Office Hours at EcoFarm

EcoFarm is here to promote multiple forums for learning and exchange, so this year we are excited to offer more Office Hours than ever! Sign-ups can be coordinated by contacting the organizations individually or by signing up at registration when you arrive at the conference.

Farmer Mentor Program: Jim Leap will be providing consultation on a range of topics related to small-scale organic vegetable production for beginning and experienced growers alike. His areas of expertise include reduced tillage systems, bedding and seeding techniques, tillage sequences, cover cropping, irrigation, weed management, farm implement selection, tractor selection and optimization of equipment configurations for the beginning farmer. These Office Hours are made possible by a USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant. To reserve a spot in advance, please email jim@eco-farm.org.

Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association: Biodynamic Association staff and a biodynamic farm consultant will be available for one-on-one advising and to answer your questions about biodynamic agriculture. Whether you’re just curious to learn more or have already used some biodynamic practices, we can discuss biodynamic philosophy, principles and practices, and how you can use them to improve the health of your soil and the vitality of the food you grow. To reserve a spot in advance, email thea@biodynamics.com.

BluDog Organic Produce Services: Dina Izzo will provide consultation to farmers who are beginning the foray into marketing. Insights include crop planning, researching marketing venues and how to establish and maintain long-term relationships with customers. BluDog OPS is available to provide insights for retail stores that desire to work directly with farmers who are integrating a local sourcing system into their purchasing strategy. BluDog OPS can offer upstart distribution companies valuable direction in produce handling and storage. To reserve a spot in advance, email dina@bludogops.com.

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF): is available for Food Safety questions about pre-farm gate food safety and food safety plans. Bring your ranch maps, FS program outline/GAP outline and questions for one-on-one and group discussion with Cathy Carlson, the new Food Safety Program Manager at CAFF. To reserve a spot in advance, please email cathy@caff.org.

FarmLink: Meet with FarmLink staff to discuss farm financing or land leasing. FarmLink’s Loan Officer will offer one-on-one consulting to map out a financing plan and assist with loan application information. A FarmLink Regional Coordinator can review a lease and/or assist in lease drafting. For financing sessions please bring copies of your recent tax returns, 2013 profit and loss, and lease. For lease sessions bring a draft lease, if available. To reserve a spot in advance, email: eric@cafarmlink.org.