small farms conference program 2014sccd.org/program web version.pdf · page 5 4th annual inland...

The 4th Annual Small Farms Conference:

Food & Farming for Everyone

November 1, 2014

Spokane Community College

4th Annual Inland Northwest Small Farms Conference

Check-in, registration and continental breakfast

General Session: 8:30 am — 9:20 am

The New Peer to Peer Mentoring Program presented by SpokaneConservation District Staff and Landowners— A new program atSCD highlights neighbors helping neighbors put conservation on theground. Information on how your conservation district can help youmake connections to peer leaders, technical assistance and cost-sharefunding will be presented as part of the SCD 41st Annual Meeting.

Session 1: 9:30 am-— 10:20 am

Spokane’s Urban Agriculture Ordinances Pat Munts, SpokaneConservation District and WSU Ext, and Janice SwagertyYou can now raise certain small livestock and grow market gardens withinthe City of Spokane. Come learn how you can get certified to raise goats,pigs and other designated small livestock. Learn what you can grow and sellfrom your front porch.

Social Media Panel Shannon Meagher, Beth Robinette, Pam Holloway—Come learn about what other producers are doing with Social Media. Findout which tools they’re using and what approach works for them.

Butchery Peter Tobin, The Inland Northwest Culinary Academy“Butchery,” a lost skill...or is it? This course will cover how chefs are buildingthe Art of Butchery back into the community. Local producers have a “steak”in the future! Find out why. NOTE: This 2 hour class and demonstration isheld in the Old Main Building. Please stay for the entire class.

Heirloom Vegetables Lisa Stonecipher, Where the Wild Things Grow—Learn all about heirlooms from seed to table or market, back to seed again.Topics covered will include where to source seeds, care requirements,benefits of growing heirlooms, how to save your own seed, and how to growfor market.

Equipment Maintenance and Repair, Michael Leaverton, New Holland—This course will provide a basic overview of service to perform on yourequipment, survey available equipment on the market, discuss buying newvs. used, and cover questions to ask when you’re buying equipment. Therewill be lots of Q&A.

8 am — 8:25 am


Session 2: 10:30 am — 11:20 am

Keeping Noxious Weeds Out of Your Pasture Dave Mundt,Spokane County Noxious Weed BoardThis course will talk about noxious weeds that could become aproblem in your pasture and how to control them.

WSDA Green Book and Cottage Food Law Claudia Coles, WSDACome to this session to learn more about the newly released 7th

edition of the WSDA “Green book” as well and the Cottage FoodLaw. The “Green book” is our nickname of the updated “Handbookfor Small and Direct Marketing Farms.” This Handbook provides themost current information on regulations and strategies for farm andfood business in Washington State and will help you if you areinterested in farm or food business ventures in the state ofWashington, including the new CottagerFood Law .

Butchery Peter Tobin, The Inland Northwest Culinary Academy“Butchery,” a lost skill...or is it? This course will cover how chefs are buildingthe Art of Butchery back into the community. Local producers have a “steak”in the future! Find out why. NOTE: This 2 hour class and demonstration isheld in the Old Main Building. Please stay for the entire class.

Growing Small Fruit Vi Tiegs, WSU Spokane Master GardenerIn everyday English, “berry” is a term for any small edible fruit. Learnhow to grow these nutrient-rich antioxidant sources…raspberries,blueberries, strawberries, grapes, currants and gooseberries, generalinformation, site preparation, pests and diseases.

Making Bio- Control Work in Hoop House Production Alison Kutz,Sound Horticulture—When we start to heat and protect crops wealso invite other problems. This course will help you proactively createa game plan, based on your anticipated pest pressures, so that youcan maximize your production and minimize your headaches .

11:30 am — 12:20 pm

Lunch


Session 3: 12:30 pm — 1:20 pm

What’s New for You in the 2014 Farm Bill? Chris Bieker, Farm ServiceAgency, and Jo Lynne Seufer, Risk Management Agency, Isaac Bickford,Natural Resource Conservation ServiceUSDA officials provide the latest scoop on new and improved programs.Learn about federal resources available to help small acreage farmersnavigate the financial risks of farming and ranching.

