Brian’s Welcome

Each year our Farming for the Future Conference seeks to inform our members of the latest innovations in sustainable agriculture, while also giving them an opportunity to celebrate the past year and look forward to the next. The full program is never the same twice. This year we have even more innovations in store to inspire you for the year ahead and to prepare you for the changes happening throughout the agricultural community.

As our twenty-second annual conference approaches, we are especially mindful of the responsibility PASA assumes as one of the most significant sustainable agriculture organizations in the country. We are part of a movement that has taken the national and international stage. No longer a fringe idea, “sustainability” has entered the lexicon of mainstream America. For us, the idea is more than a buzzword; it is a driving vision that must be implemented if humankind is to survive on this planet in balance with the natural environment, and in a way that promotes well being and justice for all people.

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Charles Eisenstein
Opening Keynoter, Friday Morning

Friday morning keynoter Charles Eisenstein is a world-renowned speaker and author of Sacred Economics. Charles is a teacher, speaker and writer focusing on themes of civilization, consciousness, money and human cultural evolution. His primary writings are the books The Ascent of Humanity and Sacred Economics. He will provide us with an aspiring glimpse of the world built on the passionate generosity of each of us – a world in which we are all valued and encouraged to share our unique gifts. Charles lives in Harrisburg, PA where he is focusing more intensely on his work.
Special thanks to Lady Moon Farms for their support of Friday’s opening keynote!

Ben Hewitt
PASAbilities Main Speaker, Saturday Morning

Main speaker Ben Hewitt is best known for his 2010 book The Town That Food Saved, which chronicles the story of Hardwick, VT, and the efforts to blueprint and implement a localized food system. His more recent book, Making Supper Safe, explores the relationship between humans and the bacteria they consume, and how this should inform our food regulatory standards. His upcoming book is titled SAVED: How to Break the Spell of Money, Live Well, and Change the World. Ben take the stage to explore the interconnectedness between food, community, wealth, health, nature and ourselves. Ben now farms and writes in Cabot, Vermont, where he lives with his wife, Penny and sons Finlay and Rye in a self-built home that is powered by solar and wind.
Special thanks to Kimberton Whole Foods, a former award winner, for their support of the PASAbilities Leadership Award Series and Saturday’s plenary session!

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference!

We were proud to put together this diverse 4-day spectacular that brought together an audience of around 2,000 people from 30 states. Attendees included over 950 farmers, and 219 scholarship recipients.

A big thank you goes to our sponsors as well as to the numerous volunteers who make the conference possible each year.

Organic Voices, the new recording company, is working on the audio files from our conference. Please check back to learn how to order from them in the near future.

Wednesday, Feb 6

7:00am-8:00pm Registration Open
(Walk-in Registration Not Available)

Light morning snacks & beverages will be available starting at 8:00am. At 9:00am pre-conference tracks will begin, with a lunch as scheduled per program. Tracks end at 5:00pm.

Thursday, Feb 7

7:00am-7:30pm Registration Open
(Walk-in Registration Not Available)

Light morning snacks & beverages will be available starting at 8:00am. At 9:00am pre-conference tracks will begin, with a lunch as scheduled per program. Tracks end at 5:00pm.

A continental breakfast will be available starting at 7:00am. At 9:00am pre-conference tracks will begin, with a lunch as scheduled per program. Tracks end at 5:00pm. At 5:00pm the Sustainable Social Hour begins, during which you can enjoy our TradeShow & Benefit Auction. At 5:30pm there will be a Cheese Tasting and a Young & Beginning Farmer Mixer. Our much loved Winter Picnic (ticketed event) will begin at 6:30pm Winter Picnic, which is followed by live music that is open to all starting at 8:00pm.

Friday, Feb 8

7:00am-7:30pm Registration Open
($40 Walk-in Fee is Added to All Registrations)

A continental breakfast will be available starting at 7:00am. You can also use this time to browse our TradeShow & Benefit Auction, or participate in TriYoga® Sessions, a Knitting Circle or the Seed Swap Social.

At 8:30am our first series of workshops begin. Our opening session will start at 10:15am and will include a keynote address by Charles Eisenstein. You’ll have the option of enjoying a box lunch (ticketed) at 12:15pm, or you can get your lunch from the Farmers Market Cafe or one of the on-site restaurants.

Our second series of workshops will begin at 1:15pm, followed by discussion sessions at 2:45pm. Our educational programming wraps up with our last workshop series, which begins as 4:10pm.

At 5:30pm the fun begins with sustainable socializing and our Banquet (ticketed event), which begins at 6:30pm. Stick around for the live auction at 7:30pm, which always features some fun and some amazing items. At 8:30pm you can enjoy the offerings of PASA Theatre: Bitter Seeds, American Meat & Blue Gold.

Saturday, Feb 9

7:00am-5:00pm Registration Open
($40 Walk-in Fee is Added to All Registrations)

At 8:30am our first series of workshops begin. Our opening session will start at 10:15am and will include a keynote address by Ben Hewitt. You’ll have the option of enjoying a box lunch (ticketed) at 11:45am, or you can get your lunch from the Farmers Market Cafe or one of the on-site restaurants.

Our second series of workshops will begin at 1:30pm. Our educational programming wraps up with our last workshop series, which begins as 3:10pm.

Click Here for Full Schedule