Small Farm Apprenticeship Opportunity

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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

Upcoming Heifer Sales

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The 14th Annual Amelia Area Cattlemen’s Fall Bred Heifer Sale will take place on April 12th at Knoll Crest Farm in Red House, Virginia. The sale will take place around 2 PM following the KCF Spring Bull Sale. Previews of the over 70 VPAH+ “Heifers by Design” offered by consignors:

Sale Preview Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qd1_2fN_lU

Sale Preview Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPENocGLFEM

 

For more information about Amelia Area Cattlemen or to see the complete sale details, visit http://www.aacattle.com/. For information about the Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull Sale, visit http://www.knollcrestfarm.com/.

 

The Buckingham Cattlemen’s Association’s Spring Bred Heifer and Cow sale will take place at 7 PM on April 25 at the  Lynchburg Livestock Market. Catalog and videos will be ready soon, so keep checking the website: www.buckinghamcattlemensassociation.org

6th Annual Spring Landowner Retreat Coming

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The 6th Annual Landowner Retreat has been set for April 25th-27th at Holiday Lake 4-H Center in Appomattox. Only a handful of spots remain open as of this posting. Hurry and register online today or contact Jason Fisher at 434-476-2147 jasonf@vt.edu for more information. landowner retreat spring 2014

Ellwood Thompson’s Food Hub: Farm Incubator Opportunity for Small and Beginning Farmers

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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

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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)

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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.

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2014 Aquaculture Forum: The Next Level

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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.