Organic farmers commonly struggle with weeds. Without the benefit of synthetic herbicides, organic farmers must rely on a host of ecological weed management (EWM) practices to control weeds.

Integrating EWM strategies on the farm can be challenging, however, due to the complexity in designing and evaluating these practices, the tendency for university outreach to focus on the risks of EWM strategies rather than their benefits, and an unclear understanding of how EWM strategies help farmers meet their on-farm objectives.

During this free phone/webinar session, Dr. Doug Bessette, Dr. Robyn Wilson, and Dr. Doug Doohan will discuss a new, easy-to-use online decision support tool, Organic Weed Manager, which can help organic farmers in identifying their on-farm objectives and evaluating EWM strategies and their performance.

The Organic Weed Manger tool uses multiple choice tasks to help farmers evaluate the short- and long-term trade-offs of EWM strategies, while also focusing their attention on their most important objectives.

Webinar participants are encouraged to follow along with their own computer and use the online tool during the webinar.

No registration is necessary.

Join online: https://osu.zoom.us/j/541632734

Join by phone: (646) 876-9923 (Phone meeting ID: 541 632 734)

About the Speakers:
• Doug Bessette is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University.
• Robyn Wilson is a Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University.
• Doug Doohan is a Professor and State Specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and director of the Organic Food and Farming Education and Research Program at The Ohio State University, located at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster.

Location:
Join online or by phone

Contact:
Eric Pawlowski / (614) 421-2022 /

https://osu.zoom.us/j/541632734

Planning for financial success on a grain farm requires understanding how various crop rotation and production decisions will influence financial returns. Those transitioning to organic may be especially unsure as they move into new realms of production and management. The new OGRAIN Compass is a planning tool to help producers understand the financial implications, at both the crop and whole-farm level, of their cropping decisions.

In this webinar OGRAIN Compass developers John Hendrickson of the University of Wisconsin Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and Jim Munsch of Deer Run Farm will review the concept and function of this valuable new tool. They will show how it works to predict financial results on a given piece of land over a ten-year planning period. OGRAIN Compass yields detailed financial results for the totality of the operation, including the impacts of cropping decisions in a proposed rotation, the cost of equipment, provision for investments to make the enterprise financially sustainable, and the full burden of overhead expenses. Users can easily adjust yield and price scenarios to view how these uncertainties affect the bottom line.

Register in advance at https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mFbBrUf3R46a8bJdkcvY6w

Location:
Join online or by phone

Contact:
Mark Locklear / (919) 515-2983 /

https://learn.extension.org/events/3698

OEFFA has been around for 40 years. That's amazing, when you think about it. Forty years of grassroots engagement from farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, activists, and lovers of food building a better way to eat together deserves a hearty cheers. From early meetings in living rooms, to a church basement, to housing more than 30(!) staff in our very own building, we've come a long way together and we are far from finished. So, let's party.

OEFFA World Headquarters is a friendly place filled with casual folks who like their Subarus, dogs, baked goods, and runes. We'd like to invite you down to the office to meet the staff, ask your burning organic questions, complain about weeds, enjoy some snacks, and peruse the office record collection. Bring a treat to share, if you are able, or simply bring yourself! We look forward to your good company.

This event is presented by OEFFA as part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted in the tour brochure. For more information about all events in the series, go to www.oeffa.org.

Location:
OEFFA World Headquarters
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
Milo Petruziello / (614) 421-2022 /

http://www.oeffa.org/news/40-years

Effective grassroots leaders make the difference. Indeed, you, OEFFA's members, make THE difference. Whether you are a long-time advocate for sustainable agriculture, a farmer who sees far too many farm policies harming small farms, or someone newly interested in local food seeking the best way to engage, OEFFA wants to see you thrive as a leader and advocate. OEFFA has partnered with the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL) to offer a special leadership training for OEFFA members. Participants will learn about OEFFA's structure, policy priorities, and avenues for engagement, while learning effective advocacy strategies and broadly applicable leadership skills, that will benefit you in your own work, business, or volunteer efforts.

Cost and Registration: $35, includes light breakfast fare and lunch. To register, go to https://action.oeffa.org/be-the-change.

This event is presented by OEFFA as part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted in the tour brochure. For more information about all events in the series, go to www.oeffa.org.

Location:
OEFFA Office
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
Milo Petruziello / (614) 421-2022 /

https://action.oeffa.org/be-the-change

Join Paisley from Sunbury Urban Farm to talk about winter composting. Learn different methods, like bokashi, to keep composting all winter long. Everything needed to get started will be available in the shop.

Location:
City Folk's Farm Shop
4760 N High St
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
City Folk's Farm Shop / ​614-946-5553 /

http://www.cityfolksfarmshop.com/

Anxiety and stress can wreak havoc on the body and can do serious damage if not kept in check. There are lots of natural remedies that can help curb that anxiety, like herbs and essential oils. Come learn how to use these to deal with stress and make it more manageable, naturally.

Attendees will sample some teas and test some essential oils to find what is most beneficial. Everyone attending this class will go home with a customized essential oil roller ball.

This class is taught by local Herbalist Brandy James of Rainbow Bee. The cost of this class is $25 and preregistration is required as space is limited.

Location:
City Folk's Farm Shop
4760 N High St
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
City Folk's Farm Shop / ​614-946-5553 /

http://www.cityfolksfarmshop.com/

Save the date! The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's 41st annual conference, A Climate for Change, will return to Dayton this winter! Ohio's largest sustainable food and farm conference features:

• Nearly 80 educational, inspiring workshops on sustainable farming, livestock, homesteading, gardening, and business on Friday and Saturday;
• A three day trade show with 90+ businesses, organizations, and government agencies offering food, books, equipment, products, information, and services;
• In-depth, full day Food and Farm School courses on Thursday;
• Engaging nationally-recognized keynote speakers Laura Lengnick and Eric Holt-Giménez;
• Made-from-scratch, local, organic meals;
• Thursday and Friday evening networking and receptions;
• Kids' conference, child care, and more!

Registration opens this fall. Sign up to receive conference updates at www.oeffa.org/conference2020.

Location:
Dayton Convention Center
22 E. 5th St.
Dayton, OH 45402

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /

http://www.oeffa.org/conference2020