Hope & Main to Host Organic Food Conference

Hope & Main to Host Organic Food Conference

On Sunday, March 29, the annual Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island Winter Conference will take place, hosted by Hope & Main. The conference will be an opportunity for fans of organic agriculture to share practices and experiences, and to bring attention to the movement to create healthy soils, nourishing food and viable ecosystems through organic growing.

The keynote speaker will be Jeff Lowenfels, an award-winning author and lecturer. Lowenfels will kick off the conference with “Teaming with Microbes: The Soil Food Web,” a presentation about gardening in a way that strengthens the soil food web and allows gardeners to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals. An international proponent of organics, Lowenfels was host of the garden radio show “The Garden Party” and was editor of the Harvard Lampoon, a humor magazine. A former president of the Garden Writers Association, he is known for his humorous and insightful talks on organic gardening across the country.

Other conference sessions include “Farming with Nature: Improving Soil Health on Vegetable Farms,” “Woodlot and Forest Management Opportunities,” “Welcoming Pollinators to Your Farm and Garden,” and “Managing for Soil Health Begins with a Soil Health Assessment.”

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The conference will take place at Hope & Main, 691 Main Street in Warren. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Exhibitor tables are available to vendors or nonprofit organizations. A potluck luncheon will be served.

The event is open to the public; attendees must register in advance. Early-bird registration ends on February 15. For additional information and registration, click here.

Image: Flickr/Scott1346