DIGHTON, Mass. — With the spring planting season fast approaching, gardeners, farmers and anyone interested in fresh, locally produced food can learn more about the secrets of successful agriculture at the 10th Annual Agriculture and Food Conference.
The daylong event at Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St., Dighton, is Sunday, Feb. 26, featuring dozens of experts leading workshops in food-related topics – from beekeeping, soil stewardship and pest control to hydroponics, backyard organic farming and breeding goats.
The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and includes a light breakfast refreshments and full local lunch, along with dozens of vendor tables at the event’s Resource Fair, inside the school’s gymnasium.
Keynote speakers will be Megan Moniz and Jacob Dame, telling how their family farm, Arruda’s Dairy in Tiverton, R.I., has survived and evolved since it began operations 100 years ago.
Some popular workshops include: organic pest and disease management for urban farms; pest prevention on pears, apples and peaches; building trellises, germination tables and other gardening structures; setting up a hydroponic growing system; sustainable small-livestock management; basic butchery; fence-building; and matching local foods with the right wines. (3 pesticide credits available for farmers).
The conference, hosted by the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP), will also feature workshops for kids, including an introduction to honey bees and a tour of the Bristol Aggie farm.
To find out more about the workshops, speakers, and pricing, visit the SEMAP website, SEMAPonline.org.
–Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership
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