Conference Program

2010 Summer Conference Program Book (PDF version)

Program Book Sections

Before you Arrive
When You Get Here
General Conference Information
Teen Conference
Conference Entertainment and Activities
Blue Wall Menu

Before You Arrive

Directions to UMass: I-91 to Rte. 9 (x19 from I-91 North, x20 from I-91 South). East on 9 (5 mi.), left on 116 N 1 mi. to UMass exit. Right at end of ramp. Left at 2nd light on Commonwealth. Right at next light on Campus Center Way, parking garage is at top of hill on right. Once you're there, your way to the Registration Tent, on the lawn by the pond, will be well marked.

Public Transportation: Valley Transporter runs shuttles from Bradley (Windsor Locks, CT), Logan (Boston), NYC-area and Providence airports. (413) 253-1350 or www.valleytransporter.com for information. PVTA bus service runs to UMass/Amherst from both Amherst Ctr. and Northampton in the summer. (413) 586-5806 or www.pvta.com for current schedule info.

Ride Share: To offer/find rides, click here(ridebuzz website) or, contact Kathleen Geary, registration@nofasummerconference.org, (413) 259-5346. Please make all requests before 8/1.

Helping Hands: WE NEED YOU! Give yourself a weekend pay raise; work 4 hours and get $25 ($30 for working the Children's Conference). It's fun, you'll meet some great people and you'll make a critical difference in making the conference run smoothly. As we grow, you are needed more than ever! Helping Hands are reimbursed by mail after the conference. To sign up, contact Dennis Cronin at (508) 799-2278, or rabbitnet@juno.com, or check the "Creative Financing" section of the NOFA Summer Conference website.

Handicapped Accessibility: Most of UMass is handicapped accessible. Please contact us in advance with any special needs. Dormitories: Singles, Doubles and Suites (4 singles, kitchen, private baths). All beds are twins. All children under 12 must room with parent/guardian. If you reserved a room or plan to, remember to bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels. A small fan is advisable. Refrigeration is not available, so bring a small cooler if you want to keep food cool. Ice can be purchased at stores in town. UMass requires a key deposit of $70, which will be held by UMass until the key and access card are turned in. Deposit checks should be made payable to UMass.

Pets: Leave your pets at home! UMass Security and NOFA staff will ask you to remove your pet from the campus if you bring it.

When You Get Here
Updated Aug 11

Where to Park Before Going to Registration: On Friday before 5pm, parking is only allowed at the Campus Center Parking Garage and lot 25. All drivers will park first at one of these two lots. If you are staying at UMass Housing, you may park at lots close to your dorms after you check in at the registration desk first (see more below).

Refer to the campus map of UMass for the locations referred to below: www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/campusmap.pdf

Lot 25 is always free, but is far away from the campus center. (On the above map, you will find Lot 25 at the map cross section of 3 and A). For those parking at lot 25, a NOFA staff person will be present from 8 am to 5 pm to meet you and direct you to the registration tent and camping area. At registration you will receive a golden parking pass listing other lots available on Friday before 5 pm, along with a map of their locations. The pass must be filled out completely & displayed clearly on your dashboard. If you need an extra pass, ask at Registration.

The Campus Center Parking Garage always costs money, but will be open all weekend and is very close to the conference (On the above map, you will find the Campus Center Parking Garage at the map cross section of 3 and B). The rate is $1.50/hour during the day, and a $3.00 flat rate from 5:00 pm - 5:00 am, payable to the garage attendant upon exit. If you will be in the garage for an extended period, ask for a discount coupon at Registration. This coupon will entitle you to a full day of parking in the garage for a flat $5.00/day. Simply present the discount coupon, along with your garage gate ticket, to the attendant the first time you exit the garage. The attendant will charge you $5.00 and staple a receipt to your coupon which allows you to come and go for the rest of that day at no charge. After 5pm on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, you may park for free in any surface lot on campus, including lot 62 on the opposite side of North Pleasant Street from the Fine Arts Center, which is the closest parking lot to the conference area (On the above map, you will find Lot 62 at the map cross section of 4 and D). The exceptions where you may never park are Lots 21, 29, 35, 39, 46 (in front of Brett & Brooks Dormitories), 47, 50, 54, 67, and the narrow part of lot 62 that is immediately behind the Fine Arts Center and not separated by North Pleasant Street. Check parking signs for restrictions.

