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 

agricultural trailblazer dorn cox on GH radio tomorrow, dec. 20!

Where does Dorn Cox find the time to get so much done? Dorn is a founding member and board president of farm hack, is director of Greenstart, and– as his bio on their webiste totes– on his 250-acre family farm in Lee, NH, “has worked to select effective cover crops, grains and oilseeds for food and energy production, and has designed, constructed, documented, and shared systems for small-scale grain and oil seeds processing, biofuel production,  and no-till and low-till equipment to reduce energy use and increase soil health.”

Also, in his spare time, Dorn find time to contribute to our Almanac. You won’t want to miss this interview. Tune in, as always, at 4:00 P.M EST to Heritage Radio Network.

new hampshire: sev speaks THIS FRIDAY in seacoast region

Sustainable farmer at Amos Fortune Friday

The Amos Fortune Forum will welcome their sixth speaker on Friday night. Noted “new farming” expert and Agrarian Severine Fleming will deliver a talk entitled, “A New Economy on the Land.”

Severine is a farmer, activist, and organizer based in the Champlain Valley of New York. She is founder and director of The Greenhorns, a grassroots cultural organization with the mission to promote, recruit and support a growing movement of young farmers and ranchers in America.

The entering generation of Agrarians has demonstrated a bold vision to build thousands of farm businesses for local food security. We need many more to succeed. Many who try are confounded when they try to find durable land access and tenure. Severine argues that we need to design and enact new frameworks for community land-ownership. All of us benefit from the revival of these farm-steads, and the initiatives of young farmers, orchardists, and dairymen and women. Today, the macro-economy imposes extraction, speculation and degradation of our land, but that will not work tomorrow. How can our watershed, our food-shed, and the historic cultural landscape inform the new economy we need? How can eaters reconnect meaningfully with both the eco-system and economic system that will sustain the quality of the places we love?

The Amos Fortune Forum is presented at the Old Meetinghouse in historic Jaffrey Center, New Hampshire, approximately 2.5 miles west of Downtown Jaffrey. Speakers are presented at 8 p.m. sharp each Friday during the summer. As is the custom of the Forum, no admission is charged, however, donations are accepted. After each forum, a brief reception is held with each speaker at The First Church in Jaffrey Parish Hall, directly across from the Old Meetinghouse. Information for the Forum can be found at www.amosfortune.com, Facebook (facebook.com/amosfortuneforum) or at Twitter (@amosforum). The telephone number is (641) 715-3900. ext. 742251.

permaculture day, August 22, chinchester, nh

  

the fabulous parlor confirmed for greenhorns event july 20, portsmouth, nh

  
Listen here! 
See them live! Stay tuned for more details.

maine/NH young farmer mixer! sept 28th

Hey ME and NH farmers!

It’s time to celebrate the harvest and connect with fellow young farmers! On Saturday, September 28th, join us for the kick-off event of the Greater Portland Young Farmers Coalition, the newest chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition! NYFC chapters bring farmers together to share meals, opportunities and strategies for overcoming the obstacles we face in starting careers in farming. It’s a wonderful community to be a part of, and you won’t want to miss this party.

small scale grain event

Coming up on Friday at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH.

Small Scale Grain Fodder & Demonstration Day, Friday August 16th, 9 am-12 pm
Want to witness the next chapter of our farm story take shape? On Friday August 16th, with technical assistance and support from GreenStart New Hampshire, we will be demonstrating our first-ever barley harvest at our leased Bradford Road fields in Keene (weather permitting) with brand new Boaz combine harvesters. All of the barley harvested here will take the resultant seeds and go towards growing barley fodder to feed our +30 dairy cattle. To our knowledge, this will be the first modern, larger-scale barley demonstration in southwest New Hampshire in over 100 years, so you don’t want to miss this opportunity! Stay tuned for our brochure link and more information on the itinerary for the day, which will also include our aged cheddar cheese and farm-made yogurt at day’s end.

biomeiler compost heating workshop

Want to be independent from gas, oil & utility electricity? Are you looking for self sufficient heat & power for your greenhouse, seed starting house, packing shed, barn, residence or business?Small and Beginning Farmers of New Hampshire (www.beginnerfarmers.org) and The Farm Around the Corner (www.thefarmaround.com) have invited Heiner Cuhls from Native Power in Germany (http://native-power.de/en ) to hold a two day hands on workshop on September 21 and 22, 2013 at The Farm Around the Corner in Maidstone, Vermont.  Heiner is an expert in the design and construction of the Biomeiler Compost Furnace.

land for good seeks deputy director

Land For Good , Keene, NH (in Keene at least 3x/wk.)

