The impulse to garden in hard times has deep roots. Vegetable gardening has many rewards that are especially helpful during this time of lockdowns and social distancing. You get outside in the fresh air. You stretch those muscles and get some exercise. Everyone in the family can participate. And, at the end of the day, there are those delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, squash, and beans! But if you’ve never planted a garden before, it may seem a bit daunting.
Organic gardening is not simply an absence of toxic things, like chemical fertilizers and herbicides. Organic is a system that builds soil health and thereby grows strong, productive plants. Organic gardening means working with nature, not against it, to insure a thriving biodiverse ecosystem which supports plants and beneficial insects.
Extreme weather is real and has gotten progressively worse in just the past decade. We have been farming organically for forty years. It used to be farmers would hope for a “good” year—now we hope for a “normal” year. We get whipsawed between a cool wet spring one year and a hot dry spring the next. We had the wettest year on record in 2018 with twice the normal rainfall, keeping us out of the fields most of the season.
We raise crops and livestock on 175 acres in the fertile Frederick Valley near Buckeystown MD. Our land is certified organic and protected from development with an easement from the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation. Since purchasing this former dairy farm over twenty years ago, we have seen our practices increase our soil organic matter levels by fifty percent, helping to reduce green house gas by storing more carbon in the soil.
In addition, we have changed our organic practices, in part, to adapt to climate change. Having started in wholesale organic vegetable production in 1979, we have moved gradually to grains, seeds, feeds, forages, and beef and poultry. One goal in making this transition has been to build the health and resilience of both our soil and farming system in the face of climate change.
The transition allows us to 1) maintain more continuous vegetative cover to prevent soil erosion, 2) plant a very diverse and complementary mix of plant species to increase yields and to hedge against extreme weather, 3) maintain growing roots of multiple interplanted species at all times of year to increase soil enhancing microbiological activity and soil fertility needed to stimulate higher yields, 4) use our pasture grazing animals to accelerate the incorporation of carbon from the air and to store that carbon in the soil, and 5) reduce soil disturbing tillage which gives off greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. These changes also allow us to build an organic farming system with a broad bio-diversity of crops, animal species, and varied cultural practices, all of which contribute to our 8-12 year crop rotation and pasture based rotation for multi-species livestock grazing.
Specifically, we undertake certain farming practices to build our soil carbon and soil health and thereby make our farming system more resilient to withstand the vagaries of climate change. For our livestock, we limit the number of cattle and poultry on our land so that our pastures do not become weakened by over-grazing, allowing our pastures adequate time to regrow before being grazed again. We constantly move our livestock to fresh pasture so they have access to the vegetation at the peak of its nutritional value and so the animals evenly spread their soil building manure over the entire farm. We plant summer annuals and winter annuals directly into our perennial pastures so that we can boost our total yield of forage when seasonal hot or cold weather slows the growth of the underlying grasses and legumes. In addition, recent research shows that our long-standing practice of feeding sea kelp improves cattle digestion efficiency and consequently reduces by half or more the greenhouse gas methane produced by our herd.
For our crops, we minimize soil tillage and plant no-till whenever possible. We often seed crops and cover crops directly into standing crops and stubble to not disturb the soil and maintain continuous living roots as much as possible. As a hedge against weather variability, we plant multiple maturities of corn and soybeans and mix multiple species in our hays and pastures so that all of our crops do not depend on optimal weather occurring at the same time. We plant or interplant crops and cover crops in all four seasons to keep living roots and vegetative cover on our soils at virtually all times which builds our soil carbon and guards against soil erosion. As a result of our practices, despite 2018’s record rains, we still had growing crops everywhere on the farm all year long.
Because of our soil building practices, compared to neighboring farms, our fields hold more moisture in very dry years, giving us better yields. Our carbon rich and vegetatively covered fields also allow sudden heavy rainfalls to penetrate our soil better, reducing waterlogging of plant roots and stopping soil depleting nutrient runoff, again leading to better yields. Because we plant a diversity of species together, when hot or dry weather discourages growth in one species, it favors growth in another, helping to maintain overall yields.
Adapting our farming practices to accommodate climate change also required changes in our marketing. We stopped selling wholesale and started selling our new products to the end user—either another farm or directly to consumers. We also began producing on-farm value added products.
