POTSDAM – The second Dig In! Food and Garden Conference, organized by the Health Initiative, will be held March 19 at the Clarkson University Student Center in Potsdam.

The event is a collaborative effort between the Health Initiative and other area organizations: Cornell Cooperative Extension St. Lawrence County; GardenShare; Office of Educational Partnerships at Clarkson University; Sustainable Living Project; UShare; and WorkWell Investments.

The Dig In! Conference will offer information, inspiration and resources to develop and strengthen food-based projects at the organizational level in the North Country and beyond. Workshops, plenary sessions, facilitated discussions and action-planning sessions will educate and build skills to alleviate burdens of poor health and poverty while fostering healthy, secure and connected food systems.

Conference sessions will address gardening, composting, purchasing, and nutrition education in schools, businesses and communities in addition to other relevant topics, organized in four workshop tracks: Schools, Worksites, Retail & Restaurants, and Communities. Participants may include school staff and parents; business owners and employees; and community leaders, among others.

Dig In! sponsorships are available at various levels and offer a great opportunity to support local efforts while advertising products or services throughout the region and beyond. Businesses, organizations, foundations and individuals are invited to join us in building vibrant food systems by becoming a Dig In! sponsor.

Registration for the Dig In! Food and Garden Conference will open Jan. 13 and space is limited. To register, sponsor or learn more, please visit the Health Initiative at www.gethealthyslc.org and click on “Dig In!” under “Programs” in the Main Menu or call 261-4760.