AMERICAN COMMUNITY GARDENING ASSOCIATION
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American Community Gardening Association
Conference 2021
Hampton, Virginia
“Gardening in Challenging Times”
Conference Information Guide
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DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THIS GUIDE HERE.
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DOWNLOAD A LIST OF WORKSHOPS HERE.
The American Community Gardening Association’s annual conference 2021 will feature educational sessions covering all aspects of community gardening, inspiring speakers, community garden tours, and more. The conference is open to the public, with special pricing for ACGA members. Scholarships are available. The in person conference (COVID vaccination required) will be hosted by beautiful beachside Hampton, Virginia.
ACGA’s annual conferences are the largest North American gathering of individuals and agencies directly engaged in community gardening and related projects such as school gardens and urban agriculture.
For more information, contact Conference Chair, Wendy Iles, wendy.iles@communitygarden.org
01-404-788-2432
Fred Conrad: info@communitygarden.org
To register for the conference, please visit https://www.communitygarden.org
Where:
Hampton, Virginia
Conference site: The Landing Hotel (Hilton)
700 Settlers Landing Rd
23669
When:
Thursday, September 23 to Sunday, September 26
Thursday, September 23, 2021:
Special pre-conference ecology workshop, 1-4 PM. Check in and in-person registration begins at 12 noon, with a reception for attendees from 6-7 PM.
Friday, September 24 - Sunday, September 26, 2021:
Conference workshops, tours, vendors, meetings, and events. Visit our Conference Page for the latest information. We start with breakfast at 8 AM Friday, and the conference closes at noon on Sunday.
Proposed conference calendar:
Thursday: September 23, 2021
Registration at the hotel: 12 noon – 6:30 pm
Vendor exhibits: 12 pm - 5 pm
Pre-conference workshop: 1 pm - 4 pm
“Garden Ecology: “We are all Integrated Pest Managers”
Dr. Shawn Dash, Hampton University, Dash Laboratory of Invertebrate Zoology
Oyster Gardening Demonstration 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Dockside, (between the hotel and Bull Island)
Reception: 6 pm - 7 pm
Bull Island Brewing Company
758 Settlers Landing Rd, Hampton, VA 23669
(At the Marina Hotel, next to the conference site.)
Friday: September 24, 2021
Registration 8am – 4pm
Vendor exhibits 8 am - 4 pm
Breakfast 7:30 am-10:00 am
Conference opening 9 am - 10 am
Community gardening workshops 10:30 am - 12:20 pm
First block: 10:30 am - 11:20 am
Second block: 11:30 am - 12:20 pm
Lunch 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Keynote speaker: Ira Wallace, 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
Community gardening workshops 2:00 pm - 3:50 pm
Third block: 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
Fourth block: 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
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Free time/networking: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Gala dinner & Auction: 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
The Landing Hotel, Topsail Bar and Restaurant
Saturday: September 25, 2021
Grab and go breakfast: 8:00am - 8:45am
(Buckroe Beach Farmers Market visit 9:00am – 10:00am, on your own)
Community garden/urban agriculture tours 10 AM to 3 PM
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Bus or bike options
Leave from the farmers market at 10:00 am, return 3:00 pm
Lunch available ($12,) served in the garden
Bike Tours may require additional fees
Tour itineraries:
Tour 1: Bicycle tour of Community gardens, ends at Bluebird Gap Farm
Tour 2: Hampton Community Gardens, Families Overcoming Obstacles Together Garden, Blue Bird Gap Farm listed below:
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Buckroe: 610 Buckroe Ave
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North Phoebus: 249 W. Chamberlin Ave
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Phoebus: 124 S. Hope Street
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FOOT: Social Services Bldg (behind) 1320 LaSalle Ave
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BBGF: 60 Pine Chapel Rd
Tour 3: Newport News, Yorktown Community Gardens, Urban Ag Community Garden
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Hilton CG: 110 Main St., NN (beside library)
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Urban Ag CG: 633 20th St., NN
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York CG Arboretum: 412 Sports Way, Yorktown
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BBGF: 60 Pine Chapel Rd
Tour 4: tentative: School Garden Programs
Saturday afternoon and evening: Free choice, no programming
Sunday: September 26, 2021
Breakfast: 8:00 am – 10:00 am
ACGA Annual Meeting: 9 am - 10 am
Community gardening workshops: 10:10 am - 12:00 pm
Fifth block: 10:10 am – 11:00 am
Sixth block: 11:10 am – 12:00 pm
Closing ceremony: 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pre-conference half-day workshop (Thursday, 1 PM - 4 PM)
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“Garden Ecology: We are all Integrated Pest Managers”
Dr. Shawn Dash, Hampton University
Keynote speaker (Friday 12:30 PM)
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"Seed Keeping: An Everyday Act of Resistance"
Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Additional speakers will be announced as soon as confirmed
COSTS
ACGA members $205
General public $250 (includes one year ACGA membership)
Includes admission to pre-conference ecology workshop, and to all conference workshops and activities, Friday through Sunday; luncheon and gala tickets; conference packet and “swag bag.” A small additional fee may apply for tour lunch, bike tours, and other activities.
Tour lunch: $12.
Bike tour: An additional fee may be required for the bicycle tour to cover bike rental.
Special conference T-shirts: $15
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Getting there:
Hampton is on I64E, a major highway connecting to I85 and I 95 in Richmond, a little over one hour’s drive from the conference site. There are two airports less than an hour away, in Newport News/Williamsburg and Norfolk. Public transportation options include good Greyhound bus connections from Richmond and Washington DC.
Driving/carpooling: Hampton is on I-64 E, connecting to I95 and I85 in Richmond, VA
From Richmond, VA, approximately 1 h 15 m
From Washington, DC, via I95S, approximately 3 - 3 h 30 m
From New York, approximately 6 h 30 m
From Raleigh/Durham, NC, via I85, approximately 3 - 3 h 30 m
From Charlotte NC, via I85, approximately 5 hrs
From Atlanta, GA, approximately 9 h.
By air:
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF)
Airlines include American and Delta
15 miles, 25 minute drive
Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
Airlines include Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, and United
17 miles, 40 minute drive
Getting around Hampton:
Hampton is a walkable city. It also offers bus services to help you get around without a car. There are also Uber, Lyft, and cabs. Bike rentals are available. Most conference activities take place near the hotel, and transportation will be provided for tours.
Hampton Roads Transit (HRTA) public transportation: https://gohrt.com/
Yellow cab https://www.yellowcabofhampton.com
Lodging
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This is a resort area, so there are also AirB&Bs and other lodging options, however ACGA conference attendees report that staying at the convention site greatly simplifies their lives and opens opportunities for interacting with fellow gardeners.
To sign up, visit our REGISTRATION PAGE.
For more information, contact Wendy Iles.