Have you ever heard Gary Zimmer speak on soil health? His exuberance is un-matched!
Gary Zimmer is Founder of Midwestern BioAg. Known as the “father” of biological agriculture, Zimmer is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He owns Otter Creek Organic Farm, a family-operated, award-winning 1,000 acre farm near Lone Rock, WI, and has been on the board of Taliesin Preservation Inc. since 2011. Zimmer is the author of three books, The Biological Farmer (Second Edition), The Biological Farmer and Advancing Biological Farming, and numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition.
Gary is just ONE of the featured speakers at Why Organic? How to Transition and Succeed
Friday November 15
10am - 3pm
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL
Free, Includes Lunch (but registration required)
Whether you’re already organic, on a mission to transition, or organic-curious, this event is for you. Learn about…
· The significance of organic practices and certification
- USDA certified organic processes and requirements
- The impact of organic practices on soil ecology and productivity
- Climate resilient practices within organic production systems
Enjoy a provided lunch with other organic producers, supporters, educators, and certifiers
Curbside Consultations with: Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), Oregon Tilth, OnMark Certification Services, Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA)
This event is a collaboration between Farmer's Rising and the Center for Agrarian Learning at MCC.
9:45am | Doors Open
Arrival & Check In
10:00am | Welcome
Welcome | Sheri Doyel (Center for Agrarian Learning at MCC)
TOPP | Kate Larson (Farmers Rising)
Why Organic? | Thomas Manley (Marbleseed)
11:00am | Breakouts
Certification Success | Process and requirements, and building a relationship with your certifier, with Mark Geistlinger (MOSA) and local organic production farmers: Christopher Schoeneweiss and Jason Sonnefeldt
Soil Health and Ecology | The impact of organic practices on soil ecology and productivity, with Gary Zimmer (Midwestern BioAg)
Climate Solutions | Resilient practices within organic production systems, with Josh Bendorf (USDA Midwest Climate Hub) and local farmers building into climate resilience: Christina Foster and Jennifer Viktora-Cuomo
12:30pm | Lunch
Catered by | Duke's Alehouse & Kitchen
1:30pm - 3:00pm | Curbside Consultations
10 - 15 minute one-on-one conversations with Certifiers from:
Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA)
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA)
OnMark Certification Services
Oregon Tilth
Free, REGISTER HERE
This program would not be possible without the generous support of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) exists to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers.
