HOMEsweetFARM"s Market Growers Symposium

What are people saying about the Symposium?

"It was like Boot Camp for Vegetable Growers!!!"

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Grower's Market Symposium. The topics were informative, the Q&A sessions enlightening, and the on site farm demos/talks truly instructive. Your guest speakers were terrific from the perspective of the information they presented and how they presented it. They were delightful people, which just goes to show you that folks who are in touch with the land are something special... You have provided a great service to people looking to make their living through sustainable small family farming operations. I can hardly wait to see how quickly this movement starts picking up steam. Back to the farm y'all!" - Cecilia Nasti, Radio Show Host, Growing Concerns

"Thanks to everyone that put together the symposium. We are energized and excited about the upcoming season. We learned more than we expected
and met some great people." - Tony

"Thanks Brad and Jenny. I really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and experience, many people would keep their experience close to their chest as a competitive edge. Your enthusiasm is infectious... I attend many conferences' and seminars and usually glaze over about halfway
through but yours was gripping and every aspect valuable... Through your love of the land, enthusiasm and passion for what you are doing your dreams are coming true."

Thanks so much for opening your farm to all of us. Letting us see the real thing! We love you for sharing your successes and a few of your seasonal mishaps. I loved the tours of the farm the best........and the discussion of your CSA farm you and Jenny did. You both have a great sense of humor and wonderful farm stories. I hated to see that workshop end." - Ronny and Pamela, Rose Creek Farms

It was a great symposium... Thank you Brad and Co. for your work. Getting together needs to happen more often. - Glen

It was an awesome treat to come see how a successful operation works. Thank you for opening up your farm and hearts to us, Brad and Jenny. With more of this networking, we can DO IT - feed our communities. - Marie Tedei, Eden's Garden

"You and Jenny organized a GREAT market symposium. The site of all those participants was completely awesome! I was amazed at the diversity of the group.....students, seasoned growers, young families, and from all around. I'm sure this isn't the last of the symposiums." - Tatum Evans, The Pearl Brewery Farmers Market Manager

"Although [we] are not yet commercial growers, seeing your farm and feeling the energy and enthusiasm of everyone in the room, might just be the boost we needed to start plowing up the field in front of the house." - Simon & Ann, Industry, TX

Do not miss this or future events!

Call 979-251-9922

Email info@homesweetfarm.com

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Due to our busy schedule this year we will not be planning our Symposium in 2011. However, we are working on releasing audio files from our past Symposiums. Over 30 hours of instruction. Stay tuned and join our Email Newsletter for updates.

Join the TX MARKET GROWERS Discussion Group: To continue with networking, technical support and overall discussions on growing for market, we have created the TX Market Growers discussion group. Please join the group to meet others in the pursuit for small family farming and successfully growing food for our local communities. CLICK HERE >>

Hosted by: HOMEsweetFARM

Past Symposium in 2010

Brenham, TX

Get ready for your best season!

Join us for this two-day event designed to help new and experienced growers get the job done. Network and meet with experts in the field for technical discussions and then experience a hands-on farm tour to deepen your understanding. Lunch includes seasonal surprises prepared by some of the leading Texas chefs promoting local food…

Network and get connected! Market Managers and Distributors can recruit new farmers, expand your local food market and buy direct from family farms in the community.

Classroom sessions with technical discussions on diversified vegetable farming, disease and pest controls, propagation techniques, marketing, variety selection and more from experienced experts in the field.

Technical Farm Tour at HOMEsweetFARM, a 22 acre diversified CSA vegetable farm serving the Austin and Houston area. Hands-on applications covering horse power on the farm, greenhouse production, bed preparation, soil amendments, cover crops, rotational grazing, irrigation, equipment, planting techniques, distribution, customer care and much more.

Do not miss this unique event!

For more information: Call 979-251-9922 Email info@homesweetfarm.com

“Clearly, our present ways of agriculture are not sustainable, and so our food supply is not sustainable. We must restore ecological health to our agricultural landscapes, as well as economic and cultural stability to our rural communities.” - Wendell Berry & Wes Jackson

Past Speakers:

Larry Butler – Local food pioneers, Larry and Carol Ann Sayle own and operate the infamous Boggy Creek Farm which includes a 5 acre urban farm in Austin,TX as well as a rural 40+ acre farm near Gause, TX. Boggy Creek Farm produces certified organic vegetables sold at their popular farm stand in Austin (5 miles from downtown), to local chefs and to Whole Foods.

