WORKSHOP LINE-UP

Session 1: 10:15–11:15am

Prison Gardens: Strategies for Therapy and Job Training

Since 2013, The New Garden Society (TNGS) has gardened alongside over 600 incarcerated and detained students in Greater-Boston. Every week in prison classrooms, they teach core horticulture concepts. In prison gardens and greenhouses, students apply these concepts, find healing and build job skills. TNGS’ prison-based trainings are taught by horticulturists, farmers, landscapers and other green industry professionals. In this workshop, they’ll share strategies for providing therapeutic and vocational garden training on a minimal budget. They’ll also discuss opportunities for local green industry businesses and organizations to support incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated growers.

 

Supporting Native Bees (and Other Beneficials) through Habitat on Farms

The most important driver of native bee declines is habitat loss, especially in agricultural areas. Lean how to improve bee habitat on your farm, and support other beneficial insects too. This talk will focus on some basic approaches, as well as lessons from new scientific research: do flowering strips boost pollination or pest predation in nearby fields? Which flowering cover crops attract the most bees? What are the benefits or drawbacks of annual vs. perennial flowering resources? This talk will help you to understand some of the pros, cons and data behind different habitat enhancement strategies.

 

Understanding Soil Health for Better Production & Sustainability

Continue the morning keynote conversation with farmers and soil scientists! Local experts in soil data collection & interpretation, water capacity, and rotational grazing systems will lead us in a conversation about this past (wet!) growing season and how to prepare your soils for extreme seasons going forward. Commercial growers will be especially interested in this talk, but soil preparation is crucial for home gardeners, too!

 

Session 2: 11:30am–12:30pm

Alternative Strawberry and Raspberry Growing Systems in Canada

This session will discuss soilless strawberry and raspberry systems that growers in Ontario are adopting, including different production systems and the benefits & challenges of these systems. Learn about substrated (in-pot) production, marketing strategies, and pest and cultural management involved in these systems. Join us for this field trip of alternative berry growing systems in Ontario.

 

Medicinal Herb Production

Let’s step into the garden and explore the world of herbalism! Herbalism is the practice of working with plants to support wellness. It’s an age-old practice made all the more powerful when paired with growing our own herbs and making our own medicine! We’ll discuss a handful of new and familiar medicinal plants, tips for cultivation, harvest and preservation, as well as herbal benefits and uses. This class will be focused equally on cultivation and plant uses, geared towards beginner herbalists and those interested in seeing their garden in a new way!

 

Adventures in Silvopasture: Making the Transition for Profit, Livestock Nutrition & Sustainability

Curious about silvopasture, forest management, livestock nutrition, and climate change mitigation? Integrating livestock and agroforestry operations can diversify your farm income streams and increase the ecological sustainability of your farm operation, not to mention improve the flavor of your meat products! Join this conversation for tips on transitioning, implementing silvopasture practices, and avoiding common mistakes.

 

Session 3: 1:30–2:30pm

Maple Sugaring: Challenges & Opportunities for Backyard and Large-Scale Tappers Alike

Whether you have your own sugar shack or boil sap on the stove, join this session to hear from field experts about current successes and challenges facing the maple sugaring industry. Panelists will talk about value-added opportunities, climate change impacts, and more!

 

Working Well: People Skills for Farm Leaders

Farm help is essential! Nonetheless, like most professionals, farmers have limited access to the most up-to-date thinking on how to most effectively recruit, retain and promote the return of valued workers. People management is a skill; Like all learned behaviors it takes study, practice and patience. This session will present both an overview of successful management practices and practical suggestions for how to implement them. It will also offer guidance about how to assess your current practices in order to spot its strengths and weaknesses.

 

Pest Management Updates in Brassicas

Learn about the latest recommendations for pests old and new in the brassica family. The UMass Extension Vegetable team has been conducting research on insect and disease management in cold crops for the past several years and this talk will highlight new findings from our trials and cover best management practices for organic and conventional systems.

 

Session 4: 2:45–3:45pm

Growing for the Hunger Relief Market: How to Make Gleaning Work for You

Local producers and emergency food distributors are a natural pairing. At a time of increased uncertainty for farmers and communities, find out how growing for hunger relief can offer a new market opportunity. Join Hope’s Harvest and Boston Area Gleaners in a discussion of how gleaning & surplus donation can align with farm goals, priorities & mission.

 

Starting and Maintaining a Flower Operation

Farmers and home gardeners alike will enjoy this conversation around how to begin or expand your flower operation. Whether your motivation is pollination, profit, or primping up your lawn, join some of the region’s young floral farmers to talk about flower crop planning, growth strategies, and marketing techniques.

 

Maximizing On-Farm Mental Health: Resources, Strategies, & Policy Recommendations

The last two years have been stressful for all of us, especially frontline essential farmers and farmworkers. What are existing resources, barriers to accessing those resources, and long-term solutions for on-farm mental wellness? Moderated by Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Ashley Randle, this panel will discuss existing resources, individual strategies, and policy suggestions for improving farmer mental health and access to resources.

Moderator:
Ashley Randle, MDAR
Speakers:
Rachel Van Boven, FarmAid
Polly Shyka, Maine Farmer Resource Network and Villageside Farm

We’ll finish out the day with some light networking. Bring your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise!) to the virtual happy hour to chat with local producers, reflect on the day’s learnings, and form connections with other players in the regional food system.