the irresistible fleet of bicycles

csa/grazing manager – TN

greenhorns — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:21:35 +0000

Rural Resources is a non-profit organization based on a 15 acre farm in the mountains of East Tennessee. The farm, complete with barns, creek, greenhouse, high hoop house and walk-in cooler, has been a learning center for the community to learn about agriculture for the past 18 years. We are currently interested in reviving an organically grown market garden to accommodate a small CSA. We want to fill the position of CSA/Grazing Manager.

Position Description:
The CSA/Grazing Manager position is a year-round position with responsibilities that include but are not limited to developing a CSA model farm including planning, implementing, and maintaining a market garden for the CSA as well as over-seeing small scale rotational grazing for livestock on the farm. This individual will also be responsible for training teens in the basics of growing/raising food and incorporating them as well as college students, interns, and volunteers into the production system. It also involves face-to-face time with CSA members and prospective members. This position will work with Rural Resources education and outreach staff in providing opportunities for the public to experience and learn about sustainable agriculture.

How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this opportunity, a resume, and three references to:

Sally Causey, Executive Director
sallyruralresources@gmail.com

Filed under: Job Posting Tagged: livestock

a poem by Brotha’ P

greenhorns — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Peteh Muhammad Haroon, affectionally known as Brotha’ P is an inspirational Spoken Word Performance and recording artist and native of New Orleans, LA. Brotha’ P has been performing his unique style of poetry since 1995 as a member of Nommo Literary Society. After leaving Louisiana in 2005, Brotha’ P moved to Jonesboro Arkansas, where he was
reconnected to the world of agriculture, a world he was introduced to as a child. Currently, Brotha’ P is working with New Orleans Food and Farm Network and others local organizations such as the Backyard Gardener’s Network to create sustainable green spaces throughout the city of New Orleans.

Filed under: Art, food justice, Video

submit, tour, volunteer – rural routes

greenhorns — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:00:06 +0000

SUBMISSIONS! After a successful re-launch year in New York City, Rural Route continues a new call for submissions for our 8th Annual Film Festival, to take place in New York City, Late Summer, 2012. The easiest way to submit is via withoutabox: https://www.withoutabox.com/login/4184, or you can download a submission form from our website at http://ruralroutefilms.com/submissions.

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TOUR STARTIN’! Great dates are coming up soon in Portland, New Orleans, Alpine, TX, Bridgwater, U.K., Austria, the Yukon, and a mini ‘sub-tour’ through the Midwest in late April/early May. Want to be in on it? Just drop us a line at tour@ruralroutefilms.com!
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NEW CREW/INTERNS/VOLUNTEERS: As we start planning for a new season in New York City, we are looking to get some more good people involved. We’ll need more help in the summertime closer to the fest, but right now we’re looking for submission review committee, website maintenance, social networking, outreach, fundraising, and overall planning/brainstorming.
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https://www.facebook.com/ruralroutefilms &
http://twitter.com/ruralroutefilms

Filed under: Events, Films

younger farmers than ever!

greenhorns — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:55:22 +0000

with a name like “Shelby’s Happy Chapped Chicken Butt Farm” – this 12-year old egg entrepreneur knows where it’s at. check this chick out in an article from broomfield enterprise.

Filed under: Essays & Articles

backyard revolution

greenhorns — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:51 +0000

we love this soulful music from the lovely adrienne young. have you checked out her backyard revolution?

Filed under: Uncategorized

student initiatives in sustainable agriculture conference

greenhorns — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:55:23 +0000

The SISA conference will be held March 31st and April 1st 2012 at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI.
The Student Initiatives in Sustainable Agriculture Conference (SISA) is a national event for current and recent college students dedicated to sustainable gardening and farming initiatives whether well established or not yet realized. SISA facilitates an exchange of knowledge between students involved in or interested in sustainable agriculture projects at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The goal of this exchange is to promote the growth of student-run projects and encourage continued involvement in sustainable agriculture after college.

