Calendar of Events

May 10 - 14 and May 15 - 19 Hong Kong, China IOIA and Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre (HKORC) will cosponsor a 4.5 day Basic Organic Farm and a 4.5 day Basic Organic Processing Inspection Training using the HKORC-Cert Organic Standards as a reference. The courses will be held at Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China May 10-14 (Farm Course) and May 15-19 (Processing Course). Application forms and more information about the course are available at the website of HKORC at www.hkbu.edu.hk. For enquiries, please contact Sharon Chan or Isa Lin at e-mail: isalin@hkbu.edu.hk.

May 20 Anaheim, California. AEO's Rural Summit hosted by Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO). The Summit will focus on building connections between those working in microenterprise development, rural economic and community development, buy local efforts, www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=3002

May 22 Philo, Ohio. Blue Rock Region Spring Plant & Seed Exchange. www.bluerockstation.com

May 26 - 30 Langley, British Columbia, Canada IOIA and Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) will cosponsor a 4.5 day Basic Organic Crop Inspection Training using the proposed Canadian National Standard (version CGSB-2006) as the reference. USDA National Organic Standards variations will be identified. The course will be held at Kwantlen University College in Langley BC, Canada from May 26-30. Please contact Karen Fenske at Ph: 205-260-4429 Fax: 250-260-4436 e-mail: admin@certifiedorganic.bc.ca www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca

June 16 - 20 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress: Cultivate the Future. Cultivating the future is the fundamental motivation common to farmers, consumers, producers, researchers, scientists, activists and all those who believe that Organic Agriculture guarantees future generations with a healthy and fair environment. Modena, Italy www.ifoam.org/modena

June 29 - July 5 IGC-IRC Congress This forum will be the first time that these two important Congresses have met together to allow exchange and discussion on the multi-function of grasslands and rangelands in a changing world. Huhhot, China www.igc-irc.org/invitation.htm

July 20 - July 23 Denver, Colorado. 9th Inter Conference on Precision Agriculture. www.icpaonline.org

July 26 - 30 SWCS Annual Conference. The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Tucson, Arizona. www.swcs.org/en/conferences/_annual_conference/call_for_papers/

August 11 - August 29 Dexter, Oregon. Eco-Homes: An Introduction to Ecological Building and Appropriate Technology.
Have you ever wondered how to create a home that is energy efficient, environmentally friendly and designed for both human comfort and integration into the natural surroundings? This three-week intensive offers a broad overview of the elements of home building and design with a focus on Permaculture. www.lostvalley.org/EPI

August 20 - 25 Vermont: IOIA and Vermont Organic Farmers will cosponsor Basic Organic Livestock Inspection training in Vermont late summer 2008. Tentative date. More details and application form are pending.

September 1 Johnstown (just east of Columbus), Ohio. Ohio Green Living Fayre. A day of workshops, exhibits, demonstrations, old-fashioned family games, horse drawn wagon rides, the OEFFA organic farm tour, fishing, music and more. $5 per person, 11 am to 6 pm. www.ohiogreenliving.org

September 6 Charlevoix, Michigan. 2nd Annual "C.A.R.E.ENERGY FAIR. This fair is being organized by C.A.R.E. (Conservation and Renewable Energy), a group organized under WATCH, Inc. to help educate and promote conservation and clean, renewable energy in Charlevoix County. www.charlevoixlibrary.org

September 18 - September 19 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Fifth Annual Women in Agriculture & Small Business Conference www.greatplainsrcd.org

September 28 - October 4 Crete, Greece (several locations: organic farms and villages). Exchange Forum in Crete, Greece: Organic Agriculture & Traditional Foodways. Professional Experiential Learning Program. The Mediterranean Diet: Refreshing your understanding. Translating it to the plate.A culinary-cultural immersion program for agriculture, nutrition and culinary professionals. Participate in dialog, presentations, cultural exploration. www.cookingincrete.com www.fieldtoplate.com

October 4 - October 8 Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Re/Storing our Urban and Rural Communities.Co-sponsored by The Food Trust and many other Philadelphia area organizations. Scholarships available. www.healthyfoodconference.com/

October 20 - October 22 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. SWCS Farming With Grass Call for Papers. The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) will convene a conference to address the factors driving change in mixed agricultural systems. www.swcs.org/fwg