Special note for campers/RVs: Before 5pm on Friday RVs and Campers must park in the North End of Lot 25 on Commonwealth Ave. After 5pm on Friday RVs and Campers can move to any numbered lot, as per above. We encourage those with campers/RVs to park in the north end of lot 25 near the tree line as it provides some added space and privacy for you. However, if you would prefer to be closer to the registration area and/or restroom facilities, you may move to one of the lots, as per above.

Parking For Those Staying in UMass Housing: After you've checked in at the Registration tent, park at the appropriate dorm. Those staying in a Single or Double should check in at Brett Hall. Before Friday at 5pm, the closest available lot to Brett Hall is lot 49. Note: Lot 46 directly in front of Brooks/Brett/Wheeler is a 24 hour restricted lot. There is no parking available there at any time. Those staying in a Suite should check in at North Apartment Building C. Before Friday at 5pm, the closest available lot to these dorms is lot 44. After Friday at 5pm, you may park in any unrestricted lot.

Be sure to read parking signs for restrictions! Important Towing Information: Vehicles must be parked in designated lots - read signs in parking areas! If you park in a Tow Zone or a Restricted Lot you will be towed. If your vehicle is towed, you may claim it at Ernie's Towing in North Amherst by calling (413) 586-1021. The charge is $90.00, payable in cash or by major credit card (no checks). There is an additional charge of $20.00 per day for vehicles left unclaimed longer than 24 hours. These charges are in addition to any applicable parking fees payable to the University of Massachusetts. Should you need a ride to Ernie's to claim your car, you can call the number above and ask for a pick-up. Ernie's staff always attempts to pick up stranded folks on the UMass campus.

General Conference Information

Check In: Go to the Registration Tent to get your Program and Addendum, nametag, dorm assignment or camping permit before going to workshops, dorms or camping areas. Plan to spend up to 25 minutes at registration lines during peak hours. Late Arrivals: If you arrive after Registration hours, set up your tent in the camping area or go to Brett dorm to get your room assignment. Then check in at Registration the next morning. Camping space and dorms are available on first-come, first-served basis for walk-in registrants.

Contacting Conference Staff: Conference headquarters is at the Registration tables under the big tent. If you need help, information, or you want to contact the conference staff, go there. Registration hours are listed in the conference schedule. The phone number for NOFA Summer Conference headquarters is (413) 545-7320. This line will be in service beginning 1 pm Thursday throughout the conference; callers will be able to leave voicemail messages there.

Name Tag: It is your admission pass to all conference workshops, meals and special events. It must be worn in a visible manner at all times as you will asked to show your name tag to gain entrance to workshops, meals, and all other events. Telephones: Pay phones are on the first level of the Campus Center. There are speaker phones outside the doors to dormitories from which you can dial extensions on campus.

Messages and Announcements: There is a bulletin board at the Registration area in the big tent to use for messages and announcements. Incoming calls should be directed to the Conference headquarters line: (413) 545-7320. In emergencies, we will try to page you. For non-emergencies, we post messages on the bulletin board. Please check it periodically.

First Aid: If you need medical attention, come to the Registration area in the big tent. You may also visit the University Health Center located near Brett dorm. For extreme emergencies where an ambulance or fire engine is needed, call 911. The Cooley Dickinson Hospital is located in nearby Northampton.

ATMs: ATMs are on the first level of the student union. There are also several banks in the center of the town of Amherst. Dorm Key Policy: If you pre-paid for a dorm room, you get your dorm assignment when you register. For Singles or Doubles, go then to Brett Hall for room check-in; for Suites, go to North Building C. There you'll get your access card and room key. To facilitate the key pick-up, please have a $70 check ready, payable to UMass, for key deposit. Your deposit will be returned when you turn in your key and access card to UMass staff at your dorm. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-in registrants.

