2009 Conference - Food, Farm and Energy Gathering

2009
Conference
Brochure
(pdf file - Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

2008
Conference
Program

2009

FOOD, FARM and ENERGY GATHERING

with TRADE SHOW

“Building Local Sustainability”

Saturday, February 21, 2009

8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Building

Indiana State Fairgrounds

1202 E. 38th St, Indianapolis, Indiana

A Premier Educational Event for Food Consumers, Small Farmers, Gardeners, and Energy Users
Who Want A More Sustainable Lifestyle

Co-Sponsored by Nuvo, Earth Charter Indiana, Balanced Harvest Farm & CSA, and www.AGreenerIndiana.com

Sponsor and event organizer:

Sustainable Earth, Inc., a 501(c)3, not-for-profit membership organization committed to the development of sustainable family farming systems and community food systems that support local family farms.

Our work is diverse and often not very visible. We never charge for our services – consulting, advising, networking, demonstrating, promoting, educating, organizing and advocating. The goal is always the same: building sustainable food and farming systems in our communities, state and region.

Description:

The Food Farm and Energy Gathering is an event that brings like-minded individuals together to network, learn and share ideas about living sustainably. The focus is on nutritional food, local food sources, and energy that is not produced from fossil fuels.

It evolved from the Midwest Small Farm Conference which Sustainable Earth conducted for 15 years. In that time span, we provided tools for sustainable farming to hundreds of family farmers.

In 2008 citizens witnessed the vulnerabilities created by our reliance on industrialized, centralized and distant food and energy systems. Spiking energy prices rippled through the economy resulting in rising food costs.

We know we have to break our dependence on fossil fuel and on food grown, on average, 1500 miles away. We have to break our dependence on food raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). And we have to decentralize the mega processing facilities from which the many episodes of foodborne illness spread across our nation.

The purpose of the Food, Farm and Energy Gathering is to generate common, community based solutions to these problems.

Locally produced food – grown, processed and distributed with far fewer inputs of energy and mineral resources is the only pathway to community food security, good nutrition, and long term sustainability.

Consumers who support these goals are the key to their successful implementation. And thus we gather.

Schedule:

8:00 – 8:50 Registration and trade show

9:00 - 10:00 Session 1
Hall A “The Future of Eating”
Steve Bonney - Sustainable Earth, West Lafayette
A survey of essential human nutrition and an assessment of future food sources that will fulfill human nutritional needs to support good health and minimize diseases.

10:15 – 11:15 Session 2
Hall A “Local Food -- Fine Dining”
Chef Daniel Orr, FARM Bloomington
After working his way to the top of his profession around the world, Daniel returned to his family roots and founded his restaurant that features locally grown food prepared with American, European and Caribbean influences.

Hall B “Why Weeds Matter – An Ecological Perspective”
John McMillan, weed ecologist, West Lafayette
If you work the soil, care for a lawn, or enjoy nature, you are surrounded by “weeds”. Maybe you can stop declaring war on them without surrendering.

11:30 – 1:30 Lunch, Networking and Trade Show

An organic lunch (meat or vegetarian) using local foods as available, can be purchased, or you may bring your own lunch.

1:30 – 2:30 Session 3
Hall A “My Green Home”
Revone Bauwens - Floyds Knobs
Solar hot water heating and photovoltaic power systems have minimized her usage of the utilities grid. Her back yard is a wildlife habitat.

Hall B “The Community Farmer”
Kevin Cooley - Cooley Family Farm, Lafayette
Kevin is a farmer with a local perspective – farmers markets, csa, and an on-line local winter market, allow him to supply locally grown food year around to the greater Lafayette community.

3:00 - 4:00 Session 4
Hall A “Becoming a Farmer”
Darby Simpson - Simpson Family Market
After a longtime desire to farm on his family ground, Darby recently chose to raise and market pastured poultry (using the Joel Salatin model) and hogs on pasture. He still keeps his day job while he transitions to full time farming.

Hall B “Home Grown Fuel”
Richard Wagner, Phylein, Inc, Bloomington
This company produces biofuels from algae, a promising alternative to fossil fuels, and a bio-logical source that that does not compete for human food.
Doug Adamson, Midwest Bio Fuels for America, St Paul, IN
Doug is producing ethanol from sweet sorghum, a crop he grows on his farm. It is a non-food crop that beats corn hands down for ethanol.

4:30 - 5:15 Session 5
Hall A “Walking the Walk – Next Steps”
John Gibson, Executive Director of Earth Charter Indiana
will moderate a wrap-up session that compiles actions, strategies, and highlights from the audience. Food for thought to go.

updated 1/23/09

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