The Business Model Canvas: A Business Plan You Will Actually Use BethRobinette, Lazy R and Camas PartnersThis class will introduce you to a tool for creating a one-page visual businessplan. Unlike traditional business plans, the Business Model Canvas is adynamic tool that will grow with you and your business. It is a hands-on toolthat fosters understanding, discussion, creativity, and analysis. NOTE: this isa 2 hour class, please attend entire course.

Raising Rabbits for Fun and Profit Jeremy S. Cowan, WSU ExtAn introduction to raising rabbits for fun or profit. This class will touchon care and breeding, and potential markets for rabbits.

Silvopasture and Permaculture: Designing for Optimal Pasture in theInland Northwest Deborah Berman, Lazy M Permaculture Oasis andJennifer Wengler, WSU Master GardenerOur hot, dry summer raises the issue of keeping pastures and forage inoptimal condition. Permaculture works to design beneficial relationships. Adesign strategy—Silvopasture-- brings it all together—the water/wind/shade/sun energies, the animals, and annual and perennial plants to createresiliency and increased yield with minimal intervention.

Forest Management Garth Davis, Spokane Conservation DistrictLearn different avenues for creating a stewardship plan on your forest land.Attendees will be exposed to different programs available to help them carryout management activities on their property. The Tree Farm Program andWashington Farm Forestry association will be discussed.


Session 4: 1:30 pm — 2:20 pm

Small Farm Insurance: What you need to know!John Kapelac, COUNTRY FinancialNow that you found what direction you want to “grow” your small farm, let’sprotect what you have and help build for the future. This course will help you“weed out” what coverage’s are imperative with your new home-basedbusiness.

The Business Model Canvas: A Business Plan You Will Actually Use BethRobinette, Lazy R and Camas PartnersThis class will introduce you to a tool for creating a one-page visual businessplan. Unlike traditional business plans, the Business Model Canvas is adynamic tool that will grow with you and your business. It is a hands-on toolthat fosters understanding, discussion, creativity, and analysis. NOTE: this isa 2 hour class, please attend entire course.

Livestock Infrastructure Dan Ross, Spokane Conservation DistrictOptions for increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Both urban and ruralsmall farm operations can benefit from incremental infrastructureimprovements. From watering/feeding systems to shelter/paddock design,we will review multiple approach options that can be adapted to fit eachindividual operation.

Alternative Gardening Mia Marcum-McCoy, Master Gardener, and Dr.Jeremy Cowan, WSU Spokane County Ext.An overview of gardening methods from the simplest to the more complex.This presentation is sure to educate as well as entertain. Learn thefascination of growing food using a variety of resourceful methods includingbut not limited to Dirt Bag, Square foot, straw bale, vertical and lasagnagardening. Raised beds, Hydroponic, Aquaponic, and vermiculture/vermiponics mentioned as they related to methods listed above.

Planning for Farm Emergencies Gerry Bozarth, Spokane CountyEmergency Management and HEARTGerry and HEART will be presenting a Farm Emergency Plan & Strategy thatwill cover area hazards, emergency alerts, emergency contacts, what farmsupplies you may need to stockpile, evacuation resources, and preparationfor your employees and/or family members.

2:30 pm — 2:45 pm

Break


Session 5: 2:50 pm — 3:40 pm

The Farm Stand: Accounting Made Easy Joel Williamson, CamasPartners—This workshop will help you learn about business accountingthrough a fun and easy scenario, selling products through a farm stand!

How to develop a product that will keep customers coming backBobbi Lindemulder, Snohomish Conservation District—This course willexplain the importance of marketing, how to get customers, and betteryet - how to keep them. Bobbi will discuss how if done right up front, youcan focus your attention to bigger issues. She no longer has to markether beef, it is now all word of mouth and has a waiting list every year.

Large Carnivores and Farming: Techniques to Reduce InteractionsCandace D. Bennett, WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife—Candace will coverthe biology, ecology, non-lethal deterrents, and legal rights for farmersand producers living in bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf country.

High Tunnels: What can they do for you Jeremy S. Cowan, WSU Ext—There has been a lot of buzz about high tunnels recently. Come learnwhat high tunnels are, how they can benefit your operation, and how toget started with high tunnel production.

