OACC 44 Presentations

October 6-8, 2023, Hammond Mill Camp

Panel discussion: Re-localizing Food Systems

Ozark agriculturists on this panel discussion are playing key roles in developing ways for their communities to create more stable local food systems. Three of our presenters, as well as the panel moderator, were featured speakers in July at the Smithsonian's Ozark Folklife Festival in Washington, DC.  

This panel is offered both as part of the overall OACC events, as well as on its own. You may register to attend this panel discussion only, by going to the Event Registration page, and selecting 'food panel only' on the drop down menu. Panel begins at 1:30 pm. Please come in time to find your seat before the panel begins.  Panel Discussion Flyer

Panel Members

Maile Auterson, founder of Springfield Community Gardens, has grown the program to eighteen gardens, two urban farmers markets, and one hospital farm. She was a presenter on Community Agriculture at the Smithsonian's Ozark Folklife Festival this July.

Wren Haffner, a bioregional homesteader, is interested in breeding plants species that thrive under typical Ozark growing conditions.

Hannah Hemmelgarn, with MU’s Center for Agroforestry, is passionate about perennial tree crops, forest botanicals, and fungi for their contributions to food sovereignty and biocultural conservation. She was a speaker on Re-localizing Food Systems at the Smithsonian's Ozark Folklife Festival this July.

Mia Jones, founder of Soul Fresh Farms and United Community Change, Springfield, MO, works to increase healthier food access. She was a presenter on Community Agriculture at the Smithsonian's Ozark Folklife Festival this July.

Kelda Lorax runs an organic market garden near a small town in the Oklahoma Ozarks and teaches permaculture.

Sasha Daucus, panel moderator, is a regional expert on plants of the Ozarks, especially medicinal and edible plants. She worked as a Smithsonian researcher on Plant Knowledge Specialists in  preparation for the Smithsonian's Ozarks Folklife Festival, and attended the festival as a presenter and panel moderator. She has been an OACC coordinator since 2009.

Workshop: Composting A-Z

Professional composter Stan Slaughter and worm culture author Jo Olszewski will demonstrate techniques, based on experience and new science. Go home with real-world tips you can use to enrich your own patch of Ozarks soil and deepen your relationship with the Earth.

For more info, click here to see this year's OACC brochure.

Planned Activities

OACC includes both pre-scheduled and spontaneous presentations. Scheduled activities are listed here.

State of the Ozarks. This popular session offers the opportunity to hear what others are doing and to share your news. Be prepared to give a short talk about your event, project, organization, business, or ideas. Whether you’re new or a long-timer, this session can help you find connections.

Open Space. Previously unscheduled events are added to the roster during our Open Space session. Join us to add your presentation at OACC. We set the final schedule then. OACC is all about sharing and participating!

Children’s activities. We expect to have planned and informal activities for children, with the support of their parents or guardians.

Coffeehouse Talent Show. Fun and entertaining! Enjoy our participants’ many talents. Everyone, from the smallest child, is encouraged to perform, be it with music, poems, theatrics, dance, or jokes.

Vendor booths. Exhibitors set up displays for their Ozark-based, environmentally-friendly, cottage-industry products.

 

General Information

This year, most scheduled activities will take place on Saturday. However, we welcome you to arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday (especially if you are traveling a distance). Planned activities and planned meals will be minimal those two days, but we will be having a potluck and informal music Friday night, so bring your instruments to jam. Importantly, on Sunday morning we'll hold our plenary session during which we plan for the following year's OACC event.

The grounds will be open for tent camping and cabin use, which will be available on a first-come, first serve basis, with no RSVP needed this year.

Weather permitting,  we will be holding most activities outdoors. In case of rain, or unusual cold, we may need bring the event indoors.

We are NOT scheduling a big slate of pre-planned programs. Instead, we are asking OACC participants to self-organize during the event. So, we’re encouraging anyone who wants to host a talk or discussion to come prepared: bring your show-and-tell items and then to sign up during the Open Space process.