We selectively improve the breeding of heirloom organic seed stock to sell to small seed companies. We maintain several open pollinated corn varieties and vegetable soybean varieties. We harvest, clean, and sell non-GMO heirloom food grade corn for grinding, and we grind our whole grain corn on our stone mill to sell cornmeal/polenta.
On the farm, we process our pastured slow growth chickens and heritage and commercial turkeys, and we pack our eggs. We grind and package our field grains to sell livestock feed. We sell hay, baleage and whole feed grains directly to regional organic dairies. We sell to consumers our 100% grass fed Black Angus beef by the cut, as boxed beef, and as value added products such as jerky and all beef sausages.
While we have transitioned out of fresh vegetables, at any time we can incorporate some of our previous produce back into our crop rotations, starting with sweet corn, green beans, fresh soybeans (edamame), winter squashes, pumpkins and gourds. We would have to increase our work force and marketing, but we have most of the capital intensive infrastructure and equipment still in place from our prior vegetable production.
You are invited to attend a Farm Tour and Open House at MOFFA founder Nick Maravell’s Organic Farm. Since 1979, we have been committed to constant improvement in our organic farming methods and to a strong relationship with our customers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC, and West Virginia.
Buy Pastured Whole Frozen Chickens or Cuts of Chicken
Buy Pastured Eggs
Buy Chicken Feed, Hay, Straw
Directions (look for signs as you get near):
From I-270, Exit 31B, Rte. 85 South, towards “Buckeystown,” go 5.5 miles to 2733 Buckeystown Pike on the left,
From I-70, merge onto I-270 via Exit 53 toward “Washington.” Take first exit 31B toward “Buckeystown” (Rte. 85 South) go 5.5 miles to 2733 Buckeystown Pike on the left.
Maryland Dept. of Agriculture 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401
News you can use! Presentation, panels, and workshops for farmers and gardeners looking for new ideas, techniques, and inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food. Homegrown ‘Eat Local’ Potluck Lunch. Silent Auction. Half Price New Book Sale. Display Tables. Cost: $25. (Includes one year membership.)
MOFFA WINTER MEETING 2018 FEBRUARY 17, 2018 (Snow Date February 24) 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Maryland Dept. of Agriculture 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401
Keynote Speaker Ben Friton of Can YA Love & Forested, LLC: Friton leads seminars and lectures around the world focusing on restoring ecosystems using biomimicry. He has worked in densely populated communities and has patented vertical garden systems and currently is trying to develop the most ecologically beneficial agricultural systems possible.
Susan Payne, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Healthy Soils Consortium: Payne coordinates the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Certainty and Ecosystem Markets Programs and administers the Department’s Agricultural Nutrient and Sediment Credit Certification Program and its Healthy Soils Initiative. In addition to working with relevant federal and state agencies and entities, she sits on many national, regional, and inter-agency committees addressing water quality trading, interstate ecosystem markets, regenerative agriculture, climate change, and greenhouse gas reductions.
Roger Williams, George Washington Carver Agricultural Institute and New Incubator Farm Training Initiative at Tufts: Roger came to Culpeper in the fall of 2015 to join the Carver Piedmont team. Coming from a career in IT and design engineering, he has integrated his systematic process thinking with a deep interest in both education and the study of the soil interrelationships required for sustainable farming. Handing off his three-year stint as President of the Central Maryland Beekeepers Association to make the move south, he brings his focus to creating the structure for the New Farmers Training program at the Carver Piedmont center.
Cerruti RR Hooks, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at UMD: Organic research is a major part of his research program. The overall aim of the organic research program is to develop and disseminate information on production tactics that reduces off farm inputs while increasing profits. He specifically conducts research on lands going through organic transition and in double-cropping organic production systems with the long-term goal to provide producers information that gives them greater economical sustainability and confidence in transitioning land to organic production. To accomplish our organic objectives, we employ a trans-disciplinary strategy that includes collaboration with Agricultural Economists, Acarologist, Weed and Soil Ecologists, Nematologists, and Entomologists.
