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.
The 2026 NOFA-VT Winter Conference will be held on Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15, at Saint Michael's College in Colchester.
More conference details will be shared when early-bird registration opens on Monday, December 9th.
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.
Location, Travel, and Accommodations
The conference will take place in Colchester on the Saint Michael's University campus.
Need to stay in the area Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday night? We’ve reserved rooms at the Best Western Plus Windjammer Inn, where you can enjoy complimentary breakfast, a pool and fitness center, and free parking for the discounted rate of $139 a night. Reserve your room before January 30 by calling 802-863-1125 and mentioning you’re part of the NOFA-VT Winter Conference group, or by reserving online.
Support the Conference
Businesses and organizations can support NOFA-VT's work and reach an engaged audience by joining us as a sponsor, exhibitor, and/or advertiser. The priority deadline is November 14.
