Soil Health Breakfast
2024-11-13 07:30 - 09:00 (America/Toronto) | Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District, 771 East Main Street Suite 100, Newark, Ohio, 43055, United States
Join Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District for bacon, eggs, and soil health! Attendees will receive a free breakfast while learning how to use Web Soil Survey to create a personalized soil map. The hosts will share information about cover crops, soil health, and drought assistance programs, and attendees will have the opportunity to take their own soil test. The meeting will provide fertilizer re-certification credit.
No registration required.

Celebrating Soil Health in the Miami Valley
2024-11-13 14:00 - 16:00 | The Foodbank Inc., 56 Armor Place, Dayton, 45417, United States
Let’s celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week with a special focus on the Miami Valley. Local organizations such as The Foodbank, Inc., The Ohio State University Extension Montgomery County Office, Central State University Extension Southwest Office, and Five Rivers MetroParks are collaborating to provide their programs at The Foodbank’s Urban Garden.
Exploring the innovative approach to tackling hunger through soil health, the tour of The Foodbank, Inc.’s Urban Garden shines a light on sustainable solutions in the Dayton area. The OSU Extension’s demonstration of the Soil Moisture “Robot” and insights on interpreting soil test results lay the groundwork for understanding soil’s vital role. Further discussions with Five Rivers MetroParks delve into the potential of soils as carbon sinks, offering a dual benefit of climate change mitigation and enhanced soil fertility, while the compost kitchen initiative demonstrates practical steps for waste reduction and soil enrichment. CSU Extension complements this knowledge with a deep dive into the benefits of cover crops and soil biology alongside practical soil infiltration tests, offering a holistic view of soil health.
Register for free here.

Those Who Feed Us: An Art Exhibition Celebration Soils
2024-11-13 16:30 - 19:30 | Hopkins Hall Lobby (main floor), 128 North Oval Mall, Columbus, 43210, United States
To celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week, the Living Art and Ecology Lab at The Ohio State University’s Department of Art invites you to a short, juried exhibition seeking to appreciate those who feed us through building and maintaining our soils. Artists are invited to submit work that explores soil as community: from microbes and mycelium, to plants and people, and beyond. Artists working in all mediums are welcome to apply. Submissions are due by October 20th at 11:59 p.m.
Registration not required.

2024 BIPOC Farm Tour Circuit
2024-11-14 09:15 - 17:30 | Eden’s Harvest, 307 Saint Louis Avenue, Dayton, 45405, United States
Join the Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice in celebrating the first annual Ohio Soil Health Week with a full day of BIPOC farm tours. This is a unique opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the regenerative farming community, as well as the practices they use to regenerate the soil.
Tour Highlights:

Farm Visits: Explore diverse regenerative farming practices and learn from new and experienced BIPOC farmers.
Lunch: Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch featuring fresh ingredients sourced directly from from of the farms we will visit, creating a delicious and sustainable dining experience.
Networking: Engage with fellow farmers, community members, and advocates for regenerative agriculture.

Register by Monday, November 11, 2024 here. Limited spots available.

Soil Health Rally
2024-11-14 11:30 - 14:30 | Athens County Municipal Court, 8 East Washington Street, Athens, 45701, United States
Celebrate Ohio Soil Health Week by joining Rural Action and partners to learn about soil health in Ohio and hear from local and state speakers. Get fired up for soil health by learning about its role in food production, watershed health, and climate mitigation. Visit Rural Action at tables around the Athens Courthouse steps before and after the speakers to enjoy demos and learn more in-depth. Attendees at this event will learn about the past, present, and future of soil health conservation in Ohio and what they can do in their backyard to take part.
Registration not required.

Artist Talk: Teatime with Soil Kin
2024-11-14 14:30 - 15:30 | Hopkins Hall Lobby (main floor), 128 North Oval Mall, Columbus, 43210, United States
In honor of Ohio Soil Health Week, the public is invited to join artist and Ohio State professor of Art & Technology Amy Youngs for tea in the Hopkins Hall lobby as she discusses her artistic practice for listening to and learning from soils. Participants will consider the many critters at work in making soil, and will participate in this circle of life by offering their tea bags to one of the artists’ homemade worm bins at the end of the talk. Tea and mugs will be provided, although participants are encouraged to bring their own mugs as well.
Registration not required. Additional details will be posted here.

