2025 SUMMIT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All presentations will be held at Chapel by the Lake (11024 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK) on Feb. 20-22, 2025
(Summit Schedule is subject to change)
Selected presentations throughout the Summit will also be available via Zoom throughout the weekend. Zoom link to join here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88574122484?pwd=ZwuHmzUpqD5wXQNfDoYzYOT9E3GAGa.1
Meeting ID: 885 7412 2484
Passcode: 138948
WEDNESDAY • February 19, 2025
Welcome Fire Pit Social Hour from 5-7 PM at UAS Noyes Pavillion
THURSDAY • February 20, 2025
9:45-10:15am
Farmer Resource Share Session
What has been a key resource for the development of your farm? This show & tell session will encourage farmers to share with the group any type of resource that has been helpful to their farm’s success including books, programs, people, websites, techniques, etc. This session is open to participation by all, so please bring your ideas to the Summit and share them!
10:45-11:45am
"Biochar Basics" by Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar LLC
Biochar is an exceptionally valuable soil amendment that you can make yourself with minimal equipment. Kelpie, the biochar goddess, will start from ground zero with a thorough explanation of just exactly what bioactivated charcoal is along with methods you can use to create it on your small farm.
(Available via Zoom)
2:15-3pm
Small Group Discussions & Workshops
An opportunity to have an intimate discussion with a small group of fellow farmers. Topics will include biochar, grant writing, composting, high tunnels, growing flowers, seed saving, soil blocking, farm-to-school sales, farm business management and more!
-Lobbying for agricultural support, led by Darren Snyder
-Raising poultry and livestock in SEAK, this is an open group discussion session with no leader
-Connecting beginner farmers with seasoned growers, led by Joe Orsi,Susie Willsrud, Laura Schmidt, Emily Garrity, Andrea Fraga and Marja Smets
-Farm scale composting, led by Lisa Daughrety
-Seed saving, led by Ed Buyarski and Tom Z.
-Grant writing tips
-Bear co-existence, led by a representative from Defenders of Wildlife
3:15-3:45pm
“To Scale Up or Not to Scale Up, That is the Question” by Emily Garrity, Twitter Creek Gardens
Emily Garrity is the owner/operator of Twitter Creek Gardens outside of Homer. They cultivate just under two acres of diversified vegetables with a multitude of avenues of sale. Starting tiny 20 years ago and scaling up incrementally has made it possible to achieve their current yields, totaling 17 tons in 2024. Emily will share her experience of growing the farm, the tools used, the labor required and how the decisions were made.
4:15-5:15pm
"Tribally led Agriculture Projects in SEAK" by Gatgyeda Haayk, Penny James, Amy Erfling and Ryan Smith
Over the last few years many of SEAK’s indigenous communities have embarked upon new food production projects in an effort to increase the amount of fresh & nutritious food available to their tribal members. Learn more about these efforts from the hardworking folks who are leading the charge!
7-8pm
"Favorite Farm Tools & Time Saving Ideas" Farmer Panel and Audience Participation Session
What is your favorite tool for obliterating weeds? Have you discovered the fastest, most efficient way to set up a farmstand? Join a panel of seasoned farmers for a fun evening of sharing ideas for great tools and techniques to make your job easier! This session is for sharing and the stage is open to all!
FRIDAY • February 21, 2025
11:20-11:50am
"El niño/La niña, interpreting weather patterns that effect your farm production" by NOAA meteorologist
One of the biggest factors affecting your farm’s success each season is the weather! Climate change means different things for different regions -- in this session we will get a briefing on the general weather patterns in SEAK and learn what to expect from the swings between El nińo and La nińa summers in Southeast Alaska.
1-2pm
"Using Biochar to Enhance Your Farm's Soil" by Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar LLC
Bio activated charcoal has been used around the world by in-the-know farmers for thousands of years as a way to enrich soils and improve the health of livestock. Kelpie will go in-depth during this session on the myriad ways biochar can be utilized to enhance the productivity of your farm.
2:10-2:55pm
Small Group Discussions & Workshops
An opportunity to have an intimate discussion with a small group of fellow farmers. Topics will include biochar, grant writing, composting, high tunnels, growing flowers, seed saving, soil blocking, farm-to-school sales, farm business management and more!
-Biochar in-depth (session #1), led by Kelpie Wilson
-Fruit tree training and pruning, led by Rob Bishop
-Climate change’s potential effect on agriculture in SEAK, led by Nick (NOAA)
-Root cellars, cold storage and cool bots, led by Joe Orsi and Andrea Fraga
-Value added products for the farm, led by Emily Garrity, Jen Landry and Sarah Lewis (UAS)
-Hands on soil blocking workshop (session #1), led by Tom Zimmer
-Creating a marketing plan for your farm, led by Sandy Hussain of Alaska Small Business Development Center
3:05-3:35pm
"Hydroponic Growing Walls -- Farm Anywhere You Can Set Up a Shipping Container" by Ketchikan Evergreens
Ever wondered how you could grow more food for your community year-round? Listen closely as Geoff & Jess Jans tell the story of launching their Ketchikan-based, state-of-the-art vertical hydroponic growing operation.
3:40-4:10pm
"Soil Science, a Biological Perspective" by Tom Zimmer, Calypso Farm
What the heck is happening below the soil surface? Soil tests often reflect the chemistry of your farm’s earth, but what’s up with all the living creatures? Tom has been experimenting with new biological soil testing methods at Calypso Farm and will share his recent discoveries during this “groundbreaking” session.
