2013 MOSES ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Certifying the Organic Orchard: Perspectives from the Farm and Behind the Desk Maury Wills began working for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) in 1996 and is Bureau Chief of the Agricultural Diversification and Market Development Bureau where he manages the Department’s Organic Certification Program, and oversees the Fruit & Vegetable Promotion, and Farm to School Programs. Maury, his wife Mary and their children own and operate Wills Family Orchard, a 60 acre small-scale diversified farm near Adel, Iowa. The orchard business also includes an on-farm retail store and certified organic, licensed food processing kitchen.
Vegetable Crop Rotations for Nutrient Cycling and Disease Suppression Lori Hoagland received her BS and MS degrees in Natural Resource Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her PhD in Soil Science from Washington State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Specialty Crop Production Systems in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Her research focuses on identifying management practices that improve soil and crop health, and understanding the role of soil biology in agroecosystem processes. Atina Diffley is an organic consultant (Organic Farming Works LLC), educator, public speaker, and author of the 2012 memoir, Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works, widely acclaimed as "literature not lecture." She is the editor and designer of Roger Blobaum's Organic History Website, and a contributing author and lead trainer for Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Selling, Postharvest Handling and Packing Produce. From 1985 to 2008, she farmed and marketed with her husband Martin at the Gardens of Eagan, an urban-edge, organic vegetable farm, which he started in 1973 as one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest. For reflections, tips and decision-making tools subscribe to her on-line blog, What Is A Farm.
Weed-Control Equipment for Vegetable Farms Martin Diffley started the Gardens of Eagan, an urban-edge organic vegetable farm, on his 5th generation family land in 1973. One of the first certified organic vegetable farms in Minnesota, Martin has extensive experience in transitioning land to organic, innovative marketing, small and mid-size farm equipment, soil-based fertility, and organic weed and pest management. Martin now provides consulting services through Organic Farming Works LLC, owned with his wife, Atina.
Alternative Small Fruits Tom Galazen hails from NorthWind Organic Farm, which he has long operated, near Bayfield, in far northern Wisconsin. The off-grid farm offers numerous common and unexpected fruits, along with vegetables, grown without artificial sprays or chemical fertilizers. He is a board member of the Organic Tree Fruits Association (OTFA) and a MOSES farm mentor. Terry Durham became active in the organic farming movement in 1987 after 20 years of growing organic fruits and vegetables. In the last five years he has turned his attention to elderberries, raising the largest elderberry acreage in the United States and teaching others how to grow and harvest elderberries, as well as developing products under the River Hills Harvest label. Terry gives farm tours, tastings and sponsors Elderberry Mentoring Workshops at his elderberry plantation in Hartsburg, Missouri.
Ruth Genger is a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been learning about organic potato production from and with Wisconsin farmers since 2007. Ruth's research focuses on potato variety selection for organic production, and strategies to produce high quality seed potatoes organically. Amy Charkowski is a professor in the Department of Plant Pathology. Amy's research focuses on diseases affecting seed potatoes, and on bacterial soft rot pathogens of potatoes and other vegetables. Amy also directs the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program, which provides disease-free seed potatoes to Wisconsin growers. Chris Malek is a fourth generation potato farmer who has farmed organically since 2001. The Malek Family Stewardship Farm, located in Rosholt, Wisconsin, cultivates a wide variety of vegetables and specializes in a diversity of potatoes. Chris also serves as the cooperative administrator for the United Potato Growers Cooperative of Wisconsin. He worked as a potato agronomist for the global potato processor, McCain Foods, from 2000 to 2008. He holds a B.S. in agronomy from UW-River Falls and an M.S. in plant pathology from UW-Madison.