Camping: Sites are on the library side of the pond in the center of campus, and on Metawampe Lawn, at the base of both the Student Union and the Campus Center. Set up tents only in designated spaces. If you're camping only Friday night, you must vacate your space by noon Saturday to make room for others. Cooking and campfires are not allowed. Please treat your campsite with the utmost care, leaving it as you found it with no damage to the field. Trash/recycling/compost barrels are available. Toilets & Showers: Student Union bathrooms are open 24 hrs. Portapotties are on the lawn. Camper showers are in Brett dorm.

Minimize Waste! Please help us reduce what gets sent to the landfill. Bins for Recyclables (cans, glass, paper, plastic), Compostables (food scraps) and Garbage, will be at convenient locations throughout campus. Please sort your waste and place in the appropriate bins.

Chemical Sensitivity: For the health & safety of those who are chemically sensitive, kindly refrain from wearing volatile compounds such as scented hairspray, perfume, cologne or aftershave.

Pets: Leave your pets at home! UMass Security and NOFA staff will ask you to remove your pet from the campus if you bring it.

Dining Hall: IMPORTANT NOTE: This year all meals will be served in the Worcester Dining Commons, located in the Northeast residential section of the UMass campus. In order to be served, be prepared to show your nametag with pre-purchased meals listed. Please be expeditious in going through the line and eating in the dining hall to make room for more folks. Please arrive early for Saturday lunch and dinner as these are the busiest meals.

All meals at the Conference are made with organic, and when possible, local ingredients. In-season vegetables are purchased from local farms, from Whole Foods Market, and from United Natural Foods in NH. Meat products are purchased through Whole Foods and United Natural as well. The UMass Baking Department will prepare the desserts. We hope you enjoy the healthy organic fare! Food donations for the Conference are solicited from organic producers and distributors and help defray the total costs. If you know of an organic source that might want to donate, please contact John Ferris, Food Donations Coordinator, (413) 548-6930, j_david_ferris@hotmail.com.

Saturday Local Meal: All food served in the dining common on Saturday evening is locally grown or produced on NOFA organic farms from the seven state chapter region. At your table Saturday evening, look for more information about the farmers and farms represented in this meal.

Other Food Options: The Blue Wall Cafe will be serving food under a tent on the lawn by the pond, not far from the big exhibit tent, beginning with coffee on Friday morning and going right through to Sunday lunch. Please check the Program Addendum for more information on specific hours. All food will be organic and sourced locally to the extent possible. The Menu will consist of:

Organic Breakfast
Buckwheat Pancake Fruit Rollups
Egg and Cheese Croissants
Yoghurt and Fruit Parfaits
Assorted Pastries and Muffins
Fresh Fruit
Coffee and Beverage Station

Organic Lunch and Dinner
Beef Burgers
Grilled Chicken Breast
Veggie Burgers
Grilled Local Veggie Medley
Whole Wheat Pasta Salad
Roasted Local Corn on the Cob
Macro Vegetarian Dumpling Boxes
French Meadow Organic Salads and Sandwiches
French Meadow Cookies
Ice Cream
Fresh Fruits
Beverage Station

All ingredients will be organic and sourced locally to the best of our ability.

Teen Conference

The Teen Conference kicks off on Friday at 2:00 with the ever popular Tie-dyeing workshop. Remember to bring pre-washed white clothing that you can dye. Also at 2:00 we will have a workshop on Rabbit Spinning and Weaving - the fleece that is.

At 4:00 will be Aromatherapy Basics - make your own personal scent. Also, Film Making for Anyone -make a movie in an hour and a half! Saturday morning at 8:00 we will offer a workshop on Global Hunger and how one organization uses livestock to help feed families and communities. Also learn how to Build Structures to house that rabbit or chicken flock. At 10:00 the offerings are Wild Foods -Cooking and Eating your Weeds And, How to Bag Waste - learn how can you reduce your garbage footprint. At 1:00 you can learn about Honeybees - yes, you can keep bees or Make Herbal body Care Products - make some nice things for your skin. At 3:00 come to the fair! DJ Reuben will be in the Cape Cod Lounge on Saturday night with 80s and 90s music.

