1/23 @ 3:00pm – Keynote

Location: Hall Hall

This year’s keynote session will focus on the transformative role food hubs play in strengthening local food systems, fostering community connections, and creating equitable opportunities for farmers and consumers alike.

Food hubs play a pivotal role in connecting farmers to markets, building community, and fostering sustainable food systems. This session explores how food hubs operate, their impact on local economies, and the ways they support farmers and consumers alike.
Through stories and insights, learn about the challenges and successes of running a food hub and how they can serve as models for strengthening local food networks. Whether you’re a farmer, consumer, or advocate, discover how food hubs can transform the way we grow, distribute, and access food in Alabama and beyond.

Pat Hall (Mobile Urban Growers)
Gabe Denton (Mobile Urban Growers)
Andrew Williams (Deep South Food Alliance)
Shirley Louis (Deep South Food Alliance)
Darrell McGuire (Deep South Food Alliance)
Kristin Woods (Tuskegee University, Carver Integrative Sustainability Center)

Facilitators: Marie MacGruder & Arlo Pate

Mobile Urban Growers is a network of community gardeners and urban farmers committed to growing and maintaining gardens in and around Mobile, Alabama and to increasing access to fresh produce for everyone. We pool our resources, knowledge, and labor to make this vision a reality. There are over 20 gardens and farms in MUG’s network.

Deep South Food Alliance (DFSA) is a network of organizations, producers, and aggregators in southeast, central, and west Alabama and eastern Mississippi. Organized in 2012, DSFA is a coalition of individuals and organizations across the Black Belt who share a guiding objective: to advance historically disadvantaged rural communities by supporting agriculture economies, particularly low-resource smallholder farmers of color. Led by project director Andrew Williams, CEO of the United Christian Community Association (TUCCA), DSFAharnesses the specialties, infrastructure, and local networks of member organizations to provide training, technical assistance, and market connections to more than 100 smallholder farmers in the region it serves.

1/23 @ 7:00pm – Presentation

Location: Hall Hall

There is no doubt that we are in a time of maximum stress- our nervous system has not had time to evolve the coping mechanisms for the 24/7 onslaught of information, notifications, and bright flashing screens. Add to this climate restabalization and a farmer’s dependence on the benevolence of Mother Nature and it’s no wonder we see so many farmers moving to other careers. But what if you could grow crops to help yourself and others foster a more resilient nervous system? The great new is the plants are here to support us! In this lecture we will cover some of my favorite easy to grow plants for nervous system strengthening, how to grow them, their herbal virtues and benefits, and how to preserve their medicine. Plants discussed will include holy basil, milky oat, and skullcap. So come sip a cup of nervous system restoring, ecosystem restoring, locally grown tea with us while we chat!

In a world of constant stress—from the demands of technology to the unpredictability of climate shifts—farmers face unique challenges to their well-being. But what if the land you tend could also nurture your nervous system?

Join this lecture to explore easy-to-grow plants that support nervous system health, including holy basil, milky oat, and skullcap. Learn how to grow, harvest, and preserve their medicinal benefits while fostering resilience for yourself and your community. Enjoy a cup of locally grown, nervous-system-restoring tea as we discuss how these plants can help restore balance in both body and ecosystem.

Joanna Mann
Trevor Mann

We are the owners and operators of Walden Farmacy, a small scale permaculture style herbal medicine farm located in Bessemer, Al.

1/24 @ 9:00am – Presentation

Location: Hall Hall

Urban agriculture offers tremendous opportunities, but degraded soils pose a major challenge. This interactive workshop will dive into the most common soil issues affecting urban agriculture such as soil contamination, compaction, and nutrient depletion, all of which limit food production in urban environments.

In addition to identifying the challenges, this workshop will also highlight solutions. We will showcase Atlanta’s Grows-A-Lot Program, an innovative initiative that provides urban growers with access to underutilized city land, while working to improve soil health and fertility.

Participants will learn about practical strategies and will have the opportunity to engage in group discussions, share their own experiences, and explore collaborative ways to address these challenges in their own urban agricultural projects.

Khadejah Scott-Price

Crop scientist specializing in sustainable agriculture and environmental education, distinguished by a robust background in non-profit management, community engagement, and technical assistance.