Scaling Up to Meet the Needs of Wholesale Markets Linda Halley has been growing organic produce since 1989. As co-owner of Harmony Valley Farm in Wisconsin, and later as General Manager of Fairview Gardens in California, she developed two distinctly different, highly successful CSA enterprises and marketed at two of the largest farmers’ markets in the country. Linda now manages Gardens of Eagan, an organic produce farm serving the Twin City natural foods retailers, owned by the Wedge Food Co-op, and host to the educational non-profit, Organic Field School. Linda was recipient of the MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year award in 2003. Rodrigo Cala is the owner of Cala Farms Origenes, LLC. Rodrigo has been a farmer both in Mexico, his homeland and here in MN. In 2005 following his dreams to own his own farm he joined the MN Food Association for support; there he participated and successfully completed the Farmer’s Training Program. In 2008 he was able to finally purchase his own farm, which is also organically certified since 2008. Cala Farm Origenes, LLC is located in the small agrarian community of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.
Innovative Irrigation Ideas for the Market Farm Chris McGuire has farmed with his wife Juli since 2003 at Two Onion Farm in Belmont, WI. They raise 5 acres of organic vegetables and fruit for sale to a 400 member CSA. David Van Eeckhout owns and operates Hog's Back Farm in Arkansaw, Wisconsin along with his wife, Melinda and their two children. They've been growing 6 acres of organic vegetables for their 175-member CSA since 2003, and are in the process of establishing native prairie on the 40 acres that surround their vegetable fields.
Cash Grain Crops at the Farmers' Market George Wright first grew his own crop of oats with his father when he was in 4H at the age of 13. Who knew that oats would become his main cash crop 30 years later. For the last 20 years he has been growing grains organically and for the last six years has been selling them at his local farmers' market. He farms in the City of Ottawa, about 2 hrs north of Lake Placid, NY.
Identification and Control of Insect Pests in Vegetable Crops Paul Whitaker is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at UW Marathon County in Wausau, WI, where he has taught courses in botany, entomology, ecology, issues in organic agriculture, and more. In recent summers, he has mentored several undergraduate students conducting pest management research on organic vegetable farms. He is co-author of the UW Extension publication “Biological Control of Insects and Mites,” and is a frequent presenter on pest management and insect biology for Master Gardeners and other groups.
Managing Water and Fertility in the Hoophouse Adam Montri is a hoophouse outreach specialist at Michigan State University where he works with farmers throughout Michigan on vegetable production, marketing, and economics. He and his wife, Dru, along with their two daughters own and operate Ten Hens Farm in Bath, MI where they farm year-round in hoophouses and the field. John Biernbaum is Professor of Horticulture at Michigan State University, where he teaches courses in greenhouse management, organic farming principles and practices, organic transplant production, compost production and use and passive solar greenhouses. He does research and farmer/community outreach on use of high tunnels and compost for year-round diversified organic farming and urban agriculture.
Time and Labor Saving Equipment for the Vegetable Farmer Josh Volk owns and operates Slow Hand Farm CSA just outside of Portland, Oregon. The farm is a part time, hand scale, one man operation providing very small vegetable shares to individuals in the city, year round. In his spare time he writes articles for Growing for Market, consults with other farmers in the US and Canada, and designs small tools for use around the farm. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering and has been working for vegetable farms around the country for the past fifteen years.
The Essential Tools: Capitalizing the Market Farm – The First Five Years Dan Guenthner, an outspoken advocate for small-scale sustainable farming, owns and operates Common Harvest Farm, along with his family, in Osceola, Wisconsin. 2009 marked their twentieth year of CSA farming. Mike Racette has been farming since 1992 at Spring Hill Community Farm, a 145-member CSA east of St. Paul in Wisconsin. He farms with his wife, Patty Wright, and their three children.
Growing Breakfast: Profitable Diversification for Market Gardeners George Wright first grew his own crop of oats with his father when he was in 4H at the age of 13. Who knew that oats would become his main cash crop 30 years later. For the last 20 years he has been growing grains organically and for the last six years has been selling them at his local farmers' market. He farms in the City of Ottawa, about 2 hrs north of Lake Placid, NY.