Sunday morning at 8:00 will be a workshop on Ins and Outs of Raising your Home Chicken Flock

At 10:00 we are offering Working with Oxen or you can Play Games that are not just Games At 1:00 we will have a workshop on How Teens Can and Do Unschool their High School Education Also at 1:00 will be a workshop on the History and Uses of Blue Corn, also try some yummy corn dishes.

Conference Entertainment and Activities

Films to be Shown Throughout the Weekend NOFA would like to thank Phillip Botwinick of Local Energy Solutions, a NY-based not-for-profit which educates on matters of energy, economics, and environment. Contact Phil at: phil@localenergysolutions.org.

Please note: All films will be shown in the Campus Ctr. Reading Room, next to the Graduate Lounge and across from the Blue Wall cafe. This is a plug 'n play service: at the appropriate starting time, please select the movie and begin playing it. All playing times are designed to allow a break between movies, but we encourage you to be on time for your showing.

Jamaica for Sale
Jamaica may sustain a reputation as one of the most desirable tourist hotspots in the world, but this reputation is short-lived. This film commences with a brief overview of Jamaican history, from the British-dominated colonialist era into the present, then spends time reflecting on the significance of a strike by poorly paid native workers, severely injured on the job at a local construction site. Despite the veritable ruination of the Jamaican fishing industry and almost cataclysmic damage caused on natural venues by toxic resort runoff, the Jamaican government still insists on attempting to double the amount of tourism on the island by the year 2012 to an estimated 5 million tourists per year. The equation, as the filmmaker reminds the audience, doesn't quite add up. (92 min)
Sunday, 10:00 am

My Father's Garden
This is an emotionally charged documentary about the use and misuse of technology on the American farm. In less than fifty years the face of agriculture has been utterly transformed by synthetic chemicals which have had a serious impact on the environment and on the health of farm families. This film tells the story of two farmers, different in all details, yet united by their common goal of producing healthy food. (56 min)
Friday, 1:00 pm

Blue Gold: World Water Wars
Wars of the future will be fought over water as they are over oil today, as the source of human survival enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive. Past civilizations have collapsed from poor water management. Can the human race survive? (90 min)
Saturday, 5:00 pm

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half and food by 80 percent, people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic farming methods and urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis which they call 'The Special Period.' The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis - the massive reduction of fossil fuels - is an example of options and hope. (53 min)
Saturday 12:30 pm

Flow: For Love of Water Irena Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel. (93 min) Sunday, 12:00 pm

Money as Debt
Where does all the money come from? If there was NO DEBT there would be NO MONEY. This fast-paced and highly entertaining animated feature explains today's magically perverse Debt-Money system in terms that are easy to understand. (47 min)
Saturday, 4:00 pm

We Feed the World A film about food and globalization, fishermen and farmers, long-distance lorry drivers and high-powered corporate executives, the flow of goods and cash flow-a film about scarcity amid plenty. With its unforgettable images, the film provides insight into the production of our food and answers the question what world hunger has to do with us. Interviewed are not only fishermen, farmers, agronomists, biologists and the UN's Jean Ziegler, but also the director of production at Pioneer, the world's largest seed company, as well as Peter Brabeck, Chairman and CEO of Nestle International, the largest food company in the world. (96 min.)
Saturday, 11:00 am

Crude Impact
This film is a powerful and timely story that deftly explores the interconnection between human domination of the planet and the discovery and use of oil. This documentary film exposes our deep-rooted dependency on the availability of fossil fuel energy and examines the future implications of peak oil - the point in time when the amount of petroleum available worldwide begins a steady, inexorable decline. (98 min)
Friday, 4:00 pm

