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

Check the MOFFA events page, marylandorganic.org/events, for updates on the agenda.

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.