7th Annual North Coast Farmers’ Convergence

The North Coast Farmers’ Convergence is coming to Ridgewood Ranch for its 7th year on Sunday, February 17th. The North Coast Farmers’ Convergence is a celebration of growing a resilient local food system and the vital profession of farming in Northern California. In previous years, the Farmers’ Convergence has brought together over 150 local farmers, ranchers, retailers and advocates from Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Sonoma Counties for networking, education and inspiration.

This year’s Farmers’ Convergence is an opportunity for our community to gain access to resources, people, and programs they may not have known existed. Ideally, attendees will leave the event inspired and prepared for the growing season ahead. According to participants, successful outcomes of the day included forging successful connections that enhance our local economy, linking farmers with needed resources and new or renewed buyer contracts for food producers.

Sunday 2/17 – Program

•     8:00am – Check in opens
•     8:30am – Welcome & Kick Off
•     9:00am – Keynote
•     12:00pm – Lunch
•     1:30pm – Session I Workshops
•     3:00pm – Session II Workshops
•     5:00pm – Mixer

– KEYNOTE –
MEDICINAL SOVEREIGNTY – DONNA D’TERRA, Founder and Director- Motherland Botanical Sanctuary and Herb School
Donna d’Terra is a lifelong student of plants and has been teaching herb classes for the past 30 years with a focus on local, sustainable and restorative herbalism.

REVOLUTIONIZING THE FOOD SYSTEM FROM THE GROUND UP
Caroline Radice (MendoLake Food Hub), Joshua Sternberg (New Agrarian Collective), Lama Nasser-Gammett, Daniel Ryberg (Mendocino County Jail Gardens)
Hear from farmer-activists about their work in the community.

– WORKSHOPS –

• Taxes, Bookkeeping & Record Keeping for Very Small Farms – Michael Foley is co-owner/operator of Green Uprising Farm in Willits.
  An overview of what you need to know to manage your farm and keep necessary financial records. We’ll look at how you report income for tax purposes; how to keep track of income, expenses, assets, and liabilities; and what records you can keep to better manage your farm.
• Seed Saving & Varietal Trials – Soren & Gina, Strong Roots Farm & Open Circle Seeds
  This discussion group will do a deep dive into unique and specialty varietals. Do you have a variety of winter squash that you absolutely adore? Have you spent the last ten years perfecting the perfect sweet summer cantaloupe?  We want to hear all about it!
• The Art of Whole Animal Butchery –  Ruthie King & Eliot Hartley, New Agrarian Collective & Monty VanderHorck, Master Butcher
  Get hands on with the art of whole animal butchery with a live demo on a sheep. Learn about the names of cuts, anatomy, and practices for breaking down a whole animal.
• Herbal First Aid For Farmers: Bug Bites, Burns, Backaches, Blisters & More – Sara Grusky, Prana, Anna & April
  This workshop will offer simple and accessible herbal remedies for common ailments. Discussion and hands-on demonstration will follow the process from plant identification and spit poultices to making simple salves and tinctures.
• Learn to Build a Johnson-Su Bioreactor – Jes Pearce & Kieth Michalak, Buttercup Compost Lab
  Bioreactors are a simple and accessible method of building compost with  high biological diversity. Their compost is so potent it is better considered a biological inoculate to your soil, rather then serving the same purpose as the compost you may already use.
• Climate Smart Farming – Britta Baskerville,  Community Education Specialist for Mendocino County’s UC Cooperative Extension
  Explore the upcoming funding opportunities provided by the CA Dept. of Food and Ag. (CDFA) for farmers and ranchers interested in implementing new climate-smart technology and practices.
• Hands-on With Soil Health – Rachel Britten,  Instructor at the School of Adaptive Agriculture
  Ever wonder what’s going on with your soil? Rachel Britten will help you understand where to start with this hand-on workshop all about the science of soil. She will share practical steps you can take to improve your soil’s health and known for her ability to make complex topics fun and accessible – this workshop is not to be missed!
• Food Safety On The Farm – Luis Sierra, Assistant Director of CA Center for Cooperative Development
  Luis will review how FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule defines ‘Good Agricultural Practices’, which includes requirements for, making compost, hygiene related to harvesting and handling, and monitoring all sorts of aspects of farming (water, wildlife, and others) in the Produce Safety Rule. We’ll also look at what some 3rd party food safety auditors look for in an inspection.
• Farmer-Led Policy Change – Isabel Quiroz, Caroline Rehberger & Ernesto Meza
  The National Young Farmers Coalition (the “Coalition”) is a network of farmers working towards structural change such that young farmers can thrive. Mendocino farmers Isabel Quiroz and Caroline Rehberger joined the Coalition in Washington DC for a leadership training and lobby day in Winter 2018, where they saw what’s possible when farmers organize. Hear from Isabel, Caroline, and Coalition staff about how North Coast farmers can work together for policies that support their success and how the Coalition can support those efforts.
• Breaking down the Barriers to Housing for Farmers and Farmworkers Round Table Discussion – Facilitated by Lucy Kramer, Gardens Project
  In pursuit of a future where everyone has access to safe, just, and comfortable housing, participate in this solutions-based discussion on housing to support small scale farmers and farm workers. Local builders and doers have found creative solutions to find or develop appropriate and affordable housing in this county. Join this discussion to find resources for folks hoping to learn more about available options for famer housing, how to work with the city or county to develop housing on your land, and alternative models of housing and building.
• How Do We Keep Going? – Doug Mosel, Mendocino Grain Project
  Small-scale food and fiber production is a calling, a work of the heart. With its multiple continuing challenges, how do we keep going? When the spirit flags or the latest new obstacle faces us, how do we keep going? This will be a full-on exchange of our experiences and inspirations. Come prepared with your strong hearts and stubborn wills to join in a conversation with your sisters and brothers of the land!
  

