Frequently, KHC features one of the Council’s member organizations to highlight how these groups support horticulture in Kentucky. This month, KHC is highlighting The Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK), a non-profit organization founded by farmers, for farmers.
OAK believes that taking care of our soils and environment through sustainable farming practices will create healthy and resilient communities. OAK works to grow ecological resilience, economic viability and socially-just futures for Kentucky farmers through educational, technical and market-driven resources.
When the original, dedicated group of Kentucky organic farmers founded OAK in 2009, the sustainable farming landscape across Kentucky was very different from what it is today. As interest and demand for local, organic food and farming has expanded over the years, we are lucky to have OAK to support, educate and connect our farmers and consumers.
OAK helps to sustain the organic farming community by offering an annual farming conference, monthly farmer field days, timely newsletters for growers and agriculture professionals and an organic transition training program for farmers considering or seeking organic certification. To support and encourage a healthy food system, OAK offers cooking demonstrations using in-season produce, community supported agriculture (CSA) fairs, online blog posts, consumer newsletters, and the Find-a-Farm Directory to connect community members and buyers with farmers across the Commonwealth. Visit OAK’s website to find out more about these resources.
Each winter, OAK hosts an invaluable farming conference that connects hundreds of attendees with a diverse array of dynamic speakers. Each year, the conference sessions cover topics such as current research in organic agriculture, soil health, organic pest and disease management, biodiversity on farms, seed saving, food system policy, specialty crops, climate resiliency, organic certification, CSA management and organic market access.
The events keep going after the conference too! Throughout the growing season, OAK offers a diverse on-farm field days. These events offer farmers and agricultural professionals the opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing. OAK Farmer Field Days hosted across the state and led by Kentucky farmers offer the opportunity for beginning farmers, advanced farmers and other interested parties to connect and share practical techniques and skills to improve their own farms, gardens and communities. Check out the line-up of upcoming field days scheduled in 2022 here!
If you want to support OAK’s mission to elevate organic growers and community members across the Commonwealth, you can make a tax-deductible donation or become a member. Members receive discounted registration for the annual conference and all OAK events, as well as discounts from supporting businesses.
For any questions you may have about sustainable, organic farming, send an email to info@oak-ky.org or call 502-219-7378.