Program & General Schedule
OACC 46 Presentations
September 26-28, 2025, Hammond Mill Camp
Panel discussion: Forest Farming in the Ozarks
The panel features some of the most forward thinking practitioners in our area, including a pioneer in forest farming, as well as newer practitioners, and the new Midwest Forest Farming Coalition.
Panel Members
Richard Herman has the longest-running intentional forest farm in Missouri, with 25 years experience on his 30 acres near Marshfield.
Nathaniel Graham, of Rockbridge, practices Korean natural farming. He says "discover the secret world of microbes with KNF and widen our apertures with how we can partner with them."
Wren Haffner's Mountain Jewel farm is an off grid land project that lives into the question of how humans can align with Place through food forests, adaptation gardening, appropriate technology and natural building with local materials.
Ezra Houston, forest farming project coordinator at the Lincoln University of Missouri, will join to share about the Midwest Forest Farming Coalition. This partnership of farmers, researchers, and landowners working together to support forest farming in our region offers how-to resources, mentorship, workshops, and even a grant program to help people get started.
NEW PANELIST JOINING!
Douglas Bullock has lived with family, friends, and students on their Permaculture Homestead on Orcas Island in Washington State since 1981. He has facilitated or participated in comprehensive Permaculture projects and classes around the world. Through extensive travels, he is familiar with a wide range of climate strategies and crops. Specialties include permaculture design, tree crops, nursery practices, creating small and large-scale wetland environments, and implementing appropriate technologies.
Panel Moderator: Kelda Lorax runs an organic market garden in a small town in the Oklahoma Ozarks and teaches permaculture.
Panel Discussion: Mapping our Abundance: Matching Needs and Yields
Panelists will discuss innovative ways for local producers and the people who want their products to find each other.
Panel Members
Ryan Goolsby & Renee Cleveland run the Little Farm Store, a home delivery service that connects consumers with fresh farm products grown and produced by dozens of local growers.
Ayana Mayes will present OBMOE. What’s that? Ozarks Bioregional Map Of Everywhere! Learn about how we can leverage mapping to better connect and streamline our needs and yields sourcing and build a repository of information about our community through a new evolution in topography.
Amber Johnson will talk about the Needs/Yields Wheel, which she says describes "basic principals for a biological approach to the human condition. We will practice unpacking & nourishing the collective Vision & Strategy regarding what Bioregionalism is for each of us."
Other topics and activities are also emerging in which people from all around the Ozarks can share their interests and practices in bioregional culture at OACC.
Hands on apple cider pressing
A special event this year: Richard Herman will lead a cider pressing demonstration, complete with plenty of samples to taste. Come ready to cut up apples and help turn the crank.
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.
click here for this year's OACC brochure.
OACC Panelists
Richard Herman
Nathaniel Graham
Wren Haffner
Ezra Houston
Doug Bullock
Ryan Goolsby & Renee Cleveland
Ayana Mayes
Amber Johnson
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Program subject to change.
For more information contact our Coordination Team: Oaccleaf@gmail.com
General Information
We will be having a potluck and we'll be making apple cider on Friday evening, but otherwise, most scheduled activities will take place on Saturday. We welcome you to arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday (especially if you are traveling a distance). 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.
Weather permitting, we will be holding most activities outdoors. In case of rain, or unusual cold, we may need bring the event indoors.
The Friday cider pressing and the two above panel discussions on Saturday are the only 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.
GENERAL SCHEDULE
Preliminary information. Details subject to change
Friday
2 p.m. Set up begins. Exhibitors may set up if desired.
5 p.m. Registration open for anyone staying overnight. Go pitch your tent or set up your cabin space.
5 p.m. Hands-on apple cider pressing demonstration.
6:30 p.m. Dinner—Potluck.
7:30 p.m. or so. Fun activities, probably music. Possibly a campfire.
Saturday
8 a.m. Registration opens. Exhibitors may set up displays.
9 a.m. Opening Circle. Introduce yourself, make connections, learn about other participants. Very important for the full OACC experience.
After Opening Circle. Open Space Process. This is your time to sign up if you want to give a presentation or host a discussion.
10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. State of the Ozarks.
12:30—1:30 p.m. Lunch.
1:30—6:30 p.m. Presentations. Our two planned presentations plus workshops and other sessions, and the things everyone signed up for during Open Space. Our two featured presentations are Forest Farming in the Ozarks and Mapping our Abundance: Matching Needs and Yields.
6:30—7:30 p.m. Dinner.
After dinner. Coffeehouse Talent Show—Major fun!
Sunday
8-9 a.m. Breakfast. Simple breakfast food will be offered. Leftovers might be available.
8 a.m. - 12 noon. Open Space Opportunities. Cleanup.
9:30-11 a.m. OACC 47 Congress Planning Session. All are encouraged to attend this session of the Congress, which determines the future of OACC!
11 a.m. - 12 noon. Silent auction for unused food. Some leftovers might be available for lunch. Cleanup.
After cleanup. Closing Circle.
________________________________
Program subject to change.
For more information contact our Coordination Team: Oaccleaf@gmail.com