RATES & DISCOUNTS

Click here for EcoFarm University fellowships, scholarships, work trade, and farmer discounts.

Note: In the past few years we have filled all conference lodging by Christmas. Register early!

Attendees

EcoFarm Conference welcomes all stakeholders in food production. Organic and ecological farmers and ranchers, from small family operations to large producers; handlers and marketers; students, educators and researchers; activists and governmental agencies—all are represented at the conference. Sessions focused to our diverse constituencies will provide the latest agricultural techniques on farm, water and soil management, processing and distribution systems, regional food systems, and food and agriculture policies.

Conference Options and Packages

Conference packages include lodging and three meals per night: dinner, breakfast, lunch. Prices are based on the number of days attending and room type. Registration, both online and by mail/fax, itemizes conference package and housing prices separately, but will total the prices outlined below. Note: The prices below do not include optional extras such as suite upgrades, pre-conference sessions and/or housing, beer and wine tastings, or EcoFarm donations.

With the intention of creating a stronger community, we encourage everyone to register for the full conference. The time spent together in sessions, casual conversations, meal times, and evening events is invaluable to discovering new avenues for pursuing our common goal—creating sustainable farms, food systems, communities and environments.

This year in addition to our full conference lodging package, we are offering a two night package — Thursday & Friday night lodging.  Single night packages with lodging may be available for online only registration after January 1, 2012. In addition, several options are available for discounted attendance at EcoFarm 2012. Click here for details.

Discounted Conference Opportunities

EcoFarm offers discounted conference registrations to attendees in four categories: Fellowship recipients, Scholarship recipients, Work-Trade volunteers, and limited-resource Farmers. If you have trouble with the scholarship or fellowship applications, please contact us using the phone number or email on the form or print and mail your application to: EcoFarm, 2901 Park Ave., Suite D-2, Soquel, CA 95073.

EcoFarm University Fellowships
The Fellowships are open until filled!
EcoFarm will be recruiting the first “EcoFarm University” farmer cohort to participate in a training program that will include a full scholarship to the “Expanding Your Direct Marketing Values” pre-conference and the EcoFarm Conference 2012. EcoFarm Fellows will participate in this program with the goal of increasing their farm revenues by 10% through direct marketing strategies and pursuing marketing opportunities to USDA designated 'food deserts' in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Fellowships are available until filled. Applicants need to register for the conference independently of their fellowship application by December 9, 2011 in order to receive the early registration discounts in the event that they are not accepted as a Fellow.  Recipients will receive a refund in the amount of their fellowship award.
Click here to download the application.
Then select download and be sure to save your completed form on your computer before you submit.
You MUST use Adobe Reader to complete and submit this form (not Preview). Click here to download the latest version.

Scholarships
EcoFarm provides scholarships primarily to farmers and secondarily to students and educators in agriculture. Scholarships are available for single day attendance, overnights, and for the full conference. Scholarships will be available for farm workers, low-income farmers, educators in farming or gardening programs, and students from high school or college who are studying agriculture or environmental studies. New immigrants and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications in English and Spanish are available and must be emailed or postmarked by Friday, December 9, 2011. Applicants will be notified by Monday, December 19, 2011 of scholarships awarded.  Applicants need to register for the conference independently of their scholarship application by December 9, 2011 in order to receive the early registration discounts in the event that they are not accepted for a scholarship.  Recipients will receive a refund in the amount of their scholarship award.
We are no longer accepting scholarship applications for 2012. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about applications for 2013!

Work-Trade
Working at EcoFarm is a way to attend the conference at a reduced rate. Workers receive a registration discount for 8 hours of work. The Work-Trade program usually fills before the end of November and will close when filled. Assignments are based on previous experience, order received, and where help is needed. Commitment is for two 4-hour shifts. We need workers to help with airport pickups, hauling supplies, dining room set-up, event help, audio/visual, cleanup, and assorted handy-person tasks. You will be notified by December 2, 2011 if you are accepted into the Work-Trade program.
We have filled our Work Trade spots for 2012. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about applications for 2013!

Farmer Discount
We understand that it is a big commitment to leave the farm and attend the EcoFarm Conference. But one good marketing connection or information about a great new technology can more then recover the conference fee. Our planning committee sympathizes with the economies of small farms – most of us have been there ourselves! If you are the primary owner/operator of a commercial for-profit farm and have a net income of less than $50,000 a year, you may take a 15% discount off any online package registration for up to two people from your farm. Discounts are available on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to the first 100 requests, so do not delay! Please use FRMR15 as your coupon code on the payment page.

Scholarship Fund
We gladly accept donations to the EcoFarm Scholarship Fund to underwrite admission for low-income farmers, students, and farm workers. Please register online to donate. Thanks!