1/24 @ 9:00am – Demonstration

Location: Roger’s Kitchen/Mark’s Farm

Join the Schoolyard Roots team for a hands-on journey through the joys of cooking with fresh, local produce! In this interactive, hands-on session, we’ll guide participants through three fun and approachable stations, each featuring one of our favorite kid-approved recipes. Designed for young cooks in grades K-5, these activities introduce kids to essential cooking skills and flavor combinations, building their confidence and enthusiasm for fresh vegetables and herbs.

At each station, we’ll share practical tips and classroom-tested strategies for involving kids in food prep, encouraging tasting, and adapting recipes to suit a variety of ages and preferences, including tips on how to set up a mobile kitchen anywhere. Discover the power of experiential learning and how hands-on cooking can deepen kids’ connections to their food, reinforce classroom lessons, and inspire lifelong healthy habits. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or food enthusiast, you’ll leave this session with fresh ideas and inspiration to cultivate culinary curiosity in young learners!

Nicole Dugat (Schoolyard Roots)

I’m the Executive Director of a garden-education non-profit called Schoolyard Roots based in Tuscaloosa, AL. Founded in 2010, Schoolyard Roots cultivates curiosity and connections through hands-on learning gardens. Located at 12 Tuscaloosa-area elementary schools, our gardens serve as outdoor learning labs where every year over 4,280 elementary-aged students connect with nature, engage in hands-on discovery, and relate their learning to real-world concepts. 73% of the students we serve attend Title 1 schools.

Through our core Gardens 2 Schools program, students grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers while learning to prepare nutritious recipes using the food they grow. Simultaneously, they develop critical life skills such as teamwork, mindfulness, and responsibility, while bolstering academic knowledge in subjects like science, math, and language arts. We are excited for the chance to bring the knowledge and experience of our teaching team to the Food & Farm Forum.

1/24 @ 9:00am – Demonstration

Location: Randall Hall

In this approach, we will focus on developing natural farming solutions using locally sourced materials from the farm. The IMO compost plays a crucial role in revitalizing the soil, helping to restore the microbial balance, and working synergistically with the KNF solutions. This process not only nurtures a healthy soil ecosystem but also creates a thriving habitat for small animals and microorganisms, fostering their growth and prosperity. These tiny creatures are essential for maintaining soil health, enhancing nutrient cycling, and supporting sustainable farming practices.

Bronson Lubresky

I am a small farmer. I have experience in sharecropping and vegetable gardening in the state of Hawai’i and Alabama. I am a Korean Natural Farming instructor and have 5 years of practical Korean Natural Farming experience.

1/24 @ 9:00am – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

Together we will discuss how to promote your farm business, nonprofit, or food hub using social media marketing and communications. We will learn how to use social media and communications as a tool to promote your business and events, tips and tricks to making social media promotion easier, how to gain more followers and interest in your business, and how to be intentional when creating your content. Social media can be intimidating for some but it is also an opportunity to storytell and communicate your mission. This workshop will be a mix of practical lecture, planning, discussions, and Q & A.

Kelly Applegate

Kelly Applegate has over a decade of experience in organic farming, specializing in diversified vegetables, livestock, and perennials on rural and urban farms. Based in Asheville, NC, Kelly works with a nonprofit advancing food security through urban agriculture education and resources.

An Environmental Educator with a degree from Warren Wilson College, Kelly is dedicated to food policy, human rights, conservation, and climate resilience. They teach garden-based education, lead cooking classes, and manage social media for Bountiful Cities. Passionate about farming, Kelly looks forward to connecting with and learning from fellow Southeastern farmers at the conference.

1/24 @ 10:00am – Demonstration

Location: Hall Hall

Explore sustainable practices in this split session featuring a classroom discussion and a field walk at McDowell Farm School. Learn how to:

• Select hedgerow species for ecological benefits and niche markets.
• Use cover crops to attract beneficial predators and pollinators.
• Install native grasslands to support pest control in fruit and vegetable production.
• Discover grant opportunities, seed and plant suppliers, propagation techniques, and key native species.

Then, see these concepts in action during a guided field walk showcasing pollinator plantings, cover crops, and native grasslands.

