Soil Revival For Survival Conference

Soil Revival For Survival – Learn How to be Water-Wise to Endure the Draught
1st Annual Conference on soil and water issues in North Central Texas
Chambersville Tree Farm – 7032 CR 971 Mckinney, Texas www.chambersvilletreefarms.com

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Citizen Gardener Class – Creative By Nature – McKinney

Citizen Gardener Class 4 - go to NorthTexasVegetableGardeners.com/CG for more info
Sign up for the class by going to NorthTexasVegetableGardeners.com/CG
The class will be held at a local nursery Creative By Nature in McKinney.

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Permaculture for Small Farms

The Slideshow I presented at the 2012 TOFGA conference is below for anyone who wants to use it for reference or a refresher later.  I’ve also included click-able links below for convenience.

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Most of North Texas Now in Zone 8A

The USDA recently released an updated version of their ‘plant hardiness zone map‘ (or the PHZM if you like using government acronyms).  The new map is based on more recent data that spanned a longer time period.  In general, most areas moved up 1/2 of a zone, and almost all of the north Texas is now in ‘Zone 8a’, which means the average annual extreme minimum temperature has been between 10 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

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Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association 2012 Conference

North Texas is very lucky to have the TOFGA conference in Mesquite this year.  Browse the list of speaker topics below and you will quickly understand how GREAT this is!

Don’t miss your chance to attend to 2012 TOFGA Conference, Feb 17-19 in Mesquite!   Have you seen the program for the conference?  It’s truly amazing.  Register today!

– Hotel rooms are filling up!  Reserve your room today.

– Keynote speaker Mark Winne, community food activist, writer, and trainer

Look at these session topics and fabulous speakers!!     Register today!

Organics on a Budget – Justin Duncan, Prairie View A&M
Building a Compelling Business Plan – Steve Carlson, Slow Money DFW
Rainwater Harvesting – John Smith, SARE
First Steps for Farm to School – Andrew Smiley, Sustainable Food Center
GMO’s – Judith McGeary, FARFA and Cameron Molberg, Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill
Soil Biology and Improvement for Growers – Michael Bosco, Soils Alive

Agricultural Valuation – Get that Exemption! – Sue Beckwith, TOFGA and Brad Stufflebeam, Home Sweet Farm
Poultry Production – Jules Assata, Shades of Green and Jennifer Huf, Slow Food Farm
Interns and Volunteers on the Farm – Amanda Austin and Dan Bernsworth, Cardo’s Farm Project
Greenhouse Management – Pamela Hornby, Boggy Creek Farm
Integrated Pest Management – Thomas Harr, Earthwise Organics
Goats and Lamb – Ty Wolosin, Windy Hill Farm

Growing from Seed for Home and Market Gardens – Kim Martin, Barking Cat Farm
Intro to Aquaponics – Dave Pennington, Synergyfish
Heirloom Tomatoes –  Marilyn Simmons, Garden Inspirations
Community Gardening – Amanda Vanhoozier, Coppell Farmers Market & Community Garden
Beating the Drought – Brad Stufflebeam, Home Sweet Farm
Microgreens – Hans Hansen, Twin Persimmons Farm

The Why and How of Establishing Local Fruit Plant Nurseries for Organic Growers – Guy Ames, NCAT
Organic Vegetable Gardening – Howard Garrett
Soil Biology and Improvement for Gardeners – Michael Bosco, Soils Alive
Drought Management Resources – Alyssa Burgin, Texas Drought Project
Texas Food Laws – Judith McGeary, FARFA
Serengeti Grazing – Sabino Cortez, Erath Earth

Edible Ornamental’s for North Texas – Leslie Finical Halleck, Halleck Horticultural
Garden Design for Beneficial Insects and Pest Control – Lucy Harrell
Berries in North Texas – Sue Newhouse, Aunt Sue’s Barn
Marketing the Food You Grow – Brian Cummings and Rick Shoen, Eat Green DFW
Retail and Restaurant Marketing – Chris Romano, Whole Foods and Cynthia Chippendale, Potager
Dairy Management Roundtable – Texas Daily Harvest, Veldhuizen Dairy, County Line Dairy

High Tunnel Construction Demonstration – Steve Chaney, Tarrant County AgriLife
Organics for Professional Landscapers – Howard Garrett
Seed Saving – Dr. James Veteto, UNT, Southern Seed Legacy
Organic Fruit Production in North Texas – Guy Ames, NCAT
Social Networking and Website Optimization – Ty Wolosin, Windy Hill Organics, and Mike Newhouse, Impyre
Additional On-Farm Income  – Erin Flynn, Green Gate Farm

Low Tunnels – Dr Obadiah Njue, Ext Hort Agent
Small Scale Urban Agriculture – Andrea Bithell, Oak Cliff Organics and Paul Quinn College
Urban Backyard Chicken Keeping – Leslie Finical Halleck, Halleck Horticultural
Vermicomposting – Heather Rinaldi, Texas Worm Ranch
Papercrete for Root cellars – Stuart Veldhuizen, Veldhuizen Cheese
Mycchorizae Fungi – Larry Simpson, MycoApply

Cover Cropping – Brad Stufflebeam, Home Sweet Farm
Technology for Farms – Sue Beckwith, TOFGA and Kestrel Lancaster, GreenGate Farms
Homeopathy on the Farm – Maureen Hansen, President Homeopathic Society of TX
Transplanting Sweet Corn – Larry Butler, Boggy Creek Farm
Certified Naturally Grown – Pamela Klein Johnson, Rose Creek Farm
Farmscaping:  Plant Diversity on Farms – Justin Duncan, Prairie View A&M

Beekeeping – Brandon and Susan Pollard, Texas Honeybee Guild
Grass Fed Beef Roundtable – Matt Hamilton (Genesis Beef), Ty Wolosin (Windy Hill Organics), Robert Hutchins (Rehoboth Ranch)
Permaculture on Small Farms – Brian Gallimore
Farm Bill Session – Judith McGeary, FARFA

Questions?  Please call Lee at the TOFGA Office:  512-656-2456

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