Andrew G. Ristvey, Ph.D., University of Maryland Extension: Ristvey currently works at the Department of Extension, University of Maryland, College Park. Andrew does research in Water Science, Soil Science and Irrigation and Water Management. He received his Master of Science degree in 1993 from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in the MEES program. Soon after he worked on shoreline restoration and then wetland and forest-stand delineation. Ristvey spent two years doing environmental and horticultural education at Adkins Arboretum inside Maryland’s Tuckahoe State Park.
Galen Dively, Professor Emeritus and IPM Consultant, UMD: Dr. Galen P. Dively is an emeritus professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology at Juniata College and doctorate in entomology from Rutgers University. He worked as an Extension Specialist in agricultural IPM for 34 years, providing training and ways to reduce pesticide use in vegetable and field crops. Since his retirement in 2006, he continues to conduct research on transgenic Bt crops, sublethal effects of pesticides, efficacy evaluation of organic insecticides, and studies addressing information gaps in the biology and management of the invasive pests.
Erik de Guzman & Meghan Ochal, Dicot Farm: Dicot Farm grows Certified Organic vegetables in Waldorf, MD – 25 miles south of Washington, DC. Their goal is to provide nutrient-dense foods to neighbors to help them become healthier and happier, and create a more equitable and engaged community.
Dominic Hosack, THEARC Farm: is an urban farm operating as a community project of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) and was developed to involve the community in nature, nutrition, and healthy eating. The farm consists of 25 raised beds, 8 in-ground rows, a culinary herb garden, medicinal herb garden, an eighteen-tree orchard, community compost bins, a hoop house and a pollinator garden.
Peter Scott, Fields 4 Valor (F4V): is a non-profit organization that provides food, education, and employment to veterans, veteran family members, and gold star families. F4V does this through providing members, at no cost, with; Farms Shares, Apiary Products, Fruit Shares, Value Added Food Products, Dry Goods, and Culinary Education.
Through these activities, F4V hopes to provide a healthy diet, ease the financial burden of transitioning from service, recovering from injury and/or disability, and continuing life after the loss of a loved one.
Benny Pino & Courtney Sauer, Loblolly Farm: an organic farm in Brandywine, MD producing seasonal flowers and produce and specializing in wedding and event design. Nestled along the corridor of the Patuxent & Potomac Rivers in Southern Maryland, they cultivate over 35 species of flowers in over 100 different varieties on their one-acre farm. They believe in slow, locally grown flowers, nurtured for their intrinsic qualities.
Neith Little, Urban Agriculture Educator, University of Maryland Extension: Little is the urban agriculture Extension Educator for Baltimore City. Her role is to help urban farmers learn what they need to better achieve their goals through one-on-one technical assistance, workshops, field days, written resources, and applied research.
Mike Klein, Good Fortune Farm: Long time MOFFA member, Klien runs a small diversified farm using organic methods located just 20 miles south of Washington DC near Waldorf, MD. Their primary crops are seasonal market vegetables. They also raise pastured eggs, chicken and turkey for meat.
Gerald Brust, Ph.D., University of Maryland Extension, IPM Vegetable Specialist: Brust is the IPM Vegetable Specialist responsible for providing leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive agriculture and natural resources extension education and applied research program in vegetable crops. He develops sustainable production systems for Maryland’s commercial vegetable industry by supporting the commercial vegetable industry (including organic). Burst examines and develops new pest and nutrient management programs for growers by working with the industry through education and research to promote sustainable production practices that minimize environmental impacts.
Rachael Childress Nagle, Heritage Ferments and Cultures: Rachael is a fermentation alchemist who has been experimenting with fermentation for many years. She is extremely knowledgeable about the science of live cultures and shares many historical tidbits that will tweak your interest. Rachael lives in Delaware with her husband and 3 children.
Alan Leslie, Postdoctoral Research Associate UMD Department of Entomology: Alan Leslie earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland, and is currently a Postdoctoral Associate in the Hooks Lab at UMD. His research focuses on cultural practices such as plant diversification and cover cropping that promote beneficial insects and suppress pests that can be applied to organic farming systems. Alan has also conducted research on aquatic invertebrates in agricultural drainage ditches and insects in restored salt marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. His talk is entitled “Controlling Weeds in Organic Vegetables with Living Mulches”.
