2013 Conference Program

Updated May 16, 2013

Education

  1. Keynoters (Attina Diffley on Friday; Debate on Saturday)
  2. Workshops (200+ sessions by track, & time)
  3. Workshops (200+ sessions by Category)
  4. Pre-Conferences (bees, flowers, poultry, profitability, and soils).

Entertainment

  1. Music, and Dance
  2. Films
  3. NOFA Summer Country Fair (Saturday, August 10, 3-5:30pm)

Youth Conferences

  1. Children's Conference (Ages 3-12)
  2. Teen Conference (Ages 13-17)

MUSIC AND DANCE

Friday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (During Keynote)
Drumming Journey with Steve Leicach
Campus Center Reading Room
Join master percussionist Steve Leicach as he takes you on a drumming journey through Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Featuring masterful, exciting demonstrations using a variety of traditional drums and percussion instruments, fun audience participation and rhythm chants, body percussion, and a special hands-on workshop at the end of the evening, this experience is unparalleled. That beat you hear? Yes, it is a different drum. This program is especially geared toward children and teens.

Friday 9:00pm - midnight (Post Keynote)
Contra Dance: The Russet Trio, with caller Fern Bradley
Campus Center Auditorium
After the keynote address, meet friends old and new at the Get Acquainted Party and Dance. Welcome back The Russet Trio, who light up dances all over New England with a broad range of original and traditional acoustic music. Based in the beautiful Hudson Valley, they are a perennial favorite at NOFA-NY conferences and events. Their music blends traditional Celtic and Appalachian music, with generous swing, high energy and groove. Come, be light of heart (and feet, too), and dance the night away. We hope you can handle our contraband. A great activity for people of every age.

Saturday 7:00pm - 8:30pm (During Keynote)
Santina King
Campus Center Graduate Lounge
Come listen to Santina King blend her subtle lyrics with funky grooves and bluesy vocals. Santina picked up the beat early, but her passion for music really began to blossom when she found the acoustic guitar nine years ago. Stylistically inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco, this new singer/songwriter infuses her unique voice in all her original works, building intricate and rich musical compositions from scratch.

Saturday 9:00pm - midnight (Post Keynote)
Amy Kucharik and Friends (with Benefits)
Campus Center Reading Room
Come swing in Saturday night with Amy and her band! Amy Kucharik & Friends (With Benefits) (aka "FWB") combine singer-songwriter Amy's sweet ukulele sounds with her clever, pithy lyrics. FWB cooks up tunes, reminiscent of early jazz and blues, with a dash of old country, a smidgen of modern folk and a pinch of New Orleans ragtime. Featuring an assortment of talented musicians from the Boston area, and an unusual blend of instrumentation, FWB will have you lindy hoppin' all night long.

FILMS

Post Keynote
Friday, August 9, 9pm (93 minutes)
"After I Pick the Fruit"
Campus Center 163C
After I Pick the Fruit follows the lives of five immigrant farm worker women - three of them undocumented - over a ten-year period as they struggle to fulfill their roles as workers, wives, mothers, and members of an isolated community that's almost invisible to the outside world. The film begins and ends in the apple orchards around Sodus, NY, and most importantly, in the women's homes when the work day is done. "I was inspired to make the film after seeing women working in the fields and orchards near my hometown of Sodus," Nancy Ghertner, the film's director says. "I wanted to meet them, to understand how they lived and what happened-after they picked the fruit." Once she got to know the women, Ghertner was driven "to make the invisible visible," and raise consciousness among American consumers about the human price of getting fresh food to the supermarket.

During the Fair
Saturday, August 10, 2:30 pm (98 minutes)
"Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth"
Campus Center 163C
"Some say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice." Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth tries to answer the ancient Maya belief the world would end after 5125 years, and a new cycle start. The film follows six young Maya through their daily and ceremonial life, revealing their determination to resist the destruction of their culture and environment. Each story, touching upon a facet of the current global crisis, interweaves the protagonists intimate accounts with images associated with the fragile beauty of nature, and the creation myth of the Popol Vuh. The Maya, like many indigenous people, believe they are the guardians of the Earth. Their cosmovision, in which all life is sacred and interconnected, presents a deeply compelling alternative to the prevailing worldview.

Saturday, August 10, 4:10 pm (31 minutes)
"Por Dinero"
Campus Center 163C
Por Dinero tells the stories of an undocumented Mexican, his indigenous family, and their dying language of Chatino. Part One: A gringo reads quotes from the biography, Canek: An Ancient Maya Hero, translated into Chatino. Part Two: Israel reads his stories; a young man sacrificing seven years of his youth to work 75 hours a week, for under minimum wage, to support 12 family members back home. He speaks of what impacted him most during his first year in the states. Part Three: Cezy, a sister of Israel, is unable to free herself from female traditional roles in their hometown of San Miguel Panixtlahuaca. She tells a tale of her small town, their dying language, lack of jobs, and her brother's absence. Por Dinero shows a unique view of a modern, indigenous, Mexican family.