One Man, One Cow, One Planet
Modern industrial agriculture is destroying the earth: Desertification, water scarcity, toxic cocktails of agricultural chemicals pervading our food chains, ocean ecosystem collapse, soil erosion and massive loss of soil fertility. Our ecosystems are overwhelmed. Humanity's increasing demands are exceeding the Earth's carrying capacity. A simple recipe to save the world? One old man and a bucket of cow dung. Are you crazy? (56 min)
Friday, 2:30 pm

Strange Culture
The conflict between policies that support national security and those that protect civil liberties are embodied in the bizarre, terrifying story of Steve Kurtz, an artist, activist and SUNY Buffalo professor for whom a personal tragedy led to a Kafkaesque nightmare courtesy of the War on Terror. (75 min)
Saturday, 9:00 am

Challenging Natural Law
Are humans immune to natural laws or are they subject to the limits of growth? Lecture and Discussion Group
Presented by Phillip Botwinick, Local Energy Solutions NYC Human behavior demonstrates our belief that the laws of nature do not apply to us. This manifests in our rigid belief that physical growth can go on forever. This presentation will explore man's obsession with growth throughout history and how it has led us to our current crisis. We'll conclude with a look at our options and whether we have the courage to take action.
Saturday, 2-4 pm

Conference Entertainment

Saturday 3-6 pm
The NOFA Summer Country Fair
Festive fun, games, silliness and entertainment for all ages. Kicked off at 3 pm by our Kids' Parade, it's a time for sheer enjoyment, schmoozing and relaxing. Come check out our real live Auction of exciting country living items (with silent auction as well) - a new highlight in this year's Fair. Stroll through theFarmer's and Crafter's Market, watch animal demos, thrill to the Pie Eating Contest and Corn Nibble Fandangle, try your hand at the Vegetable Sculpture table, come join in the Fun. Don't forget to bet on your Cow Plop square!

Friday 9:00 - 11:00 pm
Drumming Journey with Steve Leicach Cape Cod Lounge
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 handson workshop at the end of the evening, this is sure to be a wonderful experience by which you can march to the beat of your own drum.

Friday 9:00 - Midnight
Contra Dance with Rhubarb Pie
Pond Lawn next to Registration Tent (in case of rain, the dance will be in the Campus Center Auditorium)
After the keynote address, meet friends old and new at the Get Acquainted Party and Dance. We are pleased to have perennial favorites The Rhubarb Pie String Band back at the NOFA summer conference. A lively collection of musicians, led by caller Steve Howland, they will perform hours of your favorite contra music, so get those feet ready for some vigorous dancing! Snacks, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise), and other comestibles available for purchase from UMass Catering.

Saturday 9:00 - Midnight
DJ Reuben's Dance Party Cape Cod Lounge
Reuben Telushkin aka DJ Herb Chambers is a Valley native and a student at Hampshire College. He is majoring in Art, Science, Education, Black Studies, and Media Justice, because at Hampshire College he can do that. For your bootyshakin' pleasure he will be serving a mix of Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, and 80's & 90's classics. Strictly for kids of all ages.

Saturday 9:00 - Midnight
Cajun Dance Party with Dirty Rice
Pond Lawn next to Registration Tent (in case of rain, the dance will be in the Campus Center Auditorium)
Join us after Saturday night's keynote for an upbeat, lively time with perennial zydeco favorites Dirty Rice. Playing a fusion of cajun, zydeco, and rockabilly styles, this band will be laying down a groove late into the night. Be prepared for a wild night of dancing. Snacks, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise), and other comestibles available for purchase from UMass Catering.

Sunday 3:00 pm
NOFA Annual Post-Conference Auction Registration Tent
Join us for a quick auction after the last workshop session, where you can score great deals on organic drinks, fruits and vegetables, and snacks. These donations from health food stores and organic distributors can be had for rock-bottom prices, along with a healthy serving of sarcasm and ridicule, from auctioneer Chuk Kittredge. Bring cash money, an empty box or two, and your shrewd bargaining skills. All proceeds benefit the NOFA Scholarship Fund. Yes, we have no beer.