2012 Speaking Schedule
Nancy & Michael Phillips

We're thrilled to offer our take on earth wisdom whenever the opportunity arises. Hope to see ya soon!

January 20-22, NOFA-NY Winter Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York. Michael will unveil The Full Skinny on Orchard Health in a full-day course that details what needs doing when in the organic orchard. Michael's other workshops include Growing and Harvesting Healing Herbs, Medicinal Uses of Fruits & Fruiting Plants, and the ever-evolving Earth Medicines for Plants. Learn all about this gargantuan learning opportunity at nofany.org.

February 2-4, Farming for the Future Conference, State College, Pennsylvania. Michael will present many surprising ideas about understory ecology, holistic disease management, and our attitude about other species in a full-day Advanced Orchard Health course on Thursday. Conference workshop sessions will cover Home Orchard Basics and The Art of Grafting. Learn all about this inspiring conference from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.

February 10-12, NOFA-VT Winter Conference, Burlington, Vermont. Michael will teach a full day intensive on Orchard Health Applications along with a full overview of grafting techniques. See NOFA-VT's Annual Events page to learn more.

February 23, Organic Tree Fruit Association, La Crosse, Wisconsin. This full-day on Holistic Orchard Management with Michael and fellow fruit growers is as good as it gets. Learn more about membership in OTFA and attending this annual meeting at organictreefruit.org.

February 24-25, Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mark your calendars for the full "barnyard tour" of the Holistic Paradigm for Growing Healthy Fruit for home orchardists. A second talk on Fungal Dynamics Underlying Plant Health will appeal to all gardeners eager to understand holistic growing techniques and homegrown spray options. Learn all about this gargantuan learning opportunity from the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service.

March 3, NOFA-NH Winter Conference, Kingston, New Hampshire. Michael's first orchard workshop of the day features a high-speed introduction to Growing Healthy Fruit followed by a rundown of the best Apple Varieties for New England. Check out NOFA-NH's Conference page and get on board!

March 9, NOFA-CT Orchard Intensive, Rockfall, Connecticut. Landscapers and home orchardists alike will learn about Growing Fruit in a Healthy Orchard Ecosystem. Everything changes when you embrace the right biology. This full-day program with orchard health expert Michael Phillips will inspire you to tap into all sorts of natural advantage. We'll finish our time together in an actual orchard to find out just what the trees have to add. Details can be found on this NOFA Organic Land Care page.

March 10, Philadelphia Orchard Project, Bartram's Garden, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This combination course on home orchard basics and competent pruning with Michael will take place at America's oldest botanical garden. Hats off to the urban orchardists who want in on the love of all things fruit! Learn more here.

April 14, Grafting and Pruning Workshop, Brownington, Vermont. Michael enjoys this annual demonstration day at the Old Stone House Museum in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Participants get to graft seedling rootstock under Michael's tutelage and then get to take their "trees-to-be" back home. Pruning is explained in layman's terms and then aptly demonstrated.

May 5, MOFGA Orchard Class, Unity, Maine. Michael enjoys heading "downeast" to teach folks for a full day on growing tree fruit organically for their families and communities. Come for a complete rundown on orchard pests, allies, diseases, and proven varieties from the holistic perspective. We'll spend time indoors on the theory and roam the Common Ground orchards at the MOFGA fairgrounds for hands-on Q&A time. Check out MOFGA's Events Calendar for all pertinent details.

May 19, Holistic Orchard Intensive, Langdon, New Hampshire. Michael will discuss the key role fungal duff management and optimal nutrition plays for fruit trees and woodsy berries. We will meet in a homestead orchard at the tail end of spring bloom, an excellent time to identify the insect and disease dynamics faced by all New England growers. The core paradigm for this hands-on day centers on orchard health. Check in with NOFA-NH to pre-register (a must) and get all the other pertinent details.

September 14-15, Heritage Harvest Festival, Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. The good folks of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation have invited this "organic yankee heretic" down to teach at Jefferson's heirloom orchards dating back to colonial times. Details will be announced at the festival website as more and more great speakers become confirmed.

November 3-4, Cider Days, Shelburne, Massachusetts. Come for two days of orchard tours, cider making and tastings, and workshops. This is for all who love apples, fresh or hard cider, apple cuisine, apple orchards or just being in New England in the fall. Apple lovers need to check out Cider Days in Franklin County in the Berkshires! Michael will be there to give an organic orchard tour, share growing insights with other noted orchardists, and lead a traditional wassail ceremony.

Don't forget to check out our schedule of classes as well! Our programs here at Heartsong Farm emphasize meeting the plants and connecting with the spirit of the land. Many find the chance to visit this blessed spot a healing adventure just in itself. Each year we'll be hosting notable community herbalists who will offer advanced teachings as part of our ongoing Further Your Herbal Wisdom series. Orchardists-to-be will want to mark their calendars for our Organic Apple Intensive weekend with Michael held early in the summer. We're honored to have you join us.

We can come to your Conference! Interested in having us come to speak about organic orcharding, community herbalism, and self-reliant living? All you have to do is ask! We'll send you a presentation flyer outlining the types of talks we offer and our needs as regards expenses. Michael is available as well to do organic orchard consultations, which include a site visit and mentoring throughout a growing season.