Over the past weekend, a number of us from FH King had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services organic farming conference (MOSES) in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. The conference ran Thursday through Saturday and provided dozens of educational seminars, networking opportunities, exhibitors, wonderful keynote speakers, delicious meals and a barrel of fun! Since we all attended different seminars and had different encounters we thought it best to each write a tidbit on our MOSES experience…
To check out more about MOSES and what went down visit: www.mosesorganic.com and click on the Organic Farming Conference.
The first session Friday morning ended up being the best seminar I would attend all weekend! It was titled “Getting Started with Pastured Poultry”, put on by Vince and Julie Maro of Coon Creek Family Farm. The session was a perfect mixture of the facts you need to know and entertaining personal stories. (They also have some incredibly cute photos on their website www.cooncreekfamilyfarm.com) Vince and Julie both seemed so incredibly passionate about what they were doing, and even more so enthusiastic about teaching others how to raise their own chickens and turkeys. I have been inspired and cannot wait to have land of my own! –Kimberly
In addition to the wonderful food and company, I most enjoyed Ken Meter's session on local food systems as the backbone of regional and community economics. His compelling case made me all the more pleased with the degree I'm seeking in food systems planning. Local food systems can make a real positive impact on rural economic development--just one more reason for us to move in this direction. – Rosa
So I was sitting there on Friday morning, listening to a farmer muse about the hidden beauty found in fungi. They are truly incredible creatures, so misunderstood, but one thing this farmer did understand about them is how to grow mushrooms, and tasty ones at that. He sang about shiitake, oyster, wine cap and others that make your frying pan sizzle and mouth water, giving me an idea for the garden...we should grow mushrooms! I can see it now--a late-fall harvest of succulent oyster mushrooms, blazing a beautiful orange in the October sunset and ready to go in the stir-fry. Anyway, the plan's in motion, so come on out to the garden if your inner mycologist is calling. For those interested, field & forest is where you can find more info on above mushroom farmer. – John
It was heartening and exciting to see so many young people at the conference. It shows the growing importance and interest we share in our food and environment. I'm a believer in the idea that we're going to need more farmers if we are going to reform our food system. The scale and type of farms will have many shapes and will necessarily be taking place in cities as well as rural areas. I am happy to be part of the revolution. – Leah
Something I appreciated about MOSES was the range of people in attendance and their respective styles. I know, a strange reflection on an organic farming conference. Though not exhaustive of those represented, I appreciated the diversity from the midwest farmers reminiscent from my rural Iowa upbringing- mesh seed-company hats, multi-tools on the belts, short sleeve button up plaid shirts with blue jeans and boots; To agri-businessmen with cell phones glued to their ear, pleated khaki pants and loafers. To Amish folks with their entire family of seven in attendance, wearing clothes they made themselves. To the other side of the spectrum of a younger generation, some not yet in their twenties...some with dread-locks, funky pants and hemp slippers. What was appreciative about these differences for me was that they were literally sitting down to eat together, sometimes at the same table and they were there for more or less the same purpose in spite of their differences. For whatever their specific reasons were, they were there because they believed that sustainable agriculture is the right direction for themselves, our country or the world to be heading in.
What is so encouraging about this is that throughout history, movements are most successful when people from various backgrounds can disregard their differences, and be unified under a common goal. The unification represented at MOSES last weekend signified the promise that sustainable agriculture has. If you are doing your part to support sustainable agriculture whether by how you farm, how you eat or how you vote...take heart because though it may now seem like a small percentage in comparison, there are many among you and the numbers are growing. – Mark