Eric Rice, Willow Oaks Craft Cider: Eric and Lori Rice craft their farmhouse style cider from certified organic, American heirloom apples on their 35-acre farm in Middletown, Maryland. Their farm is a productive, small, family farm located in the heart of the Middletown Valley of Maryland. The farm is the state’s first certified organic orchard, with over 1800 apple, cherry, pear, peach, and apricot trees. As an early advocate for organic agriculture, Eric participated in the beginnings of the organic program in Maryland, collaborating to write the state regulations as well as helping to found MOFFA.
Dr. Kris Nichols, Soil Microbiologist & KRIS Systems Education & Consulting Services: Dr. Nichols is a leader in the movement to regenerate soils for healthy food, people and a planet. She is currently the founder and principle scientist of KRIS (Knowledge for Regeneration In Soils) Systems Education & Consulting Services and a sub-contractor with Soil Health Consulting, Inc. Her current focus is to address current and future agricultural needs by exploring the similarities between the soil and gut microbiomes by looking at the carbon key. Kris builds upon a soil health foundation to identify biological methods for agricultural production and tools and practices to reduce pest issues, soil erosion, fossil fuel use, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Nick Maravell, Nick’s Organic Farm: Nick has farmed organically since 1979 and he emphasizes value added on-farm processing and direct marketing. He uses a diversified farming system to produce vegetables, forages, grains, seed, beef, poultry, eggs and poultry feed. Nick has also been active for many years at the national and state level in the development of organic legislation and standards, organic research priorities, and organic marketing issues. He is a founding board member of MOFFA, has served as a steering committee member on the Scientific Congress on Organic Agricultural Research and actively participated in drafting its National Organic Research Agenda, published in 2007.
Mike Tabor, Licking Creek Bend Farm: Owner and social activist, Michael started Licking Creek Bend Farm in 1972 and two years later he participated in his first farmers’ market in Washington, D.C. His mission is to provide delicious and nutritious food at an affordable price. He is a long-standing member of MOFFA.
Alexis Baden-Mayer, Political Director at Organic Consumers Association: Baden-Mayer is a lawyer and activist who has contributed to some of the organizations most successful projects, including the Millions Against Monsanto campaign.
I am really looking forward to the MOFFA, the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association’s 27th Annual Winter Meeting on Saturday February 17, 2018 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public. Snow date is Feb. 24, 2018.
Dr. Kris Nichols, Soil Microbiologist, KRIS systems Education and Consulting Services, will speak at the MOFFA 2018 Winter Meeting in Annapolis, MD
Dr. Kris Nichols, Soil Microbiologist, KRIS Systems Education and Consulting Services, will join our great lineup of speakers.
Dr. Kris Nichols is a leader in the movement to regenerate soils for healthy food, people and a planet. She is currently the founder and principle scientist of KRIS (Knowledge for Regeneration In Soils) Systems Education & Consulting Services and a sub-contractor with Soil Health Consulting, Inc. Her current focus is to address current and future agricultural needs by exploring the similarities between the soil and gut microbomes by looking at the carbon key. Kris builds upon a soil health foundation to identify biological methods for agricultural production and tools and practices to reduce pest issues, soil erosion, fossil fuel use, and greenhouse gas emissions. These systems are resilient and adapt to climatic uncertainty by increasing nutrient and water use efficiencies; improving pollinator activity and food security; and providing long-term solutions to agricultural economic viability, food insecurity, and the loss of ecosystem services. Kris continues to develop and evolve methodology and tools farmers, home-owners, and students may use to examine and appreciate their soil. Throughout her career, Kris has given over 250 invited presentations to a wide variety of audiences, authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, been cited or interviewed for more than 50 magazine or newspaper articles, highlighted in five books, and has numerous videos on-line. Dr. Nichols was the Chief Scientist at Rodale Institute from July 7, 2014-January 12, 2018 where she oversaw approximately fifteen research trials on organic agriculture, including the Farming Systems Trial®, the longest-running side-by-side U.S. study comparing conventional chemical agriculture with organic, biologically-based methods and the initiation of the Vegetable Systems Trial. She was also instrumental in obtaining funding for these projects including recently being primarily responsible for the receipt of a ~$6 million, six year project to explore the impacts of agricultural management practices on water quality in the Delaware River Watershed. Prior to joining Rodale Institute, Dr. Nichols was a Research Soil Microbiologist with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in North Dakota for 11 years and a Biological Laboratory Technician with ARS in Beltsville, MD for 3 years. During her time with USDA, she focused on mycorrhizal fungi and the investigation of glomalin – a substance produced by AM fungi. Glomalin contributes to nutrient cycling by protecting AM hyphae transporting nutrients from the soil to the plant and to soil structure and plant health by helping to form and stabilize soil aggregates. Kris received Bachelor of Science degrees in Plant Biology and in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Minnesota in 1995, a Master’s degree in Environmental Microbiology from West Virginia University in 1999, and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Maryland in 2003. In recognition of her work, Dr. Nichols has received several awards including the 2012 Conservation Research Award from the International Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Keynote Speaker Ben Friton of Can YA Love & Forested will discuss the History of Agriculture and Going Back to the Fundamentals of Thriving Ecosystems. Friton leads seminars and lectures around the world focusing on restoring ecosystems using biomimicry. He has worked in densely populated communities and has patented vertical garden systems and currently is trying to develop the most ecologically beneficial agricultural systems possible.