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

• All Day Seed Swap. Bring some seeds to share if you have them, pick up some other seeds to grow out this year, and then bring back more seeds next year to share.
• Informational & Vendor Hall. Megan (Johnny’s Seeds sales rep) will be on hand with the newest tools, seeds and info to share. The Herbal Guild, Sundial Seeds,  Mendocino County Food Policy Council, Victory Gardens for Peace, MendoLake Food Hub and many more will also be on hand to answer questions and share information.
• Closing Reception. Sunday will close with a mixer (5-6pm) where food producers and buyers can make connections and establish sales relationships over locally sourced beer, wine, and other beverages.

PRE- CONFERENCE WORKSHOP  |  SATURDAY 2/16    |    1-5pm    |    RIDGEWOOD RANCH

The National Young Farmer Coalition invites all local farmers to come and share your stories with them. They will be here at Ridgewood Ranch to listen and to incorporate your input into a California policy platform that will help farmers thrive.

Schedule

• 1:00 PM: Registration & lunch
• 1:30 PM: Introduction to the session, participants, and facilitated listening session
• 4:30 PM: Next steps & closing

The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) is a national advocacy network of young farmers fighting for the future of agriculture. They are farmer-led and want to hear from North Coast agriculturalists about your experiences—your journey, joys, and challenges. This convening for real-talk will be the foundation for a solution-oriented session at Convergence the following day (mini-session/workshop 2/17), wherein they will identify regional, state, and national strategies for helping you and North Coast agriculture thrive.

TICKETS

• Tickets include lunch produced with local ingredients, with options available for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
• To encourage attendees to bring a friend, we’re offering a special ticket price this year – $20/person or $30 for 2 people!
• We are also offering a pay it forward ticket, where folks can pay a little extra to support a farmer who can’t afford a ticket.
• Tickets are available via Brown Paper Tickets.
• Attendees are encouraged to register in advance.
• No one will be turned away due to lack of funds and scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsors. Please contact Kelly at office@adaptiveagriculture.org if you would like to apply for a scholarship or if you have any other questions about this year’s convergence.