ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 30 (Full)

Globally we are starting to see women step into roles traditionally held by men while staying true to their feminine values’. If so, what are these values? Moreover, does livestock farming, with its emphasis on the cycle of life - ie reproduction, birth, and the rearing of youngstock - require specific traits considered to be inherently ‘feminine’’? How are these balanced against the goal to achieve maximum yield and profit for the farm - objectives which could be considered more masculine?

Whole Health Agriculture has invited commercially successful female farmers to share their individual experiences before inviting the audience to participate in a series of fun and engaging exercises to explore the benefits of the feminine (and the masculine) in livestock farming.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

Join us for a practical workshop, sharing experience and knowledge on how to make the most of trees on farms. We explore design, tree choice and potential markets.

This is an opportunity for farmers and advisors to exchange ideas and experiences about which agroforestry practices have worked, or not, when planning and implement tree and shrub planting on farms. 

Two short presentations from people who've started out in agroforestry introduce this session, with a 'what I learned the hard way' focus. Following this, a more in-depth workshop explores the issues in a Q&A format with the panellists. The exact content will be led by participants but, as well as fundamental decisions such as choosing trees and design for your farm, topics covered are likely to include fencing, weed control and crop/livestock interactions with trees. 

The session is also an opportunity to highlight the work of our new Innovative Farmers agroforestry field lab, as well as the Fabulous Farmers Agroforestry Learning Networks.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

The Open Food Network (OFN) is a global community of people who are passionate about supporting communities to build short food supply chains and resilient food systems that address the needs of all beings. One of the services provided by this community is a platform co-op providing an open source IT infrastructure enabling new, ethical supply chains.

OFN has been deployed In 19 countries by networks of farmers, growers and community food enterprises. OFN supports the growth of the Network globally and since COVID has seen a rapid uptake around the world – particularly in the global South. Ultimately we would like OFN to be available to farmers and growers in every country.

We will hear from people in five countries about how OFN is revolutionising food systems in their country using this open source software collectively owned and developed by the people who use it. Participants from any country will be encouraged to ask questions and explore the possibility of using this open source system for their food producers to build their own food systems that not only give control back to the farmers and the eaters but build resilient, fair and sustainable food systems for future generations.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 100 (Full)

Are you thinking about applying to be a farmer with the Ecological Land Cooperative? Come to this Q&A session to get a better understanding of what’s on offer and meet the ELC team. We have plots available at our site in Cornwall and are actively seeking more land to create other farming opportunities. We are looking for passionate landworkers and ecological entrepreneurs to get started on our residential small farms. Some understanding of our model and entry requirements is important for this session so please take time to read the information available here.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 55

Are you a farmer, farm worker or grower? Do you believe there’s more we can collectively do, not just to produce great food, but also to nurture people, animals and the planet? Want to talk, share and listen? The Food Ethics Council is hosting a space for the farming community to share “what’s your beef?”, but also to identify the slivers of hope that have emerged from the pandemic.

Chaired by Helen Browning, farmer and Chief Executive of the Soil Association, in this workshop we will discuss the changes you are witnessing in farming, from the personal to the global. This will be a safe space to share concerns and reasons for optimism, so we can better support one other and navigate the path to a more sustainable future. At the start of a new era for farming, this is a chance to take stock of where we are (the stock could be beef, chicken or vegetable!) and the green shoots we can build on. The discussion will help guide the Food Ethics Council’s new three-year farming project. The path we take will be shaped by you.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

The community of Shashe in the central Masvingo province of Zimbabwe is home to 500 farming families. The agricultural calendar here is marked by four seasonal ceremonies and as well as many other rituals that celebrate the relationship of soil and water, that is key to their food sovereignty.

Shashe leader, Nelson Mudzingwa, says, “The soil is very important because every living organism is dependent on it. We were made of soil, live in the soil and walk on the soil. We build on the soil and we farm in the soil, and when we die we shall be returned to the soil. We are soil.” Water is also essential as “it is the blood of the soil and must flow within it, not above it. A living soil should be moist with life in it, allowing germination of plants and their growth. In our bodies water is also important as well as in all other living things that respire or transpire”.

Join Nelson Mudzwinga, La Via Campesina General Coordinator, Elizabeth Mpofu and Vongai Dube to talk about the spiritual beliefs that guide their farming practices.