Soil Health Testing Livestream
2024-11-14 15:00 - 15:30 | Zoom
You don’t have to be a soil scientist to know if your soil is healthy. To celebrate Ohio Soil Health week, you’re invited to join Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District as they look at soil health at one of their Urban Greens Community Gardens, Marshall Greens. This short, virtual program might give you the tools to check your soil health at home. You’ll see how to utilize a penetrometer and shovel to measure compaction, infiltration rings to measure water infiltration, and a slate test to measure aggregate stability. Expect a few more tricks and tips!
The event will be virtual on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MuskingumSWCD

Take Action for Soil Health!
2024-11-15 08:00 - 17:00 | OH
Celebrate the first annual Ohio Soil Health Week by joining OEFFA in telling Ohio legislators that soil health matters! OEFFA, the Ohio Soil Health Initiative, and allies are urging decision-makers to pass House Bill 568, which would create a Healthy Soils Task Force to develop a comprehensive healthy soils initiative for Ohio.
Healthy soil is essential to our future. Soil is the foundation of our food and farm systems and when its health is prioritized, it holds more water, reduces runoff, and protects water quality. Healthy soils also help combat climate change by sequestering carbon and building on-farm resilience to withstand the ever-increasing extreme weather events. Farmers want to take advantage of soil health practices that build soil fertility and reduce their need for fertilizer—keeping more money in their pockets. Ohio policies can help.
That’s why OEFFA, the Ohio Soil Health Initiative, and allies are urging decision-makers to pass House Bill 568, which would create a Healthy Soils Task Force to develop a comprehensive healthy soils initiative for Ohio.
In just a few minutes, you can email your Ohio legislators to let them know how important soil health is to Ohio—and that you want support for this vital piece of legislation!
Take action now!

Organic Vegetable Production Deep Dive
2024-11-15 08:30 - 16:00 | 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, 44691, United States
Join FairShare CSA Coalition for this day-long workshop on organic vegetable production, food safety, and market connections.
The day-long workshop will be held in Wooster, Ohio and is for organic and organic-leaning vegetable producers. Whether you’re scaling up or honing your skills to serve current customers, learning from your peers can help you improve production systems to work better for you and your farm needs. Join FairShare CSA Coalition as they take a deep dive into organic vegetable production on two crops – carrots and onions – with three farmers of varying scales per crop as they share the details of their systems. A regional buyer will also be present to share opportunities for sales outlets, and food safety practices will also be included.
Registration is $45 including breakfast, snacks, and lunch, and the deadline is Friday, November 8.

18th Annual Stinner Summit
2024-11-15 09:00 - 16:00 | The Lodge at Hocking College, 15770 SR 691, Nelsonville, 45764, United States
Each year the Stinner Summit gathers farmers, researchers, educators, policy leaders, and organizations together in a different region of Ohio. Using a participatory process, specific project ideas are crafted and then funded through the Stinner Endowment.
This year the event returns to southeast Ohio on Friday, November 15. Participation is open to anyone with an interest in healthy agroecosystems, but registration is required. A lunch featuring local foods will be provided.
The Stinner Summit is an opportunity to learn what others are doing to advance local food systems, share individual ideas and experiences, and pool resources to design community-led initiatives. To learn more about the Stinner Summit or Ohio State’s AMP program, visit amp.osu.edu.

Healthy Soil Festival
2024-11-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Hamilton County Conservation District Training Center, 2710 East Kemper Road, Sharonville, 45241, United States
Join the Hamilton County Conservation District for a morning of fun and learning as we celebrate healthy soil—and the first annual Ohio Soil Health Week!!
Healthy soil supports growing healthy food, both in our backyard gardens and in our crop fields. Healthy soil also supports communities that are good places to live: nourishing shade trees and landscaping, absorbing rainwater, and supporting diverse wildlife. At the Healthy Soil Festival, you can learn ways to help improve and protect soil in your own yard or neighborhood.
The Open House style Festival will include interactive learning stations and exhibitor and vendor booths. The last hour of the Festival will be a program on soil testing with a speaker describing how to conduct a soil test, how to interpret results, and introducing methods to improve soil fertility to achieve your growing goals. Attendees are welcome to bring their soil test results (if they have tested in advance), or they can pick up soil test kits that day to bring home.
Registration is recommended but not required.

