A new conference is coming to Homer for Kenai Peninsula growers, farmers and garden enthusiasts.
The Southcentral Growers Conference will be held April 25 and 26 at Kachemak Bay Campus and is free for anyone to attend. The conference will feature classes and presentations “geared to inspire, educate and connect area growers in everything from building growing systems that weather climate fluctuations to building a smokin’ compost pile.”
Carey Restino is one of the conference organizers and a local grower in her own right, through her farm business, Homer Hilltop Farm. She said the goal of the conference is to bring together growers of all levels — from commercial farmers to homesteaders and backyard growers — and present them with topics they can learn from and be inspired by.
“We’ve got a great mix of local experts and nationally recognized presenters, so there’s really something for everyone,” she wrote in an email to the Homer News. “Southcentral Alaska has an amazing growing community — just look at the number of high tunnels in our region.”
Restino said organizers are excited to offer growers new ideas and inspiration. She hopes the conference will give people a chance to connect and share ideas.
Conference registration begins at 4:30 on Friday, April 25, at Kachemak Bay Campus. The two-day event will kick off with a “climate change roundtable” at 5:15 p.m., hosted by Kyra Wagner. The discussion will center around what systems area growers use to mitigate difficult weather conditions.
Sam Knapp of Offbeet Farm in Fairbanks will be the conference’s keynote speaker at 6:30 p.m. His presentation will focus on the “why and how” of growing and preserving winter storage crops in Alaska.
On Saturday, April 26, the conference will offer presentations on farm accounting with Julia Shanks of the Farmer’s Office; agritourism with Fat Sheep Farm; body mechanics for the physical farmer with Maggie Goedeke; soil health with Caley Gasch; a tool demonstration with Emily Garrity of Twitter Creek Gardens; and composting with Kyra Wagner.
The conference is free to attend. No registration is required, but organizers would appreciate RSVPs in order to plan for food. You can RSVP online. Many of the classes will be offered electronically for distance participants via Zoom.
You can find out more about the conference and classes, including a detailed schedule and Zoom registration links online at kbcgrows.com/southcentral-growers-conference.
Reach reporter Chloe Pleznac at chloe.pleznac@homernews.com.
