Tag Archives: Growing Local

Lowndes County next year: SoGa Growing Local & Sustainable Conference


Janisse Ray starting the conference
This year’s

SoGa Growing Local & Sustainable Conference
was a satisfying success, and next year it moves to Lowndes County.

Not only did 260 people sign up, but
all the sessions were well-attended, and
everybody seemed to learn something new, from hoop houses to solar power, from hands-on
workshops to all-hands plenary sessions.
Of course the food was excellent.
You can get a hint from this picture of Janisse Ray opening the conference;
the food in the foreground is on the snack tables (ah, the honeycomb!).
Then there were the meals, potluck by and for a conference-full of foodies.

In 2011 about 50 people came to the first one in Tifton.
In 2012, about 150 people went to Reidsville.
In 2013, about 260 people signed up, also for Reidsville, Tattnall County,
to learn what it takes
to grow local sustainable food here below the gnat line
in this longleaf pine land of tea-colored rivers, acid soil,
and rich gardening traditions.

As Janisse Ray wrote on the

facebook event
for this year’s conference:


Gretchen Quarterman on preserving foods

SoGa Growing Local 2014 will be held in Valdosta, GA. Gretchen
Quarterman will be the lead organizer. We’ll be keeping you posted
on the date so you can put it on your calendars now. (We may do a
mini version in Tattnall in 2014.)

More later on what happened at this year’s conference,
and more as it develops on next year’s conference.
So far, many local farmers, civic and business organizations,
and local governmental bodies have offered to help, and Gretchen is forming an organizational committee.
Stay tuned!

-jsq

SoGa Growing Local & Sustainable Conference

I think this is the third year of a fascinating conference
that started when some people in south Georgia realized
nobody else was going to talk about what it takes
to grow local sustainable food here below the gnat line
in this longleaf pine land of tea-colored rivers, acid soil,
and rich gardening traditions. -jsq

Red Earth Farm

Janisse Ray present:


SoGa Growing Local & Sustainable Conference

A day-long, information-rich, action-packed, affordable
conference designed to get you healthier and save you money.



facebook event

When and Where:

9AM to 6PM, Jan. 26, 2013

Tattnall County High School,

Highway 23/57 South,

(1 Battle Creek Warrior Blvd)

Reidsville, GA 30453

Registration:

PDF,
Word

$30 before Jan. 15;

$45 afterwards.

Includes lunch.

Many do-it-yourself workshops in homesteading and country living:
mushroom culture, beekeeping, backyard chickens, soil-building,
small fruit production, economics, gardening for wildlife,
charcuterie, natural cleaning, fermentation, herbs on the menu,
natural cleaning & body care products, making jams & jellies,
vermiculture, weed management, marketing, everything you need to
know about small farming. Ladies Homestead Gathering, seed-saving.
And so much more….

Conference actually starts on Friday with a
potluck, reading & a showing of the film “Grow.”

For more information see Registration on the left here,
or email redearthfarm at yahoo.



Gretchen Quarterman will be giving a workshop at the Growing Local
conference: Beginning lesson on home made jams and jellies. What
you’ll need (not much) to start making delicious sweets from fruits
that are easily available.



Inspirational gardener & naturalist Ellen Corrie of Tifton, Ga. will
be teaching a workshop on Gardening for Wildlife at the Growing Local
conference Jan. 26. This presentation will look at how gardening
for wildlife makes your garden (whatever size) healthier and helps
restore habitat and preserve biodiversity. There’ll be an overview of
factors which need to be considered to attract and keep any wildlife or
beneficial general. I’ll focus on pollinators and specific practices
and plants to attract them. — with Leeann Drabenstott Culbreath
and Dan Corrie.



Albert Kipple Culbreath will be teaching a Mushroom-Growing Workshop
at the conference. Inoculation and care of logs for production of
shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Will include information on where to
obtain supplies, how to handle logs, which type logs to use, care
for the logs, and culinary uses. Sign up now. — with Leeann
Drabenstott Culbreath.