Upcoming EcoFarm Conference

By Growing Produce Staff|December 12, 2012

The agricultural community is facing a huge shift: seven out of ten farms in the U.S. are set to change hands by the year 2030 and 40% of growers are age 55 or older. The Ecological Farming Association (EFA) is preparing for this transition by educating and inspiring beginning farmers and ranchers at the 33rd Annual EcoFarm Conference, “Feed the World You Want to Live In,” at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA, January 23-26.

As the oldest and largest ecological agricultural gathering in the West, the EcoFarm Conference offers more than 60 workshops featuring an array of educational sessions for beginning and seasoned farmers, ranchers, distributors, retailers, activists, consumers, students, and educators. Through a beginning farmer workshop track, office hours with nonprofit experts, and endless networking opportunities, beginning farmers will be provided the opportunity to learn, participate, and join the large organic and sustainable farming community at the EcoFarm Conference.

The EFA, along with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS), the Community Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF), and the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), received a $665,000 grant from USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for a project titled “Building a Foundation for New Farmers: Training, Resources, and Networks.”

The EcoFarm Conference will feature pre-conference farm tours and a butchery skills seminar and workshops on production, marketing, business, ecological conservation, finance techniques, and much more. Some of the workshops in the Beginning Farmer workshop track include business planning, organic marketing, introduction to biodynamic agriculture, finding your niche market, and starting your CSA.

For more information, go to www.eco-farm.org.