Holt Akers-Campbell
Katie Willis

Holt Akers-Campbell is a Regional Extension Agent for commercial horticulture in northeast Alabama with Auburn University & Alabama Extension. Before joining Extension, he worked on and managed vegetable farms for ten years in the South and New England. Holt aspires to work at the intersection of ecology and agriculture, helping growers produce food in environmentally, financially, and culturally sustainable ways. His areas of interest include market farming, agroforestry and native plant landscaping, but his foremost goal is to serve the local needs of farmers and horticulture professionals. Holt is committed to promoting research-backed, economically viable horticultural practices. Outside of agriculture, Holt enjoys hiking, cooking, woodworking and spending time with his family.

Katie Willis is an Alabama native who has spent the last 17 years making her living farming, gardening, and native plant landscaping across Central Alabama, New York, Vermont, and Minnesota. Currently, she is the Farm Manager at Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s Center for Food Education where she teaches volunteers, apprentices, and young people about basic crop production, soil health, and greenhouse propagation. Katie is interested in utilizing native plants to mitigate the environmental impact of our current agricultural systems, and uplifting the historical and cultural significance of native fruits, herbs, and foods. Outside of her paid work, Katie co-runs Burdock Book Collective and the Alabama Books to Prisons Project. In her freetime she enjoys chasing her toddler through the woods, teaching her to forage wild fruits, nuts, and mushrooms, baking cookies for her partner, dyeing and crafting with natural materials, and reading about prison abolition and queer liberation.

1/24 @ 10:00am – Panel Discussion

Location: Pradat Hall

This session dives into essential business basics, including gross vs. net profit, fixed and variable costs, and methods for projecting profit, such as per bed or CSA share. We’ll also create a safe space to discuss finances openly, from managing debt to paying yourself as a farmer. While these conversations can feel uncomfortable, sharing knowledge helps us all become better business people.

Bring your financial numbers, tracking tools, or strategies if you’d like to join the discussion and gain valuable insights from fellow participants. Together, we’ll grow stronger, more sustainable businesses!

Melissa Julia

I’ve been farming for over 10 years and I have an interest in supporting ag in Alabama, especially non traditional models of ownership and collaboration.

1/24 @ 11:00am – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

Are you a farmer looking to improve and expand your market opportunities?
Are you a local food aggregator or buyer looking to streamline your purchasing?
Coordinated Crop Planning is a communication structure that brings together growers and buyers to better plan for the season ahead, increasing market access and minimizing risk for farmers. Join us as we discuss CCP and its potential opportunities and challenges. We will then lead an exercise to help you reflect on how CCP can best be applied to your individual farm business.

Emma Busby

Emma is a sustainable agriculture advocate and farmer organizer with a background in international development and small-scale vegetable farming. She currently serves in a variety of roles, including as Garden Programs Assistant with Schoolyard Roots, Board President with ASAN, a farmer organizer and documentary storyteller under a sustainable ag project with the University of Alabama, and most importantly as a mother to her 8-month-old son, Lewis. Previously, she worked with the Southeast Tennessee chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition, building a statewide support network and leading advocacy efforts for young, beginning, and BIPOC farmers.

1/24 @ 11:00am – Presentation

Location: Randall Hall

Southern Appalachian ginseng is some of the highest sought-after ginsengs in the world. The taste is bitter/sweet with undertones of sour. It is considered a true adapatogen and has been studied for its benefits on the immune system and to help reduce the effects of stress. American ginseng also has an effect on the liver/gallbladder, thyroid, heart, and the reproductive system. In this class, we’ll focus on how to grow American ginseng as a wild-simulated plant. Growing American ginseng in this fashion allows the grower to sell the plant at wild-harvested prices rather than domestically grown prices. We’ll discuss how to start the plant from seed, preferred soil types, and special needs.

Phyllis D Light

4th generation herbalist/nutritionist with special interest in growing native medicinal plants for market particularly woodland plants

1/24 @ 1:00pm – Presentation

Location: Hall Hall

This session begins with a 30-minute presentation on Rodale Consulting services and the key considerations for becoming certified organic. Learn about the certification process, benefits, and challenges, as well as resources available to support your journey toward organic farming.

Following the presentation, participate in a 20-minute open discussion with fellow growers about the realities of farming organically in Alabama. Share your experiences, ask questions, and explore solutions to common challenges faced by organic farmers in the region. Perfect for those considering certification or seeking to strengthen their organic practices.

