mofga charcuterie workshop

Join Andy Smith of Smith’s Smokehouse and delve into the basics of charcuterie through a series of four workshops. Learn how to create your own charcuterie goods, and potential business, and then dig deep into a variety of curing processes including bacon, bresaola, beef jerky and more!

Don’t forget to register for this course, there are only 10 spots available. The complete series is $350 for MOFGA members and $400 for non-members. Each course will take place at Smith’s Smokehouse; bring your own lunch.

Click HERE to register and please contact Anna Mueller at events@mofga.org if you have any questions.

the world’s first mycology school!

MYCOLOGOS is the world’s first online and in-person mycology school and demonstration mushroom farm, based in Portland, Oregon. They are currently raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign (ending December 20) where you can save up to 80% off online courses in mycology. The founder of mycologos, Peter McCoy will be teaching a Greenhorns mycology workshop in our new headquarters in Maine next Summer. Email greenhornsoffice@gmail.com to express your interest in this July 2018 class.

Click HERE to check out the kickstarter, there is only 6 days left to donate!

haydens harvest for the year ahead

credit: Hayden Stubbins – Forest and Feast at Yale

It’s been a busy year for Hayden Stubbins from Hayden’s Harvest. He hosted forage and feasts, plant walks, mycology talks and herbal classes in North America, from NYC to coastal Maine. Check out his cool video about Forage and Feast that has over 1 million views HERE

Hayden has been involved with some really interesting projects on subjects such as Lyme Disease and invasive species over the past year:

Japanese Barberry: A story of Lyme Disease, invasive species, medicine, and scarves

Japanese Barberry creates ideal habitat for ticks, and has been attributed to the rise in Lyme Disease. More barberry = more ticks = more Lyme Disease. I have shifted my winter focus to finding products using Japanese Barberry with the hopes of decreasing its population in our woods with the aim of decreasing rates of Lyme Disease. These products include potential medicine (type II diabetes, fatty liver disease, statin-resistant high cholesterol, digestive issues), as a dye, bitters, and more to come. If you are interested in Japanese Barberry removal, any of the products listed above, or a monograph, please contact me.

He is currently taking booking for his spring teaching schedule, so if you or any organizations you know are interested in hosting a Forage and Feast, plant walk, mycology talk, herbalism event. These events are perfect for public and private schools, universities, youth groups, farms, community centers, and private residences alike. Many people have celebrated their birthdays at a Forage and Feast, so why not book a private Forage and Feast for you and your loved ones to celebrate a special day?

If you have any questions, are interested in getting involved with any of the above projects, or if you would like to host an event, please be in touch with Hayden at haydenstebbins@gmail.com.

agriculture, labor and the law

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project & the Conservation Law Foundation are teaming up to hold a workshop that will provide an overview of key employment issues that farmers need to know. The workshop will be presented by Mary O’Neal, Partner at Conn Kavanaugh, and employment law expert. From apprenticeships to agricultural minimum wage, the workshop will cover key topics that come up on the farm and provide attendees with an agricultural employment law handbook. It will also include case studies that provide an opportunity to apply the topics to real situations.

The workshop will take place on Tuesday December 12, 2017 at 4:00 PM at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. It is free to attend, however please make sure that you register in advance HERE.

open gate field day: ortensi farm ny

credit: HMI

Open Gate: Ortensi Farm Day

November 11, 2017

Ortensi Farm in Richfield Springs, NY

Tickets $25, includes lunch!

 

Ortensi Farm Day is part of HMI’s Open Gate Learning Series. Open Gates are peer-to-peer action-based learning days with short presentations and small group exercises geared for participants to share discoveries and management techniques with guidance from experienced facilitators and producers. Holistic Management works with nature, not against it. The day will include discussions about planet and animal-friendly management techniques that lead to richer soil, improved water containment, nutrient-dense food, more successful farms and ranches, and thriving communities.

Register HERE  before November 3rd to take part in this on-the-ground learning day, connect with others who care about a healthy food system and help strengthen your local communities.

 

check out this amazing workshop on managing cattle, soil health, and local food economies in colorado.

This workshop takes place on October 18th – 19th at Adams State University.  It is led by Dr. Allen Williams, a champion of the grass-fed beef industry as well as cutting edge grazing methodology. Dr. Williams helps restore natural soil water retention and reduce runoff, increase land productivity, enhance plant and wildlife biodiversity, and produce healthier food. In fact, he developed many of the original grass-fed protocols and technologies now adopted by the grass-fed sector.

This workshop focuses on the connection between cattle management and healthy soils as part of the local food economy. The Field Day on the second day focuses on details important to local cattle producers in managing and assessing their operations, maximizing quality, and ensuring soil and human health.

To see the full programme click HERE

To register, click HERE

cool free upcoming restorative agriculture field days in the midwest!

credit: Savanna Institute

The Savanna Institute is running two free restorative agriculture field days in Wisconsin this month and next. Everybody is welcome and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about agroforestry first-hand from farmers and researchers who work with perennial crop and livestock enterprises. The first of the two is on September 8th and the second is October 4th.

