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Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!
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There is an abundance of upcoming events that are highlighting the delicacies of West Virginia's farms that we mentioned in our last newsletter. And, many conferences and workshops supporting the viability of these special events. We will surely be partaking in several ourselves and we hope to meet many of you there.
Enjoy,
West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
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The Charm Farm's Annual Dinner and Barn Dance in Beverly, WV
July 8th, 2017 at 4PM
Enjoy a farm to table dinner and square dance at The Charm Farm in Beverly, WV. RSVP before July 5th to THECHARMFARM@YAHOO.COM or 304-940-0960. Walk-ins will be charged an additional $5 at the door.
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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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Double Up Food Bucks Stakeholder Meeting on
Tuesday, July 11th
in Huntington, WV from 10AM - 3PM
Local partners in the food movement that are reviving the West Virginia economy will come together on Tuesday, July 11th, to discuss the future of food access. The Fair Food Network, a Michigan based organization whose mission is to help grow local economies by providing the framework for incentive programs, will be joining local food advocacy organizations next month.
Any person who works in the fields of health, community development and outreach, local food, or hunger relief are invited to join us! Register here.
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Chicken and Rabbit Processing Workshop on Saturday, July 15th,
8AM - 2:30PM in Lavalette, WV
Learn how to humanely dispatch and butcher chickens and rabbits, and how to evaluate the carcass for health/disease. We will also discuss making your farm more sustainable and demonstrate a nonchemical method in hide tanning. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the workshop, with several knowledgeable producers and a certified tax preparer (for those interested in listing their farm as a business) available to field your questions. We highly encourage veterans to attend; however, the workshop is open to anyone wishing to learn more about raising and processing their own meat. Register here.
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A Storyteller's Supper with Lost Creek Farm at Rising Creek Bakery in Mount Morris, PA
July 17, 2017 at 7PM
The Lost Creek Farm duo is on the road again to Mount Morris, Pennsylvania to prepare a special six course small plate dinner experience. Please make reservations with Rising Creek Bakery at risingcreekbakery.com.
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Regional Buyers & Producers MIXER on Tuesday, July 18th from 1PM - 4PM
in Martinsburg, WV
The mixer at
Poor House Farm
will focus on connections between mid-size farm and food businesses looking to access markets other than direct to consumer. Restaurants, grocers, regional distributors, institutions and other wholesale buyers interested in purchasing local, raw produce, meats, cheeses and/or value-added products, are invited to explore what new and emerging producers have to offer. Register here.
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Celebrate Huntington! A Networking and Brainstorming Gathering on Friday, July 14th, 9:30AM - 3:00PM at St. Mary's Conference Center in Huntington, WV
This is a Try This West Virginia regional networking gathering, aimed at bringing together people working for a healthy community, to trade ideas and inspire each other.
All the organizers are donating their time and services. You donate $11.50 to cover the cost of a delicious local-foods lunch - sourced from The Wild Ramp, as part of their fifth anniversary celebration! Register here.
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Maple Confections Classes at Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, WV
July 28th and 29th, 9AM - 3PM
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), in conjunction with the West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association and Pierpont Community & Technical College, will host a Maple Confections School taught by Jake Mosher from Croghan, New York. "Confections 101" is held on Friday and "Confections 201" is held on Saturday. Register
here.
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NAFEX/NNGA Nut and Fruit Growing Conference in Tifton, GA at the University of Georgia
August 13th - 16th, 2017
The 108th Annual Conference of the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) will be held jointly with the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) in Georgia and is open to all people with an interest in nut trees. The conference will have presentations on the latest cultivation methods of traditional
fruits and
nuts of the Southeast.
Tour sites include visits to the experimental plantings and the Farmstead of the Future at the University of Georgia in Tifton, Fort Valley State University, the USDA ARS Station in Byron, and a 40 acre pecan orchard.
They will introduce non-traditional crops, including pawpaw, persimmon, jujube, Chinese chestnut, chinquapin, olives, citrus, hazelnut, and mulberries.
There will also be information on marketing techniques that will optimize the sales of
fruits and
nuts. Learn more and register
here.
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Save the Date: West Virginia Farmer's Market Meeting and Cookout
August 11th, 12PM - 4PM in Fairlea, WV
Join a statewide farmer's market meeting held during the West Virginia State Fair. The goal of this meeting is to bring state partners, our farmer's markets and the WVDA together to discuss and formulate a plan on how we can help expand our markets and grow the local food movement in the Mountain State. Please RSVP
here and contact Carly Stover for more information at cjstove@gmail.com.
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The Carolina Meat Conference
September 25 & 26 in Winston-Salem, NC
The Fifth Carolina Meat Conference - the largest gathering of pastured meat-makers in the country! Farmers, chefs, butchers, and industry leaders convene for two days of unparalleled networking, hands-on training, and technical and business assistance.
This conference supports a growing community committed to advancing market opportunities and increasing customer access to pasture-based meats. Plus for the first time, NC Choices is offering a one day Niche Meat Pre-Conference for Cooperative Extension Agents! Learn more and register
here.
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The Food Project's Summer Institute
August 3rd - 5th, 2017
Boston and Lincoln, MA
From this three day Institute, you will learn alongside people coming from organizations across the country to understand our model of tiered-structure youth leadership development in the context of farming and food justice. Register
here
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2017 Food Law Student Leadership Summit at UCLA School of Law in Los Angeles, CA
November 17th - 19th
The Food Law Student Leadership Summit convenes law students from around the country who share a passion for creating an equitable, transparent, healthy, and sustainable food system. Food law and policy is a fast-growing field within the legal profession and society at large. The Summit will build on the success of the past years, while reflecting the Southern California setting, the clients and partners of UCLA's Resnick Program, and the region's unique role in our food system. Apply to attend
here.
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School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute
January 21 - 26, 2018 in Santa Cruz, California
Join School Garden Support Organizations from across the nation for 5-day Leadership Institute to learn from peer organizations and create an organizational action plan for accomplishing some or all of the following in your region: training and supporting educators to implement garden-based learning, building and maintaining multiple school gardens, funding school gardens or helping schools to create sustainable funding streams for gardens, and more. Apply by July 20th, here.
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Lincoln County Agricultural Mentoring Development Pilot Program in Sod, West Virginia. Learn more and apply here.
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New to West Virginia's Farming Community! Become a member for FREE today. Learn more here.
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Local Food for Little Eaters: A Purchasing Toolbox for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Check it out here.
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Healthy Food Access Portal: The Go-To Resource for Increasing Access to Healthy Food. Visit the portal here.
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List of 2017 Farm to School awardees in the United States. Sadly, West Virginia received zero funding. Check out the list here.
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Minnesota's National Young Farmers Coalition successfully mobilized young farmers from across the state to advocate for the passing of a five-percent tax credit for retiring farmers and other landowners who sell their land to new farmers. Read the full story here.
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Read NSAC's blog post on the number of businesses, organizations, and local governments who oppose the elimination of USDA Rural Development.
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Deadline to file nomination forms for FSA County Committee members is August 1, 2017. Learn more here.
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