A couple of terrific agriculture/gardening events are scheduled for this week in the Central Pennsylvania Region.

Both gatherings will offer plenty of information and dialogue that will be of interest to all backyard vegetable, fruit, and herb growers.

2008 Farming for the Future Conference

First up the 2008 Farming for the Future Conference kicks off with the pre-conference tracks starting today and the main workshops and lectures scheduled for Friday, February 8^th and Saturday, February 9^th.

The conference is organized by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and is a great resource for everyone from the home gardener, to the commercial farmer, and anyone interested in the quality of food that is grown and processed in their community.

For more information on this Sustainable Agriculture Conference visit the PASA website where you can obtain complete information on all the activities, view speaker biographies, check the topics and schedules for the gardening and farming workshops, download a conference brochure, and get directions to the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA.

BYFG Winter Workshops

Unfortunately the Backyard Fruit Grower’s Winter Workshops are scheduled for the same weekend as the PASA Conference this year, so you’ll have to make a choice about which event you’ll attend.

The BYFG workshops are open to the public and will be held at the Landis Valley Museum near Lancaster, PA on Saturday, February 9^th. The two hour workshops are $5 for BYFG members and $10 per workshop for the general public.

I was especially interested in the workshop on growing figs that will be presented by Bassem Samaan. Bassem was born in Beirut, Lebanon and currently grows over 40 varieties of figs in Bethlehem, PA. He will share his knowledge of growing figs and reminisce on the exotic fruits of his childhood in the Lebanese countryside.

BYFG/Heirloom Seed Project Workshop Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – Noon
  • Apple Pruning Hands-On Workshop
  • Growing Figs in South Central PA
  • Heirloom Seed Saving Techniques
• 1:00 – 3:00 PM
  • Appreciating Our Native Pawpaws
  • How to Grow Espaliered Fruit Trees
  • Keeping Honey Bees for the Beginner

Other Related Vegetable Gardening Posts:

• 2009 Farming for the Future Conference
• PASA Farm Conference 2007
• Organic Farming Workshops
• Sustainable Agriculture Association
• Organic Farming Internships