 

 September 8th @ 1 pm 

Feral Farm & Glacierland RC&D,
N2437 Brattset Lane,
Jefferson, WI

Agroforestry & Long-Term Leases:

Feral Farm grows a diversity of tree crops in polyculture rows with hay alley cropped between, with an increasing emphasis on chestnuts. It is made possible by a unique long-term land access arrangement with Brattsett Family Farm, a grass-fed beef farm. Both farm operations have learned a lot about working collaboratively between an established farmer and a beginning one.

 

October 4 @ 9:30 am

Green Fire Farm,

N5305 Ringhand Road,

Monticello, WI

Silvopasture Establishment with Pastured Pigs, Adaptive Grazing

Join Jacob and nonprofit, extension, and agency personnel, for a field day highlighting how a conventional row crop operation is transitioning to multi-species pasture systems. We’ll talk about silvopasture establishment research, cost-share opportunities, techniques to extend the grazing season, and mentorship programs. Come see pigs and sheep rotationally graze in their two-year old silvopasture planting, a beef herd grass-finishing on fall interseeded annuals, a production flock of pastured laying hens, and a rainfall and erosion simulator.

growing american ginseng in new york

Join Ginseng Expert Bob Beyfuss on Wednesday September 13th from 5-8 PM for a classroom presentation designed to teach beginner how to get started growing their own American ginseng on forested land. The presentation will be followed by woods walk where you will see for yourself how to assess the suitability of a forested site for growing wild simulated ginseng.

The cost for the class is $25/person and you must pre-registration is required due to  the limited number of spaced. Participants will receive a copy of ‘The Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng’ by Bob Beyfuss.

To register please mail a check, payable to CCE Allegany County to: 5435A County Rd 48 Belmont, NY 14813 to register. Active or Retired NYS Military Veterans may apply for stipend to cover cost of attending.

For more information, please contact Lynn Bliven 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu 

last chance to register for cornell rotational grazing skills course this weekend!

credit: Jason Detzel

This weekend, Friday August 25th – Saturday August 26th CCEE Livestock Educator Jason Detzel is running a 2 day hands on clinic on rotational grazing. Over the course of the weekend you will learn the practical skills necessary for implementing a rotational grazing system on your farm to improve the overall health and efficiency of your animals. Rotational grazing systems can also increase your profits by lowering feed costs, improving pasture swards, decreasing on farm labour requirements among a host of other benefits.

upcoming draft animal-power field days

The Draft Animal-Power Network are running 3 days of events at the Cornish Fairgrounds NH from September 29th – October 1st. The Draft Animal-Power Network aims to advance the use of draft animals, to promote sustainable land stewardship and to build vibrant communities through year-round educational and networking opportunities that highlight the ongoing efforts of people throughout the region.

The weekends events will begin on Friday, September 29th, with 3 intensive all day workshops which will give participants the opportunity to spend an entire day learning with hands on experience from experienced teamsters. The topics for the workshops include ‘Cultivation and Tillage with Draft Animals’, ‘Growing Your Draft Animal Power Farm’ and ‘Forest to Frame’. Friday evening will end with a square dance with the Bob Boynton Square Dance Band. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be more half day workshops, round-table discussions, music by the bonfire, obstacle courses and teamster challenges and much more!

There are also 20 weekend scholarship places for young teamsters, to apply, email dapnetinfo@gmail.com explaining why you are interested in attending asap!

To find out more about the weekend’s events and to register click HERE 

workshop: regenerative agroforestry in hawaii.

Hawaii based Agroforestry Net and FARM Centre are teaming up to offer the Aloha Syntropica-Regenerative Agroforestry Workshop series in Hawi, North Kohala, Hawaii from August 20th to 31st, 2017. The workshops are designed to immerse farmers in regenerative agroforestry and will include personal training in the theory and practice of planning, planting and managing diverse food forests in a way that is both ecologically and economically sustainable.

Rodale Institute’s 2014 report on regenerative organic agriculture and climate change confirms the value of the work, “Changing farming practices to organic, regenerative and agro-ecological systems can… improve farm profitability and revitalize traditional farming communities while ensuring biodiversity and resilience of ecosystem services.”

Costs:

August 20–25, 2017—Part 1: $1195 ($1075 before July 7)

August 27–31, 2017—Part 2*: $1195 ($1075 before July 7)

Parts 1 & 2: $1995 ($1795 before July 7)

10% early registration discount for payment before July 7

To find out more about this workshop and to register click HERE

The Food Project is supporting and inspiring young people to make a change in their communities.

Join The Food Project from August 3 to 5, 2017 to learn, grow, and connect with your peers from across the country and the world.

The three day summer institute is packed with activities, workshops and engaging and passionate conversation that will teach you about their youth development and sustainable agriculture models, food justice initiatives and the creation of food secure communities.

Cost: $430.

For more information on The Food Project’s Institutes, please email institute@thefoodproject.org or call 781-259-8621 x29 to speak with Cindy Davenport, Director of Programming and Institutional Learning.

Or register on their website: http://thefoodproject.org/institute