Saturday August 10, 4:45 pm (63 minutes)
"Tokyo Waka: A City Poem"
Campus Center 163C
How do people and nature adapt to each other? Tokyo Waka tells the story of Tokyo, the sparkling, pop culture generating metropolis, and the city's wary truce with its 20,000 crow denizens. After years of environmental warfare on the crows, the 13 million humans and their animal neighbors now live in stalemate with each other. Tokyo Waka tells this story, and a larger one as well. A Buddhist priest comments on garbage as the remnants of desire; a gardener considers the relentless persistence of nature amidst urban grit; a homeless woman talks about forging community in her tent village deep in the corner of a city park. Tokyo Waka gives these smart, opportunistic crows their due, but the film is ultimately an episodic and discursive poem about the life and culture of Tokyo, one of the great cities of the world.

Post Keynote
Saturday August 10, 9:00pm (84 minutes)
"Genetic Roulette"
Campus Center 163C
In Genetic Roulette, experts expose the serious health threats of GMOs and how corporations like Monsanto hide the evidence. Never-before-seen evidence points to genetically engineered foods as a major contributor to rising disease rates in the US population, especially among children. Gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, inflammatory diseases, and infertility are just some of the problems implicated in humans, pets, livestock, and lab animals that eat genetically modified soybeans and corn. This sometimes shocking film may change your diet, protect you and your family, and accelerate the consumer tipping point against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) already underway. Don't miss this film!

NOFA SUMMER COUNTRY FAIR - Public Welcome

Our Saturday afternoon country fair (3:00-5:30pm) has a jazzy beat this year. Come dance with Pioneer Valley's own raucous, joyful love bugs - the Expandable Brass Band - as they lead the children's parade down to the fairgrounds. You can join in too! Bring a sign or wear a costume, and dance with us. Starting at the Children's Conference, we'll cavort our way around campus and end up at the fair in the Northeast Residential area.

Ongoing Activities During the Fair

Games, Races, and Contests

After the parade, let's have fun! The children (and adults) are invited to play games. Prepare to get messy at the Tomato Bob, search for a Peanut in a Haystack and do "The Butter Dance." What could be better than an old fashioned Watermelon Pit Spit, or a Chicken Chuckin'.

For a little friendly competition, take part in one of the contests. Get a nibblin' at the Corn Nibble Fandangle, out hop your friends at the Sack Race, and of course, the ever-popular Pie-Eating Contest. Because, of course, who doesn't like pie!

And don't forget to browse the Market at the fair with the Author's Corner and the exhibitors. There will be plenty of wonderful hand-made products for you to sample and enjoy!

Music

The Expandable Brass Band will stay and play with us once the Parade is over. Be prepared to jump around and stomp your feet to the music.

Ben Grosscup will lead an open mic sing-along at 4 pm. Bring an instrument, or a song to share. Signups will be available before the open mic starts.

Support The Conference While Enjoying The Fair!

Try your luck at the "cow plop" - a recently-fed cow meanders over a pre-laid grid while anxious fair-goers await his "plop," hopefully on the square that they have bet on! Visit the fair tent to place your bet: $3 for one square, $5 for two squares. The lucky winner takes half the ticket receipts.

Support the Farming Education Fund by participating in the teacup raffle! This year, the raffle highlights some fantastic products from our vendors, and some thoughtful donations from good souls. With a variety of books, gift certificates for services, local honey, natural products, and much more! Tickets can be preordered with your registration, or available for sale at the raffle table in the registration tent during regular registration hours (Friday 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday 7 am - 1 pm); and throughout the fair until raffle winners are drawn at 5 pm Saturday afternoon. Teacup raffle tickets are $1 apiece, or six tickets for $5.

Time Specific Activities at the Fair

Pony Show
4:00 - 5:00pm
Dale Perkins of Mesa Farm presents his ponies for a fun, family-friendly circus styled show. After the presentation, Dale and the horses will stay around for questions and a horse friendly petting.

Films During the Fair
During the Fair, the following films will be presented in Campus Center 163C read details here.
Saturday 2:30 pm "Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth" (98 minutes)
Saturday 4:10 pm "Por Dinero" (31 minutes)
Saturday 4:45 pm "Tokyo Waka: A City Poem" (63 minutes)

Meet and Greets
4:00-5:00pm

"Make new friends, but keep the old..." Meet new folks, and reconnect with old friends at our get togethers during the fair.

Homesteaders - Gather to trade ideas, share stories and have fun.

BeeKeepers - Beehave! Or not, depending on your mood. Bring your honey products, liquid, crystallized or creamed, to share with fellow beelievers. Jean-Claude Bourrut will lead the group in a lively exchange, fun and community-building. Let's bee friends.

Beginning Farmers - Time to start making connections in the farming world? Yes, yes it is. Visit with NOFA's Beginning Farmers coordinators and fellow BF's. They'll be art, music and more. Make connections and have fun!

