Schedule - Tilth Alliance

Browse through the Tilth Conference schedule! Please note that this is a preliminary schedule that is subject to change before the event.

By Date/Time
By Track

Thursday, Oct. 26

7:15-9 a.m.Registration & Breakfast

9 a.m.-12 p.m.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. “Integrated Pest Management in a Changing Climate” Science Symposium

Sanford D. Eigenbrode, University of Idaho; Lindsey Du Toit, Washington State University’s Mount Vernon Northwest Research and Extension Center

12-12:30 p.m.Break. Farm Walk attendees will get on their buses to the farms.

12:30-4:30 p.m.

12:30-4:30 p.m. Farm Walks Farm Walks

We’ll be visiting The Grainery (Chimacum, WA) and White Lotus Farm (Port Ludlow, WA). Farm Walk attendees will choose which farm they want to …

5-6 p.m.WORC Annual Meeting

6-8 p.m.

6-8 p.m. Happy Hour Social Event

Let’s start the weekend off right! Join us for a mix and mingle event. Enjoy this evening with plenty of hors d’oeuvres, a …

Friday, Oct. 27

7:15-9 a.m.Registration & Breakfast

8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Trade Show

Join us for a bustling Trade Show at the Tilth Conference! This event brings together farmers, growers, and industry experts demonstrating and discussing their latest …

8:30-9 a.m.Welcome!

9-9:30 a.m.Coffee break. Visit the Trade Show!

9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. WSDA Organic Office Hours

Are you curious about transitioning to organic production? Have you wondered if organic certification would be a good fit for your farm and markets? Or …

9:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.

9:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. WA Meat Up Butchery Workshop for Producers Track D

Dr. Paul Kuber, WSU NE Washington Regional Livestock Extension

9:30-10:45 a.m.

9:30-10:45 a.m. How Do You Experience Stress? How Do We Survive? How Do We Thrive? Track A

Anne Schwartz, Blue Heron Farm; Lori Mercer, Farm Aid; Julie Jesmer, WSU Skagit County Extension/Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program; Chad Reznicek, Colorado AgrAbility Project; Caitlin Arnold Stephano, Farm Aid

9:30-10:45 a.m. Maximize the Harvest From Your Small Farm or Garden Track B

Anza Muenchow, South Whidbey Tilth

9:30-10:45 a.m. Equitable Food Access: How to Pay Labor Dignified Wages and Support Food Access in Your Community Track C

Michelle Week, Good Rain Farm

9:30-10:45 a.m. Value-Added Products for Fun and Profit Track D

Devra Gartenstein, Business Impact Northwest; Melissa Moeller, Northwest Agriculture Business Center

9:30-10:45 a.m. Nuts and Bolts of Operating a Farm as a Worker Cooperative Track E

Luis Sierra, Northwest Cooperative Development Center

9:30-10:45 a.m. Biochar Use in Compost Track F

Doug Collins, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center and Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources; David Bill, Midnight Farms; Jack Hoeck, Rexius Forest By Products

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Alternative Farm Stand Models: Centering Access Track A

Kerri Cacciata, Tilth Alliance; Chris Henderson, Twin Sisters Market & Small Acres Farm; Lexa Dundore, Tilth Alliance

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Organic 1: Solutions to Certification Stumbling Blocks Track B

Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program; Allison Dermond, WSDA Organic Program

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Cooperative Farming: Lessons in Moving Towards a Democratically Run Workplace Track C

Elizabeth Bragg, Kelly Skillingstead, Emily Smaldone and Ben Stamats, Long Hearing Farm

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Working Together for Better Marketing Track E

Camryn Barnhart, Local Hens

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Biochar Uses Track F

Chelsea Mitchell, Washington State University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center; Norm Baker, Sierra Club

12:15-1:30 p.m.Lunch

12:45-1:30 p.m.

12:45-1:30 p.m. Keynote: April Thatcher Keynote

April Thatcher, April Joy Farm

2-3:15 p.m.

2-3:15 p.m. Understanding Climate Grief: Recognition and Building Resilience Track A

Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust; Maud Powell, Oregon State University Extension

2-3:15 p.m. How NRCS Can Help Small Farmers and Ranchers Track B

Rebecca Anderson Bellanca, Natural Resources Conservation Service

2-3:15 p.m. Creating Opportunity Through Cooperative Development and Networking Track C

Michael Peroni, Northwest Agriculture Business Center; Charlie Michel, Mission West Community Development Partners

2-3:15 p.m. Opportunities to Produce Organic Seed on Farm: A Strategy to Diversify Markets and Increase Resilience Track E

Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance

2-3:15 p.m. Composting Emissions Track F

Megan Rounds, Washington State Department of Ecology; Tom Jobson, Washington State University; Tim O’Niell, Engineered Compost Systems

3:30-4:45 p.m.