De’Anthony Price

De’Anthony Price is an Agronomist specializing in organic and regenerative crop production, farmer education, and science communication. He currently serves as the Southeast Organic Consultant for Rodale Institute, providing organic agronomy and certification support to both current and transitioning organic farmers. De’Anthony holds a B.S. in Agricultural Communication from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, where he focused on supporting Black farmers in the Southeast. He earned a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science, Agronomy, from Alabama A&M University in 2022, with research on nutrient management in sustainable and organic crop production, particularly ethnic vegetables, medicinal plants, and specialty cropping systems.

1/24 @ 1:00pm – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

Explore the diversity of Alabama’s wild food species with the greatest economic potential as market crops. These species thrive in our state’s natural ecosystem, creating the potential for significant outputs with relatively low input. We’ll learn to identify, forage, and process both familiar favorites and hidden gems efficiently!

Jesse Akozbek

My name is Jesse, I am a wild food forager and I teach this skill through my foraging education channel called, Feral Foraging.

1/24 @ 1:00pm – Presentation

Location: Randall Hall

From hatch to freezer: an introduction to pastured poultry.

Justin VanHoozer (Pecan Grove)

My wife Jessica and I own Pecan Grove Farm in Athens, AL. We have been raising poultry on pasture for several years and began selling to the public in 2024. Broilers, layers, and turkeys are our main focus, complimented by a small herd of Pineywoods cattle and Gulf Coast Native sheep.

1/24 @ 2:00pm – Panel Discussion

Location: Hall Hall

How to improve your success, navigate hurdles, and integrate best practices for successful relationship-building with chefs & restaurants.

Mindy Santo

GRAZE: Panel Discussion

1/24 @ 2:00pm – Demonstration

Location: Roger’s Teaching Kitchen/Mark’s Farm

This workshop combines practical knowledge and strategic planning to help farmers master fencing and rotational grazing. Learn how to set up effective fencing systems tailored to your land and livestock, along with tips for troubleshooting common challenges.

Gregory Smith

Gregory Smith of Smith’s Farm and Ranch raises natural and/or organic products which range from green vegetables, eggs, chickens, goats, and cattle.

1/24 @ 2:00pm – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

In this session, participants will discover the Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) initiative in Alabama, which has brought gardening experiences, farming opportunities, and fresh local foods to thousands of children across the state. The Farm to Early Care and Education initiative encompasses a range of strategies and activities designed to enhance access to healthy, local foods through local procurement, gardening projects, and food and agriculture education. These efforts aim to enrich the quality of educational experiences in early childhood settings, including preschools, child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, and programs in K-12 school districts.

Emily Campbell

I serve as the AL Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Coordinator at the Alabama Partnership for Children and assist in leading the Alabama Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Coalition, which works to provide gardening, farming, and local food purchasing opportunities to early childhood educators and children in ECE settings.

1/24 @ 2:00pm – Presentation

Location: Randall Hall

Audrey Kolde

Audrey Kolde is a Sustainable Ag Specialist for the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Audrey attended Louisiana Tech and earned an Environmental Science degree, an excellent program focusing on soil health, GIS, biology, and resource management. From there, she farmed in West Virginia and Alabama before returning to Louisiana to settle into the soil and the overall food system. Their focus is on vegetable production in the southern climate, niche crops and markets, and food sovereignty.

1/24 @ 3:00pm – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

Lessons we have learned in 8 years of broccoli crops and how we grow it currently. Specifics on spring/fall timing, fertility through cover crops, variety trial results, why stress-induced anthocyanin coloration is a favorable trait, optimum storage, and interbeing with pest/disease. Plus economics: analysis of our broccoli cost of production, how we collected the data and approached the calculations, and how it hopefully guides us to fair pricing.

Brian Simpson

Brian has farmed organically full-time alongside his wife Liz in North Alabama for 10 years – first as land renters, later as land owners. Together, they operate Mountain Sun Farm, a certified organic fruit and vegetable farm in Mentone marketing solely through the traditional CSA model. His farming research interests include replacing inputs with organic matter through cover crops, mechanical efficiencies to increase affordability to customers, and most recently optimum budget and scale ratios for “two-person” farms.

1/24 @ 3:00pm – Panel Discussion

Location: Randall Hall

In this session we will have a group discussion about current efforts in community composting and ways to advance these efforts. Community Composting is any composting system larger than household/backyard. We will discuss the use of local resources as valuable organic material for food production, beautification and more.

