Festival 2013 Overview: Classes, Films and More (updated Feb 27)

Here’s an overview of the 2013 festival!   We hope you will consider buying a supporter pass if you are able, but remember the conference is offered by donation also so that it is available to everyone. Suggested donation is $5 per class, film, talk. It’s going to be a great time. 

(You may need to “refresh” your page to see changes if you have visited before.) 

All events take place at UA Global Campus on the Fayetteville Square. Map here.   When you arrive, check in at registration booth in street-level lobby. You will get a detailed program at check in.

Thursday, February 28

• After School Special—4:00-5:30 p.m. What’s on Your Plate - a fun-filled movie about where food comes
  from. The film follows two eleven-year-old city kids as they talk to food activists, farmers, new friends,
  storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates. This
  movie is free and open to the public – everyone welcome. This is a great film for kids, but adults will love it
  too. Donations gratefully accepted. A co-production with Apple Seeds, Inc.

• Evening—Films: Festival Starters 7 p.m. Truck Farm and 7:55 Fresh This showing of Fresh sponsored by the Fayetteville Chapter of The Weston A. Price Foundation.

Friday, March 1: Farmer Friday

One morning track designed for farmers and aspiring farmers. A second morning track for gardeners with some experience. Followed by a special keynote presentation of interest to both groups and and to water conservationists too.  Farmer Friday is offered by donation, with $20 suggested for the full day, but we want Farmer Friday available to all growers who are interested, so please come as you are!

• 9:00-9:30 Registration and Welcome: Street level Lobby

• Farmers Morning Session 1: 9:30 to 10:45—”How to Sell More” Lori Boatwright, Public and Media Coordinator, Fayetteville Farmers Market, and Nicki McNelly, Manager, Bentonville Farmers Market

• Farmers Morning Session 2: 11:00-12:00—”Small Farm Financing” Charlie Stockton, FORGE, Financing Ozark Rural Growth and Economy (forgeonline.com)

• Gardeners Morning Session 1: 9:30 to 10:45—“The Generous Garden: Designing Landscapes That Give As They Grow” with Leigh Wilkerson & “Backyard Fruit” with Guy Ames. 

• Gardeners ( & Growers welcome too)  Session 2: 11:00-12:00 — “Fundamentals of no-till gardening: start and run a garden or farm with no machine, high yields and great peace” with Patrice Gros. 

• 12 noon: Lunch and Conversation: Lunch provided by Ozark Natural Foods for full-day participants.

• Afternoon Keynote Session & Conversation: 1:00-4:00—“Planting the Rain: Principles, Practices, and Tips for Water-Harvesting Earthworks & more” Brad Lancaster, author  of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond.  (www.harvestingrainwater.com)  Food is virtual water – originating from the source of irrigation. Local, sustainable food is all the rage, but we can take it further by growing that food with local, sustainable water. This talk covers the growing of food using rainwater  for irrigation. Case studies include rain-fed greenhouses, dryfarming, backyard market gardens , and climate-appropriate plantings.

Friday Evening, March 1: Opening Night & Film Premieres!!

• Opening Reception sponsored by BHK Kafe and Arsaga’s at The Depot— 5: 30 p.m. Come and kick off the main festival with all of our friends, supporters, volunteers, teachers, and sponsors.  (This ticketed event is included in Foodie, Locavore, and Friend of the Farm Passes, or $15 per ticket)

• Farmer Friday:  FILM PREMIERE NIGHT starts at  7 p.m. Join us for the Arkansas premieres of Eating Alabama at 7 p.m.  and To Make a Farm* at 8:15. Two delightful new films, not to be missed, were the favorites of your Dig In! coordinators and are the highlight of our film series.  Included in supporters passes; suggested donation $5/film.

Saturday, March 2: The Big Day!

 Classes & Films Included in all Festival Passes or $5 suggested donation per session; seed swap and information/vendor fair are free. 

8-9 Registration & Coffee. Info & Vendor Fair Opens. Info/Vendor fair.

CLASS SCHEDULE:
9-10am Concurrent Class Session 1

1030-1130am Concurrent Class Session 2

1130-130p Lunch Break/ Vendor Fair/ Interest Group Roundtables/ FREE Community Seed Swap by Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition. 

11:30-12:30 Sponsored Tasting: Lean Green Gourmet. Visit their table in the Information & Vendor Fair
12:30-1:30 Sponsored Tasting: Greenhouse Grille Visit their table in the Information & Vendor Fair
12:00-1:00 Interest Roundtables: Community conversations, totally casual. Meet up with other folks who share your interests and share information.
•Lexicon of Food: What do the terms organic, local, locavore really mean? Farmer James Maginot of Beyond Organics Farm will moderate this discussion on the terminology of the food movement.
•Urban Gardening: Peter Nierengarten, Director of Sustainability and Strategic Planning for the City of
Fayetteville will moderate this conversation on the particular challenges and opportunities of growing within cities.
•Find Your Food: Local Markets, CSAs & More. Farmers Mariah and Ira of Summer Kitchen Farm will moderate this conversation on exploring options to eat more locally.

130-330p PUBLIC KEYNOTE PRESENATION: BRAD LANCASTER

Water-Harvesting Presentation: Turning Drains Into Sponges and Water Scarcity Into Water Abundance
This inspiring  presentation shares eight universal principles of water harvesting along with simple strategies that turn water scarcity into water abundance. They empower you to create integrated water-sustainable landscape plans at home and throughout your community. Rainwater harvesting is the process of capturing rain and making the most of it as close as possible to where it falls. You’ll see examples enhancing local food security, passively cooling cities in summer, reducing costs of living and energy consumption, controlling erosion, averting flooding, reviving dead waterways, minimizing water pollution, building community, creating celebration, and more.

3:30-4:00 Sponsored Tasting: Ozark Natural Foods Tasting table in the Information & Vendor Fair area (4th Floor).

400-500pm Concurrent Class Session 3

Saturday Evening—FESTIVAL FILMS: Make A Difference Night Films start at 6:30 King Corn (90 min) , 8:10 Big River (27 min) 8:40 Homegrown Revolution (14 min) (Included in all Festival Passes, or $5 per film suggested donation)