Local Foods on the Menu: Chef Panel Scott and Angie Taylor opened Pedal Pushers Cafe in 2005. A family friendly cafe featuring classic American cuisine, with an emphasis on quality ingredients soon led to a focus on locally sourced food. Meats, milk, and produce are sourced directly from local farmers and through suppliers. Macon Luhning has worked in the foodservice industry for over 17 years. In the last 10 years his focus has been working with fresh and local food. Macon now co-owns Rooted Spoon Culinary in Viroqua, WI. Rooted Spoon Culinary specializes in seasonal and local catering for on and offsite events. Micheal Dearing and Deb Morton own Driftless Depot, an Organic Market, Deli and Cafe in Spring Green, WI. Lifelong foodies and chefs and advocates of eating seasonally and from one's own garden or locally as possible. They are also organic and biodynamic market gardeners, selling to restaurants, including Odessa's l'Etoile in Madison, WI.
Organic Hops Production James Altweis is a horticulturist by education, obtaining his masters degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison focusing on energy balance within high value crop production. His time spent in commercial agriculture granted James years of experience in working with growers directly, understanding the practical and technical aspects of high value crop production as well as the business and financial side. The hops market underwent a large fluctuation in recent years and numerous brewers in the region were having difficulty securing the raw materials they needed. James knew that hops were once produced in Wisconsin and could be once again. James operates Gorst Valley Hops in Mazomanie, WI.
Transplant Production Systems Chris Blanchard owns and operates Rock Spring Farm, with fifteen acres of certified organic vegetable, herb, and greenhouse production north of Decorah, Iowa, where he has farmed since 1999. Prior to 1999, Chris managed student farms, worked as an intern, packing house manager, plant breeding assistant, and farm manager, and provided consulting for a major organic processor, in California, Wisconsin, Maine, and Washington state. Under the banner of Flying Rutabaga Works, Chris teaches workshops, writes articles, and works directly with farmers to develop systems that help them succeed in agriculture, business, and life.
Kenneth Mulder is Farm Manager and Research Associate at Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT. He is an ecological economist with ten years of experience with human- and animal-powered farming systems and currently heads up the Long-term Ecological Assessment of Farming Systems research project which compares the use of humans, animals, and fossil fuels for organic vegetable production.
Growing Seed Crops for the Upper Midwest Nash Huber founded Nash’s Organic Produce in 1979 and today farms about 400 acres organically. In addition to fruits and vegetables, he grows grains, seed, and some livestock, including hogs and chickens. He believes that soil is a living organism and if it is healthy, it will grow healthy plants. Therefore he relies on cover crops and compost to build soil fertility, and his livestock is free-range and pastured, adding to the nutrient cycle of the soils. John Navazio, Ph.D. is the Senior Scientist for Organic Seed Alliance and Extension Plant Breeding and Seed Specialist for Washington State University. John’s major duties with OSA include training farmers, university students and others in organic seed production and the fundamentals of participatory, on-farm plant breeding for organic systems. His breeding work includes increasing genetic breadth in a number of vegetable crops for their nutritional quality, flavor, texture, ability to scavenge nutrients, compete with weeds, and resist heat and drought. John develops participatory breeding projects with farmers across North America to improve crop germplasm for regional seed independence.
Growing Vegetable Crops for Nutrient Density Jon Frank is a soil consultant and an owner of International Ag Labs, a soil testing laboratory that specializes in helping growers produce nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.
Organic Sweet Potato Production Linda Halley has been growing organic produce since 1989. As co-owner of Harmony Valley Farm in Wisconsin, and later as General Manager of Fairview Gardens in California, she developed two distinctly different, highly successful CSA enterprises and marketed at two of the largest farmers’ markets in the country. Linda now manages Gardens of Eagan, an organic produce farm serving the Twin City natural foods retailers, owned by the Wedge Food Co-op, and host to the educational non-profit, Organic Field School. Linda was recipient of the MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year award in 2003.
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= Research Forum 
= New Organic Stewards 
= In Her Boots