2013 NOFA Summer Conference Media Page
WELCOME
Welcome to the NOFA Summer Conference, the largest annual conference on organic growing in the Northeast. NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farming Association, is a community including farmers, gardeners, landscapers and consumers working to educate members and the general public about the benefits of local organic systems based on complete cycles, natural materials, and minimal waste for the health of individual beings, communities and the living planet.
NOFA has regional chapters in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. This annual summer conference draws over 1200 attendees from across the entire Northeast region. The conference is hosted by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. We hope you will join us in Amherst on August 9-11.
ABOUT THE NOFA SUMMER CONFERENCE
NOFA Summer Conference attendees register for an entire weekend of keynote speeches, over 200 workshops, a country fair, farmers' market, over 100 exhibitors and vendors, a children's conference, a teen conference, live entertainment and silent auction.
Over the years, NOFA has presented a wide array of thoughtful, engaging and important keynote speakers, including Wendell Berry, Joel Salatin, and others. The 2013 Friday evening keynote will be given Atina Diffley, a Minnesota organic farmer, consultant, activist, and author of the 2012 memoir, Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works. Saturday evening will feature a debate: Is Organic Certification Right for you? Moderated by Jack Kittredge, the debaters will be Pro: Atina Diffley & Ryan Voiland and Con: Justine Denison & Mark Dunau.
Workshop tracks for 2013 include: Beginning Farmer, Community Supported Agriculture, Grazing, Nutrient Density, Organic Land Care Track, Permaculture, Cooperatives, Winter Growing and Season Extension. For a complete list of workshop offerings, please click here.
Most workshops are held in and around the UMass Amherst campus. Participants generally select on-campus housing, and reside in the UMass dormitories for the duration of their stay. Camping on the UMass property is also available.
ARTICLES AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOFA SUMMER CONFERENCE
- "NOFA Summer Conference Features Wide Ranging Preconference Topics" - by Nicole Belanger published in The Natural Farmer, Summer 2013 Issue.
MEDIA FROM PREVIOUS NOFA SUMMER CONFERENCES
- 2012 Summer Conference Media
- 2011 Summer Conference Media
- 2010 Summer Conference Media
CONFERENCE DATES AND HOURS to be announced