By Andi Anderson
Purdue Extension is organizing the Southwest Indiana Homesteading Conference to support small and beginning farmers in the Tri-State region. This two-day event aims to help producers enhance and diversify their farming practices through hands-on education and expert insights.
The conference will be held on May 16 and 17, 2025, at the Daughters of Charity St. Vincent Conference Center in Evansville, Indiana. The event begins Friday with pre-conference food preservation classes focused on pressure canning, including hands-on demonstrations in the conference kitchen. Sign-in begins at 11:00 AM CDT, with sessions running from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM CDT.
Saturday’s full-day conference features morning and afternoon sessions covering a broad range of small farm topics. These include poultry production, mushroom cultivation, pruning fruit trees, sheep and goat management, soil health, pesticide safety, and edible landscaping.
Afternoon topics include hydroponics, strawbale gardening, open fire cooking, beekeeping, and poultry processing. Check-in starts at 7:00 AM CDT, with presentations running from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CDT.
The event aims to help attendees enhance productivity, launch new ventures, and boost farm profitability. Experts will offer practical advice and real-world demonstrations tailored to small farm environments.
Vendor booths will also be featured, offering tools, products, and services relevant to small-scale agriculture and homesteading.
The cost to attend is $35 for Friday’s food preservation sessions and $40 for the full Saturday conference. Registration must be completed online by May 9, 2025, at https://bit.ly/SWINHC2025.
This conference is a valuable opportunity for local farmers to learn, network, and gain resources that support the future of small farm success in the region.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Indiana, Education