Original art by Sarah Rabkin
Work Trade - Discounts - Scholarships
Worktrade - Full
Working at EcoFarm is an excellent way to attend the conference at a reduced rate. Workers receive a discount of approximately $120 for 8 hours of work. The Work-Trade Program usually fills before the end of November. Assignments are based on previous experience, order received, and where help is needed. Commitment is for two 4-hour shifts. We need workers to help with registration, audio/visual, beverage service, booth staffing, setup, cleanup, etc. Send in forms ASAP, they will be accepted until November, 30th, but spots fill up fast. Assignments will be made by December 11, 2009.
Word docs should be emailed to Peggy Dillon, and .pdfs should be faxed or mailed, 831-763-2112, 406 Main Street, Suite 313, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Farmer Discount
We know it seems expensive to leave the farm behind and attend EcoFarm. But one good marketing connection or information about a great new technology can more than recover the conference fee. Our planning committee can sympathize with the economics of small farms (most of us have been there ourselves!). Therefore we offer $100 off of the conference package, $25 off of any overnight stay, and $20 off any full conference without lodging, if 80% or more of your income is from farming, and your NET income is less than $50,000 per year. If you are a farmer and meet this criteria you are invited to take a discount during the registration process.
Scholarships - Awarded
Scholarships are available for single day attendance and overnight on Friday.
Day Scholarships will be awarded to farm workers, low-income farmers, educators in farming or gardening programs, and students from high school or college who are studying agriculture or environmental studies. Two overnight scholarships are available for low-income farmers. Low-income is defined as less than $50,000 net income per year. Farmers are encouraged to apply!
New! Scholarships for Beginning Farmers! - Awarded
Thanks to the EcoFarm GenNext partnership with California FarmLink, funded by the USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program, we are pleased to offer 7 beginning farmer scholarships worth $250/each for EcoFarm 2010. Awardees may use the funds for any combination of conference attendance, lodging, or bus tours. For the purposes of this program, you are considered a beginning farmer if you are currently farming and have been farming for 10 years or less.