Multi-Purpose Herbs , Sue Goetz, Creative GardenerTop ten (and a few bonus ones) herbs with diversity! Start with theirbeauty in the landscape to the discovery of all the ways to usethem. Cutting gardens, pollinator attraction, culinary flavorings, edibleflowers, healing remedies, and more. Find your niche by growing herbs,from fresh cut to specialty products including ideas for culinary treats,body care remedies, and household products.


Session 6: 3:50 pm — 4:40 pm

Employment Standards and DOSH RegulationsKelly Kane, Jess King and Al Conrad of WA Labor & IndustriesOverview of Employment Standards ~ your rights and responsibilities. Whatyou need to know to manage risks and control costs.

Selling Online Pam Holloway, Tourmaline Farms & FeedDo you Weebly, Wix or woefully wail when you think of selling your farm’sproducts online? Join Pam Holloway, Tourmaline Farms & Feed to learn howyou can double your sales rapidly, turning Farmer’s Markets from "productselling points" to “product delivery points” in under 60 days through the useof online marketing and an online store. Expand your reach and optimizeyour product placement while improving customer satisfaction & loyalty toyour farm.

Holistic Planned Grazing: How to use Properly Managed Livestock toCreate a Thriving Ecosystem on Your Farm Maurice Robinette, Lazy RLearn about how to use Holistic Planned Grazing to transform your farm intothe landscape of your dreams. Livestock are an important part of anythriving farm, as they possess a unique ability to cycle nutrients and build soilhealth. This workshop will provide a brief overview of how to manage yourlivestock appropriately for maximum ecological benefit, at any scale, fromthousands of head of cattle to a handful of chickens.

Hydroponic & Aquaponic Vegetable Production David Prins, SpokaneCommunity College—This seminar uncovers the basics of hydroponicgreenhouse vegetable culture. It includes a profile of the industry in the US,the “why” of hydroponic production, and conventional greenhousestructures & crops. Conventional & aquaponic nutrient systems will beexplored.

Food Preservation Methods: An Overview Anna Kestell, WSU ExtFood by its nature begins to spoil the moment it is harvested. Come exploredifferent food preservation methods that enable us to preserve some ofharvest for later consumption.

4:50 pm

Farewell and Prizes


About the Speakers


Alison Kutz, Owner, Sound Horticulture—Alison comes from a diverse greenhouseproduction background, as a grower and owner/ operator. Her experience growingherbs and edibles with biological controls became a springboard to supporting growersacross the nation in their quest to grow with less chemicals.

Al Conrad, Risk Management Specialist, Department of Labor & Industries—Al educates employers on workplace safety, workers’ compensation and cost control.They provide data and analysis specific to your business that show you how claims canaffect the premiums you pay.

Anna Kestell, Food Safety/Preservation Information Assistant,WSU Spokane County Extension — Anna has been growing and preserving produce inthe Inland Northwest for over 50 years. Preparing and preserving your own food is notonly a celebration of traditions, it’s a time-tested way to save money, reduce waste,and eat healthy regardless of whether there’s snow on the ground.

Beth Robinette, Lazy R and Camas Partners— Beth Robinette is a fourth generationcattle rancher. She recently competed her MBA at Bainbridge Graduate Institute withan emphasis on Local Living Economies and Sustainable Food and Agriculture. In thepast three years she has pivoted her family's ranch, the Lazy R, from a break-even op-eration selling on the commodity to market to a profitable business through directsales and marketing.

Bobbi Lindemulder, District Operations, Snohomish Conservation District—Bobbihas been a farm planner at the Snohomish Conservation District for almost 18 years,where she has worked with landowners and producers to effectively manage and im-prove their natural resources on their property. Bobbi and her husband, Chuck haveowned and operated West Valley Beef - a grass fed cow/calf operation since 2001. Theyhave been very successful in marketing their operation, as well as maintaining a solid(and profitable) customer base.

Candace D. Bennett, Wildlife Conflict Specialist, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife —Candace works with area private landowners to address concerns about deer, elk, tur-key, wolves, bear, and cougar in eastern Washington.

