Veteran organic instructor Jerald Larson will talk about how to grow organic fruits at
South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
Jerry’s presentation will focus on blackberries, blueberries, figs and muscadine grapes. He will explain and demonstrate practical, low cost methods for trellising and pruning; soil and bed preparation; weed suppression, irrigation, and harvesting.
His conference bio: Continue reading
What the U.S. Department of Agriculture is doing about rural Georgia: Bryan Zulko will talk about that at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
I will go over a few initiatives I am currently working on, specifically the StrikeForce Initiative (persistent poverty 60 counties), SET (Stronger Economies Together), and the significance of RHIT (Rural Health Information Technology). In the 2nd part I will be discussing some of our funding programs, focusing on Rural infrastructure, local foods, downtown development, and essential community facilities.
His conference bio: Continue reading
All places on the bus are full for the Friday Farm Tours.
There’s still plenty of room at Pine Grove Elementary,
so remember to register for the Saturday Talks
at
South Georgia Growing Local 2014!
-jsq
Sharon Wagner, ex-Director, South Georgia House of Hope,
will talk about “His Tomato Girls” from Seed to Salsa, at
South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
Why we started an organic garden.
How we grew heirloom tomatoes.
What we have learned about ourselves in the process.
Her conference bio:
Sharon Wagner — Executive Director
Sharon’s background includes a 15-year addiction to cocaine which
she overcame in 1987 with the love of God and the discipline of Teen Challenge. While at the Walter Hoving home in New York, Sharon received a vision to provide a home for women — a place of safety and healing. In 2005, out of a passion to bring healing and freedom to women struggling with alcohol, drugs, and abuse, Sharon and her husband rick founded the South Georgia House of Hope here in Valdosta, Georgia. This began a journey of faith that will last a lifetime.
Sharon has personally experienced the healing power of organic foods as part of the recovery process. It is her desire to teach the ladies the importance of not only growing but also enjoying fresh and healthy food. This is an essential part of detoxification — replenishing nutrients that have been lost through years of drug and alcohol use. The organic garden at the House of Hope teaches the ladies how to work together as a team, while also building healthy minds and bodies.
Come to SOGALO2014 and hear Sharon Wagner talk about tomatoes and recovery!
-jsq
Janisse Ray wrote the book on seed saving, and will talk about that at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
From her book,
The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food,
“If you haven’t heard what’s happening with seeds, let me tell you. They’re disappearing, about like every damn thing else…. But I’m not going to talk about anything that’s going to make us feel hopeless, or despairing, because there’s no despair in a seed.”
Her book bio, with picture by Raven Waters: Continue reading
Four talks have moved locations or times:
Jerald Larson needed an earlier slot, so
Grow Your Own Organic Small Fruits has moved to 11:30 AM in Room 1.
Composting needs a room with a tile floor, so
Composting: Red Wigglers and Soldier Flies by John Horton
has moved to 3:15 PM in Commons.
A Walk with Dairy Goats: a lesson in humor and humility by Julia Shewchuk
has moved to 3:15 PM in Commons.
From Fabulous Natural Fibers to Flamboyant Fabric: the craft and art of hand spinning and weaving by Amy Brown
has moved to 11:30 AM in Room 2.
All these changes are in the revised schedule.
-jsq
The Vieths will talk about gardens that continue to grow season after season, at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
Permaculture is a regenerative and sustainable food production design system combining bio-mimicry with local food system knowledge. The scalability of permaculture lends itself applicable to everyone from beginner gardeners to seasoned farmers. Our presentation will focus on how we can apply permaculture principles to our homes and gardens, no matter the size of your space.
Their conference bios: Continue reading
Diane Howard will moderate a farmer panel, Growers Tell All: A Conversation with Experienced South Georgia Growers about God-Given Talents and 150+ Years of Growing, at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
With a combined 150+ years of experience as growers, these veggie veterans will interact with members of the audience sharing their stories which include the following: planting, harvesting, and preserving by the moon; rotating crop sites; fertilizing; controlling weeds and insects; saving seed for 50+ years; growing in containers; and using their talents and techniques of growing to help friends and 3 generations of family. Serving as a moderator for this discussion will be Diane Howard who works closely with individuals in South Georgia to promote growing their own food and oversees a large garden on her 5th generation family farm in Grady County.
Innis Davis and three of the children in his family who help with his very large backyard garden on Cherry Street, Valdosta.
Here are the panelists’ speaker bios: Continue reading
Amy Brown will talk about making fibers into fabric at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:
Her speaker bio: Continue reading
Hello again,
We are now nearly at the conference and I can hardly tell you how excited I am. I had a final walk through of Pine Grove Middle School and Farm this week and got all the details for accessing their technologies and the Internet.
Farm Tours will be Friday, January 24th, including
produce at
Raisin’ Cane,
door yard citrus at
Loch Laurel Nursery,
olive oil and trees at
Georgia Olive Farms,
and
Katahdin sheep at
Hound River Farm.
Conference talks will be Saturday, January 25th, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(Doors open at 8 a.m.) at Pine Grove Middle School,
4159 River Rd, Valdosta, GA 31605.
We will be able to tour
the hydroponic green houses at the school that day!
The
preliminary schedule is posted.
Most of our speakers are local (how lucky are we that we have this wealth
of talent in our community) and a couple from out of the have indicated
that they need a room. We have arranged
a discounted rate at two local hotels.
There is still plenty of room, so by all means, please continue to
invite those that you think will be interested in attending. The
Pine Grove Middle School is a lovely facility and we are lucky to be
able to use it.
Don’t forget to register!
-Gretchen