2024 Conference
About the Conference
CT NOFA is proud to present our 42nd Winter Conference, featuring a series of virtual workshops on March 20-21 in the lead up to our full day, in-person gathering and celebration on March 23, 2024 at Eastern Connecticut State University, in partnership with their Institute of Sustainability.
We'll be offering a variety of workshops, covering topics such as farming, seed saving, organic land care, community food security, social justice issues, and more, including a keynote address by Maya van Rossum, founder of the Green Amendments for the Generations organization. Our in-person celebration will also feature the presentation of the Bill Duesing Organic Living on the Earth award and our members' annual meeting.
Join us this March as we learn, grow, innovate, and think critically about what we want our food system to look like in the future.
Conference registration includes access to all virtual and in-person sessions, as well as exclusive access to all recordings for 3 months after the event.
This year, we will continue to implement a sliding scale pricing model, allowing us to practice economic solidarity while providing mutual support for the cost of our programs. In this way, we make our education more accessible and help cover costs of operation. Choose the pricing tier that fits with your income and access to wealth, and help us create a more just, inclusive, and equitable conference. Scholarships are still available thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. If you would like to request a registration fee waiver, please click here.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MAYA VAN ROSSUM
Maya K. van Rossum is the Founder of Green Amendments For the Generations, a grassroots non-profit organization inspiring a nationwide movement to secure constitutional recognition and protection of environmental rights in every state and ultimately at the federal level. van Rossum is also the Delaware Riverkeeper, leading the watershed based advocacy organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, for over 30 years in its efforts to protect the health of the Delaware River and its tributaries.
A skilled activist, attorney, strategist, and community organizer, she has testified multiple times, by invitation, before US Congressional Committees; was named among Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 in 2019 and one of the “10 Most Influential People of 2015” When It Comes to Energy Issues by SNL Energy; is the recipient of the 2022 PA Interfaith Power & Light Visionary Award, the 2020 River Hero by River Network, and the Giraffe Hero award, given to those who have the courage to stick their necks out for the common good.
Maya van Rossum will discuss a new and inspirational tool for environmental preservation, one that will provide a new way of thinking about and pursuing environmental protection from both a policy and legal perspective.
THE BILL DUESING ORGANIC LIVING ON THE EARTH AWARD
This award is for a recipient who has demonstrated the advancement of organic living on our earth with a project, innovation, action, or lifestyle that supports the continuation of the life work of Bill Duesing – for all to live on this earth in a society in harmony with nature. The accomplishment must contribute to the advancement of organic living in Connecticut in a demonstrable way and be a current or recent accomplishment that reflects Bill’s devotion to organic living and his wish that this critically important work be continued by his friends and colleagues. Award recipients can be one of the following:
- Organic farmer/farm (example: added new revenue sources to secure the farm’s future; expanded availability of organic food in the community; added carbon sequestration measures on his farm, e.g. cover-crops, no-till)
- Organic land care professional/business (example: transitioned from conventional to organic land care; added carbon sequestration measures, e.g. replacing lawn with meadow, etc.)
- Organic advocate (example: spearheaded a change in their local school system, or worked to promote organic legislation, supported healthy soil legislation)
- Organization (example: farmers market became 100% organic; the advancement of farmworkers’ rights; created organic-based social media group)
- Educator (example: developed new ways to add organic food and agriculture to school curriculum)
- Mentor (example: developed process for passing along organic knowledge and skills to new farmers or land care professionals)
ATTENTION FARM WORKERS!
You might be eligible to receive a $600 payment at the CT NOFA winter conference!
The New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA) is working with the Hispanic Federation to distribute one-time $600 payments to farm workers who worked on food-producing farms in Connecticut during the covid-19 pandemic. NCTFA will be tabling at this year’s CT NOFA winter conference to help folks apply for this money. Learn more here.
Join us after the conference for food, drink, and the New Connecticut Farmers Alliance famous Cabbage Moth Story Hour! Farmers are invited to take the stage and share a farm-related story: the time you had to chase your chickens across town, your craziest farm injury, your moment of agricultural inspiration, etc. Time limit is 8 minutes.
This gathering will take place at the Windham Textile Museum — a short drive from Eastern’s campus: 411 Main St., Willimantic CT, 06226
Throughout the in-person Saturday session of CT NOFA’s Winter Conference we will have our Soil Health table set up, with videos showing soil samples from local farmers. We will also have information available for CT NOFA’s 2024 Microscopy Training course. Come talk with us about this exciting new program, which includes a microscope and all the materials you need to see the life in your own soil and compost.
Conference News & announcements
New Connecticut Farmer Alliance to Host CT NOFA Winter Conference After-Hours Social Event
Join us after the conference for food, drink, and the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance famous Cabbage Moth Story Hour! Farmers are invited to take the stage and share a farm-related…
2024 Workshops in Spanish / 2024 Talleres en español
Our 2024 winter conference will feature a number of workshops in Spanish. Click on any of the workshops, below, for more information, or click here to view all the workshops…
NCTFA and the Hispanic Federation to Provide Relief Payments to Farm Workers at CT NOFA Winter Conference
ATTENTION FARM WORKERS! You might be eligible to receive a $600 payment at the CT NOFA winter conference! The New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA) is working with the Hispanic Federation to…
Maya van Rossum Announced as 2024 Winter Conference Keynote Speaker
CT NOFA is excited to announce that Maya van Rossum will be the Keynote Speaker for our 2024 Winter Conference. Maya van Rossum is the Founder of Green Amendments For…