Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network 2026 Review

ASAN Food and Farm Forum offered a whole day of educational content. There were 5 blocks of time, 2 before lunch and 3 after lunch. I attended a good mix of classes that were relevant to me. All presentations should be available at the ASAN website here https://asanonline.org/events/food-farm-forum/ if you're interested in seeing the presentations.

The Food & Farm Forum is ASAN’s flagship annual event—a dynamic, hands-on gathering that brings together Alabama’s most passionate farmers, food advocates, educators, and community leaders. For over a decade, this transformative weekend has served as the cornerstone of Alabama’s sustainable and organic agriculture movement, fostering knowledge exchange, building lasting partnerships, and strengthening the networks that nourish our communities.

Phyllis D. Light was absolutely D-Lightful. She gave information about herbs and their potential market, both globally and domestically. She talked about how to grow profitable herbs like ginseng, black cobash, Soloman seal, golden seal, passion flower, Necanasia, and saw palmetto. An interesting tidbit is the global market for american ginseng - getting anywhere between $500-$1000 per dry pound. I'm certainly going to be throwing some ginseng seeds on my mountain.

She offers online and in-person classes. If you're interested in herbs and herbal medicine, I highly recommend taking a look at her website and signing up for a class. You can visit her website here https://www.phyllisdlight.com/.

Carla owns a lavender farm not too far from me and is a marketing expert. She talked about the important of having a brand and values; the do's and don'ts of engaging on social media, staying focused, and the important of storytelling and being authentic. Her lavender farm can be found https://www.jandclocalfarms.com/ and if you're interested in a marketing agency for your farm, this is her marketing business: https://www.designedbycarla.com/.

This was a very informative session about how to maximize earnings essentially of the square footage you have and the equipment. Everything on your farm has some value to someone. He spoke of the important of looking at what you may consider waste or a problem as a potential to make money. He's from Tuskegee, Al and is opening a processing plant for organic beef. Real cool stuff he has going on and his website is https://smithsfarmandranch.com/.

Stephen talked about ways to find and write grants, the processes, the time, and the importance of finding grants that align with what you want and not just chasing free money. It was valuable, although probably a bit early for where I am at. I suggest checking out their website to stay up to date on grant opportunities https://stewardsunlimited.com/.

The seed swap was at the end of the day and we got hands on with seed saving. It was really fun and the wonderful ladies had so many great stories to tell. They are located in Albertville, Al and have been saving seeds for over thirty years - mainly heirlooms from around the area. This list of seeds came from my new friends at savetheseeds.net. Almost all of their seeds have beautiful origin stories and they were a pleasure to meet.

• Tobacco - Cherokee Ceremonial (Nicotinia Rustica) - A short small leaved tobacco with copius flowers and seed heads.
• Zinnias - Sweet Home Alabama - Originally from SSE, selected for more yellow in the mix. An Alabama mix of color.
• Whirlwind Tall Cosmos - An annual flower. Likes sun. Came in during the 2010 tornadoes that hit Albertville, AL so they could have come as away as Tuscallosa.
• Southern Larkspur (Delphinium) - a spire of small blooms early in the season, white light blue, blue. Self seeding.
• Back Alley 4 O'clocks (Mirabillis Jalapa) - A mix of beautiful colored trumpt like blooms on an erect 3' tall bush.
• Christmas Bean (Phaseolus Lunatus) - From a family in Arab, Al. It's a smaller and rounder bean than Christmas lima's. Early and profilic, pole lima.
• Alabama Blue Collard - An heirloom collard from Alabama. Its smaller, tender leaves with different colors and stays sweeter into the heat than other collards. Can be started in the spring and fall for a winter harvest.
• Tomato - German Pink (Solanum Lycopersicum) - a potato leaved shortish indeterminate that still needs trellised. Produces large pink meaty and tasty tomatoes with few seeds.
• Watermelon - Moon & Stars Red Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatas) - an oblong medium sized red meated melon. Has the typical moon spot and stars. Beautiful dainty vines.
• Pea - Red Pepper (Vigna Unguiculata) - A prolific red medium size peas.
• Poppy - Reese Shaw Red Annual (Papaver rhoeas) - A mix of 2 different kinds, large red blooms.
• Whirlwind Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) - They blew in with the 2010 tornadoes. They are tall 8'-10' large heads. They emerge when soil warms and can stand a moderate frost.
• Judith's Rose Poppy - Formerly from Albertville. Nice single flowered poppy and should be planted late winter or early, early spring.
• Prickly Poppy (Argemone Albiflora) - An erect single white flower, known for the prickles on the stem. Easy to grow native plant.
• Rudbeckia AKA Blackeyed Susan - Native plant, can spread to unwanted areas. It reseeds itself and spreads with rhizomes. A beautiful and traditional garden plant.
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Cherokee Trail of Tears Corn
• Arab Peanuts - Native to Arab, Al.
• Cow Peas

I got these seeds from Russell and Jewell Bean who do wonderful educational training. This couple shared knowledge and taught me a lot. They do a lot of work with Tuskegee University.

• Moringa Seeds

Other seed packets:

• Pea - Sugar Daddy
• Parsnips - Hollow Crown
• Spinach - Giant Noble
• Big Blue Stem
• Cucumber - White Wonder
• Onion - Yellow Granex Hybrid
• Tomato - Rutgers
• Tomato - Oregon Spring
• Tomato - Beefsteak
• Cilantro - Coriander
• Cucumber - Muncher
• Cucumber - National Pickling
• Bean, Garden - Blue Lake Stringless
• Lettuce - Parris Island Romaine
• Lettuce - Black Seeded Simpson
• Eggplant - Long Purple Early

I met several great people outside of classes. One special mention I'd like to talk about is the work that Dr. Jean Keel with Tender Love and Care Veterans Farm https://tlcoutreach.org/. She is a retired SFC from the US Army and uses farming to help veterans with PTSD, homelessness, among other things.

Then there's the North Alabama Agriplex which is a non-profit located in Cullman, Alabama that offers workshop and classes for farmers. One nice thing is they offer free classes for veteran's, which I'm definitely going to be taking advantage of and their website is https://agriplex.org/.

All in all, this was a wonderful experience. I met lots of people that I hope to stay in touch with and can't wait for ASAN Food and Farm Forum 2027.