4:40-5:20pm
"Southside Community Farmers Market, a Case Study" by Susie Willsrud, Calypso Farm
Farmers Markets foster community connection and healthy living by offering fresh, nutritious foods, education, art & live music. Hear the story of the creation of Fairbanks’ thriving Southside Community Market and get inspired to start a farmers market in YOUR community!
7-8pm
Option 1: "Sharing your Marketing Experiences" Circle Discussion led by Meghan Stangeland and Joe Orsi
Looking for tips on how to market your produce and other farm products? Join us for a lively discussion where participants can share what has worked (and what hasn’t!) for their Southeast AK farms. Walk away with some new ideas on how to sell everything you grow.
SATURDAY • February 22, 2025
8:40-9:25am
BEGINNER TRACK: "Beginner Farmer Business Planning" by Spruce Root
Would you rather be digging in the dirt than posted up in front of the computer dealing with paperwork and accounting? Marc is here to help by offering some great tips and techniques for efficiently managing a small farm business in the most painless way possible.
8:40-9:25am
ADVANCED TRACK: "Organizational Zen for your Farm Office" by Taylor Mendell of Footprint Farm
Is your office desk buried underneath a messy pile of paperwork & to-do lists? Tidy-up and become an organizational zen master with help from Taylor Mendell of Footprint Farm in Vermont! Her helpful techniques and strategies for office and paper flow management will bring your farm business to the next level.
9:35-10:20am
Small Group Discussions & Workshops
An opportunity to have an intimate discussion with a small group of fellow farmers. Topics will include biochar, grant writing, composting, high tunnels, growing flowers, seed saving, soil blocking, farm-to-schoolfarm to school sales, farm business management and more!
-Biological soil health, led by Tom Zimmer
-Running a small farm business, led by Spruce Root representative, Marja Smets and Emily Garrity
-Efficient crop processing methods and pack shed design, led by Katherine Ivy and Bo Varsano
-Hydroponics, led by Ketchikan Evergreens
-Biochar in-depth (session #2), led by Kelpie Wilson
-Untangling the web of Federal, State and private farm resource organizations, led by Samia Savell, Darren Snyder and others
-Food production in SEAK’s Indigenous villages, led by Penny James, Gatgyeda Haayk and Ryan Smith
10:30-11am
"Flower Successions for SEAK" by Sarah Dolan, Rising Tide Farm
Flowers can be a lucrative crop, but our wet, cool, short growing season creates many challenges to success. Sarah will outline what varieties have worked well for her in Juneau, and how to plant for continual blooms all summer.
11:30-12pm
"Enhancing Farm to School Connections" by Carlee Johnson-McIntosh, Petersburg School District
Most would agree that selling locally grown food to school lunch programs just makes sense. So why is it so difficult to get your product onto the lunch trays of your area school district? This session will outline strategies for improving farm-to-school relationships across Southeast Alaska.
1-1:30pm
"Farm Till Your 80! How to Stay Strong & Limber After a Lifetime of Physical Labor" by Claire Geldhof
Tired? Sore? Dreaming of nightly appointments with a masseuse or chiropractor during the growing season? It’s time to start giving your body as much love as you give your farm! Claire will offer up some ways to take good care of those old bones & muscles, so you can stay out in the fields for as long as possible!
1:40-2:25pm
Small Group Discussions & Workshops
-Building Farm to School connections in SEAK, led by Carlee Johnson-McIntosh and Marja Smets
-Growing & marketing flowers, led by Susie Willsrud
-Selecting and reinforcing a high tunnel for SEAK snow and wind loads, led by Bo Varsano
-Biochar in-depth (session #3), led by Kelpie Wilson
-Tool share and demonstration, led by Lisa Daughrety and Joe Orsi
-Techniques for taking care of your overworked farmer body, led by Claire Geldholf
-Hands on soil blocking workshop (session # 2), led by Tom Zimmer and Emily Garrity
2:35-3:05pm
"Strategies for Running a Successful Small Business in SEAK" by Lisa Daugherty, Juneau Composts!
Running a small business is an all-consuming endeavor. Add to that the challenges presented by our remote, far-flung region and you’ve got troubles. Learn some helpful tips and tricks for better small business management from Lisa, the queen of Juneau Composts!, our region’s largest composting service.
3:10-4:10pm
"Mixed Greens Production & Marketing" by Four Winds Farm, Haines & Ivy Patch Produce, Wrangell
Learn from a couple of skilled SEAK farmers who have truly dialed in their production & marketing methods for mixed baby greens. Sally & Katherine will get into the nitty-gritty about how they seed, harvest, wash and market baby greens on their farms in Haines & Wrangell.
SUNDAY • February 23, 2025
NOTE: Farm tours are now full.
We are excited to be offering optional farm tours on Sunday
at the following locations in Juneau:
Ed Buyarski, Ed's Edible Landscaping
Joe Orsi, Orsi Organic Produce
John Krapek, Juneau Greens
Lisa Daugherty, Juneau Composts!
Amy Erfling, Taay Hit Tlingit & Haida
Tentative schedule
8am -- load the vans and carpools at UAS and head straight to Juneau Greens
9:15am -- Head to Juneau Composts
10:30am -- Head to Taay Hit, Tlingit & Haida
11:45am -- Food Trucks for Lunch
1:30pm -- Half the group goes to Ed's while the other half goes to Joe's
2:45pm -- Both groups load up and switch places
4pm -- All vans and carpools return back to UAS