BYO Bucket Cincinnati Compost Sale
2024-11-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Camp Washington Perennial Farm, 3220 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, 45225, United States
In honor of Ohio Soil Health Week, join Green Umbrella at Camp Washington Perennial Farm for their “Bring Your Own Bucket” fall compost sale! This 2-hour event offers high-quality compost perfect for putting your gardens to bed for the winter, along with essential education on the composting process.
Event Goals:

Provide high-quality compost for fall garden winterization

Educate attendees about the composting process and its benefits for soil health

Promote sustainable gardening practices for the fall and winter seasons

Showcase our farm’s commitment to soil stewardship

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own buckets to purchase compost by volume ($8), with bagged compost also available for sale ($10). Learn how to properly prepare your garden for winter using our nutrient-rich compost. Our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to explain the composting process and answer your fall gardening questions.
Open to the public (gardeners)
If you’re looking for compost now, order online any time, and learn more at the Common Orchard Project’s website.

Common Ground Virtual Film Screening
2024-11-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
Join OEFFA Policy in celebrating the first annual Ohio Soil Health Week with a virtual screening of Common Ground. This 2023 film is a companion to Kiss the Ground, which was released in 2020. Common Ground explores regenerative agriculture and its potential to heal our soil, communities, and planet. After the film, we’ll have some time for sharing thoughts and ideas.
Register for free here.

Farmer Help Shop
2024-11-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
OEFFA’s team of educators is available to assist farmers at any stage of their journey. Whether you are making the switch to organic, are already certified, or have questions about sustainable agriculture practices, OEFFA can share guidance and support. Drop in virtually each month to talk to sustainable agriculture educators with your queries and questions.
Click the link below to register and receive the Zoom meeting link.

Ohio Proud Food Summit
2024-11-21 11:00 - 13:00 | The Department of Agriculture, Bromfield Building Auditorium, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 43068, United States
Looking for something new, made by food and agricultural producers, to add to your menu, grocery store, or specialty retail space? If so, the Ohio Department of Agriculture invites you to attend the Ohio Proud Food Summit event on Thursday November 21, 2024, from 11am-1pm.
The Ohio Proud Food Summit features Ohio Proud partners and their locally made products and is FREE to attend!
Join us in meeting local businesses and sampling Ohio made products that include snack foods, baked goods, condiments, specialty sauces, bath and body care– and more! Please complete the attached form and submit your RSVP to Ashley.McDonald@agri.ohio.gov by Thursday, November 14, 2024.
REGISTRATION FORM

Greener Pastures: Film Screening & Discussion with MVEG
2024-11-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Running a family farm is hard enough. Add in climate change, a worldwide pandemic, and the increasing economic uncertainty brought on by megafarms, and it’s easy to see that being an independent farmer in America is a profession of survival. Following four Midwest family farms over several years, the documentary Greener Pastures is a story of perseverance within the farming industry in the heartland.
Join FairShare CSA Coalition live to watch the 90-minute documentary, hosted by the Midwest Vegetable Growers Network, and then stick around for conversation with two of the farmers featured in the documentary: Chris Petersen, from Iowa, and Jeff Ditzenberger, from Wisconsin. We’ll have lightly facilitated discussion with an opportunity for open Q&A. View educational resources related to the film here.
This event is brought to you by FairShare CSA Coalition and the MVEG Network’s working group on Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health. Find our support resources here.
Register for free here.

Ohio Organic Farmer Research Network Meeting
2024-12-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Help OOFRN consider a farmer-led working group model to develop projects and proposals in the future. We will discuss ways to build this structure and also share feedback on specific research ideas to move forward. Active network participants are encouraged to provide feedback, specific ideas, or general suggestions. We’re open to new participants as well. If you know someone with an interest in organic research, please invite. No experience needed, just interest!
Past OOFRN meeting session topics and YouTube links are posted at offer.osu.edu/oofrn-events.

OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter Meeting
2024-12-06 09:45 - 13:15 | Wildcat Cafe, 300 S Buffalo St, Vanlue, 45890, United States
The OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter will meet on Friday, December 6 from 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at the Wildcat Cafe in Vanlue. They have a decent menu and are reasonably priced. Everyone is responsible for their own lunch (and tip).
RSVP to Bridget by email (grain.growers.oeffa@gmail.com) or text your RSVP including name to (419) 491-4436.

2025 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference
2025-01-09 - 2025-01-10 | Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, 7000 Kalahari Drive, Sandusky, 44870, United States
The 3rd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be January 9-10, 2025 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. This event is managed by Ohio State University Extension and the OFFER program. Attendance for 2024 exceeded 240, and included farmers, suppliers, researchers, and educators from Ohio, Indiana, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and beyond. Whether you’re a long-time organic grain grower or looking to learn how to incorporate more organic approaches in your operation, you will find useful information and networking opportunities at this event.
Click the link below to learn more and register.

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter Meeting
2025-01-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Morley Library meeting room B, 184 Phelps Street, Painesville, 44077, United States
Join OEFFA’s Lake Effect Chapter for a potluck and presentation! Watch an educational and inspiring slideshow from a past OEFFA Conference workshop that dives into the soil web of life, powerfully reinforcing your reasons for striving to grow and eat organic.
The presentation is about 45 minutes long, so there will hopefully be time to share thoughts and socialize as well. Please bring a dish to share (or just some organic chips or fruit!) along with a plate and utensils to the potluck.

Ohio State Soil Health Webinars 2025
2025-01-16 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
In this monthly series, farmers, industry, and academic experts will weigh in on practical steps to improve soil health and measure impact on crop yield and farm profitability. Please plan to join us for all four sessions!
Topics and Speakers:

January 16: Zooming into soil health via a producer, an educator, and a researcher lens
February 13: Understanding the basics and practicalities of biologicals
March 20: Comparisons of soil health tests and what they are telling us?
April 10: Soil health in the urban sphere

You can choose to attend one or more of the webinars. All of them will be recorded for later viewing. The link for the recording will be shared with registrants via email when it becomes available.

MOFFA 2025 Organic Intensives
2025-01-18 | Michigan State University, Plant & Soil Sciences Building, MI, United States
MOFFA’s Organic Intensives is a one-day conference that offers in-depth knowledge that can be immediately applied, empowering YOU to make a real difference when it comes to organic, ecological, and regenerative farming and gardening practices.
Attendees can expect to learn about:

Korean Natural Farming
Climate Smart Farming
Creative Marketing Practices

Click the link below to learn more.

OEFFA Policy Film Screening Series: Feeding Tomorrow
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs, 45387, United States
Feeding Tomorrow is a 2024 documentary showcasing a group of visionary leaders in agriculture, healthcare, and education working toward more regenerative, resilient, and just local food systems. The film will get us to think differently about what we eat, and feel inspired to take action.
Join OEFFA Policy and Hall Hunger Initiative as we explore the many facets of our food and farming systems and hear the stories of those most intimately connected to climate problems and solutions. After some of the films, there will opportunities to keep the ideas and conversations flowing about how we can work together for policy change.
Registration is required, but the screenings are free and open to the public.
Closed captioning will be offered. Please contact us for additional accommodations and support.

Food as Medicine Mini Conference
2025-01-22 09:00 - 13:00 | 1819 Innovation Hub – University of Cincinnati, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, 45206, United States
The Urban Farming Initiative invites you to the Food as Medicine Mini Conference, a game-changing event that’s all about empowering Cincinnatians to take control of their health by understanding what happens to their bodies and minds based on the food they are eating.
Date: January 22, 2024
Location: University of Cincinnati 1819 Innovation Hub
Audience: Any person or organization interested in gaining confidence about their food choices in their local food economy.
Mini-Conference Agenda
9:00am – 10:00am: Networking with Local Coffee & Breakfast Businesses.
10:00am – 10:15am – Opening and welcome with Kevin Mackey, Co-founder of the Urban Farming Initiative, and Hannah Griswold, Food As Medicine Director at La Soupe.
10:15am – 10:45am – Keynote presentation with UC Health Food As Medicine researcher, Dylan Steen, M.D., M.S., who will be discussing his SuperWIN study conducted with Kroger.
10:45am – 11:15am – Food As Medicine social trends, courtesy of social trend startup Nichefire (Abby Zennie) and UC Next Innovation Scholar (NIS) students.
11:15am – 11:45am – Audience-based Q&A with a panel of diverse experts ranging from cardiologists, food executives, food entrepreneurs, community leaders, nutritionists, chefs, and others you can ask about how the food you consume impacts your body. Panelists include:

