More than 200 workshops are offered over the three-day conference.
Dale Perkins, of Rutland, hows how to hook up a New England "D" Ring Harness to his horse Gypsy during a demonstration at the 33rd Annual Northeast Organic Farming Associaiton Conference at Hampshire College in 2007. The 38th annual conference is this weekend at UMass.AMHERST – A consumer advocate and a congresswoman who is also an organic farmer are the keynote speakers at the 38th annual Northeast Organic Farming Association conference that begins Friday and continues through to Sunday at the University of Massachusetts.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Maine democrat, and member of the Agriculture Committee in the U.S. Congress, will speak Friday night at 7:30 about the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act bill she introduced to Congress.
“Chellie’s fantastic,” said conference spokeswoman Mindy Harris. Her visit “is very timely. We’re very lucky she’s coming…She is a bit of a local hero for us.”
Consumer advocate Jeffrey Smith will talk Saturday night at 7 about the health dangers of genetically modified organisms and healthier food choices. Both talks are in the Campus Center Auditorium.
People can attend just a talk for a cost of $15 at the door.
Smith will also be holding a preconference program Thursday from 1 to 5 in the Cape Cod Lounge called “Fighting GMO's: Training for Consumers, Community
Leaders, Activists, and Organizers.”
More than 200 workshops have been scheduled and many address the growing interest in the local food movement.
“People are definitely interested in growing local foods, living a sustainable life,” Harris said. There is so much interest in the eastern part of the state the association hired someone specifically to devise workshops to address that need.
The northeast chapter has between 1,100 and 1,200 members and Harris said the largest percentage are suburban gardeners and consumers, or people raising food for themselves. That interest continues to hike conference attendance, Harris said.
Some workshops are clustered to focus on particular areas of interest, Harris said.
For example, there a cluster focuses on farmers who have less then 10 years of experience. She said the association is trying to find ways to link young farmers with mentors.
Another group is catering to growers seeking to extend the farming season and another focuses on permaculture, or on those who want to farm with draft animals.
The conference also offers workshops geared for youngsters and teens as well as music and a contra dance
Conference registration is Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. and 11 to 7 p.m. at the Northeast Residential Area Courtyard at UMass. Saturday, registration is 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and Sunday from ⨠7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Costs vary depending on the number of days. Visit the conference Web site for more detailed information.