A chance for landowners, farmers and market gardeners to hear from those who have made the conversion of all or part of their farm to CSA; how they did it and what the pitfalls and benefits have been; and ask their own questions about conversion. Hear from four speakers about their different journeys to CSA: the opportunities and challenges, and why they chose to make the shift.

Every landscape holds a thousand secrets; of the damage done to it, of those who came before us and of the subtle energies which run through it, similar to the acupuncture meridians in a human body. None of these energies can be seen with the human eye but they all impact on the land, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as "geopathic stress”. The health, fertility and yield in cows has been shown to be affected…

Soil scientist, Dr. Karen Vancampenhout, tells us we need to stop thinking about soil as ‘brown stuff’. Although many of us engage with soil on a daily basis, sometimes we forget how important it is to stop for a moment and really appreciate its beauty. Participants will be invited to explore their personal relationship with soil, using mindful and sensory engagement, and considering how we connect with the systems underfoot that underpin and anchor our…

Palestinian farmer, Doha Asous, will speak about the challenges of farming under occupation. She will explain why, in the face of aggression and land grabs by illegal settlers, it’s even more important to tend her land and devote her time to a farming livelihood. Doha farms using the traditional techniques of her ancestors. For over a decade, she has hosted international volunteers who come to support her and other farmers to bring their olive harvest…

Other species are an essential workforce in the ongoing regulation of the Earth's global climate and regional weather systems. Plants, microbes, fungi, insects, and animals all have a role to play in local and global temperature regulation, cloud formation, rainfall, wind patterns, and the prevention of flooding, drought, and wildfires. Humans have overlooked this workforce in our historical land management, which has intensified climate change and its local effects. It's time to recognize that we…

A presentation of the process of preparing a sample and a practical view of what can be seen in a microbially rich compost. We'll be sharing our experience of 40 plus compost piles and how it relates to your soil. During the session we will demonstrate how to prepare a microscopy slide for viewing and will run through many fields of view in search of fungi, bacteria, protozoa and nematodes. We will bring samples of…

This presentation will explore working and environmental conditions at the bottom of the corporate supply chain. Wage workers are often at the sharpest edge of the exploitative practices of corporate food systems that aim to extract wealth from both the land and the people that work it.Catherine McAndrew

The native ponies of Wales are in decline. They live in many landscapes including coasts, moors, marshes and mountains that provide a range of socio-ecosystem services. These services include supporting (e.g. biodiversity), provisioning (grazing), regulating (flood prevention) and cultural services.

Farming is fabulous, but it is not only hard work, it is also frustrating to be a farmer in these challenging times.