The Season to Plan, Learn and Network
In Local Food Communities all across the country, winter is the time to plan, learn and network in preparation for the coming growing and summer market season. See our list of upcoming opportunities for you to learn, train and connect with others!
Kitchen counters are covered with seed catalogs full of gorgeous photos tempting both gardeners and produce growers to order more seeds or try new varieties.
Farms are signing up new members for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and farmers market managers are signing up new vendors for their summer market season.
Trainers & Educators are offering workshops, classes and consultations to help farmers learn new skills before the busy Spring planting season begins
Email inbox are full of announcements for upcoming webinars and conferences to attend to learn new skills and perspectives about sustainable agriculture, and network with others to explore new opportunities and challenges within our food system.
Whether you want to plan to grow new vegetables in your garden, learn how to make your farm more profitable, or connect with other local food farmers, entrepreneurs and advocates across our region to build collaboration and collective action, check out these upcoming local food and farming opportunities to plan, learn & network.
With so many great workshops, conferences and training opportunities available this time of year, this list is certainly incomplete. Please share information about other upcoming opportunities with us, so we can share them, as well.
Remember that the application deadline for our Local Food Scholarships has been extended to March 31, so please apply if we can help you cover registration, lodging and/or travel costs to participate in any of these programs.
Upcoming Virtual & In-person Workshops, Trainings and Conferences
February Events:
Indiana Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Webinar series - February 1 to March 1
This Online series is hosted by Indiana horticulture association, Purdue University Departments and Purdue Extension and covers a variety of topics related to fruit and vegetable production.
Urban Farming Signature Program - February 3 - March 17 6-9pm,
Offered by Allen County Purdue Extension. Registration deadline is January 30.
Annie’s Project: Farming in Indiana’s Cities and Urban Fringes - February 7, 14, 21, 28 and March 7 and 14
Hosted by Purdue Extension both virtually and in person. This 6-week course is an interactive workshop to empower women in agriculture.
Indiana Farmers Market Forum - February 8 - 9, 10am - 3pm both days. Virtual Meeting
This annual conference hosted by the Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice is for farmers market managers, vendors and farmers
Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference - January 25-February 10, Virtual daily lunch hour sessions, 12-1pm.
This conference is hosted by the Indiana University Sustainable Food System Science Dept. The theme is Healing Perspectives and Practices in the Food System. Discussion topics include: Food as Medicine, Trauma-informed Nutrition Security and Updating the Narrative about Food and Farming in Indiana.
Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association (OEFFA) Conference - Virtual Event - February 12 with Keynote Speaker, Mary Hendrickson
OEFFA In-person Conference Event - February 17-19, 2022, Dayton, OH, with Keynote Speaker, Francis Thicke
This theme of this 2022 sustainable food and farm hybrid conference hosted is “Rooted and Rising”.
Indiana Grown for Schools Webinar - History of Black Land Loss - February 16, 12-1pm.
Beginning Farmer Workshop - February 23 - April 6
Offered by Allen County Purdue Extension. Registration deadline is February 18
Soil Health in High Tunnels - February 18, Virtual Microbial Ecology Workshop
Michiana Regional Seed Swap - February 19, 10am-2:30pm, In Person Event
This year’s seed swap will be held at Goshen College and features three education sessions, vendors and resource tables, and community seed tables.
Indiana Black Loam Conference - February 26, 8am - 3pm, In Person Event
The conference will be held at Purdue University Fort Wayne. It is hosted by Human Agricultural Cooperative, Legacy Taste of the Garden, Indiana Association of Soil Water Conservation Districts and Purdue University Extension and will provide rich information to grow BIPOC and Underserved producers.
March Events:
Indiana Small Farm Conference - Dates to be determined
Purdue Extension recently decided to pivot and reorganize this conference into an Online Webinar Education Series to be held during the month of March. More details coming soon.
Soil Health in High Tunnels - March 18, Virtual Pepper Production Workshop
Indiana Grown for Schools Webinar - Understanding Barriers to Equity within Farmers Markets - March 23, 12-1pm
April Events:
Soil Health in High Tunnels - April 1, Virtual Farmer Roundtable
Soil Health in High Tunnels - April 18-22, In-person Regional gatherings
Indiana Grown for Schools Webinar - Highlighting Farm to Early Care and Education - April 20, 12-1pm
On-going Training and Testing for Urban Farmers & Gardeners
Urban Soil Health Program from the USDA - NRCS and the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts seeks to improve soil health in Indiana’s urban and small-scale farms.
This program aims to reach new and underserved growers such as backyard farmers and gardeners, church gardens and small-scale farms in or near towns. If you have questions about soil tests and sampling, cover crops, crop management, high tunnels or even container gardening, this program can provide the technical assistance you need.
Contact: Jamie Perry, Northeast Region Urban Soil Health Specialist with the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts at jamie-perry@iaswcd.org or (260) 739-9382 (cell)
Jamie Perry
FREE One-on-One Technical Consulting for Small Farms
covering Food Safety & FSMA regulations
Through a generous grant from the Indiana Farmers Union, farmers can learn:
IF your farm is qualified exempt under FSMA regulations and what that means.
WHAT forms and financial records are required to document and prove qualified exemption.
Top produce safety violations identified on small produce farms in 2021.
Any other food safety topic or issue you are working on at your farm.
Contact: Nathan Boone, Certified PSA Food Safety trainer / organic ag consultant booneorganics@gmail.com or (317) 800-2516. Consultations and Farm visits are FREE and include travel and all consulting time and are scheduled on a first come first served basis.
Nathan Boone