Quebec City, Canada – The first-ever Veganic Summit focused exclusively on veganic farming and gardening takes place from November 10 to 12, 2023. This summit is an initiative of the Veganic Agriculture Network and Learn Veganic. “Veganic” (also called “Stockfree”) refers to farming and gardening that uses entirely plant-based fertilizers, without any chemical inputs or animal byproducts like manure or bone meal.
“Many people are surprised to learn that our fruits and vegetables are often fertilized using the byproducts of animal agriculture, like blood meal and factory farm manure,” says Meg Kelly, teacher at Learn Veganic and co-producer of the summit. The event includes a variety of talks geared toward farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, activists, and anyone who would like to see food systems that are more compassionate, healthier, just, and low-impact. Organizers want to empower people to take their next steps in applying veganics.
Kelly continues: “Veganic farming and gardening has so many benefits. It’s kinder to animals. It creates a safer food supply by reducing contaminants like E. coli and heavy metals. And it uses less land, freeing up space for wildlife.”
Attendees will learn how:
- Farms and gardens can flourish using plant-based techniques with no livestock or animal inputs
- Veganic practices lead to healthier soils, greater biodiversity, and a lower environmental impact
- Veganic growing is key to society transitioning towards fully plant-based food systems
- Veganic techniques can be implemented by anyone in their own garden or farm
Speakers include:
- Helen Atthowe, Veganic farmer at Woodleaf Farm in Montana, USA and author of the book The Ecological Farm
- Iain Tolhurst, Stockfree Organic farmer at Tolhurst Organic in England and author of the book Growing Green
- Jimmy Videle, Veganic farmer and seed producer at La Ferme de l’Aube in Quebec, Canada, and author of The Veganic Grower’s Handbook
Veganic agriculture:
- Breaks the link between plant production and animal farming so that plant foods can be produced without reliance on animal agriculture
- Provides a way forward for agriculture that is sustainable and plant-based
- Reduces risk of contaminants that can often be found in animal byproducts (antibiotics, heavy metals, E. coli, etc.)
- Uses less land, water, and energy compared to systems that are bound up with the negative ecological impacts of animal agriculture
The Veganic Summit is free to attend and recordings will be available. For an additional fee, attendees can upgrade to the All-Access Pass, which includes online Q&A sessions and networking events, The Veganic Grower’s Handbook, the four most recent digital issues of Growing Green International magazine, and more.
About the Veganic Summit: The inaugural Veganic Summit was founded by Meg Kelly and Stephane Groleau of the Veganic Agriculture Network and Learn Veganic (both based in Quebec, Canada), in collaboration with several international organizations: the Vegan Organic Network (UK), Certified Veganic (North America), and Biocyclic Vegan Network (Europe).
