The 14th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference^™ is 153 days away from the day I write this. If you are within 60 miles, you can attend all three days, go to two short courses, and up to 53 talks, 100+ exhibit booths, and lots of demos, for just over $85—including gas at 15 miles per gallon. That means you only have to save 57¢/day for the next 153 days and you will have it—if you preregister. You can travel from 250 miles away, stay three nights in a nice hotel, attend one short course, and go to talks all three days, by saving only $2.12/day—if you preregister and stay at the host hotel.

If you want information, a fun time, and a farming tax deduction (for education), this is the best investment you can make. We make it affordable—you just have to make up your mind to be there and plan ahead.

John Ikerd, the most inspirational sustainable agriculture advocate in the country and columnist in Small Farm Today, will kick off the show—and also end it. Joel Salatin, the country’s best marketing and practical how-to farmer and speaker and excellent author, will be giving two three-hour short courses—one on marketing, and one on how to go from a backyard project to a white-collar salary.

There are loads of new and innovative talks this year. The first day focuses on what you can do with native plants—already on your farm in some cases—to make money. Speakers will cover natives such as cut flowers, elderberries, black cohosh, warm season grasses, and tree parts for profit potential.

Matthias and Andrea Reisen, from Avoca, New York, started as dairy farms but transitioned into the Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Educational Center. They have been selling organic herbs for the last 15 years—about a ton of dried herbs and 1,000 pounds of fresh herbs a year. They will give a three-hour short course on growing your own herb business—growing, packing, and marketing strategies (including Internet).

Kelly Klober will give you the latest on poultry, hog production, and marketing on a small scale. Kelly is nationally known for his insight and techniques—and for his column in this magazine. You will get lots of ideas from his experiences. Jeremiath Gettle from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company and Brook Elliott, SFT columnist and director of the Appalachian Seed Conservancy in Kentucky, also return to talk about production and marketing of popular heirloom and open-pollinated vegetables.

Mark Ostrye from Oklahoma will tell you about an aquaponics system using photovoltaics (solar energy)—no tilling, no weather problems, no back bending—it uses 90% less water and harvests 40% more from a given space than conventional means, without fossil fuels or grid power. Len Pense will give you some great ideas on using laborsaving cinder block raised beds for vegetable and flower production.

Doug Webster from Iowa will talk about low-cost hog panel hoophouses to extend your season, while George DeVault from Pennsylvania, former editor of New Farm and author of $15,000 on 1 Acre, will return to talk about and demonstrate construction, production, and marketing with hoophouses. Dan Dykema returns to demonstrate how to make biodiesel on your farm. David Moore, a cattle producer, will explain the ins and outs of beef production.

Other speakers include Steve Waggoner on meat goats, Steve Taylor on consumer trends in beef, Pat Byers on grafting and pruning, and Dan Sheckler on self-employment. There will be many more speakers, including about 25 short talks at the Farmers Forum on various production and marketing techniques for crops and livestock.

Knowledge for a lifetime is here—don’t miss this great show!