Join farmers, consumers, advocates, and researchers at this public meeting and potluck lunch.
MOFFA Board Member, Claudia Raskin said: “We will have information you can use, dynamic presentations and workshops for farmers, gardeners, and folks who are interested in organic food, food justice, and more. You can learn something new or share your experience. Our organic potluck lunch is Legendary! Book sale! Auction!”
Hear from Farmers and Activists:
Nick Maravell Facilitator, Public Policy Update – with Mike Tabor, and Alexis Baden-Mayer
Susan Frick Payne, from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, will discuss the Maryland Healthy Soils Consortium.
Rachael Childress Nagle, Fermentation – Microbes & How they Impact Our Health
Eric Rice, Willow Oaks Craft Cider, Opportunities & Questions – Hard Ciders & Beyond
Mike Klein, Simplifying accounting, tax preparation and taxes for the farmer
Roger Williams, George Washington Carver Agricultural Institute and New Incubator Farm Training Initiative at Tufts, Are Value-Added Farm Products a Good Choice for You?
Erik de Guzman & Meghan Ochal, Dicot Farm, Dominic Hosack, THEARC Farm, Peter Scott, Fields 4 Valor, Panel Discussion: New Voices in Organic Agriculture
Learn from University of Maryland Extension Specialists and Scientists:
Cerruti RR Hooks, UMD, Can spiders contribute to organic pest management?
Alan W. Leslie, UMD, Controlling weeds in organic vegetables with living mulches
Andrew G. Ristvey, UMD, Extension, Growing Hops
Gerald Brust, UMD Extension, Using plant biostimulants
Neith Little, UMD Extension, What is urban agriculture?
Galen Dively, UMD, Organic insecticides: what works and what doesn’t
Attendees please bring a dish to share for the Potluck Lunch, one of the highlights of the meeting. You are encouraged to donate an item for the Auction to support MOFFA. Members may bring display materials. Table space will be available in exchange for auction item donations. Registration 1s $20 for non-members and $5 for members. Membership is $25 for one year, $45 for two years and $12 for students. Registration is at the door or online.
Keynote Speaker Ben Friton of Can YA Love & Forested will discuss the History of Agriculture and Going Back to the Fundamentals of Thriving Ecosystems at the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association 2018 Winter Meeting.
Friton leads seminars and lectures around the world focusing on restoring ecosystems using biomimicry. He has worked in densely populated communities and has patented vertical garden systems and currently is trying to develop the most ecologically beneficial agricultural systems possible.
The 27th Annual MOFFA Winter Meeting is on Saturday February 17, 2018 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public. Snow date is Feb. 24, 2018.
Join farmers, consumers, advocates, and researchers at this public meeting and potluck lunch. MOFFA Board Member, Claudia Raskin said:
“We will have information you can use, dynamic presentations and workshops for farmers, gardeners, and folks who are interested in organic food, food justice, and more. You can learn something new or share your experience. Our organic potluck lunch is Legendary! Book sale! Auction!”