To see the complete 2 day itinerary visit http://sisaconference.org

The registration fee of $30 covers:
• Access to all events
• Lunch and dinner on Saturday
• Brunch on Sunday
*All meals include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options

*Free on-campus lodging is available on a limited basis – register early!* Registration deadline: March 16, 2012
For more information or to register go to http://sisaconference.org

Filed under: Conferences, Education

upcoming hawthorne valley classes – new york

greenhorns — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:25:19 +0000

Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program
Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 21^st 2012, 1-3pm, Hillsdale
“Winter Exploration” of the Roeliff-Jansen Park (co-sponsored by the Columbia Land Conservancy)
Join ecologists Claudia and Conrad Vispo for a walk at the Roeliff-Jansen Park just south of Hillsdale to explore its winter ecology and land use history. We meet at 1pm in the parking area east of Route 22 less than a mile south of the intersection Rte 22/23 (and across the road from the new library building). If you plan to attend, please register withClaudia@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994.

Sunday, January 22^st 2012, 10am, Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) vs. Monsanto: A possible informational meeting with Don Patterson, one of the plaintiffs, about the effort byfarmers and seed distributors to defend their right to protect themselves from Monsanto patents (sponsored by the Hudson Valley Biodynamic Group).
The organizers are still trying to gauge how much interest there is in such a meeting.Please get in touch with Malcolm Gardner malcolm9@verizon.net or (518-828-1797) if you would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about OSGATA vs. Monsanto in a conversation with one of the plaintiffs.

Saturday, February 4^th 2012, 1-4pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm (Creekhouse)
Winter Botany Workshop, Part 1 (co-sponsored by the Columbia Land Conservancy)
Conrad and Claudia Vispo will help you learn to identify the most common woody plant species in the winter. We will start with a brief in-door preparatory session and then go outside for some practice in the field.The workshop is free, but space is limited, so please register with fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994.

Thursday, February 9^th 2012, 7pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm (Creekhouse)
Soil as Habitat with History
Slides, reading and discussion about a chapter of the book manuscript ”Human Nature: People and the Land in Columbia County” by Conrad Vispo. The event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP with fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994. The Creekhouse is located at 1075 Harlemville Road, Ghent, NY.

Saturday, February 18^th 2012, 1-4pm, Greenport Public Conservation Area in Hudson
Winter Botany Workshop, Part 2 (co-sponsored by the Columbia Land Conservancy)
Conrad and Claudia Vispo will help you learn to identify the most common woody plant species that can be observed at Greenport in the winter. The workshop is free, but space is limited, so please register with fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994.

Saturday, February 25^th 2012, 2-3:30pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm (Creekhouse)
North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (co-sponsored by the Hudson River Estuary Program)
Ben Marcy-Quay from the Hudson River Estuary Program will present a slide show on the current situation of amphibians and introduce a nation-wide USGS effort, the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program. This program is a participatory research opportunity that allows local participants to contribute to the nation-wide monitoring of amphibian populations. The workshop is free, but space is limited, so please register withfep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994.

Thursday, March 8^th 2012, 7pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm (Creekhouse)
Our Surface Waters – The Canary on the Iceberg
Slides, reading and discussion about a chapter of the book manuscript ”Human Nature: People and the Land in Columbia County” by Conrad Vispo. The event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP with fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org or (518) 672-7994. The Creekhouse is located at 1075 Harlemville Road, Ghent, NY.

Weekly Pizza Night at the Creekhouse
Join us on any Thursday evening from 5-8pm (except for holidays) for food and informal conversation, a chance to browse the library, and an opportunity to resolve any natural history quandaries. The Creekhouse is located on 1075 Harlemville Road in Ghent, NY.
(518) 672-7994.