Amanda Edwards
Kristin Woods

Amanda Edwards and Kristin Woods (Tuskegee University, Carver Integrative Sustainability Center) are compost educators and long-time on-farm composters with a passion for expanding composting in Alabama.

1/24 @ 4:00pm – Presentation

Location: Pradat Hall

A detailed walk through of starting a CSA including: pros and cons of selling through a CSA, traditional vs. free choice or market style CSA, finding and retaining members, site selection for delivery spots, crop planning for a CSA as opposed to farmers market, management software, post harvest and delivery considerations, and helping members (and the farmer!) enjoy the CSA experience.

Liz Simpson

Co-owner of Mtn Sun Farm, Liz Simpson has over a decade of experience in organic farming, specializing in diversified vegetables, livestock, and perennials. As a co-owner of Mountain Sun Farm, Liz combines hands-on farming expertise with a commitment to sustainability and community food systems. With a strong background in environmental education, she is passionate about teaching others and advancing food security through agriculture. Liz brings her dedication to conservation, food policy, and climate resilience to every project, helping to strengthen the connection between farmers and their communities.

1/24 @ 4:00pm – Panel Discussion

Location: Hall Hall

This is a session to learn about Alabama’s Collaborative Regional Alliance of Farmer Training, a sustainable farming skills training program led by farmers for farmers, and have a say in how this year ahead will go. During this session, you’ll hear about upcoming programing and the goals of the program from Steering Committee members and ASAN staff. There will be ample time for feedback and questions- this is our yearly general assembly!

Arlo Pate

1/24 @ 5:00pm – Presentation

Location: Randall Hall

A presentation describing the applied use of earthworm casting inputs as living, fertile stress adaptogens, in order to synergize soil building and plant health. (Warning this practice may reduce needs for the following; fertilizer use and cost, farmer stress, and the use of products that end in “cide”.)

Garver Akers

Garver Akers has experience with regenerative and organic farm production, research, ecological farm & property management, and soil remediation in extreme conditions. He now offers several farm & garden services, doing business as Green Akers Consulting.

1/25 @ 9:00am – Farm Tour

Location: Mark’s Farm

Join us for a guided tour of Mark’s Farm, Camp McDowell’s vibrant on-site farm. Explore the fields, meet the livestock, and discover the daily operations that make this farm a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.

Along the way, learn about the innovative practices used to care for the land and animals, and if you’re feeling adventurous, test your grit with some feats of strength! This tour offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to experience farm life while connecting with the people and practices that make it thrive.

1/25 @ 10:00am – Trading Post

Location: Mark’s Farm

Located in front of Mark’s Farm, the Trading Post is a space for farmers to engage in the timeless tradition of bartering and sharing. Bring seeds, tools, crafts, books, or any other farm-related items you’d like to trade with fellow attendees.

It’s a great opportunity to exchange resources, ideas, and stories while building connections within the farming community. Whether you’re looking to share your surplus or find something new, the Trading Post is the perfect place to celebrate collaboration and sustainability.

1/25 @ 10:00am – Presentation

Location: Roger’s Teaching Kitchen/Mark’s Farm

This session will cover basic handling and presentative care for food animals as well as common injuries and diseases, including; symptoms, home treatments, and signs for when to call a vet. The presentation will cover bovine, caprine/ovine, swine, and poultry.

Zahra McIntosh
Dr. Luis McKie
Kiyanni Gresham

Dr. Luis McKie is a Clinical Instructor in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in the department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Trinidad School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 and an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Sciences from the College of Agriculture Science and Education Portland Jamaica in 2014. He also completed a Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine from 2021-2023. His role as a Clinical Instructor at the College of Veterinary Medicine includes providing veterinary client services both in-house and ambulatory, participation in outreach programs, community service and clinical instruction of veterinary students, graduate veterinarians and veterinary interns. In addition to his role as a Clinical Instructor, he is a swine faculty advisor/swine contact and an Associate member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).

Zahra McIntosh is a first-year veterinary student at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. They are currently working towards becoming a large animal veterinarian and they plan to provide support to farming communities once they graduate. During their time at TU, Ms. MacIntosh has participated in several agriculture focused programs including Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) and Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning (GOALs). Outside of school, Ms. McIntosh volunteers for a local farmer at Smiths Farm & Ranch where they help with land and animal management.