Hall Hall    5:00-5:50pm
ASAN Town Hall

The ASAN Town Hall is an open, participatory gathering designed to share updates on ASAN’s work, reflect together on what’s happening across Alabama’s food and farm communities, and invite collective input on priorities moving forward. This is a space for questions, listening, and dialogue—where members, farmers, and partners can connect directly with ASAN leadership and one another to help shape the direction of the organization.

Hall Hall    7:00-5:50pm
The Taste of Herbs (Tea Time! Bring a mug!)

In this interactive class we will explore the taste (and mouth feel) of herbs and learn how taste is indicative of herbal actions. People often wonder how the medicinal actions of plants were discovered, and one way was probably through decoding the pattern language in which they speak. Pattern languages can be tapped into with observation from the 5 senses. When exploring local herbs, taste can give a strong indication of how one may utilize the plant as medicine- no books or scientific equipment required.

Joanna is the co-owner of Walden Farmacy in Bessemer, Alabama, where she and her husband, Trevor, run a regenerative herb farm and homestead. Her personal healing journey with herbs inspires her work supporting others in reconnecting with themselves, nature, and their capacity for wholeness. Together, they craft small-batch remedies rooted in the belief that healthy land and healthy communities are inseparable.

Hall Hall    9:00-10:00am
Growing Native Herbs for the Market

This session explores forest-grown herbs as a sustainable, income-generating crop, with a focus on garlic and other high-value woodland plants. Participants will learn practical considerations for cultivation, harvesting, and marketing while deepening their understanding of how forest farming can support both ecological health and farm viability.

Phyllis D. Light is an herbalist with over 30 years of experience in private and clinical practice, trained by her grandmother Rosie Light and teacher Tommie Bass. She holds a master’s degree in Health Studies from the University of Alabama and focuses on forest farming native plants as both a sustainable practice and income-generating opportunity.

Phifer Hall    9:00-9:50am
Farm Story Builder Workshop

This hands-on session helps farmers clarify what makes their farm unique and learn how to share that story through authentic, values-based storytelling. Participants will connect sustainable practices to customer values and explore practical marketing tools—like social media, signage, and video—while creating a short farm reel and setting goals to strengthen their customer base.

In her role with NCAT/ATTRA, Audrey Kolde‘s areas of expertise include mixed specialty crop operations, season extension, local foods, pest management, soil health, food equity, and marketing. She is also a produce grower in Louisiana and regularly shares practical, field-tested strategies.

Randall Hall    9:00-9:50am
Taste of the Farm: Bringing Local Foods & Farming Experiences to Alabama’s Youngest Children

In this session, participants will learn about the Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) initiative and how they can get involved. Presenters will share how farmers can sell their products to early childhood programs as well as how they can be involved in food and agriculture education in the early childhood classroom.

Emily Campbell is the AL Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Coordinator with the Alabama Partnership for Children, and help lead the Alabama Farm to ECE Coalition! We work to connect early care and education (ECE) programs to local foods, gardening experiences, and food & farm education. Alicia Jordan will also be bringing insights to the session.

Mark’s Farm    9:00-10:20am
Small Ruminant Care

This demonstration-style session will give farmers the confidence to perform these essential skills. Participants will learn how to safely restrain sheep or goats, evaluate hoof structure, and conduct a basic hoof trim. The session will also walk through the FAMACHA scoring system, including how to assess anemia accurately and use FAMACHA results to guide treatment decisions, pasture rotation, and herd management.

Kenneth D. Harris is the Regional Outreach Specialist for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Pleasant Valley Farm

Phifer Hall    10:30-11:20am
Crafting Your Story Through Social Media Branding

This session explores how farmers can effectively tell their stories using social media and other visual platforms to share their work with clarity and passion. Participants will learn how to create simple storytelling SOPs, stay authentic in their design, and build consistent practices that reflect their values and connect with their audience.

Carla Stiles operates a local lavender farm that creates culinary lavender products for resell.

Hall Hall    1:30-2:20pm
Integrating Biodynamic Principles in a Small Market Garden

A well-designed garden can be inviting, interesting and enchanting, along with efficiently producing crops. We’ll discuss cover crops, composting, companion planting, crop rotation, tillage options, mulching, and using biodynamic preparations. Besides practice information about drainage, remineralization and weed control, we can delve into cosmic rhythms, biochemistry and homeopathy to help understand how to grow food of the highest quality.

Jeff Poppen, a Midwestern farm boy and longtime farmer at Long Hungry Creek Farm, combines biodynamic methods with old-time farming principles on his vegetable and cattle operation. With over 40 years of experience and a passion for mentoring the next generation, Jeff shares practical insights on soil health, resilient farming, and sustainable land stewardship. Learn more at barefootfarmer.com

Phifer Hall    1:30-2:20pm
From Hobby Farming to Full Farm Business

Creating a farm plan that will supplement the house income. From hobby farming to full farm business.

Gregory Smith is the son of a farmer, father of 5 grand dad of 12, retired Army and currently a certified organic beef farmer rancher.

Randall Hall    1:30-2:20pm
Harvesting the Past: Bringing Historical Agriculture to Life for Kids

This session explores creative ways to connect historical agriculture with modern garden-based learning for children. Participants will discover how to use stories, heritage farming practices, and traditional tools or crops to make history come alive in the garden. From colonial kitchen gardens to Indigenous planting methods and Depression-era victory gardens, attendees will gain practical, hands-on lesson ideas that blend science, history, and sustainability. The workshop will highlight engaging activities that help students understand where food comes from, how people have cultivated the land through time, and how these lessons can inspire stewardship and curiosity in today’s young gardeners.

Session leaders, Rachel Dawsey (Executive Director), Samantha Catland (Manager of Youth & Kitchen Programs), and Sonya Boyd (Outdoor Education Manager) are staff members at the North Alabama Agriplex. Established in 2000, the North Alabama Agriplex strives to educate and create awareness of agriculture in Alabama.

Phifer Hall    3:00-3:50pm
Grants Without Burnout: Building Better Projects (& Mindsets) for Local Food Funding

This session helps farmers and local food advocates design grant proposals that are effective without causing overwhelm. Participants will learn strategies for project planning, realistic budgeting, and mindset shifts to make funding applications more manageable and successful.

Stephen Ussery works at the intersection of agriculture, justice, and funding access. Through Stewards Unlimited, he helps farmers, food businesses, and community organizations secure grants, specializing in small-scale and value-added projects. With experience in USDA applications, program development, and producer support, Stephen’s goal is to make public funding accessible, empowering, and a tool for meaningful change.

Roger’s Teaching Kitchen    3:00-4:20pm
Korean Natural Farming Basics

Learn to make the most basic natural farming solutions and learn the intricacies of IMO (Indigenous Microorganism). We will make 3 natural farming solutions including FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice), WCa (Water Soluble Calcium), and Jadam Microbial Solution. (these three solutions could be subject to change).
We will also go over the process (via slideshow & demo) of making Indigenous Microorganism compost to inoculate depleted soils with microbes that will help to restore balance in the soil. All 9 core solutions will be present for participants to observe, smell, and taste to increase their knowledge on the practical methods of natural farming.

Bronson Lubresky is a small farmer with experience in sharecropping and vegetable gardening in Hawai’i and Alabama. He is a Korean Natural Farming instructor and has five years of practical experience applying these methods.

Phifer Hall    4:30-5:50pm
CRAFT Committee Meeting