Councilwoman Anna Albi – Cincinnati City Council; Champion for Food As Medicine programs.
Dr. Florence Rothenberg: Cardiologist, Founder of Heart of Northside
Frank Sawyer, MHA – Senior Vice President of Operations, Trinity Health Oakland Hospital
Katie Jesurun – Chef, Goosefoot Cook and Grow
Laura Brown, MS, RDN, LDN – Director of Nutrition at Kroger
Meghan Henshaw – Founder of Ocotillo Herbals; Food As Medicine educator.
Radha Lakshmi – Chef, Storyteller, Artist

11:45 – 12:00pm – Showcase of local food and nutrition businesses giving quick 3 minute pitches about who they are and how they can benefit your health.
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Networking with Local Lunch & Food Products Businesses

Visiting Artist Talk: Ruth Burke
2025-01-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Hopkins Hall Room 358, 128 N Noval Mall, Columbus, 43210, United States
The Living Art and Ecology Lab at The Ohio State University invites the general public to a visiting artist talk about work intersection of art and agriculture on Wednesday, January 29 from 4-5 p.m.
Ruth Burke is an interdisciplinary artist whose socially engaged practice straddles the fields of contemporary art, human-animal studies, and agriculture. Burke’s work has focused on collaborating with animals since 2015, and her current focus is a series of large-scale native plant earthworks powered by animal traction. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Video Art in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, School of Art. She also runs DAP STUDIOS LLC, an art-and-agriculture business for hire on public artworks and small scale agricultural or garden projects.

Farmers and Farmers Markets Gathering at Mid-Ohio Farm
2025-02-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Mid-Ohio Farm on the Hilltop, 140 N Wheatland Ave, Columbus, 43223, United States
The aim of this gathering is for farmers and farmers market managers/participants to gather and share experiences related to the challenges and opportunities serving central Ohio communities. We will be joined by eco-activist farmer and civil rights activist Jim Embry, who will offer his own experiences speaking with folks throughout the country.
This event will take place at Mid-Ohio Farm on the Hilltop on Tuesday, February 11th, from 6-7:30 p.m. This is a free event, and refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP using this form. RSVPs will be accepted in the order they are received until the event reaches capacity.

Keynote Lecture on Hip Hop and Agriculture
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:30 | The Hale Center, 154 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, 43210, United States
Join Ohio State, Slow Food Columbus, and OSU campus and community partners for Jim Embry’s keynote lecture on hip hop and agriculture. Jim Embry is a lifelong civil rights activist, farmer, eco-activist, educator, social justice advocate, and public speaker.
Participants are able to join in two ways: in person at 132 Hale Hall (MLK Lounge) and online.
For in-person attendance, please use this RSVP form.
To receive the Zoom link, please register here.

2025 OEFFA Conference
2025-02-13 - 2025-02-15 | Cherry Valley Hotel & Ohio Event Center, 2299 Cherry Valley Road SE, Newark, 43055, United States
The 46th annual OEFFA conference will take place February 13-15, 2025 in Newark, Ohio. This celebrated conference welcomes hundreds of farmers, gardeners, and food supporters to learn, shop, and connect at Ohio’s largest sustainable agriculture conference. From backyard gardening to pasture management to food policy, this 3-day event covers diverse themes in organic and sustainable agriculture. Registrants enjoy dozens of workshops, hands-on demonstrations, locally-sourced meals, an exhibit hall of shops and information, and much more.
Learn more at conference.oeffa.org.