Steve Divers - Ag Consultant/Researcher, Sustainable Growth Texas (SGTX), Granger, TX. Steve moved to Texas to work for SGTX three years ago. Prior to that he was a Senior Agriculture Specialist with ATTRA for 18 years. SGTX is a Texas service company that helps farmers and landowners (pastures, prairies, orchards, vineyards, and market gardens) develop natural growing systems that emphasize LIFE in the soil and nutrient dense foods.

Ben Godfrey - Powered by horses, Ben and his wife Alysha own and operate Sand Creek Farm near Cameron, TX. The first Grade A Raw Cow Dairy in Texas, producing beef, pork, eggs, cheese and dairy, selling direct to the public at their farm stand and at a Monthly Farmers Market.

Leslie McKinnon -

Dr. Joe Novak – Senior Lecturer, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Specialist in vegetable production, Dr. Novak's area of research is sociohorticulture with special emphasis on the garden and the interaction of plants and man. With his students, Dr. Novak manages a 2.5 acre garden on campus displaying both organic and conventional techniques.

Brad Stufflebeam – Founder and Janitor for the Market Growers Symposium, Brad and his wife Jenny own and operate Home Sweet Farm in Brenham, TX. Serving Austin and the Greater Houston area with a CSA program, A Local Food Delivery Network and Monthly Market Days on their farm, Brad is the past president of the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Assoc. and has been a professional grower in Texas for over 19 years.

Past Chefs:

Lunch includes seasonal surprises prepared by some of the leading Texas chefs promoting local food…

Thursday: Joe Apa of T’afia restaurant and Plum Easy Kitchens, Houston, TX

Friday: Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due, Austin, TX

Location:

Classroom Sessions: Latium/Greenvine/Wesley Volunteer Fire Dept.   12255 FM 389, Burton, TX   Click for a map >>

Technical Farm Tour:   HOMEsweetFARM   7800 FM 2502, Brenham, TX   Click for a map >>

CARPOOL INFORMATION: Join the discussion group to share a ride.

BECOME A SPONSOR FOR THIS EVENT, click here

Accommodations:
The following hotels and B&Bs are within reasonable distance to the event:

LINKS to B&Bs >>       LINKS to Hotels >>

Past Program Schedule:

Thursday, Mar. 11th

8 am

Registration

Sessions begin at the Volunteer Fire Dept.

8:30

Welcome

Brad Stufflebeam

9 am

The Soil Food Web -- Understanding How it Works
Steve Divers
Each of the Ten Principles of the Soil Food Web is stated in a concise sentence then followed by an explanation with photos and diagrams.

10:30

On-Farm Soil Biology Practices -- From Cover Crops to Compost Teas
Steve Divers
Let's review some practical ways to enhance soil biology and foodweb functioning on your farm: cover crops, mulches, composting, compost teas, microbial concoctions, and more.

12 pm

Lunch

Chef Joe Apa – t'afia and Plum Easy Catering, Houston

A seasonal surprise lunch

1:30
TBA TBA

3 pm
Organic Certification Leslie McKinnon

5 pm

Closing

Friday, Mar. 12th

8:30

Registration

Sessions begin at the Volunteer Fire Dept.

9 am

Growing Vegetables for Market

Dr. Joe Novak

This talk will cover the cropping seasons for vegetables in the Brazos Valley and some of the keys to success in growing vegetables and some fruits. Techniques mentioned will put emphasis on organic crop production. With a special focus on warm season production, several crops will be covered in this talk so that the grower would be able to produce and market 12 months of the year. Novak has grown many vegetables and fruits for nearly 30 years on the TAMU campus in College Station and will share his insights from this experience.

12:00

Lunch

Chef Jesse Griffiths - Dai Due, Austin

A seasonal surprise lunch

1 pm
Practical Tools for the Small Farm Larry Butler With 28 + years experience, Larry shares practical and innovative tools for the small family farm.

On the Farm

Caravan to the farm...

3 pm

Technical Farm Tour at HOMEsweetFARM

Walk the farm with Brad Stufflebeam and Dr. Novak followed by Ben Godfrey demonstrating horse power.

Discussing on farm details for fall production along with tractor and horse power demonstrations. Wear a hat and boots.

5 pm

Closing

Please wear working shoes, hats, gloves if necessary, and appropriate clothing for the weather. NO sandals please. NO Pets, NO Smoking.

Call 979.251.9922 email us here