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Now that conference season and West Virginia's legislative session are winding down, we are looking forward to returning to the field, and enjoying all the fruits of the farming communities' labor this season.
There are a lot of exciting events coming up here in West Virginia and up and down the East Coast. In particular, if you'll be in the Charleston area on the evening of April 25th, join us at the WVSU Capitol Theater in downtown Charleston for a public screening of
Under Contract: Farmers and the Fine Print as part of the WV International Film Festival. Watch the
trailer and learn more about the incredible organization behind the production of this documentary,
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI). 50% of all proceeds go to benefit local farmers and producers.
Happy Spring,
West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
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Sprouting Farms Mentor Farmer Training on April 13th at 6pm in Alderson, West Virginia
Hear from Terry Hudson of Hudson Farms about his experience working with interns and apprentices and the benefits and pitfalls to hosting apprentices on your farm. Sprouting Farms Staff will also go over labor laws, regulations, and how the mentor program at Sprouting Farms will work for the 2017 season. RSVP for the event, here.
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Sprouting Farms Community Information Sessions on April 11th 6PM - 8PM and April 20th 6PM - 8PM
Sprouting Farms will present updates on the project, introduce their new staff members, and describe what resources are available to area farmers and community members through the Equipment Sharing, Leasing, and Apprenticeship Programs. April 11th
at Talcott Elementary School from
6:00-8:00pm
https://goo.gl/E7SJEQ
and April 20th at the Monroe County Public Library in Union from 6:00-8:00
https://goo.gl/HEhkYI.
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Soil, Water, and Hope with Peter Donovan on Thursday, April 13th at 7PM and Friday, April 14th 8:30AM - Noon in Lewisburg, West Virginia at Swift Level Land & Cattle
Join Peter Donovan and Didi Pershouse of the Soil Carbon Coalition in this participatory workshop as they explore the deep relationship between carbon and water in the soil pore and in the atmosphere, and learn how photosynthesis and microbes create the natural infrastructure and land functions that our farms and communities depend on. Learn more
here.
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NC Choices- Pastured Pork and Poultry Walk, Paddock Demo & Intensive for Beginning and Transitioning Farmers
April 20, 2017 at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina
"This interactive workshop is taught by leading farmers, educators, and researchers; and provides comprehensive niche meat training from pasture to sale for beginning and transitioning farmers. Producers will learn about pasture management techniques including rotational grazing, mobile units, and paddock demos for pork and poultry, nutrition and feeding guidelines including when to use alternative feeds, how to determine markets and scale, and liability requirements and coverage." Registration opens
here on February 1, 2017.
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15th Annual Shiitake Inoculation Day at Backbone Food Farm on April 22, 2017 11AM - 6PM
Drill! Stuff! Wax! Repeat! Click
here for more information.
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Nourishing Networks: Healthy Food Access Planning Workshop in Wayne County, West Virginia
April 21st, 2017 10AM - 7PM
WVFOODLINK and WVU Extension invite you to participate in a unique 1-day workshop. If you are a nutritionist, food pantry volunteer, mother, father, community gardener, farmer, extension agent, teacher, social worker, or health professional this workshop is for you! Share experiences. Get access to useful knowledge and tools. Learn new ways to approach healthy food access problems. Work together to develop new solutions. Create plans, policies, and projects that nourish Wayne County. Register
here.
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Nourishing Networks: Healthy Food Access Planning Workshop in Fayette County, West Virginia
May 2, 2017 10AM - 7PM
WVFOODLINK and WVU Extension invite you to participate in a unique 1-day workshop. If you are a nutritionist, food pantry volunteer, mother, father, community gardener, farmer, extension agent, teacher, social worker, or health professional this workshop is for you! Share experiences. Get access to useful knowledge and tools. Learn new ways to approach healthy food access problems. Work together to develop new solutions. Create plans, policies, and projects that nourish Fayette County.
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Save the Date: Ohio and West Virginia Food Hub Network Meeting on May 16, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio 9AM - 3PM
The day will focus on food safety considerations for food hubs and will include a tour of the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Watch for additional details soon.
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National Farm Viability Conference 2017
May 22nd-24th in Albany, NY
The National Farm Viability Conference is focused on strengthening farm sustainability, building stronger and more resilient local food systems and supporting the long term profitability of farming and agri-entrepreneurs from start-ups to generational businesses. Register
here.
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Food Safety Training Webinar Series for Farmer Support Organizations
March 2017 - June 2017
Trainings
are designed for organizations that provide farmer support and technical assistance, such as inc
ubator farm programs, producer groups, food hubs, and extension agents. Topics include water requirements, food safety certification options, developing a quality management system, and equipment sanitation. Register here.
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F
ungal Pharmacopeia: A Medicinal Mushroom Intensive Workshop
May 27-28th
Sharondale Farm, Cismont, VA
Join us for a hands-on activity filled workshop exploring mushrooms as medicine for personal and community health.
Read more and register
here
.
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Holistic Livestock Husbandry at Sterling College on June 19 - 23, 2017 with
Dr. Temple Grandin; Dr. Hubert Karreman, VMD; and Gwyneth Harris
This course both highlights tried and true management techniques and exploring new directions for managing the small diversified livestock farm for healthy, contented livestock. Learn more and register here.
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The Future of Ginseng and Forest Botanicals Symposium
July 12 - 14 in Morgantown, WV
This 3-day symposium will provide a forum to bring together a diverse array of stakeholders involved in the management and regulation of forest botanicals in Appalachia, including federal and state agencies, tribal representatives, academics, landowners, collectors, and the herbal products industry. Register
here.
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Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference: It Takes a Region. For more information, click
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Deadline: Friday, June 7, 2017 at 5PM EST
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No Deadline
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Deadline: June 2, 2017 at 5pm EST
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Deadline: June 19, 2017
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A production records template provided by Beth LaShell at Old Fort Market Garden Incubator in Fort Lewis, Colorado. Check it out,
here.
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Make sure your farm counts!
Your agricultural operation, large or small, is important to U.S. agriculture. Complete the form here.
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Power of Produce (PoP) Club Toolkit
provides farmers markets and/or partnering organizations with the guidance, resources, and templates needed to successfully implement the PoP Club program. Find the toolkit here.
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MIFI Markets: Empowering Farmers Markets through Metrics + Indicators for Impact
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USDA publishes a guide on Contracting in Agriculture: Make the Right Decision. Access the full guide here.
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FOOD AND FARM POLICY CORNER
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Path to the 2018 Farm Bill: Programs with Expiring Funding. Read the full article
here.
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Stay up-to-date with the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition's 2017 legislative priorities with our legislative issues infographic,
here.
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Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!
Your support will further our work to make local food more viable in West Virginia.
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