John Petari, CT NOFA Board Member talking with potential menber. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Confdrence 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
The Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA) held their 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at the Wilton High School in Wilton, CT. Nearly 800 participants came this year, including over 64 vendors and 55 workshops.
Many gathered beforehand for coffee and to catch up with old friends and new, the excitement generated was a buzz for the day ahead. The event was full of new ideas and ways to better their farming and gardening to make for a more sustainable earth. The atmosphere remained charged with energy as the day progressed.
Below is a review in photos of some, but certainly not all, of the highlights from this day long event. If nothing else keep in mind, as you review the photo essay, just how utterly complex the simple phrase “organic farming” truly is. Enjoy, and get engaged in this worthy mission.
CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013 logo. © CT NOFA. All Rights Reserved. Logo used with permission.
Registration, Coffee hour, Staff & Volunteers who assisted throughout the day.
l . to r. CT NOFA Staff: Teresa Mucci, Deb Legge, CAO, CT NOFA; Debbie Semonich, Kristiane Huber, Melissa Gabso; WHS Student Volunteers. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Organic Marketplace.
l. to r. Laura McKinney, Co-Owner of Riverbank Farm, Liz Piriczky. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Northfordy Farm Exhibitor.
Participant views the Northfordy Farm table. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup. All Rights Reserved.
Soluxe Energy Solutions Exhibitor.
l. to r. Matt Singer, Merri Yacenda, Soluxe Energy Soutions table. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Self Sustainable Living Workshop.
Wyatt W. Whitman, Self Sustainable Living Workshop. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Beekeeping Basic Workshop.
Marina Marchese, Beekeeping Basics Workshop. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™All Rights Reserved.
Audience at presentations for the CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013.
Audience presentations. CT NOFA Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™All Rights Reserved.
BettyLou Sandy, President, CT NOFA. Welcome!
BettyLou Sandy, CT NOFA President; CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Gail Lavielle, Connecticut State Representative.
Gail Lavielle, CT State Representative For Norwalk, Westport and Wilton CT. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Toni Boucher, Connecticut State Senator.
Toni Boucher, State Senator for the 26th district and Deputy Minority leader. Speaker, CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Janet Heller, Secretary, CT NOFA.
Janet Heller, CT NOFA Secretary; CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup.™ All Rights Reserved.
Bill Duesing, Executive Director, CT NOFA introduces keynote speaker.
Bill Duesing, CT NOFA Executive Director; CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Keynote Speaker, Dr. David W. Wolfe Ph.D.
Dr. David W. Wolfe Ph.D, Cornell University. Keynote Speaker, CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT on 3/2/13. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup. All Rights Reserved.
Remembrance group photo.
l. to r. Bill Duesing, CT NOFA Executive Director; Keynote Speaker, Dr. David Wolfe Ph.D., Professor of Plant & Soil Dept of Horticulture, Cornell University; BettyLou Sandy, CT NOFA President; John Petari. CT NOFA Board Member. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Lunch & Networking.
Lunch at CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Super Hero’s!
l. to r. Brain Reynolds, Chartwells, Director of Dining Services, Wilton Public Schools; James Hunter, WHS Physical Science & AP Environmental Science; WHS Organic Garden Organizer/Garden Adviser; CT NOFA Coordinator. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™All Rights Reserved.
Assortment of Fairfield County Restaurants were venders for the conference.
Lunch provided by one of the restaurants., Barcelona Restaurant. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Great Entertainment by Ken Coulson, Gatsby’s Green Light.
Ken Coulson, Guitar Player, Gatsby’s Green Light. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Deserts from Sugar & Olives, Cake Box & Swoon.
Jennifer Balin, Sugar Olives. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Cake Box & Swoon Dessert Table. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
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BettyLou Sandy shows the map of Community Farms and Farmer’s Markets
Bettylou Sandy, CT NOFA President. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™All Rights Reserved.
I LOVE my Trike! See, I even have my own License Plate!
Jesse Fink, Owner, Millstone Farm, on his Tricycle made for Millstone Farm by Workman Cycle Factory., The Nation’s oldest existing Bike Maker since 1889. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
An Edible Garden in Every School Workshop.
l. to r. Melissa Spear, Executive Director, Common Ground High School, Urban Farm & Environmental Learning Center; James Hunter, Wilton High School Physical Science & AP Environmental Science, Wilton High School Organic Garden Organizer/ Garden Adviser; CT NOFA Coordinator. Annie Farrell, Farmer, Millstone Farm. An Edible Garden in Every School Workshop. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Wilton High School Organic Garden Exhibitor.
l. to r. Ben Foodman, WHS Sophomore; Adam Toris, WHS Senior; Stephanie Hubli, WHS Senior; WHS Organic Garden table. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. March 2. 2013. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
National Organic Farmers Association Land Care.
Jenna Messier, NOFA Land Care Program Director. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. March 2, 2013. ©Mardi WelchDickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Audubon Greenwich Exhibitor
Jeff Cordulack, Education & Communications Manager Audubon Greenwich. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. March 2, 2013. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Thank You to each and every one of you for a successful Conference!
l. to r. Debora Sloane, CT NOFA Board Member, Howard Shafer, CT NOFA Treasurer Janet Heller, CT NOFA Secretary, John Petari, CT NOFA Board Member, Bill Duesing, CT NOFA Executive Director, Greg Hazelton, CT NOFA Board Member, Bettylou Sandy,CT NOFA President, Jane Maher, CT NOFA Board Member, Rosemary Mrretta, CT NOFA Board Member, Steve Munno, CT NOFA Board Member. CTNOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/ KymryGroup™ All Rights Reserved.
Electric Cultivating Tractor Workshop with David Blyn, Co-Owner, Riverbank Farm.
Electric Cultivating Tractor Workshop with David Blyn, Co-Owner, Riverbank Farm. CT NOFA 31st Annual Winter Conference 2013, Wilton High School, Wilton, CT, ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroup. All Rights Reserved.
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For more information about CT NOFA 2014 click here. The Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA)
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Thanks for capturing the spirit of the Conference. Wave Hill Breads.