We are working on plans for the 4th Educational Farm Symposium, scheduled for November 2009. If you would like to receive information about this event and you are not already in our database, please e-mail info at farmbasededucation dot org.
Information from the 3rd Educational Farm Symposium
Shelburne Farms and the Farm-Based Education Association co-hosted the 3rd Educational Farm Symposium November 8-10, 2007 at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. Over 175 people gathered together to network with colleagues, be inspired by success stories, and gain new knowledge to take back to their farm education programs. The goal of the symposium was to provide professional development and support to the farm-based education community through workshops, field trips, networking time, evening entertainment and hearty local food. To read some of the stories from the 3-day event, visit our News area.
Below is what we've collected from our speakers, workshop presenters, and our open space discussions. We hope this helps you carry the energy and enthusiasm from the Symposium back to your farms, into your offices, and into your daily work - whether you were able to be there or not.
If you were a presenter and/or
have some material that we could include on this page, please e-mail info@farmbasededucation.org.
MATERIAL FROM THE 3rd EDUCATIONAL FARM SYMPOSIUM
Symposium Brochure
List of Attending Organizations
Photos (Do you have some to add? Please send them along.)
Comments from Peter Forbes, 2007 Symposium Keynote Speaker
"Querencia, Refugia and Apocalypse" Click Here.
Peter Forbes is a photographer, writer, and farmer. A life-long student of the relationship between land and people, Peter has worked throughout the world to record and protect the value of a strong human relationship with the land. For more information on Peter and the work he does at The Center for Whole Communities in Fayston, Vermont, please visit www.wholecmomunities.org.
Workshops:
Resource Share Fest
Presenters: Michele Wales, Coverdale Farm and Dana Hudson, Shelburne Farms
List of available and "wish-list" resources for farm-based educators generated from the workshop. Click Here
Making Educational Farms Economically Sustainable
Presenter: Alec Webb, President, Shelburne Farms
A follow-up note from Alec and a list of "key ingredients" for financial stability. Click Here.
How to Say No: Decision making Tools for Your Organization
Presenter: Brooke Redmond, Executive Director, Farm Based Education Association
Fiasco! This American Life full episode, free download. Click Here.
List of reasons to say yes and no and organizational tools that can help you make decisions. Click Here.
Fiasco Prevention Plan Template
Keep the FUN in Fundraising
Presenters: Sue Dixon, Development Director and Megan Camp, Program Director, Shelburne Farms
Agenda & list of FUNdraising resources. Click Here.
The Dos & Don'ts of FUNdraising handout. Click Here
CPG Enterprises Resource list handout. Click Here. CPG Enterprises offers fundraising advice, support and training to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations.
Building, Maintaining, and Managing a Healthy Board
Presenters: Erin Cinelli, Executive Director, Spannocchia Foundation; Matt Goldfarb, Executive Director, the FARM Institute; Sam Feldman, FBEA board member and chairman of the FARM Institute board.
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Non Profit Boards and & Stages of board growth. Click Here.
Farm to School: Bringing Our Local Foods into the School Cafeterias
Presenters: Vermont FEED staff (Food Education Every Day) Dana Hudson & Erica Curry
Vermont FEED Taste Testing New Food in the Classroom and Cafeteria Guide Click Here.
Project Seasons, the Shelburne Farms curriculum with the “Posy Poetry” activity, and many other hands on activities to promote the discovery of natural and agricultural resources. Click Here.
VT FEED Guidebooks “A Guide for Connecting Farms to Communities” and “A Guide For Using Local Food In Schools” as well as the video “Grow Up Fresh, Vermont Farm to School” that were used during the workshop (or go to the VT FEED website). Click Here.
The National Farm to School Website is also a great place to find information.
Open Space
Symposium participants created working sessions to discuss specific challenges and opportunities in this field.
List of open space discussion topics. Click Here.
Pictures and more information coming soon!
Thank you to our generous sponsors! The following businesses and organizations contributed financial support, food, and other products to the 3rd Educational Farm Symposium. Many of them offer web-based mail order options - just in time for the holidays!
Shelburne Farms