Calendar of Events

December 5-6, 2008
East Wells, Vermont

Join Vermont NOFA for a two-day workshop at Brown Boar Farm, a diversified farm where they raise heirloom pork, beef and produce. A Friday slaughter workshop reviews procedure, technique, and infrastructure along with tool and meat safety. Rural Vermont will address current on-farm slaughter regulation and policy. There will then be a live pig slaughter including the scalding and carcass prep. Saturday morning the group will go through the breakdown of the whole carcass. In the afternoon the group will be lead through techniques in further processing.

December 5-6, 2008
Seattle, Washington

Community Alliance for Global Justice is holding a free teach-in on "Confronting the Food Crisis: Cultivating Just Alternatives to the Corporate Food System." Participate in a range of discussions, panels, and hands-on workshops on topics including: Understanding the food economy of western Washington; Impacts of U.S. trade agreements and corporate influence on the food system; Strategies for local eating; Equitable access to healthy food; Farmers and Farm-workers speak for themselves; Organizing for Food Justice, and more.

December 5, 2008
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Haygrove Tunnels presents an opportunity for owners of their high tunnel systems, and other interested parties, to hear various size growers speaking on a wide variety of crops and some research reports on tunneled production. A roundtable discussion concludes the event.

December 5 and 12, 2008, February 6 and 13, 2009
Carnation and Lopez Island, Washington

This Short Course will introduce students to proven BD approaches to soil, crop and animal husbandry through lectures, hands-on learning and readings from Bio-Dynamic Farming Practice. Standard scientific study of biodynamic practices, as well as Goethe’s pioneering phenomenological studies of plant morphology will be presented. For more information, to preview the curriculum and pre-register (required), contact: barrylia@comcast.net . Limited to 20 students. This Course is made possible by support from the Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR) BIOAg Program.

December 6, 2008
Rochester, Minnesota

The Land Stewardship Project is holding a special financial short course for farmers, called “Pricing and Profits: Making the Right Financial Decisions for Your Farm.” Course leader Jim Munsch will help participants examine the financial aspects and possibilities of their farming operations. Topics to be covered include: deciding what to sell; deciding to whom to sell; deciding how to set prices; producing for the market; defining costs of production; identifying costs, sales and marketing; determining profit/loss on each product; and understanding how to make more money.

December 6, 2008
Sidney, Nebraska

Keeping Agriculture Viable for the Next Generation is the theme for this event. Ag producers and personnel from the University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will describe how producers can use cover crops and crop rotations to improve soil fertility and feed livestock; transition their operations to organic production using EQIP (the Environmental Quality Incentive Program); apply for SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) farmer-rancher grants to perform on-farm research, marketing or demonstration projects; diversity farm and ranch operations; and involve the family in an agri-tourism venture.

December 7-9, 2008
Tuskegee, Alabama

This conference hosted by Tuskegee University celebrates 66 years with the theme "Facing Global Crisis: Local Solutions to Energy, Food and Persistent Poverty." PAWC seeks to enhance the skills and contributions of agricultural and related professionals (business, government, university and community professionals) involved in discovery, dissemination and use of emerging technologies, information, problem solving, policy formulation and strategy development for the advancement of people and communities.

December 8, 2008
Ames, Iowa

“Learning from the Floods of 2008: Practical Strategies for Resilience,” is a workshop on the potential ways to mitigate future flooding. The one-day workshop offers insights from experts in agriculture, water and land use, urban planning and government, and representatives from state and federal agencies. The audience members will be encouraged to provide their ideas on what we already know that could help and what things we need to research to lessen the impact of similar disasters. Sponsors for the event are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa.

December 8, 2008
Freeport, Illinois

Jim Gerrish, Dave Forgey and Dr. Alan Miller headline this event. Conference topics to be covered include a virtual tour and discussion of each guest presenter's farming operations, dollars and sense of feed resources, how to manage legumes and residual grazing heights, and lessons learned in grazing. The event also includes an exhibitor fair.

December 9-11, 2008
Grand Rapids, Michigan

This annual event includes an informative education program for fruit and vegetable growers and farm marketers encompassing 50 sessions over 3 days. A bus tour for farm marketers is planned, as well as a trade show with more than 300 exhibitors. The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association Conference will be held in conjunction with the Expo.

December 10-11, 2008
Yakima, Washington

"Soil Health, Protection and Restoration" is the theme for this event. This conference will provide the most current information on healthy soils, connecting you and healthy soils to Organics Recycling, Climate Change, Productive Crops, Carbon Sequestration. The agenda includes a session on marketing compost to organic growers.

December 11, 2008
Fresno, California

San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, and California State University, Fresno Viticulture & Enology present a free workshop on sustainable grape growing. The agenda includes sessions on farm labor, pesticides, canopy management, and a live equipment demonstration in the Fresno State Vineyard.

