3-day Vegetable workshop

I wasn’t sure where to post this. There is a tiny informal group called the Sustainable Vegetable Growers Network based in Washington county NY, they tour each others farms and combine purchase orders for discounts. They also put on one heck of a good 3 day workshop. I have been to a couple and if I had known when it was this year before booking an airline flight home, I would have scheduled it around this event. The speakers are of excellent diverse backrounds and the topics are specific so sharpen your pencils and prepare some questions. There is no website so I will post the entire brochure here, if it is too big Carl let me know and I will edit it some.

WHOLE FARM SUCCESS STORIES
BY THREE EXPERIENCED FARM COUPLES
A Three-Day Advanced Farmer-to-Farmer Workshop for Vegetable Farmers
March 11, 12 & 13, 2009
United Methodist Church; Corner Henning & 5th Avenue; Saratoga Springs, NY
Presented by the Sustainable Farmers Network
Coordinators: Sandy Arnold/Ted Blomgren HYPERLINK “mailto:sparnold@capital.net” sparnold@capital.net 518-638-6501

You are invited to join us for three exciting days of presentations and group discussions by three highly experienced and successful farming couples. The theme of the workshop will be on the methods used on each of these diversified farms that make them profitable and successful. Topics will focus on soil health, cover crops, rotations, marketing, and production relating to bed systems, weed control, cultivation, harvesting procedures, and managing employees, and much more! Come and enjoy great food prepared with lots of local organic products, the company of friends old and new, and a lively and engaging learning environment. This workshop is designed for farmers with some farming experience and for those with any size farm and any type system (conventional, organic, sustainable, etc.). This workshop will also offer special 20 minute “Earn Your Meal” presentations by other successful farmers attending the workshop, and there will be extensive networking/group discussion time.

Presenters:

Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt; Roxbury Farm; Kinderhook, NY HYPERLINK “http://www.roxburyfarm.com” http://www.roxburyfarm.com
Roxbury Farm is owned and operated by Jean-Paul and Jody. It was founded in 1990 as a five acre vegetable operation and grew into a 300 acre spread along the Kinderhook Creek south of Albany. The farm serves over 1000 Community Supported Agriculture members with vegetables and grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, and turkey, and the CSA members can purchase an optional fruit share from local orchards. Each year 45 acres of land is dedicated to vegetable production and another 45 acres are in cover crops and green manures. The remaining acreage is in hay crops, permanent pasture, wetlands, and woods. They work towards an efficient and systematized operation that allows them to produce 1000 shares with 10 employees in the height of the season. They also strive to have a production system that builds soil health, which is accomplished by good rotations and biodynamic practices.

Martin and Atina Diffley; Gardens of Eagan; Farmington, MN HYPERLINK “http://www.gardensofeagan.com” http://www.gardensofeagan.com
Gardens of Eagan, a fifth generation 120 acre family farm in Minnesota, has been owned and operated since 1973 by Martin and Atina. It is one of the oldest certified organic operations in the United States. The Diffleys have been known throughout the country for their novel marketing ideas, innovations in the use and adaptation of mechanical equipment, and extensive use of cover crops, green manure crops, and compost. Recently, the Diffleys worked to create a new farm preservation model when they sold their brand name and farm, the Gardens of Eagan, to The Wedge Community Co-op. The Wedge will continue the farm’s history of producing high quality produce for the Twin Cities Co-operatives and the Diffleys will remain at the farm working on their ongoing organic farming research, as well as their educational and community outreach through their new business, Organic Farming Works. HYPERLINK “http://www.organicfarmingworks.com” http://www.organicfarmingworks.com

Mara and Spencer Welton; Half Pint Farm; The Intervale; Burlington, VT HYPERLINK “http://www.halfpintfarm.com” http://www.halfpintfarm.com
Mara and Spencer, another husband and wife team, collectively have 27 years experience growing and selling produce. Half Pint Farm has been owned and operated by them since 2003, where about 200 varieties of gourmet and specialty vegetables are grown with organic methods for direct sale to farmers’ markets and restaurants from March through October.**They use a 4 season Ledgewood greenhouse to extend the season, and recently added a Haygrove tunnel. At two acres, Half Pint Farm is an example of a small operation finding success through niche marketing.* Mara and Spencer’s success is largely due to their ability to*set goals, plan well, and passionately market their produce with great customer service and stunning market displays.* The Weltons present regularly*in the Northeast on their farming style which gives the highest income per acre.
Saratoga Springs Farmer-to-Farmer Conference – Draft Agenda March 11-13, 2009
Contact: Sandy Arnold/Ted Blomgren sparnold@capital.net

Wednesday, March 11th
Registration: 8:15 to 9AM
Morning Session: Start 9AM
Overview of Gardens of Eagan – Atina and Martin
Overview of Half Pint Farm – Mara and Spencer
Morning break
Overview of Roxbury Farm – Jody and Jean-Paul
Wednesday Lunch
Afternoon Session
Earn your lunch topic – Presented by someone from the audience
Marketing at farmers’ markets and restaurants – Mara and Spencer
Afternoon break
CSA mechanics – Jody and Jean-Paul
Deciding what to plant: Clues from your soil, market, equipment, land and climate – Atina and Martin
Wednesday Dinner 6PM

Thursday, March 12th
Morning Session: Start 8:30 AM
Cover crops and soil management – Jody and Jean-Paul
Weed control on the organic vegetable farm: Systems and tools – Atina and Martin
Morning break
Group discussion on soil and weed management – led by one of morning presenters
Thursday Lunch
Afternoon Session
Earn your lunch topic – Presented by someone from the audience
Earning a living on a small-scale farm – Mara and Spencer
Afternoon break
Farm efficiency: Producing 1000 shares with ten employees – Jody and Jean-Paul
Variety round table – a group discussion led by anyone
Thursday Dinner 6PM

Friday, March 13th
Morning Session: Start 8:30 AM
Cucumbers to zucchini: Growing organic Cucurbits – Atina and Martin
Establishing and weeding direct-seeded vegetables – Jody and Jean-Paul
Morning break
Broccoli to kale: Growing organic Brassicas – Atina and Martin
Friday Lunch
Afternoon
Earn your lunch topic – Presented by someone from the audience
Growing specialty crops in three- and four-season high tunnels – Mara and Spencer
Group discussion on high tunnel production – led by Mara and Spencer
Wrap-up
End 4PM

WHOLE FARM SUCCESS STORIES
March 11-13, 2009, Saratoga Springs, NY
Registration Form

Participants MUST pre-register. Please register early – space is limited. Registration costs $175 per person, and includes an informative conference binder, morning refreshments, and lunch & dinner during the conference. A second additional person from the same farm will receive a $25 discount. To register, send a check and the registration form (below) to: Sustainable Farmers Network, c/o Sandy Arnold; 118 South Valley Road; Argyle, NY 12809. Please make checks payable to the “Sustainable Farmers Network” and EACH person attending must complete a registration form. For more information, call 518-638-6501 or (preferably) send an email to HYPERLINK “mailto:sparnold@capital.net” sparnold@capital.net . The agenda is below; some local home-stay options are available, as well as economical hotel lodging. When you complete the application, please consider assisting with some food donation, either in raw form, purchased donation of ingredients, or in a prepared dish, soup, etc. Please print LEGIBLY!

Contact Sandy for a copy of the application it was tool long to include.