Farmers’ Research Circle
During the late autumn and the winter local farmers periodically gather to discuss themes of mutual interest. If you’re a production farmer and would like to be included in these conversations, please contact us at fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

Blog on Natural and Agricultural Observations in & around Hawthorne Valley(http://hvfarmscape.wordpress.com/)
This blog provides a nice way to keep up with what’s happening in nature and on the farm throughout the seasons and hopefully you’ll get inspired to delve deeper into exploring the Valley or your own backyard. The most recent posting (Jan 17) is all about the animals here at Hawthorne Valley Farm. If you would like to get notifications of new postings, please let us know at fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

We hope to see you at some point during the winter!
Sincerely,
Claudia, Conrad, and Anna

Filed under: Classes + Workshops Tagged: New York

for your resource list! mobile slaughter unit

greenhorns — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:25:08 +0000

from http://blog.doublebrookfarm.com/traveling-butcher/

Traveling Butcher

The Traveling Butcher is a mobile slaughterhouse designed to serve the local farming community within a 50-60 mile range from downtown Hopewell, NJ. The slaughterhouse provides a reasonably-priced solution to the question many local farmers have: how am I going to get my animals slaughtered in the most humane way?

The Traveling Butcher goes from farm to farm to slaughter the animals. By having slaughter services come directly to the farm, the farmer does not have to travel (in many cases, for hours) with the animals to a brick-and-mortar slaughterhouse and the animals never have to experience the anxiety of an alien holding pen. This service dramatically lessons the stress to the animals and gives every farmer what they deserve after carefully raising their livestock: humane slaughter and quality control.

The Traveling Butcher will arrive with two specially trained butchers and a USDA inspector. After the slaughter is complete, the farmer will then choose where to take the carcass for cut-and-wrap services.

Please direct your inquiries to Lucia Huebner at travelingbutcher@gmail.com.

Filed under: resources Tagged: New Jersey

battery urban farm position – nyc

greenhorns — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:25:04 +0000

Conservancy Position: Farm Intern, Spring or Full Season

The Battery Conservancy is seeking enthusiastic individuals with farming experience
to assist in running The Battery Urban Farm in Battery Park, Manhattan.

The Battery Urban Farm, located at the tip of Manhattan, is the first farm on this site since the Dutch planted theirs in 1625. This one acre farm is engaging elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as local community groups and individuals, in a hands-on experience of organic farming. Our vegetables, herbs and cut flowers are sold at our farm stand and donated to our schools and local food pantries.

We are seeking individuals with significant farming experience to join the Battery Urban Farm staff as Interns for this unique project. Applicants should be comfortable working hard and taking initiative. This is a collaborative project with lots of room for growth for the right individual.

The Battery Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the 25 acres of public parkland located on the tip of Manhattan. The Battery is at the forefront of sustainable urban park planning and organic horticulture. 2012 is the Battery Urban Farm’s second year.

Responsibilities:
- Participate in all aspects of vegetable production: planning, planting, managing, harvesting, weed control, irrigation, compost
- Help facilitate visits from local school children
- Organize and oversee farm volunteers
- Answer questions and explain the project to the public
- Help in running the Farm Stand
- Two day a week, three month minimum commitment required

Qualifications:
- Farm/garden experience required
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs comfortably and to generally handle physically strenuous, repetitious tasks in a variety of weather conditions
- Manage work hours effectively with experience supervising others

- Strong communication and organizational skills
- A passion for horticulture and urban farming
-The following additional skills are also appreciated: illustration, carpentry, web-design/graphic design, experience in education and non-profit work

Please send a cover letter and resume to Camilla Hammer at chammer@thebattery.org

The letter should include details of your availability, as well as details about your relevant experience. This position is unpaid. Monthly MetroCard provided for farmers who work 3 or more days per week. All farm workers are given access to all the vegetables and herbs they can eat.

Filed under: Intern & Apprenticeships Tagged: New York

dining in the dark

greenhorns — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:55:14 +0000

short and sweet:

Just Label It .org

Filed under: Video Tagged: GMOs