Sustainable Foundations

Workshop Session I: 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Partnerships to Scale Up Value-Added Local Food

Jeannine Seabrook, Glass Rooster Cannery

Glass Rooster Cannery was awarded two Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants to build partnerships that help scale up locally produced, value-added foods. Learn how this team brought this vision to life, collaborating with farmers to turn fresh harvests into shelf-ready canned goods for retail markets.

Workshop Session II: 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Soil and Crop Biology Testing

Alan Sundermeier, Conservation Action Project

Hear about the many options organic growers have for testing plants and soil. Learn about what they tell you and how test results can guide best management decisions on production.

Workshop Session III: 11-Noon

The Nitrogen Paradox

Anneliese Abbott, Abbott Farms

Many scientists believe that it’s impossible to feed the world without synthetic nitrogen fixation. But is that true? Take an in-depth look at the paradoxical history of nitrogen fixation, how it was always intertwined with weapons production and geopolitics, and how modern agriculture became dependent on it. Discuss the basic chemistry of nitrogen fixation, the incredible complexity of the biological nitrogen cycle, and how organic farmers can use biological nitrogen management concepts to get good yields and healthy plants without synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.