Teacup Raffle Drawing
5:00 pm
Feeling lucky? Bring your raffle tickets to the raffle item table to see what you have won! Raffle winners may claim their prizes 5-7 pm on Saturday, or 7-11 am Sunday. We're not able to hold or mail raffle prizes, so any raffle items that remain unclaimed as of 11 am on Sunday will join the post-conference auction on Sunday afternoon.

Share A Meal

Saturday Night Beekeeper's Meal: Continue the post Fair fun by sharing dinner with your fellow hive mates in the Overflow Room of the Dining Hall.

Sunday Breakfast with the Beginning Farmer's: It's food for thought , "How to move from "planning your farm" to "farming your plan"." Listen to seasoned farmers talk about bridging the gap from dream to reality, and discuss with fellow beginning farmers where you are in the process.

CHILDREN'S CONFERENCE

Check-in: The Children's Conference will be based in the basement of Mary Lyon Dorm, in between the registration tent and Worcester Dining Commons. Children may be dropped off 15 minutes before workshops begin and picked up 15 minutes after they end. Families are strongly encouraged to allow 20-30 minutes for check-in at the children's conference area when first arriving at the conference. All children must be registered and must be wearing a name tag with cell phone numbers for their guardians at the Conference (if you have cell phones). Children without name tags will not be admitted into the Children's Conference area or workshops. Children 2-4 years old will be with experienced caretakers in a spacious, enclosed area in the Mary Lyon basement. They will have opportunities for various activities, indoor & outdoor. A change of clothes and diapers are recommended.

Workshops: All Children 5 to 12 years must be signed in by their guardian before and after workshops. There will be workshop sign-up sheets for the entire conference. Workshops will have a maximum number of attendees and are first come-first serve. Guardians are encouraged to assist children in planning their first, second and third choice of workshops in each time slot by studying the offerings on the website before coming to the conference and then to help them sign up for the workshops upon arrival. Read a detailed list of the workshop offerings here.

Also check the bulletin board at the children's conference for changes in the program. Please take note of age requirements in the workshop description. When it is time for their chosen workshop to begin, a teacher and presenter will go with the children to the appropriate location. Please make sure your children understand your plans for picking them up from the Children's Conference area, and please explain that they must stay at the Children's Conference or with Children's Conference staff until a parent comes and signs them out.

Snacks: There will be snacks provided each day of the conference after the first workshop. Please have your children bring water bottles and reusable plates with names written on them to use for snacks.

Feedback: Please speak too your children about their experience and let us know what they have to say by filling out an online evaluation form after the conference. Please see bulletin board for workshop suggestions and to sign up to present in 2014.

The on-sight Children's Coordinator is Rachel Silverman. For questions preceding the conference contact Valerie Walton at childrens@nofasummerconference.org

Keynote Childcare: There will be child care in the Campus Center Reading Room (also the location for "Drumming Journey with Steve Leicach" on Friday, August 9 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm) during the Friday night keynote from 7:15-9:15 pm. During the Saturday night keynote from 6:45-8:45, child care will be in Campus Center 101. Children 5-12 are welcome to attend without parents. Children 2-4 are welcome with a parent or guardian.

TEEN CONFERENCE

Come meet other teenagers from all over the Northeast for a weekend of good fun, delicious food, and fun things that you can learn about organic food, farming, and ecological sustainability.

Workshops: Teen workshops are geared toward ages 13-17. We will be using the Grad student lounge, located in the Campus Center, as a workshop and workshop meeting place. It is here that we will attend informative, challenging workshops and eat yummy organic snacks. Teens are encouraged to attend workshops with other teens but may also attend any adult or child workshops. Read a detailed list of the workshop offerings here.

Items to Bring:

  1. Pre-washed white garments for the Friday tie-dying workshop at 2pm. During this workshop we will get acquainted and discuss how to get the most out of the conference.
  2. Also bring musical instruments (with a plan for where you will store them safely and out of heat for the conference) for Second Annual Jam Session on Saturday at 10:00 led by Santina King, performing artist and Children's Conference Teacher.
  3. Anyone wishing to help organize songs ahead of time can write to Valerie Walton at childrens@nofasummerconference.org. It would be great to share songs that are meaningful to the organic movement or just songs that bring us together for good times and good memories. It would be a wonderful contribution to the NOFA community if we could bring a song from that session or just our teen community to march to in the parade, Saturday at 2:30 pm with the children and NOFA banners.
  4. Bring a yoga mat if you would like to attend the yoga workshop Saturday at 8:00.

Feedback: We hope that teens will take the time to give written and verbal feedback on the workshops they attend and workshops they would like to attend or to present in the future. We hope that through these discussions the teens can take more ownership of their portion of the annual NOFA Summer Conference.

Help the Children's Conference: Also, teens that enjoy working with children would be welcome to join the children's conference Campus Center for the parade prep workshop from 1-2:30 on Saturday. For those seeking it the youth coordinator would be happy to provide documentation of community service for this work.