3:30-4:45 p.m. Building Better Alliances for Farmland Improvements and Protections: We’ve Got a Plan for That! Track A

Patrice Barrentine, King County Agriculture Program; Lauren Silver, Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance; libby reed, Orange Star Farm

3:30-4:45 p.m. Organic 2: Transitioning to Organic – New Opportunities and Resources to Get There Track B

Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program

3:30-4:45 p.m. Open-Gate Farming: The Perks and Pitfalls of Growing with Community Track C

Caitlin Leck, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture; Patrick Bennet, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture; Laurie Racicot, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture

3:30-4:45 p.m. Establishing and Maintaining AMF-Plant Relationships in Agriculture Track D

Tracey Somera, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Unit; Chris Cook, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Unit

3:30-4:45 p.m. Creating Pollinator Habitat on Farmscapes Track E

Jess Chandler, 21 Acres

3:30-4:45 p.m. Small Farm Compost Topics Track F

Michael Bryan-Brown, Green Mountain Technologies; Derek Thedell, WA State Dept. of Agriculture

5:30-6:30 p.m.

5:30-6:30 p.m. Happy Hour Social Event

Join us for another mix and mingle event and take this opportunity to visit the Trade Show! Enjoy some small bites, a cash bar, reconnect …

6:30-8 p.m.

6:30-8 p.m. Banquet Dinner & Awards Ceremony Social Event

Join us for a special banquet dinner followed by a recognition ceremony. Every year at the Tilth Conference, we award a Farmer of the Year …

8-10 p.m.

8-10 p.m. Stories & Songs from the Farm Social Event

Stories and songs are powerful media for sharing important life experiences. They may be emotional, informative or simply entertaining — but when told (or sung) they …

Saturday, Oct. 28

7:30-8:15 a.m.Registration & Breakfast

8:30-10:15 a.m.

8:30-10:15 a.m. WA Agriculture Policy Roundtable

Join in Tilth Alliance’s annual policy roundtable to learn about current initiatives at the federal and state level that support development of an ecologically …

10:30-11:45 a.m.

10:30-11:45 a.m. Local Advocacy 101: Protecting Farmland in Your Community Track A

Dani Madrone, American Farmland Trust

10:30-11:45 a.m. Organic 3: Common Sense Approaches to Organic from a Fruit Grower, Seed Producer, Wine Producer, and Produce Farmer Track B

Nestor Garcia, Blue Gem Farms; Katie Jagger, Saltwater Seeds; Mark Green, Wild Hare Organic Farm; Kiva and Jazmin Dobson, Klickitat Canyon Winery

10:30-11:45 a.m. Dig Into the Financial Dirt: Spend, Save, Invest, and Protect Track C

Jess Sarsfield, AgWest Farm Credit; SharonAnn Hamilton, Washington Small Business Development Center

10:30-11:45 a.m. Culturally Accessible Food Safety Training: Methods and Applications Track D

Melinda Bratsch-Horsager, Quamash Coalition of Northeast Washington

10:30-11:45 a.m. Other Composting Topics Track F

Alli Kingfisher, WA Dept. of Ecology; Kate Kurtz, City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilites; Kelsey Bailey, King County, Solid Waste Division; Dave Keeney, King County, Wastewater Treatment Division

noon-1 p.m.Lunch

Science Symposium

9 a.m.-12 p.m. “Integrated Pest Management in a Changing Climate” Thursday, Oct. 26

Sanford D. Eigenbrode, University of Idaho; Lindsey Du Toit, Washington State University’s Mount Vernon Northwest Research and Extension Center

Track A

9:30-10:45 a.m. How Do You Experience Stress? How Do We Survive? How Do We Thrive? Friday, Oct. 27

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Alternative Farm Stand Models: Centering Access Friday, Oct. 27

Kerri Cacciata, Tilth Alliance; Chris Henderson, Twin Sisters Market & Small Acres Farm; Lexa Dundore, Tilth Alliance

2-3:15 p.m. Understanding Climate Grief: Recognition and Building Resilience Friday, Oct. 27

Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust; Maud Powell, Oregon State University Extension

3:30-4:45 p.m. Building Better Alliances for Farmland Improvements and Protections: We’ve Got a Plan for That! Friday, Oct. 27

Patrice Barrentine, King County Agriculture Program; Lauren Silver, Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance; libby reed, Orange Star Farm

10:30-11:45 a.m. Local Advocacy 101: Protecting Farmland in Your Community Saturday, Oct. 28

Dani Madrone, American Farmland Trust

Track B

9:30-10:45 a.m. Maximize the Harvest From Your Small Farm or Garden Friday, Oct. 27

Anza Muenchow, South Whidbey Tilth

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Organic 1: Solutions to Certification Stumbling Blocks Friday, Oct. 27

Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program; Allison Dermond, WSDA Organic Program

2-3:15 p.m. How NRCS Can Help Small Farmers and Ranchers Friday, Oct. 27

Rebecca Anderson Bellanca, Natural Resources Conservation Service

3:30-4:45 p.m. Organic 2: Transitioning to Organic – New Opportunities and Resources to Get There Friday, Oct. 27

Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program

10:30-11:45 a.m. Organic 3: Common Sense Approaches to Organic from a Fruit Grower, Seed Producer, Wine Producer, and Produce Farmer Saturday, Oct. 28