Chris Bieker, Outreach Coordinator, USDA Farm Service Agency— Chris has servedWashington farmers and ranchers for 14 years as an outreach coordinator for the FarmService Agency. Previously, she served in the capacity as soil conservationist and publicaffairs specialist for 12 years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Claudia Coles, Administrator of the Office of Compliance and Outreach, WSDA—Claudia has received five awards from the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Ad-ministration for her consistent leadership in food safety, Claudia earned her Bachelorof Science in Food Science from North Dakota State University and she is a Class ‘14graduate of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program.


About the Speakers

Dave Mundt, Coordinator, Spokane County Noxious Weed Board—Dave has beencoordinator for the Noxious Weed Board for the past 20 years working with landownersto control noxious weeds on their properties.

David Prins, Greenhouse Management Instructor, Spokane Community College—David moved to Spokane with his wife & daughter after finishing an MS in AgriculturalEducation at Oregon State. Before that, he grew up on and co-managed TR Green-houses, Ltd., a 2.5 acre hydroponic cucumber and tomato production greenhouse inLacombe, Alberta, Canada.

Deborah Berman, MPH, PhD, Vice President, Rural Roots—Deborah has been prac-ticing permaculture for more than twenty years. She was the founder of Palouse Per-maculture, and is Vice President of Rural Roots, and is certified to teach Advanced Per-maculture. As a co-owner of the Lazy M Permaculture Oasis, one of the oldest surialpaca farms in North America she and her farm partner received a Sustainable Agricul-ture Research and Education grant from the USDA to study browse polycultures as amethod of extending the forage season for ruminants on small farms.

Garth Davis, Forestry Program Manager, Spokane Conservation District—Garth hasbeen the Forestry Program Manager for the last 7 years. He has a Forestry TechnicianDegree from Spokane Community College and a B.S. in Ecosystem Management fromthe University of Idaho. Garth is a Certified Arborist and a Certified Forester.

Gerry Bozarth, Mitigation & Disaster Recovery Specialist, Spokane County Emer-gency Management and HEART—Humane Emergency Animal Rescue TeamGerry is the Mitigation & Disaster Recovery Specialist for the local Emergency Manage-ment Office. He is also the public information officer and was involved recently in theOso Landslide event and the Watermelon Hill Fire in July. The Human Emergency Ani-mal Rescue Team (HEART) is a volunteer group dedicated to the welfare of animalsduring times of crisis and anytime they can be of service to our community, state, ornationally.

Isaac Bickford, Natural Resource Conservation Service—Isaac studied ecologicalrestoration at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He now works as a Soil Conser-vationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Prosser, WA. Isaac is pas-sionate about helping people earn a living as land managers while continually improv-ing the resource base.

Janice Swagerty—Janice helped develop Spokane’s new urban agriculture ordinances.Now she and Pat Munts are educating the public about how they can legally raise smalllivestock and grow market gardens in the City of Spokane .

Dan Ross, Natural Resource Technician, Spokane Conservation District—Dan has worked in the Water Resources Department at the Spokane ConservationDistrict for more than 12 years. Operates a small farm, gardening and raising multiplelivestock species (lamb, beef, pork, turkey and chicken), for personal consumption andenjoyment.

About the Speakers


Jeremy S. Cowan, Ph.D., Regional Horticulture Specialist, WSU Spokane CountyExtension — Dr. Cowan is WSU Extension’s Horticulture Specialist headquartered inSpokane. His program focuses on using plastics-based technologies for better agricul-ture, improving access and quality of horticultural community education, and identify-ing novel crops and practices for northeastern Washington farmers.

Jess King, Risk Management Specialist, Department of Labor and IndustriesJess educates employers on workplace safety, workers’ compensation and cost control.He provides data and analysis specific to your business that show you how claims canaffect the premiums you pay.

Jo Lynne Seufer, Risk Management Specialist/Outreach Coordinator, Risk Manage-

ment Agency, USDA—Jo Lynne grew up on a farm in Colorado where her family still

farms and ranches. Jo Lynne has 32 plus years of experience with USDA, working inKansas, New Mexico and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Joel Williamson, Member-owner, Camas Partners—Joel was born and raised in Spo-

kane Washington on his family’s 2 acre rose growing greenhouse operation. Joel hashis MBA in sustainable business and is working to create a more vibrant and local foodsystem in the Spokane region.

