Snohomish County’s 12th Focus on Farming conference, “Planting our Future,” now includes a Focus on Forestry, appealing to owners of the nearly 8 million acres of private forest lands throughout the state.
The conference, the largest of its kind in Western Washington, will draw nearly 500 people to the county’s Monroe fairgrounds Nov. 19.
Among the speakers will be Ben Hewitt, author of “The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food,” the state’s new Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison and federal deputy under secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills.
“The amount of recognition we are getting for the conference is huge,” said Linda Neunzig, the county’s agriculture coordinator. “It’s affirmation that the hard work of our farmers day in and day out is recognized at the federal level.”
As always, the conference isn’t just for farmers. Commodity growers, organic farmers selling to restaurants, and even just folks in neighborhoods who grow and produce food for their families are encouraged to attend.
“Some of the most rewarding things about Focus on Farming are the conversations that go on,” Neunzig said. “Home gardeners may sit across the lunch table from farmers who have CSA (community supported agriculture) programs. The information shared is so valuable. You will learn something.”
The conference brings together professionals from across the country to provide farmers and foresters with the latest education and information. Choose from 24 farming workshops or participate in the new Focus on Forestry conference and peruse the latest agriculture equipment and products on display at the indoor trade show.
The farming conference sessions include protecting yourself against natural disasters, exporting products, pasture management, grafting vegetables, beneficial insects and bacteria, feeding your soil, incorporating compost and simple, easy ways to successfully grow mushrooms.
“One of the vendors in our trade show sells his small hand tools for home use and another makes small farm implements. Lots of toys for farmers,” Neunzig said. “And everyone will enjoy the lunch, produced by local chefs from locally sourced ingredients.”
The Focus on Forestry will include economic opportunity tips for private forest owners along with information about forest health.
“We have a new generation inheriting these forests and we want to offer our help,” she said. “The questions include: Can your forest handle recreation? Can you inoculate your woods with mushrooms? Will you allow students on your property to study silviculture? Can you harvest wood for laminate markets?”
Encouraging people to keep their property forested is part of the goal, Neunzig said.
“Small forests are the number one environmental plus in this county and in this state. It’s about being good stewards of habitat and clean water,” she said. “We now have rock star farmers and chefs in our region, and we are just on the cusp of that with foresters.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
If you go
The Snohomish County Focus on Farming conference is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 19 on the grounds of the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. For a list of the speakers at this year’s conference and to register, go to www.focusonfarming.org.
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