Land For Good, a New England-wide nonprofit specializing in farmland access, tenure and transfer, seeks a full-time Deputy Director. We are a dynamic, innovative organization that offers education, consulting, planning, and advocacy. We serve farm seekers, farm families, farmland owners, and communities.

The Deputy Director’s duties will focus on operations, program, development and fundraising, communications, and outreach. Based in Keene, NH, this position will work closely with LFG’s Executive Director, core staff and field agents.

The ideal candidate will have substantial skills and experience in development (especially donor-based), management, and organizational and program planning. Basic exposure to, and enthusiasm for, farming issues and farmland access and tenure in particular are important, as are strong verbal and written communications skills.

LFG offers a supportive, flexible work environment with opportunities for professional growth and significant contributions to farming in New England and beyond. Salary will be negotiated based on candidate’s experience

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to info@landforgood.org by March 22, 2013

botanicals & business – a NOFA-NH workshop

Botanicals & Business: Growing, Processing, Marketing & Selling Local Herbs
When: Sunday, February 10th, 10 am – 5 pm, 2013
Where: McLane Audubon Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH

This workshop is a MUST for anyone growing herbs or making herbal  products. The morning session (10 am – 1 pm) will focus on growing, selling and marketing local and regional organic herbs. During our lunch break, organic farmers and product makers will have the opportunity to network with one another. The afternoon session (2-5 pm) will teach small scale herbal product makers to produce products  that comply with all the various regulations in a sensible way.

Our panel of experts for the workshop will include Jeff Carpenter from  Zack Woods Herb Farm, Deb Soule from Avena Botanicals, Wendy Snow Fogg  from Misty Meadows Herbal Center, and Jovial King and Colleen Dando  from Urban Moonshine. $35/session; $70/day. 20% off for NOFA-NH  members. $10 optional organic and local lunch (vegan and gluten-free  options available) – no member discount on lunch. Register at www.nofanh.org.

nofa-nh beginning farmer mixer

NOFA-NH Beginner Farmer Mixer

Hosted by Phoenix Hill Farm

December 8th, 6-12pm

 

Join us in celebrating and connecting a vibrant community of homegrown and handmade makers. This NOFA-NH farmer mixer is dedicated to connecting farmers and food producers with each other, and to artisans and people who are expanding our local creative economy.

This event will close off a weeklong art/farm pop up shop at Phoenix Hill Farm celebrating a resurgence of a rich tradition of growing and making in New Hampshire. There will be local art, local food, live music, and community. This is an opportunity to celebrate what you grow and make! Bring something from your farm to share! (BYOB.)

Address: 322 High Street. Boscawen NH, 03303

Time: 6pm
RSVP at bof@nofanh.org

mobile biodiesel processing!

Wonderful news from GreenStart NH!

After many years of prototyping and revisions, our self-contained, mobile biodiesel processor will soon be ready to process New Hampshire-grown vegetable oil into fuel to power our farms.  Our next steps with this project will be a final bill of materials, documenting the technology, and publishing the designs to the National Young Farmers Coalition’s FARM HACK so that it can be recreated and improved upon by farmers anywhere in the country.  An in-depth working tour of the technology will be provided at an upcoming field day event (date to be announced).

 

assistant farm manager, stout oak farm

Stout Oak Farm grows 4 acres of vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers for CSA shares, farmers’ markets, local restaurants, and our Farm Store. The farm recently moved to a new location in Brentwood, NH and we are currently in the process of completing our Organic Certification application for our new fields. For more information about the farm, visit www.stoutoakfarm.com

JOB DESCRIPTION: Assistant Farm Manager
Stout Oak Farm is hiring a Assistant Farm Manager to join our team for the 2012 season. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 – 3 years vegetable farming experience, ability to perform repetitive physical tasks, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor. We are looking for someone who can keep up a fast pace, is willing to learn on the job, and loves working outdoors (even in challenging weather conditions).