Farmers of Rocky View County are invited to a learning session about organic, regenerative, and ecological farming practices.
The Southern Alberta session for Organic Alberta’s Farm Clubs takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 at the Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks.
“We're hoping to raise farmers' knowledge and awareness of regenerative and ecological practices,” said Zachary Day, membership and marketing coordinator of Organic Alberta.
He added the session is not totally focused on organics but more on improving farmer knowledge of their ecological impact.
The session will have a panel featuring a grain farmer, livestock farmer, and vegetable farmer who will each speak to their practices and then partake in a question and answer session.
This Q and A session will focus on planning for the unpredictability in agriculture, from weather variations to market fluctuations.
“[This session] is a great opportunity for farmers who are looking to focus more on the ecological impact of their activities and see and hear from experienced farmers on what works and what doesn't,” Day said.
He added it’s sometimes difficult for farmers to find good information on what works for their specific area and this session is geared towards providing that information.
“It's nice to hear from someone who's already done the trial and error work and knows what works best in the area for your specific type of farming,” he said.
Farmers are encouraged to bring their own challenges forward to experience collaborative problem-solving and the event also serves as a networking opportunity, allowing southern Alberta farmers to grab a coffee and share stories and insights over a free lunch.
Farm Clubs is a series of collaborative workshops designed for farmer-to-farmer learning by Organic Alberta, Canadian Organic Growers, and the Calgary Foundation.
Organic Alberta has hosted similar sessions but never specifically for farmers in the greater Calgary area like this one, said Day.
“We are thrilled to kick off the program with an in-person session in Okotoks,” states their eventbrite page. “Come meet fellow farmers who are practicing organic, regenerative, or ecological farming practices on their land.”
Organic Alberta expects between 20 and 30 farmers to participate in the day.
Go to Organic Alberta Farm Clubs - Southern Alberta Session #1 on Eventbrite to register for free.
