Author Archives: tucker07
Small Farm Apprenticeship Opportunity
Unique Opportunity for a Young/Beginning/Aspiring Farmer: Omega Lane Farm
We are a small organic farm outside RuralRetreat. We’re looking for a responsible and hard-working apprentice. In exchange for 25-29 hours of work we’re offering a furnished farmhouse, farm produce, and hands-on experience in our passive-solar greenhouse and gardens.
Some of the things you will learn are:
Germination
Companion Planting
Straw Bale Gardening
Gutter Gardening
Natural Pest Control
Food Processing Techniques
Marketing at a Farmers Market
Position May 1st-October 1st (flexible)
If Interested, please contact us at:
Suzanne Capone: 276-686-5843
Ellwood Thompson’s Food Hub: Farm Incubator Opportunity for Small and Beginning Farmers
HURRY: APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 31!!!
ET Food Hub Explained
ET Food Hub Farmer Application – Due March 31
Dear Potential ET Food Hub Beginning farmer partner:
Did you know that over half of all beginning farm businesses fail within the first 5 years of operation? Ellwood Thompsons (ET) Produce Educator-Heather DeMascio and Virginia State University College of Agriculture (VSU-COA) Cooperative Extension-Dr. Theresa Nartea are teaming together to make a positive change in increasing the success rate for Virginia beginning farm businesses.
VSU-COA and ET are working together to develop an ET Food Hub model targeted at priority purchasing from minority and women farmers who have owned and operated their farm for less than five years and who farm within a 100 mile driving distance from the ET store located at 4 N Thompson St, Richmond, VA 23221. Through an unique partnership with VSU-COA, selected farmer applicants will receive educational training to successfully sell directly to ET and develop their diversified marketing strategy to ensure continuing business success.
Sincerely,
Dr. Theresa Nartea & Heather DeMascio
Free Presentation on the History of the Tobacco and the Buyout
Monday, March 31 at 6:00pm
Southside Virginia Community College
Have you ever wondered why tobacco has been such an important part of the Southside economy? Have you heard of the Tobacco Buyout that drastically changed the industry in 2004? If so, have you ever wondered how it impacted the farm families that have raised tobacco for generations?
Join Dr. Dixie Dalton and SVCC in the ag policy class Monday night at 6pm (Room C-2 in Alberta, Room 71 in Keysville, AGR rooms at SWCC and PHCC) for a brief discussion of the buy-out, followed by a Jim Crawford documentary that looks at the impact on our farm families. Bring your popcorn, milk duds, and coke, and join us. All are welcome!
Free Presentation on the New Farm Bill Tonight at SVCC (Alberta & Keysville)
The New Farm Bill: Commodities, Conservation, and Crop Insurance
Tonight from 6:00pm – 7:15pm at the Southside Virginia Community College campuses in Keysville and Alberta, Dr. Jim Pease, Agriculture & Applied Economics Professor at Virginia Tech, will be highlighting what we need to know about the new Farm Bill.
2014 Aquaculture Forum: The Next Level
This April 16th workshop will feature growing fish in cages from 9:30am – 3:30pm at Tide Right in Saluda, VA. $10.
Topics will include:
- Processing
- Cage Production
- Cage Design and Construction
- Marketing, CSA
For more information, view the brochure: 2014 Aquaculture Workshop
Please register by April 9 at http://tinyurl.com/vsufishcage2014
**Note: This meeting is separate from the local meetings to follow the initial community aquaculture meeting that was held on February 18 in Keysville. The agenda for those meetings is still being finalized and will be advertised when prepared.
VABF Upcoming Events
Interested in niche agriculture and biological farming practices?
Check out the events that the Virginia Association of Biological Farming has coming up! Mushroom workshops, food safety, sustainable growing, and more…
Poultry Farm Energy Efficiency Workshop
Are You a Poultry Farmer Trying to Save Money?
Then come check out the Farm Energy Efficiency Workshop to enhance your poultry operation’s energy efficiency. The program will be held Wednesday, April 2 at the Prince Edward Agricultural Services Building at 100 Dominion Drive in Farmville, VA from 9:00am til 3:00pm. This program is free of charge and lunch will be provided, but please register by March 31 by contacting Arlene Hines at ahines@odec.com or (804) 968-4024.
Looking for Tobacco Sticks
Sorghum Production Meeting CANCELLED
Due to the potential for dangerous travel weather tomorrow for our speakers and attendees, our Grain Sorghum Growers Meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, at 10:00 at the Southern Piedmont AREC will be CANCELLED. We will keep you posted if we are able to reschedule, but in the meantime, don’t forget to attend the upcoming Wheat and Soybean Meeting on March 12th in Dundas. Call (434) 738-6191 ext. 4371 to register.
Please call or email Laura at laurab08@vt.edu or 804-313-5396 if you have questions.