Hear from Farmers and Activists:
Nick Maravell Facilitator, Public Policy Update – with Mike Tabor, and Alexis Badenmyer
Susan Frick Payne, from the Maryland Department of Agriculture will discuss the Maryland Healthy Soils Consortium.
Rachael Childress Nagle, Fermentation – Microbes & How they Impact Our Health
Eric Rice, Willow Oaks Craft Cider, Opportunities & Questions – Hard Ciders & Beyond
Mike Klein, Simplifying accounting, tax preparation and taxes for the farmer
Roger Williams, George Washington Carver Agricultural Institute and New Incubator Farm Training Initiative at Tufts, Are Value-Added Farm Products a Good Choice for You?
Erik de Guzman & Meghan Ochal, Dicot Farm, Dominic Hosack, THEARC Farm, Peter Scott, Fields 4 Valor, Panel Discussion: New Voices in Organic Agriculture
Learn from University of Maryland Extension Specialists and Scientists:
Cerruti RR Hooks, UMD, Can spiders contribute to organic pest management?
Alan W. Leslie, UMD, Controlling weeds in organic vegetables with living mulches
Andrew G. Ristvey, UMD Extension, Growing Hops
Gerald Brust, UMD Extension, Using plant biostimulants
Neith Little, UMD Extension, What is urban agriculture?
Galen Dively, UMD, Organic insecticides: what works and what doesn’t
Attendees please bring a dish to share for the Potluck Lunch, one of the highlights of the meeting. You are encouraged to donate an item for the Auction to support MOFFA. Members may bring display materials. Table space will be available in exchange for auction item donations.
Registration is $20 for non-members and $5 for members. Membership is $25 for one year, $45 for two years and $12 for students. Registration is at the door or online.
Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association (MOFFA) was established in 1991 as a non-profit organization. MOFFA strives to build a sustainable network of individuals and organizations that support small farms, family gardens and ecologically sound businesses.
Kirsten S. Traynor, PhD, Flickerwood Apiary– studies how pesticides impact honey bee health for the University of Maryland in the lab of Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp and is the editor of Bee World, published by the International Bee Research Association.
Bernie Fowler, Jr.,Farming 4 Hunger (F4H) is a non-profit organization formed in 2012 to serve those in need of fresh food in Southern Maryland. The organization grows and distributes over a million pounds of locally grown, fresh food each year. Bernie Fowler Jr., founder, had a vision through his own personal struggles to help people in his hometown gain better access to fresh fruits and vegetables. F4H accomplishes its mission through unique partnerships with 27 local farms, 20+ churches, local businesses and schools, the Maryland Food Bank, the Department of Corrections, and a great network of community volunteers.
Jason King: Unsun.org UNSUNG, is the app for ending hunger in America, creating everyday superheroes. The “sharing economy” has never been this awesome. A a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Alan Leslie, Postdoctoral Research Associate UMD Department of Entomology Alan Leslie earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland, and is currently a Postdoctoral Associate in the Hooks Lab at UMD. His research focuses on cultural practices such as plant diversification and cover cropping that promote beneficial insects and suppress pests that can be applied to organic farming systems. Alan has also conducted research on aquatic invertebrates in agricultural drainage ditches and insects in restored salt marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. His talk is entitled “Managing cover crops to suppress weeds in organic vegetables”.
Bonnie Raindrop, Chair of Central Maryland Beekeepers Association, Maryland Pesticide Education Network The Central Maryland Beekeepers Association,Strive to educate our members on the best methods and practices for successful beekeeping, and to educate the public on the importance and value of honeybees in our ecosystem.
Cleo Braver: Cottingham Farm Growers of certified organic heirloom vegetables and herbs on the banks of the Goldsborough Creek in Talbot County, Maryland Bee advocacy and pesticide policy and legislation in Maryland
Galen Dively, Professor Emeritus and IPM Consultant, UMD. Dr. Galen P. Dively is an emeritus professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology at Juniata College and doctorate in entomology from Rutgers University. He worked as an Extension Specialist in agricultural IPM for 34 years, providing training and ways to reduce pesticide use in vegetable and field crops. Since his retirement in 2006, he continues to conduct research on transgenic Bt crops, sublethal effects of pesticides, efficacy evaluation of organic insecticides, and studies addressing information gaps in the biology and management of the invasive pests. His talk is entitled “ How changes in conventional pest management practices are impacting organic farming”.
