Farmers invited to conference in Bar Harbor on sustainable agriculture

UNITY – The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension will be hosts for the annual Farmer to Farmer Conference in Bar Harbor in November.

The conference will take place at Atlantic Oakes-by-the-Sea Nov. 1-3.

At the Farmer to Farmer Conference, farmers and other agricultural experts sit down and learn from one another about sustainable agriculture in Maine. MOFGA and Cooperative Extension have organized the conference so farmers can talk about what works for them and what doesn’t while learning new ideas from the university, farmers and others.

The schedule includes a tour on the first day of the conference of two organic farms. One is Peacemeal Farm in Dixmont, which was among the first farms certified organic by MOFGA more than 20 years ago.

Peacemeal farms about 7 acres of mixed vegetables, cover crops and grains. The second farm is Snakeroot Farm in Pittsfield.

This farm produces 2 acres of mixed vegetables, has an innovative irrigation system and soil management.

On Saturday and Sunday, participants may choose from a wide variety of agricultural presentations at Atlantic Oakes-By-The-Sea in Bar Harbor.

Hardy Vogtman, deputy minister for the environment in Germany, will give the Sunday morning keynote address on “Organic Agriculture – A Cornerstone for Regional Development and Nature Conservation.”

The Farmer to Farmer Conference allows plenty of time for participants to talk with each other.

People who have experience give the presentations, and there is plenty of interaction with the audience. Informal discussion groups meet frequently throughout the weekend.

The conference registration fee is $80. Food and lodging are available at additional cost. Participants may stay at Atlantic Oakes-By-The-Sea for a reduced rate, take advantage of the hotel’s amenities, and explore Mount Desert Island. Meals served at the conference include mostly organic foods that are available locally.

For more information, contact Farmer to Farmer Conference, MOFGA, PO Box 170, Unity 04988. Phone: 207-568-4142. E-mail: mailto:mofga@mofga.org. Web: http://www.mofga.org.