December 11, 2008
Toledo, Ohio

The focus of this day-long seminar will be on local programs and resources designed to assist or enhance farmers. Topics include gleaning and alternative growing practices such as hoop houses and vertical gardens, a marketing program called Ohio MarketMaker, a project on blanching and freezing, local food banks and the Ohio Direction Card and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition program, plus liability issues relating to the farm and produce donation and tax benefits and a program on farm to chef. Seminar is free with a lunch. RSVP by calling 419-535-6000 ext. 112 or e-mail lmickesell-wireman@eisc.org .

December 12, 2008
Sturbridge, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Extension Floriculture and Vegetable Programs, University of Connecticut Extension and Northeast SARE present a day-long workshop, with sessions on Winter Sprouting Broccoli, Herbs and Edible Flowers, Greens, and Ginger Root.

December 13, 2008
Blue Rapids, Kansas

The Kansas Rural Center will hold its annual one-day sustainable agriculture conference with the theme “Meeting Agriculture’s Challenges in a Rapidly Changing World.” The purpose of the conference is to provide an opportunity to discuss the big picture of agriculture in this time of increasing input costs and volatile markets and high energy prices, provide practical information on alternative marketing and production ideas; and provide opportunities for farmer, rancher, and consumer networking. Keynote speaker in the morning will be Dr. Fred Kirschenmann. The afternoon offers six workshops covering a range of practical information including switching to grass based livestock systems, reducing input costs with integrated crop and livestock systems, local and regional food system opportunities and how to produce food for your neighbors and community, transitioning to organic farming, and on-farm and community wind energy options.

December 13, 2008
Ghent, New York

The Glynwood Center presents this workshop that aims to help build an understanding between non-farming landowners and farmers who are looking for land. The workshop will cover concrete steps and present models for how to build sustainable relationships as well as offer advice from landowners and farmers who have successfully forged long-term relationships.

December 13, 2008
Concord, New Hampshire

This morning workshop is presented by Pete Johnson, of Pete's Greens in Vermont.

December 16, 2008
Aurora, Oregon

A one-day training course is being offered in A Grower’s Technology Economic Assessment Model (TEAM), a computer program designed to help growers make long-term decisions when considering implementing new technology or evaluating cropping system changes. This is a hands-on computer workshop to learn about TEAM and discover the value of this risk management tool.

December 10, 12, 16 or 17, 2008
Spring Hill, Jackson, White Pine or Crossville, Tennessee

These workshops are the first installment of a series offered as part of the Tennessee Farm Fresh program efforts to increase sales of fresh and local farm products. The workshop sessions will include topics such as methods to increase sales by developing effective product displays, how to develop repeat customers by providing excellent customer service and what techniques experienced direct marketers have used to grow their businesses.

December 27, 2008
Davis, California

GreenSpot’s 1st annual workshop on sustainable development offers a forum for discussion and to share knowledge on sustainable development, mitigation and adaptation. Experts from the University of California, California Energy Commission, California Department of Conservation, Department of Water Resources, Department of Pesticide Regulation, and other specialists have agreed to deliver their latest research and findings.

January 3, 2009
Minnetrista, Minnesota

"Restorative Farming" is the topic of this conference held at Gale Woods Farm, and featuring sessions on permaculture, healing the land, and biodynamics."

January 4-6, 2009
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

This annual, two and one-half day educational conference provides the latest information on cultivar selection, growing techniques, and marketing information from respected university extension, research, and teaching faculty as well as successful growers. The trade show and conference covers apples, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, grapes, all kinds of fresh vegetables, and agricultural tourism.

January 5-6, 2009
Fairlee, Vermont

This event focuses on "Answering Questions on the Farm: Conducting Research, Maintaining Records, Evaluating Production Practices." Come learn from experienced farmers how to answer specific questions on your farm to help you be more efficient, manage resources, and make more money. NOFA Vermont, Northeast SARE and others are co-sponsors.

January 6, 2009
Lexington, Kentucky

This day-long conference offers sessions on nutrition, grazing systems, parasite control, and economic outlook. An optional training on FAMACHA is also planned.

January 7-9, 2009
Springfield, Illinois

The conference will kick off with Chefs and Culinary Educators Michael and Brigitta McGreal as the keynote speakers followed by the traditional concurrent breakout sessions on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and agritourism/marketing. Three pre-conference workshops (concurrent) will be offered during the daytime on Wednesday, January 7, which will include "Pumpkins," "Biocontrol in High Tunnels & Greenhouses," and "Federal Grantwriting Basics." Two pre-conference seminars will be available on Wednesday evening, January 7, on "AGR-Lite Crop Insurance" and "Labor and Legal Issues."

January 8-11, 2009
Savannah, Georgia

This annual event will include a trade show and educational sessions in several conference tracks.

January 8-10, 2009
St. Joseph, Missouri

This event attracts vegetable, cut flower, and other growers from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota and includes an educational program consisting of 4-concurrent sessions featuring conventional and organic production and marketing of horticultural crops.

January 9-10, 2009
Marshalltown, Iowa

With the theme "The Biological Harvest," this event includes keynote presentation, workshops, and plenty of networking opportunities. Sessions address saving energy, value-added products, season extension, and more.