Workshops - OEFFA Conference

Session IV

Friday, February 14 | 3-4:15 p.m.

Session I | Session II | Session III | Session IV

Influencing Federal Food and Farm Policy

Stef Funk, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Congress is working on a new farm bill, which means we have a window of opportunity to influence food and farm policy for the next five years. Learn to leverage local experience for national impact in this interactive workshop, gaining the knowledge of how to gauge your elected officials’ priorities, how to craft a compelling narrative, and how to advocate for climate-friendly, socially-just farm policy.

Woodhull C

Zoom

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Sustainable Foundations and Personal Resilience

Farming & Family Care Podcast Roadshow

Beth Knorr, FairShare CSA Coalition, Dana Hilfinger, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Shoshanna Inwood, OSU, Bryn Bird, Bird’s Haven Farm, Fresh Roberson, Fresher Together

Join the Midwest Vegetable Growers Network (MVEG) Farmer Resiliency and Health working group to discuss both challenges and ideas for solutions on balancing family life with farming. Recap the themes and tactics highlighted during the MVEG podcast, share stories and strategies, and brainstorm how to move the needle to help all families as they try to find a sustainable balance.

River Birch D

Zoom

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Backyards, Lots, and Small Plots

Solar Applications for the Home or Farm

Tom Rapini and Valerie Garrett, A’s and O’s Farm

From lighting a path to powering your entire house, there are many ways you can bring solar-generated electricity into your life. Learn how you can apply to energy-demanding tasks around your home or farm, such as lighting a shed or operating a fan on a hot greenhouse. There will also be a hands-on opportunity to wire solar components yourself so you can tackle a do-it-yourself solar project.

Denison Room

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Growing Sustainable Businesses

REAP the Benefits of Clean Energy

Mat Roberts, Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council

Learn about new and emerging opportunities for the local food community to invest in clean energy. SOPEC’s Free Solar Assessment Program and Free REAP Grant Assistance Program are designed to provide technical support and resources to make clean energy work. Through new federal policy, eligible farms and small businesses can reduce their clean energy investment by utilizing tax credits, depreciation, and the USDA REAP grant.

River Birch B

Zoom

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Grain Crops

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Livestock and Poultry

Organic Mite Control in Hives

Ross Conrad, Dancing Bee Gardens

The Varroa mite is a ubiquitous challenge for today’s beekeepers. Delve into Varroa identification, monitoring, and control techniques, as well as sugar dusting, essential oils, organic acids, herbs, screened bottom boards, genetic tolerance, breaking up the brood cycle, and more.

River Birch A

Zoom

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Vegetables, Fruit and Specialty Crops

Incorporating Mushrooms into a Market Garden or Farmstead

Thomas Lodge, MidAm Mushrooms

Explore the integration of mushrooms into small farm production cycles, offering an opportunity to diversify crops, enhance soil health, and increase profitability. Gain practical skills in mushroom cultivation, including species selection, substrate preparation, and system design, as well as an understanding of some of the economics of mushroom growing. Discussion will also include strategies for using spent substrate as compost and creating value-added products.

Woodhull DE

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Tools and Techniques

High Tunnel Construction Best Practices

Bob Rimol, Rimol Greenhouse Systems

High tunnels are a valuable tool for growers of all sizes, but careful planning is needed to ensure it creates more benefits than headaches. Hear the best practices for high tunnel construction to help prevent common high tunnel mistakes and ensure you get the most value from your investment.

Woodhull A

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Connecting Communities

Appalachia Regional Food Business Center

Paul Freedman and Herron Linscott, Rural Action

Learn about the Appalachia Regional Food Business Center and how it can assist small and medium sized food-related businesses. The Center is a partnership-based model working under a cooperative agreement with the USDA and is focused on three main areas: capacity building through no-match subawards, expanding the technical assistance that is offered by partner agencies, and coordination of these services across the Center’s coverage area.

River Birch C

Zoom

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# This session was not recorded.
* This session was not recorded due to its conversational aspect.
t This session's recording had technical issues.

Session I | Session II | Session III | Session IV