutrient dense foods.
Ben Godfrey -
Powered by horses, Ben
and his wife Alysha own and operate
Sand Creek Farm near Cameron, TX. The first Grade A Raw Cow
Dairy in Texas, producing beef, pork, eggs, cheese and dairy, selling direct
to the public at their farm stand and at a Monthly Farmers Market.
Leslie McKinnon -
Leslie McKinnon has begun a new career as
an organic certification consultant, having retired from the Texas
Department of Agriculture after devoting 12 ½ years as the Coordinator of
the TDA Organic Certification Program. During that time the National
Organic Standards were proposed, withdrawn, re-proposed, adopted and finally
implemented. A graduate of Texas A&M, she studied soil and plant science,
soil microbiology, and received a Masters Degree in Entomology (specializing
in biological control). Leslie also worked for 9 years at A&M as a research
assistant/lab manager involved with classical biological control, importing
and rearing parasites and predators to control aphid pests. In her new role
as an organic consultant, she combines all her experience, training and
knowledge of organic standards, certification and sustainable agriculture to
help farmers and other organic businesses understand and navigate the
organic certification process.
Dr. Joe Novak –
Senior Lecturer, Department of Horticultural Sciences,
Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX. Specialist in vegetable production, Dr. Novak's area of research
is sociohorticulture with special emphasis on the garden and the interaction
of plants and man. With his students, Dr. Novak manages a 2.5 acre garden on campus displaying both organic and conventional techniques.
Brad Stufflebeam –
Founder and Janitor for the
Market Growers Symposium, Brad and his wife Jenny own and operate
Home Sweet Farm in Brenham, TX. Serving Austin and the Greater Houston
area with a CSA program, A Local Food Delivery Network and Monthly Market
Days on their farm, Brad is the past president of the Texas Organic Farmers
and Gardeners Assoc. and has been a professional grower in Texas for over 19
years.
Chefs:
Lunch includes seasonal
surprises prepared by some of the leading Texas chefs promoting local food…
Thursday: Joe Apa
of
T’afia restaurant and
Plum Easy Kitchens, Houston, TX
Friday: Jesse Griffiths
of
Dai Due, Austin, TX
Location:
Classroom Sessions:
Latium/Greenvine/Wesley Volunteer
Fire Dept. 12255 FM 389, Burton, TX
Click for a map >>
Technical Farm Tour:
HOMEsweetFARM
7800 FM 2502, Brenham, TX
Click for a map >>
CARPOOL INFORMATION: Join the
discussion group to share a ride.
Registration:
BECOME A SPONSOR FOR
THIS EVENT, click here
Accommodations:
The following hotels and B&Bs are within reasonable distance to the event:
LINKS to B&Bs >>
LINKS to Hotels >>
Program Schedule:
Thursday, Mar.
11th
|
8 am |
Registration |
|
Sessions begin at the
Volunteer Fire Dept. |
|
8:30 |
Welcome |
Brad Stufflebeam |
|
|
9 am |
The Soil Food Web -- Understanding How it
Works |
Steve Divers |
Each of the Ten Principles of the Soil Food
Web is stated in a concise sentence then followed by an explanation with
photos and diagrams. |
|
10:30 |
On-Farm Soil Biology Practices -- From
Cover Crops to Compost Teas |
Steve Divers |
Let's review some practical ways to enhance
soil biology and foodweb functioning on your farm: cover crops, mulches,
composting, compost teas, microbial concoctions, and more. |
|
12 pm |
Lunch |
Chef Joe Apa – t'afia and Plum Easy Catering,
Houston |
A seasonal surprise lunch |
|
1:30 |
TBA |
TBA |
|
|
3 pm |
Organic
Certification - Avoiding Common Pitfalls |
Leslie McKinnon |
Understanding the certification process and avoiding common pitfalls can
smooth your path to organic certification. Learn how to develop an
organic management plan for your farm, how to complete an application for
certification that will move quickly through the certifier’s review, and
get tips on organizing an easy recordkeeping system and preparing for your
organic certification inspection. It’s not as hard as you may think! |
|
5 pm |
Closing |
|
|
Friday, Mar.
12th
|
8:30 |
Registration |
|
Sessions begin at the
Volunteer Fire Dept. |
|
9 am |
Growing Vegetables for Market |
Dr. Joe Novak |
This talk will cover the cropping seasons for vegetables in
the Brazos Valley and some of the keys to success in growing vegetables
and some fruits. Techniques mentioned will put emphasis on organic crop
production. With a special focus on warm season production, several crops
will be covered in this talk so that the grower would be able to produce
and market 12 months of the year. Novak has grown many vegetables and
fruits for nearly 30 years on the TAMU campus in College Station and will
share his insights from this experience. |
|
12:00 |
Lunch |
Chef Jesse Griffiths - Dai Due, Austin |
A seasonal surprise lunch |
|
1 pm |
Practical Tools for the Small Farm |
Larry Butler |
With 28 + years experience, Larry
shares practical and innovative tools for the small family farm. |
|
|
On the Farm |
|
Caravan to the farm... |
|
3 pm |
Technical Farm Tour at
HOMEsweetFARM |
Walk the farm with Brad
Stufflebeam and Dr. Novak followed by Ben Godfrey demonstrating
horse power. |
Discussing on farm
details for fall production along with tractor and horse power
demonstrations. Wear a hat and boots. |
|
5 pm |
Closing |
|
|
Please wear working shoes, hats,
gloves if necessary, and appropriate clothing for the weather. NO
sandals please. NO Pets, NO Smoking.
Join the TX MARKET
GROWERS Discussion Group: To continue
with networking, technical support and overall discussions on growing for
market, we have created the
TX Market Growers discussion group. Please join the group to
meet others in the pursuit for small family farming and successfully growing
food for our local communities.
CLICK HERE >>
Made possible by our sponsors:
edibleAUSTIN
edible DALLAS & FT WORTH
 
BECOME A SPONSOR, click
here
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