Each year, the NOFA-VT Winter Conference provides a valuable opportunity for farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, earth tenders, land stewards, educators, students, policy-makers, and other food system activists to participate in our vibrant community event and share ideas, resources, and skills.
Saturday, February 14
Dig into the food and farm topics you care about! There is something for everyone passionate about a just and verdant local food system, from commercial farmers to gardeners, policy wonks to grassroots organizers, and agriculture professionals to home cooks. Check out the full lineup of activities, including speakers, workshops, roundtables, and more.
Children's Conference
Make it a family affair and register your kids for their own conference! Children ages 5–12 can attend the all-day Children’s Conference on Saturday, February 14, and enjoy a variety of farming and nature-themed activities on the Saint Michael’s College campus. (Parents and caregivers are not required to attend the Winter Conference—you’re welcome to drop the kids off for an engaging day of learning and fun!)
Sunday, February 15
Intensive workshops devote a full day to deeply exploring a single topic. Led by knowledgeable presenters, there is plenty of time for discussion, question and answer, and networking with peers. Intensive workshops can be added to your registration for the main Saturday conference or purchased separately. Lunch is included with Sunday registration.
This year's intensive options include:
The New OLC Paradigm: Organic Land Care in a Changing Climate
May We All Be Free: Powerbuilding and Organizing with NOFA-VT
Planning for Water Resilience for Vegetable and Fruit Growers
The Work That Reconnects
Leadership for Liberation: Practicing Antiracism in Vermont's Food System
Visit our conference website for more info and to register.
Keynote Speaker
Ira Wallace is a worker/owner of the cooperatively managed Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, which offers over 700 varieties of open-pollinated heirloom and organic seeds selected for flavor and regional adaptability. Ira serves on the boards of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming. She is a member of Acorn Community, which farms over 60 acres of certified organic land in Central Virginia.. She was named a 2019 Great American Gardener by the American Horticultural Society and is a 2023 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award Finalist. She is the author of the Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast. Her new state-specific 5-book series, including Grow Great Vegetables in Virginia, is available online and at booksellers everywhere. Ira is currently working on creating an African Diasporic Seed Collection.