John Kapelac, Financial Representative & Risk Management Advisor, COUNTRY

Financial —John is dedicated in helping his clients with their insurance and financial

needs. His mission is to help educate and empower his clients to get the most value forprotection, for what they value the most.

Lisa Stonecipher, Owner/Operator, Where the Wild Things Grow—Lisa is a producegrower, wildcrafter, and lifelong student of nature. She is the owner of locally basedWhere The Wild Things Grow, which has a zero pesticide, zero GMO policy.

Kelly Kane, Farm Internship Project Coordinator, Department of Labor and Indus-

tries —Kelly is tasked with educating the public so that they understand their rightsand responsibilities related to minimum wage, hours of work, meal & rest periods, childlabor, protected leave, farm labor contracting, and internships. Kelly specializes in theFarm Internship Project (FIP).

Jennifer Wengler , WSU Master GardenerJennifer has been gardening organically for many years, and has loved discoveringPermaculture as a way to deepen and expand her knowledge, her food growing, andfinding strategies for increasing the tilth and yield on her dryland farm. She lives on 25acres a little north of Spokane, about half wooded, rocky, hilly, and the other half flatpasture-in-progress. Goats, chickens and turkeys, dog and cat complete the care cycle.

About the Speakers


Michael Leaverton, Service Manager Mechanic, New HollandMichael has worked with heavy equipment and farm equipment since he was 15 yearsold. At age 15, he helped maintain the equipment used to construct Interstate-5 inSothern California. He has continued to maintain a variety of machines at work and athis own small farm.

Maurice Robinette, Owner/Operator, Lazy R RanchMaurice is a third generation cattle rancher from Cheney, Washington. He has beenpracticing Holistic Management for nearly 20 years on his ranch, the Lazy R. He is acertified Field Professional with the Savory Institute and is one of the founding mem-bers of the Pacific Northwest Center for Holistic Management, the United States' firstSavory Hub, dedicated to teaching producers throughout the Pacific Northwest how toachieve the landscape and quality of life they desire through Holistic decision making.

Pat Munts, Small Farms/Small Acreage Coordinator, WSU Extension and SpokaneConservation DistrictPat Munts and Janice Swagerty helped develop Spokane’s new urban agriculture ordi-nances. Now they are educating the public about how they can legally raise small live-stock and grow market gardens in the City of Spokane

Peter Tobin, Instructor, The Inland Northwest Culinary AcademyPeter has been an instructor at The Inland Northwest Culinary Academy since 1989.Instructing future cooks and chefs has been a noble honor. He received a NISOD awardfor excellence in teaching (2002) and was recognized by ACF with a Cutting EdgeAward for sustainability (2013). Peter is a member of Chef Collaborative and SlowFoods America.

Shannon Meagher, Heron Pond FarmsShannon is an owner/operator of Heron Pond Farms. Heron Pond Farms is a Grade Agoat cheese dairy licensed in 2009 and also raises heritage hogs.

Sue Goetz, Garden Designer, Speaker, Writer at Creative GardenerSue is a garden designer, writer and speaker. Through her business, Creative Gardener,she works with clients to personalize outdoor spaces; from garden coaching the smallseasonal tasks to full landscape design projects. Her writing has appeared in Fine Gar-dening Magazine, West Sound Home and Garden, The Tacoma News Tribune and vari-ous other publications.

Vi Teigs, WSU Spokane County Master GardenerVi has been a master gardener since 2000 and has grown berries for more than 30years. Her expertise applies to a variety of small fruits.

Mia Marcum-McCoy , Master Gardener, WSU—Author, motivational speaker, and

traumatic brain injury survivor (2001). I have trained in and studied several methods ofgrowing food including; Permaculture, Nutrition Farming, Biodynamic Farming, Natu-ral Farming (Japanese and Korean methods).

small farms conference program 2014sccd.org/program web version.pdf · page 5 4th annual inland...

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