Mitchelle Stephenson, Fair Farms: Fair Farms Maryland is a movement of environmental and public health groups, businesses, consumers, and farmers committed to a sustainable food system. She will lead a discussion about the Atrazine legislation in Maryland that is being introduces by MD Senator Will Smith.
Justine Beaulieu, GAPs educator with UMD Plant Sciences Department The training will cover the basics of food safety for pre and post harvest. Attendees will receive a certificate of training from MDA.
Nick Maravell, Nicks Organic Farm, Mike Tabor, Licking Creek Bend Farm, Rick Hood, Summer Creek Farm: Farmer discussion of Organic Issues
Marjory Hudson, Mitchelle Stephenson, Fair Farms, Mike Tabor: Workshop on Mobilizing Community Action. How one community is winning the fight a against concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO).
Deana Baldwin, MDA: The Maryland Produce Safety Program will provide outreach, education, inspection and enforcement of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule.
Beckie Gurley Chesapeake Farm to Table, Veronica Cristo Chesapeake Bounty North Beach Market and Kitchen and Deena Kilmon, Chesapeake Harvest: Food Hub Aggregation
Michael Weese, Michael Weese is a Mycologist and fungal enthusiast in the Mid-Atlantic region. His work involves being a local teacher, guide, consultant, mushroom cultivator, social sculptor, web administrator, operations manager, photographer, writer, soil engineer, permaculturist, ecologist, environmental steward, conservationist and friend to nearly all he meets. Michael has influenced many people across the globe to forage and cultivate their own mushrooms through sharing his knowledge and experience firsthand online, in the classroom, and field.
Lincoln Smith: Lincoln Smith runs Forested, a 10-acre forest garden in Bowie, MD. He tests forest farming methods, educates aspiring forest farmers, consults on new forest farms and brings forest products to market. He runs a forest garden CSA, designs edible landscapes, and holds forest-to-table events. Creating a Forest Garden Forest gardens produce food and supplies from thriving ecosystems. Learn how to create a layered, polycultural food forest. We’ll discuss forest garden methods, some of the great plants you can grow, and how to take care of them. Learn from Lincoln’s 10 years of forest garden successes and learning experiences.
MOFFA’s 26th Annual Winter Meeting, on Saturday February 11, 2017, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public. Register and get more info at https://marylandorganic.org/events/.
Don’t forget our wonderful Potluck Lunch too! Bring a dish to share.
We all need pollinators on our farms, but the pollinators need our help too.
MOFFA is working with the Smart on Pesticides Coalition to protect Maryland pollinators and we ask that you please take 5 minutes to complete this 5 question survey about your experience on the farm.
Thank you in advance for your timely survey response.
Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association to Hold Conference in Annapolis
The MOFFA Winter Meeting will be February 11, 2017
MOFFA, the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association, announces its 26th Annual Winter Meeting, on Saturday February 11, 2017, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public.
At this public meeting, you can join farmers, consumers, advocates, and researchers. MOFFA Chairperson Holly Budd said, “Whether you are a consumer or distributor looking for good sources of local organic food, or a farmer or gardener in search of new ideas, techniques and inspiration, the MOFFA Winter Meeting has something for you.” The day will consist of presentations,panels, and workshops, including research talks by University Of Maryland Extension and scientists.
Attendees:
Please bring a dish to share for the Potluck Lunch, one of the highlights of the meeting.
You can bring seeds to exchange with the other participants in the MOFFA Seed Swap.
You are encouraged to donate an item for the Auction to support MOFFA.
Members may bring display materials and table space will be available in exchange for auction item donations.
Registration is $20 for non-members and $5 for members. Membership is $25 for one year, $45 for two years and $12 for students. Registration is at the door or online. For more information or to register online, go to marylandorganic.org or contact Holly Budd at 443-975-4181.
More information coming soon!
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Bring a dish to share at the Potluck Lunch. It’s one of the best parts of the MOFFA Winter Meeting!
FEBRUARY 23, 2019 
We all need pollinators on our farms, but the pollinators need our help too.
Maryland Organic Food & Farming Association 