Only One Week Until CT NOFA's 38th Winter Conference | OrganiConn 2020

Full workshop descriptions, schedule, and keynote details can be viewed online here

And join us right after the conference:

New Member Service - Organic Certification Assistance

To increase the number of certified organic growers in Connecticut, CT NOFA supports new and transitioning organic farmers
by providing one-on-one time with an organic certification expert.

Over the phone, via email, or at the kitchen table, our Organic Certification Assistance Program services can:

Introduce Baystate Program Manual, Checklist, fee sheet, and all needed attachments including information about the Cost Share Program
Discuss current farm record keeping and required record keeping
Discuss questions with Baystate Organic Certifiers as they come up to ensure compliance with NOP
Help complete Organic System Plan and all required documents
Review all documents with farmer and submit as a draft to Baystate
Correct any major discrepancies

Contact our Certification Assistance Coordinator, Laura Davis, at lauranofa2015@gmail.com for more details

How to Make the Most Out of a Farming Conference
Reposted from High Mowing Organic Seeds

Farm Conference season is here and we know just how daunting it can be. Whether you're an introvert, new to farming, or can't decide what classes to take, the packed agendas and extreme networking can be a lot to take in. As you register and prepare for your chosen conferences, we wanted to offer some advice for getting the most out of your farm conference experience.

Below are 16 things to consider when attending these high speed, interactive, and informative events.

1. SET AN OVERALL GOAL

Every conference has something unique to offer and sometimes the offerings themselves are so diverse that it can be hard to narrow down what it is you are actually hoping to achieve by attending. Spending some time with the conference schedule before you arrive can help you set an overall goal which can guide your workshop selections and experiences. Are you trying to meet more people in the community? Is there a practitioner whose work speaks to your own that you'd like to spend some time with? Are you hoping to gain real insight into the practical workings of your farm? Whatever the overall motives you have for attendance are, it is good to write them down and let them be the big picture that helps you get the most out of the available offerings.

2. REVIEW THE AGENDA (BUT STAY FLEXIBLE)

Once you have your overall goals outlined, you can look through the offered workshops and experiences and make decisions about how you are going to divide up your time. While it is likely that many if not all of the classes may sound interesting, it is important to be choosy. Conferences happen in such short windows and it is important to get the most out of your time spent off the farm. Go through the schedule of each day and circle all of the classes that speak to the needs outlined in your overall goal. Once you've circled everything there is to choose from, you can go back and prioritize what is the most crucial. This schedule is your guide for the conference, but flexibility is important too. Picking your number one and number two choices and allowing for game time decisions can lead to surprisingly informative and helpful experiences. Often times sessions will be recorded and offered after the conference for free or for purchase and you can prioritize what you'd like to see in person and what you'd like to review after the conference is over. You may meet someone at the conference who persuades you to take a class that wasn't on your radar and this can lead to new ideas and inspirations.

3. MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR TEAM

If you are planning to attend the conference with your farm team, it is useful to make your plan together. Allowing each team member to contribute their own thoughts and goals helps you make a plan that fulfills everyone's agenda and also contributes the most to the operation overall. Going to a conference with your farm team and not having a plan will likely still lead to rewarding experiences, but taking the time to divide and conquer, splitting up and hitting more workshops, brings the most benefit to the farm. Once the conference is over, it is important to come together as a group and share what each person gleaned from their workshops and sessions so that every team member gets a glimpse into the lessons learned.

Read the full article here

Check out other events happening around CT
Click below.

CT NOFA Annual Sponsors

CT NOFA: The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
328 Springside Ave, New Haven, CT 06515
ctnofa@ctnofa.org
ctnofa.org