Pre-Conference Events

The Amigo Farm tour is always a good time. We meet in Cedar City early in the morning and enjoy hot beverages and pastries at our first stop. Symbria Patterson, cofounder of Red Acre Center, will be aboard as your guide. You can anticipate enjoying an organic lunch and snacks along the way. Destination TBA

Please note that this is a full-day event, and participants can not attend any other pre-conference sessions at the same time.

Symbria Patterson, co-founder of Red Acre Center, will be your guide.

All aboard!

Abundance by Design - a primer in Permaculture and other success strategies.

Join instructor Dee Atkin, who completed Geoff Lawton’s online Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in 2014, for a full-day workshop at the developing Duckworth Farm in Cedar City. During the workshop, you'll enjoy an organic, locally sourced lunch while participating in hands-on permaculture design activities. This course has the potential to transform your life!

If you are passionate about the earth, your health, and your community—and want to be the change—then this workshop is for you! You will gain valuable health tips to boost your energy, as well as strategies to ensure your success.

Please note that this is a full-day class, and participants can not attend any other pre-conference sessions at the same time.

Spend a day with Laine and Porter at 5 Fingers Farm in New Harmony doing and learning all things milk goats. This workshop introduces the basics of milk goat husbandry and harvesting.

We will start in the goat shed and cover milking and goat care. We will then move inside and make fresh cheeses and learn the essentials of making dairy for your own kitchen. Following cheesemaking, lunch will be served featuring a sampling of goat meat and dairy.

After lunch we will take a goat from slaughter through hanging and go over the basics of meat production in a home dairy operation. Because when you have milk goats, you'll also have meat goats through kidding.

Please note that this is a full-day class, and participants can not attend any other pre-conference sessions at the same time.

This year in the Red Acre Farmhouse kitchen, Jolene Hale, the owner of Milk Honey Yogurt welcomes you to join her for an engaging demonstration and hands-on workshop where you will learn the art of yogurt making and create your own customized granola!

At the end of the session, you will take home delicious yogurt, Milk Honey's exclusive yogurt culture, and the granola you crafted. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of yogurt making!

Sponsored By: Transition to Organic Partnership Program

Join us in exploring how organic agriculture can help build a more sustainable and resilient food future. We’ll look back at the roots of the organic movement, discuss key farming practices and what certification really means, and consider how organics provides strong roots from which to grow rich, sustainable, and community-led food systems.

This free pre-conference session is made possible by the USDA TOPP Program. Anyone interested in where their food comes from—farmers, gardeners, and community members alike are welcome! Come enjoy an organic, locally sourced lunch from Sweet Pea Farm and Orchard (included). Connect with others and take part in a conversation about the role of organic agriculture in growing a healthier future for all.

Building Soil Health with Biodynamics: Strategies and Remedies for Improving Soil Quality and Resilience in Agriculture.

Lloyd Nelson our favorite Biodynamic Cowboy will be sharing his vast knowledge and love of Biodynamic practices in this afternoon workshop at Red Acre Farm along with an organic lunch.

Come hang out for a lively, hands-on walk-through of the tools that make small-scale, no-till growing smoother, faster, and a lot more enjoyable. TK of Red Acre Farm will pull out a whole lineup of field-proven favorites—Neversink gridders, the Jang seeder, Growers & Co rake and broadfork, Mutineer hoes, Glaser wheel hoes, flame weeders, and plenty more.

We’ll also be joined by Liza Goss from Johnny’s Seeds, who’s bringing a few tools of her own for folks to try out and ask questions about. A relaxed, hands-on session open to all conference attendees.

Location

Red Acre Farm

2322 West 4375 North

Cedar City, UT 84721