Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference
Overview | Safety Statement | Registration | Schedule | Speakers
Lodging | Scholarships | Contact | Links & Map
What's new on this page as of August 30, 2021?
Thanks to all for a successful conference!
Thanks for a successful conference!
Thanks to all of our attendees, instructors and event staff for a successful conference. We hope you will join us again in 2022!
Safety Statement
Updated August 11, 2021
We want to make sure that everyone is aware of our COVID safety plans as they pertain to this event.
As we all know, COVID-19 is an ever-evolving global pandemic. As such, we will follow COVID safety protocols required by federal, state, and/or local regulations at the time of the event.
This may include guidelines from one or all of the following organizations:
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
Virginia Department of Health (VDH)*
Virginia Tech University and Virginia Cooperative Extension*
*ABFFC (managed through Virginia Tech) is a co-host of this event and so Virginia and Virginia Tech protocols must be considered.
Currently, there are no plans to require attendees to wear face masks or practice physical distancing.
THIS MAY CHANGE!!
Please note that while it is up to each individual how they handle their own personal safety, we are hosting a public event and must do what we feel is necessary to best keep this public group safe.
We would also like you to be aware of the following:
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This conference will have indoor and outdoor sessions.
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If we need to implement COVID safety protocols, they may include, but are not limited to:
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Requiring all attendees to wear a mask unless they are eating or drinking; even when outdoors
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Requiring physical distancing in all sessions
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Breaking the attendees into small groups to help limit interaction among a large group of people
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If you feel the possibility of having to follow these protocols is not appealing to you, you may cancel your registration. We understand. We will honor refunds requests received on or before August 20, 2021. After that date, we will be placing final orders for food and will not be able to issue refunds.
Registration Types and Fees
Registration is now open! You can register for this event HERE.
For the great price of $80 per Conference Ticket you get a Keynote presentation, 7 field and classroom sessions, 2 panels with Forest Farming experts, 4 value-added demos and 5 meals!
Each Conference Ticket will include: Instruction and programming for 3 days with sessions on Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning; Meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast
If you would like to inquire about a scholarship, please see the "Scholarship Opportunities" section below.
When
The Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference will be on August 27-29, 2021. We will begin at 5:30pm on Friday evening and continue through Sunday at 11:30am.
Where
Our workshop host, Rural Action, welcomes you to the United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary in Rutland, Ohio.
Who
Anyone interested in learning more about forest farming.
What
The Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference will provide participants with opportunities to learn about multiple forest farming topics and strategies, including wild simulated ginseng, goldenseal, and mushroom cultivation, post-harvest handling considerations for herb producers, as well as herb walks and value-added product demonstrations. The conference has a great line-up of highly experienced teachers that will help participants gain a broad understanding of the many facets and opportunities of forest farming.
Schedule & Program
Schedule Overview with Instructors Listed
Friday, August 27
4:00-5:30pm, Registration; Vendors available
5:30pm, Welcome
6:00pm, Dinner
7:00pm, Keynote Presentation: Bob Beyfuss
7:45pm, Q&A with Bob Beyfuss, Eric Burkhart, Chip Carroll, Rick Felumlee, Chris Chmiel
8:30pm, Adjourn
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Saturday, August 28
7:30am, Breakfast; Vendors available
8:00am, Plant Walk with Ed Fletcher (optional)
8:30am, Registration
9:00-11:00am, Rotating Field Stations
Propagation with Chip Carroll
Wild-simulated Ginseng with Bob Beyfuss
Mushroom cultivation with Rick Felumlee
Forest farming goldenseal with Eric Burkhart
11:15am, Post Harvest Handling and GAPs for Herb Growers with Robin Suggs
12:15pm, Lunch
1:00pm, Concurrent Session 1
Ramps with Tanner Filyaw
Pawpaws and Persimmons with Chris Chmiel
2:15pm, Panel Discussion: Current Gaps in Supply Chains & How Industry can Help Support Forest Farming
Moderator: John Munsell
Panelists: Chip Carroll, Ed Fletcher, Robin Suggs, Ed Daniels, Carole Daniels
3:30pm, Concurrent Session 2
Business Planning for Botanical Forest Farmers with Ed and Carole Daniels
Business Planning for Mushroom Cultivators with Rick Felumlee
4:30pm, Break; Vendors available
5:30pm, Dinner
After dinner, Vendors available
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Sunday, August 29
7:30am, Breakfast; Vendors available
8:00am, Morning Herb Walk with Ed Fletcher (optional)
9:30-11:45am, Rotating Value-added Stations
Tincture Making with Andrea Miller
Elderberry Products with Maureen Burns
Forest Edibles with Chris Chmiel
Salves with Katey Patterson
12pm, Adjourn
Download the complete schedule HERE.
Speakers
Bob Beyfuss, Independent Agroforestry Consultant
Maureen Burns, Herbal Sage Tea Company
Chip Carroll, United Plant Savers
Chris Chmiel, Integration Acres
Ed and Carole Daniels, Shady Grove Botanicals
Ed Fletcher, Native Botanicals, Inc.
Tanner Filyaw, Rural Action
Andrea Miller, Rural Action
Katey Patterson, United Plant Savers
Robin Suggs, Appalachian Sustainable Development
You can view Instructor bios HERE.
Lodging & Travel
The United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary (UpS) is located at 35703 Loop Rd, Rutland, OH 45775.
Lodging options are listed below by location. Please note that we are not endorsing or promoting any of these properties but rather offering options in the area.
Camping at UpS
Camping will be available at the United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary (event location). The fee is $15 per night. You would need to bring all of your own camping equipment your own food for the meals not provided by the conference. You would have the option to purchase tickets for these meals when you purchase your conference ticket: Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast.
Camping reservations will be made through HippCamp HERE.
Lodging options in Rutland (the same town as the UpS Sanctuary)
Lodging options in Athens (about a 30-minute drive to the UpS Sanctuary)
Athens Central Hotel (Downtown Athens)
The Ohio University Inn, Hyde House
Lodging options in Gallipollis (about a 30-minute drive to the UpS Sanctuary)
Scholarship Opportunities
If you would like to inquire about financial assistance to attend this event, please email Tanner Filyaw at tanner@ruralaction.org
General Questions
If you have any questions about this event, please email Tiffany Brown at tiffany.brown@vt.edu
