KNEADING
Conference 2009
July 30 & July 31,
Skowhegan, Maine
With additonal field sessions taking place throughout Maine.
Working towards locally produced bread,
from growing grains and milling to
baking.
The KNEADING Conference invites professional and home bakers, farmers, and millers, oven builders, and innovative community members to participate in hands-on demonstrations and lectures on progressive ideas in the art of wood-fired bread baking and food production, local grain growing and milling, and oven building.
The goal of the conference is to celebrate and inspire the idea of locally growing and milling grain for bread baked in wood-fired ovens as a way to bring the cycle of food production back to a small circle that fosters ecological and community sustainability. At the center of this idea is the need for partnerships between farmers, millers, oven builders, bakers, and community members.
The presence of several portable wood-fired ovens at the conference site will allow participants in workshops to explore first-hand the possibilities of wood-fired baking, as they create superior hand-crafted breads and foods for the conference group to enjoy at snack breaks and community meals.
Farmer Scholarships and Work-Study Scholarships are available. For more information, contact Heart of Maine.
Participants of the 2008 Conference supplied the following comments:
"2008 KNEADING was a revelation for me. What Maine Wood Heat has spearheaded, which has been implemented by a hard-working committee over the last eighteen months, is remarkable. ... Better food, a cleaner environment, another cash crop for local farmers- will all flow from the spotlight of KNEADING.
"I became more interested in growing grains over the course of the Conference."
"Possibly the best conference food I've ever had! Thanks!"
"Excellent job, very timely and necessary. Keep it going!"
"For the second year a job well done, Thank you!"
"It was a wonderful 3 days- thank you so much for all your hard work."
"Thank you so much for the scholarship. There was no way I'd be able to attend without one, I have learned so much in two days, I've had a very enjoyable time. I am so grateful. THANK YOU!!"
When asked what their favorite part of the 2008 Conference was,
responses included:
"The ability of the conference to energize my spirits..."
"The awesome people, participants, staff and presenters..."
"Making lots of connections / the broad range of incredible knowledge and resources available".
"The range of discussion and topics".