Farmers to share ideas, strategies

BAR HARBOR – A three-day conference is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday to give farmers a chance to share ideas and strategies.

The Annual Farmer to Farmer Conference is co-sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

“These workshops will give farmers a chance to connect with each other and share lots of good ideas and information gleaned from the presenters,” said Diane Schivera of MOFGA.

“These are not just lectures,” she added.

“One-half of the time for each presentation will be set aside for discussions.”

The focus of the conference is sustainable agriculture and conventional farmers are invited to attend as well as organic or alternative farmers.

On Friday, participants can tour two organic farms in central Maine.

The tour will begin at Snakeroot Farm in Pittsfield, which produces 2 acres of mixed vegetables using an innovative irrigation system and soil management.

The second farm on the tour is Peacemeal Farm in Dixmont, which is among the first farms certified as organic by MOFGA more than 20 years ago. Peacemeal Farm works about 7 acres of mixed vegetables, cover crops and grains.

On Saturday and Sunday, participants can choose from a wide variety of workshops that deal with issues such as food quality, seedlings, greenhouses, onions, poultry, cover crops, farm labor and grazing.

Sunday’s keynote address will be delivered by Hardy Vogtman, deputy minister for the environment in Germany. Vogtman’s address is titled “Organic Agriculture, A Cornerstone for Regional Development and Nature Conservation.”

The conference will be at Atlantic Oakes-By-The-Sea and registration is $80. For more information, contact MOFGA at 568-4142. Schivera said there is still time to register for the event.