Farming on Long Island: A Historical Perspective, Land Availability, and Land Use Policy.

This workshop will focus on Long Island's long agricultural history and the role governments, land trusts, other non-profits, and private citizens play in making more land available for farming. We will discuss local, state, and national policies that affect farmers as well as assistance programs available to farmers.

Funding and Support Services for Farm Operations.

There are a number of regional organizations and government agencies that help both beginning and established farmers create a sustainable business model. This workshop will cover the free services that can help farmers save money, grow their business, acquire government loans, cost share dollars, and become more efficient. The panelists are experts in a wide range of topics that affect the rural and the suburban or urban farmer.

Farm-to-Table, Field-to-Label.

For farmers to be successful, they need healthy markets. To support existing operations and encourage new farmers on Long Island, it is critical that farmers and distributers develop creative marketing systems that address the needs of our diverse population. In this session, we will be discussing the existing infrastructure and the strategies that will enable local producers to gain market share and get their healthy, fresh, and local products to Long Island consumers.

School Gardens, Community Gardens, Urban Gardens, and Farm-Based Education.

To help educators, faith-based organizations, or anyone interested in starting their own gardening project, we will highlight successful programs and discuss resources, mentoring opportunities, and educational applications.

This workshop will present examples of the innovative small-scale community-based agriculture, garden, garden, and farm-based education programs in our region.

Sustainable Agriculture/Economic Development.

Our panelists will offer information about the ways in which farming projects can create new jobs to help propel the economic engine of our region.

This workshop will discuss how to make it feasible for small-acreage farms to succeed in suburban and urban areas. We will consider the elected officials, educators, farmers, restaurants, and related industries that are needed to form a viable food network in close proximity to population centers.

Social Justice and Hunger, Food Access and Local Agriculture.

This workshop will consider issues of economic, social, and health equity in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. We will discuss how interested parties might create an action agenda to increase support for local agriculture, protect the interests of local farmers and farm workers, and improve access to local food, particularly in underserved communities in our region. We will also examine existing initiatives in hunger relief, community gardening, farming, and food justice.

Seeds and Soil: The What, When, and How of Starting an Organic Veggie Garden.

Dreaming of a bountiful garden? Want to know how to start your own vegetable garden from seed. Professional vegetable growers Eve and Chris Kaplan-Walbrecht of Garden fo Eve Organic Farm and Market in Riverhead will answer all of your questions about everything from seeds to soil to supplies to money-saving tricks. Th is workshop will cover crop planning and selection, seed starting, seeding schedules, preparing garden beds, and transplanting.

Agricultural Education and Farmer/Gardener Training

This workshop will provide an overview of a variety of local and regional programs that offer hands-on and theory-based agricultural education for aspiring and established gardeners and farmers. We will discuss the local resources and training opportunities that are necessary to enrich the scope, quantity, and availability of agricultural education.

Pastured Poultry and Livestock with "Grass Farmer" Joel Salatin.

Learn from America’s favorite farmer the principles and practices that shape his innovative poultry and livestock management system: maintaining grass-based salad bars, respecting the individuality of each species (i.e. “the pigness of a pig”), and mimicking the template of the natural surroundings.

Accessing the Local Food System: Co-ops, Restaurants and Community-Supported Programs.

This workshop will discuss how farmers, fishermen, chefs, and locavores across Long Island and the Northeast are evolving new ways to source good, clean, and fair food. Participants will learn how to access local products through food cooperatives and community-supported agriculture and fishery programs.

Let It Sing: Building Your Farm Community through Music.

Whether you are in the field, in the greenhouse, at the washstand, or at the market, incorporating music, rhythm, song, or dance can make any task easier and more enjoyable. In this participatory workshop, farmer and musician Creek Iversen will lead the group through the music, lyrics, and history of work songs. Creek will share his knowledge of the musical techniques that can boost the cohesiveness and the productivity of a farm community.

Local Fish for Local Food Lovers.

What’s a local food diet without fish and oysters from our own waters? This workshop will explore the ways in which we can work to connect the Long Island local food communities with the Long Island fishermen and baymen. We will discuss how consumers and small-scale fishing communities can support and nourish each other while also maintaining a commitment to environmentally sustainable fishing practices.

Long Island's Beginning and Established Organic/Biodynamic Farmers Tell Their Stories.

Come meet local organic and biodynamic farmers and learn about the various paths they followed to start and establish their sustainable farming businesses. The first half of the session will feature farmers who are in the first few years of evolving a farm business. In the second half, we will hear from farmers with many years of experience in their ecologically sound and economically viable enterprises.

A Midsummer Day's Dream: How to Keep Your Organic Garden Thriving Till Harvest.

This workshop for beginning and intermediate gardeners offers a continuation of the introductory Seeds & Soil workshop from Session I. The farmers of Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market in Riverhead will provide tips and tricks for outsmarting pests, staying ahead of weeds, and avoiding disease on your plants. Chris and Eve will discuss a few of the most common pests, the various organic pest control methods, and where to find the right supplies. Participants are encouraged to come with questions.

Raising Poultry: Backyard Chickens and Ducks.

Learn how to raise chickens and ducks in your own backyard. Our discussion will cover where to buy chicks and ducklings, how to care for them as they mature, and how to design or purchase a poultry coop. We will also discuss the relevant legal parameters and the benefits of pastured poultry eggs.

Raising Honey Bees: Backyard and On-Farm Beekeeping.

Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about honey bees! This talk will cover the history of beekeeping, bee biology, and commercial and hobby beekeeping. We will also discuss the honey bees’ effect on our food supply and the environment as well as the role of native pollinators specific to our region.

Edible and Medicinal Herb Walk with the Natural Nurse.

Join Natural Nurse Dr. Ellen Kamhi on a walking tour to learn which of Long Island’s wild weeds can be made into medicine or eaten as food. Dr. Kamhi is a medical school professor and a master herbalist. Her discussion will cover the historic and folkloric roots of medicines as well as the various leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds that are the mainstays of the human diet on Long Island and around the world.

An Introduction to Nutrient-Dense Crop Management.

Dan Kittredge of the Real Food Campaign is redefining what it means to be a highly nutritious food. Dan teaches organic gardeners and farmers across the Northeast how to optimize the vitality of their soil in order to yield the most nutritious food possible. In this workshop for intermediate/advanced farmers and gardeners, Dan will introduce the guiding principles and practical techniques that shape nutrient-dense crop management.

Food and Farm Policy: State and National Issues.

This discussion will explore the policy issues that various sectors of the food and agricultural industry currently face. We will address specific regional farming concerns as well as the 2012 Federal Farm Bill and the controversy over hydraulic fracturing within the NYC watershed and elsewhere.

Schools of Organic Growing Practices for Gardeners and Farmers: Organic, Biodynamic, Permaculture & More

This workshop will explore a variety of chemical-free practices that are available to farmers and gardeners interested in organic growing. The methodologies we will cover include nutrient-dense, biodynamic, and permaculture practices. We will discuss what it means to be an organic garden or farm and we will consider the benefits and limitations of USDA organic certifications.