EFC Events & Receptions

Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 8:00 pm

Food, Financial Stability and Democracy in Crisis - Raj Patel and Woody Tasch

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Artisan Cheese and Brew Tasting
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Join us in the Exhibitor Tent during the extra-long lunch hour to sample organic, hand-made cheese and beer varieties with host Sheana Davis from the Epicurean Connection! Roam the exhibitor area for refreshments, samples, information, and the goods and services you need.

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Hora Social
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Una oportunidad para conocer a otros agricultores de habla hispana.
Mixer: Here’s a chance for Spanish-speaking growers to get to know each other.
Hosts: ALBA & ATTRA

Organic Wine Tasting
5:30 pm
It’s an Eco-Farm tradition! Come taste premium wines made from organic grapes by outstanding vintners. The reception will be a social and networking opportunity for growers, distributors, and all wine appreciators. Pre-register for $20 or pay $25 at the door for a chance to sample the choice offerings of the finest wineries in the West. The fee includes a commemorative wine glass.

Organic Farming Research Foundation Reception
5:30 – 6:30 pm
A social hour for growers and researchers to meet and exchange contacts and information on the latest progress coming out of organic agriculture research.

FarmLink Mixer
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Linking Current and Future Farmers
Farmers young and old will mingle and discuss opportunities for leasing, purchasing, apprenticing, mentoring, and cropsharing. Learn more about how California FarmLink and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms–USA, can help you meet the farm or farmer you’ve been looking for.
Hosts: WWOOF–USA & California FarmLink

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11th Annual Seed Swap!
7:30 -10:00 pm
You can help preserve our genetic resources! Do you want to expand the biodiversity of your farm or garden? Many seeds of non-hybrid, non-engineered varieties will be available to trade at our 11th annual Seed Swap. Make sure everything you bring is labelled, and please bring your own packets for seeds. DON’T FORGET to bring seeds to share!
Hosted by the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC)

Eco-Farm Campfire
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Eco-Farm has been a meeting place for many over the last 28 years. Enjoy live music, conversation, beer, and wine around a campfire (weather permitting). It’s a great place to meet other single people with common interests. All are welcome.

Rainbow Chard Alliance Mixer for LGBT Farmers
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Calling all LGBT farmers and their allies. Join fellow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer farmers and allies for music, food, wine and fun. This mixer is for folks to network, share experiences, and trade skills and perspectives in farming. Gather your friends together and celebrate the diversity of our farming community!
All are welcome.
Host: The Rainbow Chard Alliance

Swords to Plowshares
7:30 – 9:30 pm
An opportunity for everyone to mix it up with young soldiers turned farmers, young farmers out to save the planet and farmers and folks of all ages working for a more peaceful and just world.
Host: Farms not Arms

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Movies 8:30 pm

Soil In Good Heart

By Deborah Koons Garcia
Soil In Good Heart is a taste of a documentary currently in production by Deborah Koons Garcia, director of The Future of Food (2004). Most people have no idea how important healthy soil is for the creation of healthy food and healthy people. We are dependent on soil for most of our food, and how we use soil impacts current global challenges including climate change, resource depletion and peak oil. Soil In Good Heart features renowned scientist Dr. Charles Benbrook, leading geomorphologist Dr. David R. Montgomery, physicist and activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, and organic farmers Klaas Martens, Peter Segger and Anne Evans. The wisdom and experience of these dynamic individuals allow us to appreciate the mysterious nature of soil and the billions of organisms and relationships within it. This short film seeks to awaken the public to the importance of preserving and rebuilding this essential resource as the foundation of sustainable agriculture. We are all part of the soil community and we ignore this at our peril! Length: 13.5 minutes

The Garden

By Scott Hamilton Kennedy
This award-winning documentary chronicles the complex and emotional story of the destruction of Los Angeles’ South Central Farm. Created from the ashes of the L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farm was the largest urban farm in the United States until its destruction in 2006. “The Garden” follows the farmers as they organize and launch an impassioned public battle to save the farm. The film documents the farmers’ struggle against the city’s back room deals, and exposes the underlying issues of money, power, poverty and racial discord. The film explores the fault lines in American society, raising crucial and challenging questions about liberty, equality, and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Awarded Best Documentary, AFI Silverdocs Film Festival and Best Documentary, Camden International Film Festival.

Contradance
9:00 pm

Friday, January 23, 2009

1:30 pm - 5:30 pm

K-12 Educators Mixer
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Join other K-12 educators, administrators, and allies to discuss the use of farms and gardens for experiential learning. Bring success stories, questions, and instructional resources from your schools and farms to share with others.
Hosts: John Fisher, CASFS/Life Lab Science Program

CAFF’s Buy Fresh, Buy Local Mixer
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Come to CAFF’s annual mixer and celebrate local food by consuming some California food, beer, and wine!
Host: Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)

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SARC Mixer
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Everyone is invited - especially Cal Poly alumni and San Luis Obispo’s residents.
Host: Sustainable Agriculture Research Consortium (SARC)

Landscapers Unite!
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Mixer for Ecological Landscape gardeners. A chance to network with your peers and find out the latest news in the ecological landscape world. Learn about cutting edge trends and techniques to meet the challenges of ecological landscaping.
Host: Ken Foster, Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping

Organic Foods Banquet
6:30 pm
Feast on delicious, fresh, seasonal organic food while we celebrate the farming community and honor long-term stewards of sustainable agriculture and advocates of social justice in sustainable agriculture.

Eco-Farm Dance
9:30 pm

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association Members Networking Meeting
8:30am-12:30pm
In this special 3-hour session connect with your peers to discuss strategies for how to create and implement a successful sustainability plan. Gain skills to assess your businesses’ environmental and social performance. Find out about the best practices in sustainability reporting. Discuss the key indicators used to drive improved organizational performance. This workshop is free and open to FTSLA Members, for more information contact . Thanks to our sponsors: PCC Natural Markets, SunOpta Inc, Organic Valley, Organically Grown Co, Heath and LeJeune, Nature’s Path Foods, and Organics Unlimited.
FREE! To sign up for this workshop please contact: , Executive Director, (541) 852-0745.

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© 2008 Ecological Farming Association

406 Main Street, Suite 313, Watsonville, CA 95076

Phone: (831) 763-2111