Monday, March 11, 2013

CT NOFA's 31st Annual Winter Conference

We certainly hope you were able to join us for our Winter Conference last Saturday at Wilton High School in Wilton, CT.  We had nearly 800 participants this year, including vendors and presenters. We also were delighted to be joined by State Senator Toni Boucher and State Representative Gail Lavielle!
Welcome to the Winter Conference!
This year we had over 50 workshops - on everything from worm compost to GMO activism to growing garlic to making salsa.

With over 60 vendors there was something for everyone! Here is Swift Farms from Mansfield, CT!
Here, From Farm to Market, LLC displays garden gifts and supplies.

Lunch was provided by Fairfield County Restaurants including: Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant,  the Dressing Room in Westport, LeFarm in Westport, The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, Sugar and Olives in Norwalk, The Elm Restaurant in New Canaan, Wave Hill Breads Bakery in Norwalk and the Cake Box and Swoon in Ridgefield.  
Volunteers stand at the enticing dessert table!
Ken Coulson from Gatsby's Green Light performs for conference attendees at lunch.
Demonstrating use of a trike for farmers.
Some of our vendors were our member farmers sharing their delicious, Connecticut Grown products.  Here is Northfardy Farm in Northford, CT!
Executive Director Bill Duesing introduces the keynote speaker.
Full house for the keynote presentation!
Dr. David W. Wolfe discusses the consequences of climate change and how farmers and gardeners can mitigate and adapt at the same time.  View the keynote presentation slides here!





We hope you enjoyed the Winter Conference - if you want to view more pictures visit our facebook! If you wanted to learn more about specific topics at the Winter Conference, check back to our website for upcoming gardening workshops (there is one at Common Ground High School in New Haven this coming Saturday) and farm workshops (like the greenhouse workshop on March 21 at the Yale Farm in New Haven!)

Happy we're-only-a-week-away-from-spring!

Kristiane 

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much for posting the slides from the keynote address. There was so much information presented, and it had to be presented so quickly, that there was no way for me to absorb it all in time that day! Now I can look at it when time allows, absorbing it at a reasonable pace Thank you thank you!

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