Pasa Conference organizers offering both virtual, in-person formats

Penn State Extension Food Safety Educator Jeff Stoltzfus offers tips on farming for wholesale at the in-person Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Conference. (Photo by Bob Ferguson)

HARRISBURG, Pa. — This year PASA Sustainable Agriculture is solving the difficult decision between virtual and in-person conferences.
They are holding both.
The virtual conference is scheduled for Jan. 17-19.
The schedule for the in-person conference at Lancaster, Pa. is from Feb. 8-11.
Now, prospective attendees can choose a virtual conference, or the in-person conference, or both.
The organization promises, “No matter your agricultural interests or experience level, you’ll be able to pack your schedule with workshops and experiences that will help you hone your craft, grow your business, and advance your cause at Pasa’s 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Conference.”
Hanna Smith-Brubaker, executive director, addresses her forthcoming audience, “Our conference is a space for discovering new perspectives that deepen our understanding of ourselves, one another, and our joint efforts to advance sustainable agriculture and equitable food systems. I look forward to learning, sharing, and growing in community with you.”
Registration is separate for the virtual and the in-person conference.
The Virtual Conference Speakers and Sessions — Jan. 17-19
Several speakers for the Virtual Conference address various farming ecosystems.
Keynote speaker Col Gordon’s “Landed” podcast series explores land ownership and colonial legacy. A baker and seed researcher, Gordon shares his insight from his background on his family’s 270-acre livestock farm in the Scottish Highlands.
His message, “Facing Up to the Family Farm,” examines current farm models.
Anita Adalja, of Not Our Farm, relates contributions to the food system by farm careerists who do not own their business or land.
Ben Friton, The Reed Center for Ecosystem Reintegration, cultivates and implements self-perpetuating agro-ecosystems that restore degraded ecosystems and reduce food insecurity.
Maggie Cheney and D. Rooney own and operate Rock Steady Farm, a cooperative vegetable farm rooted in social justice, food access, and farmer training.
The virtual conference’s 25-plus sessions include features by the above speakers, plus live and on-demand sessions.
Regardless of an attendee’s location during the Live sessions, questions can be asked and answered in real time. Some examples include the Conference kick-off with executive director Smith-Brubaker; Defining sustainable agriculture and why that matters — Chris Gambino, Delaware Valley Univ.; Community action farming: concept and case studies — Jason Gerhardt, Permaculture Institute; Soil health and health care: a systems approach to climate change — Mollie Riordan, Health Care Without Harm; and Creating opportunities and maximizing profits by stacking enterprises on your farm — Brian Bruno, Apple Ridge Farm.
The In-Demand sessions can be accessed at your own pace. Examples are: Feeding the soil: eco-orchard design and implementation — Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community; Digital tools: manage your farm, improve your soil and build community — Jeanne Lurvey, Pasa open feam fellow; Establishing a conservatory of Eastern agroforestry species — Louise Bugbee, LMSupplan LLC; Marketing basics — Jodi Frank, Culineer; and Seed to structure: the future of regenerative architecture — Drew Oberholtzer, Co-exist Build LLC., and Alicia Sprow, Alvernia Univ.
Virtual Registration and Rates
Registration includes access to live sessions, on-demand sessions, and recordings. Registration must be in by Jan. 17 to attend the live sessions, but afterward, recordings can be obtained if missed.
The 2023 Virtual Conference has a pay-what-you-can registration structure. Rates are suggested, ranging from $60 for retired to $200 for individuals paid for by a large organization.
But Pasa Sustainable Agriculture notes that if suggested rates would prohibit attendance, “…you are welcome to join us no matter what you’re able to pay.”
In-Person Conference Speakers, Oher Events, and Sessions
Feb. 8–11
Keynote speaker Jessica Hernandez explains, “Indigenous environmental knowledge offers a vision of land stewardship that heals rather than displaces.” Offering alternatives to Western-defined conservation, she cites examples of restoration and holistic land management.
Other featured speakers include “Sustainable Market Farming” author Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community; Internationally known cover crop no-till pioneer Steve Groff, Cedar Meadow Farm; and “No-till Intensive Vegetable Culture” author Bryan O’Hara, Tobacco Road Farm.
Fermentation authority Sandor Katz, joined by Owen Taylor and Chris Bolden Newsome, of Truelove Seeds, preside over a plenary of the fermentation arts and culturally important seeds.
In addition, executive director Smith-Brubaker’s plenary session updates attendees on the year’s climate call-to-action, plus how Pasa’s resources can be leveraged for the benefit of all.
The trade show area features a book mercantile and book nook, a seed and book swap place, an area for community classifieds, and a stage that hosts expert tips and resources.
The farm innovations show with do-it-yourself tools, structures and systems developed by Pasa’s farm community, educates and inspires.
The camaraderie of the social and networking events become enlivened with live music and dancing.
Pasa conferences are noted for farm-fresh local food. A series of curated menus highlighting seasonal ingredients will satisfy discerning attendees.
The three-day program of sustainable agriculture and food system activities for kindergarten to eighth graders is returning this year.
In addition, half-day intensives will enhance the agriculture learning experience.
A wide assortment of sessions educates, provides farming data for better practices, and stimulates thoughtful changes to agricultural systems. See the conference website, pasafarming.org/conference, for a complete schedule and last-minute updates.
A sampling of the 90-plus follows.
Key considerations when buying or leasing farmland — Marlene van Nelson, Orchard Hill Farm; Practical produce safety for urban and small farmers — Crystal Forman, Holistic Wellness and Health, Tiara Matthews, Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm, and Kimberly Raikes, Whitelock Community Farm; Developing farm-scale biodiversity benchmarks — Maggie Douglas, Dickinson College and Jenn Halpin, Dickinson College Farm; Water testing and what to do with results — Steven Bogash, Pro Farm; Creating a silvopasture that fits your context — Austin Unruh, Trees for Graziers; Parasite management for small ruminants — Camren Maierle, Penn State Extension; No-till strategies for mid-scale market gardeners — Ken Laing, Orchard Hill Farm; Story-telling for advocacy: find your connection to the 2023 Farm Bill — Adrienne Nelson, National Young Farmers Coalition; Introduction to farming for wholesale — Becky Chalupa and Jeff Stoltzfus, Penn State Extension and Alex Wenger, The Field’s Edge Research Farm; Growing blueberries sustainably, organically and profitably — Eric Rice, Country Pleasures, Farm and Willow, Oaks Ciders; Vegetable fertility discussion — Megan Chawner and Elsa Sanchez, Penn State.
Registration and Rates
Registration can be made at pasafarming.org/conference. Three levels advance by date — early, by January 10; standard, by January 27; and late or on-site, after January 27.
• Adult — Pre-conference intensive — $65, $85, $105. Main conference — $245, $305, $385.
• Saturday — $65, $85, $105.
• Student/apprentice/senior — Pre-conference intensive — $45, $45, $55. Main conference — $160, $160, $200. Saturday — $45, $45, $55.
• Kid’s Program — (K -8th) Thursday, Friday, or Saturday — $65 per day, $75 per day, n/a.
• Trade Show only — one day pass, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday — $15, $15, $20.
The Conference is held at the Lancaster County Convention Center in downtown Lancaster.
Discounted lodging is available at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Book by 5 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture offers reduced registration rate scholarships and workshare projects to offset rates. Participants need to apply by Jan. 20.
Up-to-date information is available at the website pasafarming.org/conference.