Just Food’s CSA in the City Conference
Join Just Food for their 8th annual CSA in the City Conference at Columbia University’s Teachers College (located at 525 West 120th St. in Manhattan).
Everyone is welcome, not just CSA members. Though Astoria CSA highly encourages our members to attend, learn more and report back to the community!
It’s a fantastic way to get more involved with CSAs, find out how to start one, or just learn more about food and policy issues. (If you happen by the Raw Milk Workshop: The Real Deal on Raw Milk, say hello to me, Stacey! I’ll be speaking and leading the Q&A.)
Many of our own farmers will be present for the farmer panel, including Nancy and Alan Brown of Lewis Waite (our meat and dairy providers) and Matt Kurek, one of our vegetable farmers. (Matt is unsure of his attendance just yet– it is either the conference or find someone to attend a tractor auction in his place.)
Make your voice heard to make CSAs better for everyone! Join us! (More after the jump)
TICKETS
Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets or to register and pay at the door email info[at]justfood.org or call 212-645-9880 x221.
Student $10
General $20
Sponsor $30
WELCOME ADDRESS
At our Welcome three presenters will be talking about the growth, development, and current state of CSA from the City, State and National/International perspectives.
Elizabeth Henderson, a pioneer in the CSA movement in the Untied States, a CSA farmer for the past 19 years, and the author of Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen’s Guide to Community Supported Agriculture will be sharing her knowledge of CSAs across the country and the development of CSAs internationally.
Abby Youngblood, a CSA farmer who is currently working with NOFA-NY as their CSA Network Coordinator, has been talking with CSA farmers across the state over the past 6 months. She will be sharing some of what she has learned about what CSA look like throughout the state and how they are growing.
Paula Lukats, Just Food’s CSA in NYC Program Manager, will bring us up to date on the growth and development of CSAs here in New York City.
2008 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:30 - 10:00am- Registration
10:00 - 10:45am- Welcome and Opening Comments
11:00 - 12:15pm- Workshop Session 1
LUNCH- 12:30 - 1:30pm
1:45 - 3:00pm- Workshop Session 2
3:15pm - 4:15pm- Farmer Panel
4:30 - 6:00pm- CSA Expo
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Session 1
1. CSA Outreach Material- Simple and Easy
Description to follow.
2. Keeping Our Farms- Farmland Preservation
Description to follow.
3. Caring for Your CSA Share- Don’t Let Those Veggies Rot!
Description to follow.
4. Bringing Food and Farm Policy to Your CSA
A CSA is an ideal organizing tool for supporting better food and farm policy in your community and for your farmer. Find out what policy issues- from parking permits for your farmer to the New York State Council on Food Policy- are affecting your CSA on both the urban and rural sides, and how you can easily use the voice of your CSA to influence local, state and federal policy.
5. Tricks for Building a Strong Core Group
Description to follow.
Session 2
1. Diversifying Your CSA Membership
Description to follow.
2. New York’s Locavore Movement
Description to follow.
3. The Real Deal on Raw Milk
What is the hype about? Is it legal? Is it worth the fuss? Is it safe? How are farmers getting around the legal issues? How can CSAs get it? Join us in this workshop for a discussion and Q & A on raw milk.
4. Fundraising for your CSA
Description to follow.
5. Open Space
Throughout the day conference goers will have the chance to propose additional workshop topics that they would like to see fill this space. The most popular topic will be announced at the end of lunch. We invite people who have an interest in or knowledge of the chosen topic to contribute to the discussion.
FARMER PANEL
Have you always had a question that you wanted to ask a farmer? Here’s your chance. Throughout the conference, you will have the opportunity to submit questions for our farmer panel. Come and hear experienced CSA farmers answer your questions about what they do and why.
Afraid you’ll forget your question?- Submit your questions now! (farmeroutreach[at]justfood.org)
Participating farmers include:
Chris Kaplan Walbrecht - Garden of Eve Farm in Riverhead, Long Island
Benjamin Shute - Hearty Roots Farm in Red Hook, NY
Alan and Nancy Brown - Lewis Waite Farm in Greenwich, NY
And more!
CSA EXPO & RECEPTION
Join CSA members, farmers, and affiliated organizations in a wine and cheese reception. Information on organizations and additional products available to CSAs will be offered as well. Elizabeth Henderson will be selling and signing copies of her book- Sharing the Harvest (http://www.chelseagreen.com/2007/items/sharingtheharvest2)
Expo Presenters Include:
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
Green Edge Collaborative
Just Food’s Chicken and Bee Projects
Winter Sun Farms
8 O’Clock Ranch
Local Fork
Just Food’s Community Chef Program