Home gardeners, farmers, and the public are invited to the sixth annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference and Organic Growers School March 17 at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.
A variety of producers, agencies, and researchers from around the state will talk about sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that is good for the environment and the community, according to conference organizer Michele Hebert, agriculture and horticulture agent for the UAF Cooperative Extension Service.
The featured speaker is Chris Blanchard of Rock Spring Farm in Iowa. Blanchard will talk about the basics of community-supported agriculture and his family-owned organic farm. Community-supported agriculture operations sell fresh, local produce directly to consumers, who subscribe to the service. The Blanchards follow strict organic guidelines to grow their produce without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, said Hebert. They take the practice one step further by using composts, beneficial insect habitat and organic minerals to buffer the effects of pests, diseases, and weather.
Other speakers will talk about energy-efficient insulated panel greenhouses, wind machines, season extensions, funding opportunities, chicken ranching, farm soil fertility, and weed suppression. A panel will discuss food security and how to increase the available food supply in the state. SNRAS Professors Meriam Karlsson and Jenifer McBeath will speak about their research and Carol E. Lewis, SNRAS dean and Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station director, will give a presentation on food security.
The conference fee is $55 and includes lunch and snacks. Pre-registration is requested. Two free pre-conference activities on March 16 include a commercial growers school with Blanchard from 1-4:30 p.m. and tour of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center from 2-4:30 p.m. Preregistration is required for both. Visit the CES website. Contact Michele Hebert, 474-2423 for more information.
Related reading:
Fairbanks hosts sustainable agriculture conference, SNRAS Science and News, Jan. 27, 2010
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