Nestor Garcia, Blue Gem Farms; Katie Jagger, Saltwater Seeds; Mark Green, Wild Hare Organic Farm; Kiva and Jazmin Dobson, Klickitat Canyon Winery

Track C

9:30-10:45 a.m. Equitable Food Access: How to Pay Labor Dignified Wages and Support Food Access in Your Community Friday, Oct. 27

Michelle Week, Good Rain Farm

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Cooperative Farming: Lessons in Moving Towards a Democratically Run Workplace Friday, Oct. 27

Elizabeth Bragg, Kelly Skillingstead, Emily Smaldone and Ben Stamats, Long Hearing Farm

2-3:15 p.m. Creating Opportunity Through Cooperative Development and Networking Friday, Oct. 27

Michael Peroni, Northwest Agriculture Business Center; Charlie Michel, Mission West Community Development Partners

3:30-4:45 p.m. Open-Gate Farming: The Perks and Pitfalls of Growing with Community Friday, Oct. 27

Caitlin Leck, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture; Patrick Bennet, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture; Laurie Racicot, Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture

10:30-11:45 a.m. Dig Into the Financial Dirt: Spend, Save, Invest, and Protect Saturday, Oct. 28

Jess Sarsfield, AgWest Farm Credit; SharonAnn Hamilton, Washington Small Business Development Center

Track D

9:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. WA Meat Up Butchery Workshop for Producers Friday, Oct. 27

Dr. Paul Kuber, WSU NE Washington Regional Livestock Extension

9:30-10:45 a.m. Value-Added Products for Fun and Profit Friday, Oct. 27

Devra Gartenstein, Business Impact Northwest; Melissa Moeller, Northwest Agriculture Business Center

3:30-4:45 p.m. Establishing and Maintaining AMF-Plant Relationships in Agriculture Friday, Oct. 27

Tracey Somera, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Unit; Chris Cook, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Unit

10:30-11:45 a.m. Culturally Accessible Food Safety Training: Methods and Applications Saturday, Oct. 28

Melinda Bratsch-Horsager, Quamash Coalition of Northeast Washington

Track E

9:30-10:45 a.m. Nuts and Bolts of Operating a Farm as a Worker Cooperative Friday, Oct. 27

Luis Sierra, Northwest Cooperative Development Center

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Working Together for Better Marketing Friday, Oct. 27

Camryn Barnhart, Local Hens

2-3:15 p.m. Opportunities to Produce Organic Seed on Farm: A Strategy to Diversify Markets and Increase Resilience Friday, Oct. 27

Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance

3:30-4:45 p.m. Creating Pollinator Habitat on Farmscapes Friday, Oct. 27

Jess Chandler, 21 Acres

Track F

9:30-10:45 a.m. Biochar Use in Compost Friday, Oct. 27

Doug Collins, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center and Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources; David Bill, Midnight Farms; Jack Hoeck, Rexius Forest By Products

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Biochar Uses Friday, Oct. 27

Chelsea Mitchell, Washington State University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center; Norm Baker, Sierra Club

2-3:15 p.m. Composting Emissions Friday, Oct. 27

Megan Rounds, Washington State Department of Ecology; Tom Jobson, Washington State University; Tim O’Niell, Engineered Compost Systems

3:30-4:45 p.m. Small Farm Compost Topics Friday, Oct. 27

Michael Bryan-Brown, Green Mountain Technologies; Derek Thedell, WA State Dept. of Agriculture

10:30-11:45 a.m. Other Composting Topics Saturday, Oct. 28

Alli Kingfisher, WA Dept. of Ecology; Kate Kurtz, City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilites; Kelsey Bailey, King County, Solid Waste Division; Dave Keeney, King County, Wastewater Treatment Division

Keynote

12:45-1:30 p.m. Keynote: April Thatcher Friday, Oct. 27

April Thatcher, April Joy Farm

Farm Walks

12:30-4:30 p.m. Farm Walks Thursday, Oct. 26

We’ll be visiting The Grainery (Chimacum, WA) and White Lotus Farm (Port Ludlow, WA). Farm Walk attendees will choose which farm they want to …

Social Event

6-8 p.m. Happy Hour Thursday, Oct. 26

Let’s start the weekend off right! Join us for a mix and mingle event. Enjoy this evening with plenty of hors d’oeuvres, a …

5:30-6:30 p.m. Happy Hour Friday, Oct. 27

Join us for another mix and mingle event and take this opportunity to visit the Trade Show! Enjoy some small bites, a cash bar, reconnect …

6:30-8 p.m. Banquet Dinner & Awards Ceremony Friday, Oct. 27

Join us for a special banquet dinner followed by a recognition ceremony. Every year at the Tilth Conference, we award a Farmer of the Year …

8-10 p.m. Stories & Songs from the Farm Friday, Oct. 27

Stories and songs are powerful media for sharing important life experiences. They may be emotional, informative or simply entertaining — but when told (or sung) they …

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