Breakout Sessions
Saturday, February 15th. 1:30pm.
Growing citrus fruit
in Nebraska in a geothermal greenhouse. Russ
Finch
Russ Finch will talk
about his geothermal greenhouse, design and utilization, success and failures.
About Russ: has a long history of involvement in a variety of
professions. Russ has been involved in seismographing, served in the army, has
been a baker and cook, has been involved as a farmer for 45 years and
manufacturing for 31 years. He has worked with the post office for 27 years and
finally has been involved in greenhouses for 35 years. Mr. Finch’s passion for
the last several years has been developing the geo-thermal system and high
plains structure adapted to his geo-thermal system. Russ grew his geo-thermal
greenhouse design from a heating system he used for his home near Alliance. At
81 years of age, Mr. Finch incorporated a new business to market the "Greenhouse
in the Snow" design/structure. Mr. and Mrs. Finch have been married 66
years have a son & daughter.
Learning the Language of the Fields. Daniel Deffenbaugh
Though
the health and environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture are well
known, a lesser emphasized aspect of this practice is the spiritual growth that
can take place as we become intimate conversation partners with the land. For
centuries, philosophers and clerics in the West have downplayed the human
relationship with nature preferring instead to accentuate our distinction from
the natural world on which we are ultimately dependent. Sustainable
agricultural practices serve as a means of reintroducing us to our natural
home, helping us, in the words of Thoreau, to "learn the language of the
fields." In so doing, we regain a sense of what it means to be both
physically and spiritually whole.
About Daniel: Daniel G.
Deffenbaugh is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hastings College and
author of Learning the Language of the Fields: Tilling and Keeping as Christian
Vocation. A native of southern Ohio, he has been an organic gardener and seed
saver for over thirty years. His current academic work focuses on the notion of
integrated health, which sees human well-being as a dynamic balance of
spirituality, physical vitality, community involvement, and ecological
integrity.
Seed Saving for Resilience. Betsy Goodman
Historically, seed
saving is something that every gardener did. Now, we are more product oriented
and less aware of the value associated with allowing our plants to complete the
whole cycle, that is-seed, plant, fruit, seed. Here, we will discuss the
importance of seed saving as well as the fundamental basic concepts that a seed
saver needs to know. Then, we will focus on specific vegetables upon
request.
About Betsy: Elizabeth graduated from Northern Arizona University in
2009 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies, emphasizing in Sustainability,
Community, and Biocultural Diversity. She has worked with various farmers, herbalists,
and seed producers along the West Coast. Fall 2011, Elizabeth attended Seed
School from NATIVE Seed Search in Tuscan, AZ. Since 2010, Elizabeth has been
Production Assistant at BloomsOrganic Farm. Every year, Elizabeth works with
the Douglas County Health Department and the Douglas County Extenuation office
to plan a community wide Seed Swap. Additionally, Elizabeth is the Founder and
Volunteer Coordinator for Omaha Public Library's, Common Soil Seed
Library.
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