Community Agriculture Conference

Thank you to our 2024 Conference Sponsors Forrest Keeling Nursery, DIG Annuals and Perennials, Custom Foodscaping and Branneky True Value Hardware.

8:30 a.m. Keynote Presentation

Climate Resilience and Community Empowerment with Seed Diversity, Chris Smith of The Utopian Seed Project. The keynote presentation will be streamed as part of the free virtual conference.

10:10 – 11:20 a.m. Sessions

~ The Whole Okra, presented by Chris Smith, Keynote Speaker, Utopian Seed Project
This session will be streamed as part of the free virtual conference.

~ Growing Medicinal Herbs, presented by Crystal Stevens, Flourish Folk Schools & Botanical Sanctuary

~ Accessibility in the Garden Panel
Panelists: Ron Brown, Friends of the Market Community Garden; Julie Nichols, Braille Instructor, Missouri School for the Blind
Moderator: Tonia Scherer, Director of Schools, Seed St. Louis

11:35 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Sessions

~ Garden Design with Native Plants for Stormwater Retention, presented by Allegra Pierce
This session will be streamed as part of the free virtual conference.

~ Indoor Mushroom Cultivation, presented by Chris Bettercourt

~ Sowing Seeds for the Sunflower Institute, presented by Nick Speed, Founder & Executive Director, Ujima; Derrick Blevins, Graduate of The Sunflower Institute

1:00 – 2:10 p.m. Sessions

~ Growing Lost Crops: Practical Insights into Ancient Indigenous Agriculture in the St. Louis Region, presented by Dr. Natalie Mueller, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Washington University
This session will be streamed as part of the free virtual conference.

~ Schoolyard Animal Husbandry: Worms & Bees, presented by Jessica Mathis and Melissa Breed-Parks, Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District

~ Regenerative Agriculture in Urban Settings, presented by Erica Williams, Executive Director, A Red Circle; Eric Williams, Food & Farm Associate, A Red Circle