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We are quickly approaching the height of the growing season here in the mountains of West Virginia. Farmer's markets, farm stands, CSA boxes, local menus at our neighborhood restaurants, and local grocers will soon be featuring many of West Virginia's delicacies- the celebrated heirloom tomato, Japanese eggplant, purple majesty potatoes, lunchbox peppers, Vidalia onions, and so much more.
For all of you working with us to support our farmers and food businesses, be sure to check out the grant opportunities below. Several deadlines are right around the corner.
Scroll joyfully,
West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
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30 Mile Meal Planning Day in
Fayette County, WV
June 15th 1PM - 3:45PM
Oak Hill City Council Room
Fayette County and New River Gorge stakeholders are joining together to launch the most locavore of branding programs, the 30 Mile Meal, to promote access to and awareness of local food, farms, eateries, retailers & tourism in the New River Gorge region of West Virginia! Join us
June 15th
to learn more!
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Getting Prepped to Visit Lawmakers: Tips and Guidance on Meeting with Policy Makers on the Importance of Nutrition Education
June 13th at 3PM - 4PM
This is great for anyone who wants to share the importance of nutrition education with their elected officials. It will also help people attending the
"Nutrition Educators As Advocates" pre-conference session to get ready to visit their Members of Congress. Register
here.
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Paris Apothecary 72-Hour Permaculture Design Certification Course
June 17th - 25th in Paris, Virginia
A PDC course offers a comprehensive intro to Permaculture principles, applications & design practices and meets the international standard as the 72+ hour foundational course for practitioners and teachers. Come learn with Wayne Weiseman, long-time Permaculture designer, teacher and co-author of Integrated Forest Gardening. This unique course will be held in the hills of Paris, VA a spot rich in history and surrounded by biologically dense ecosystems within the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn more here.
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"Blueprint for a National Food Strategy"
Free Webinar and Follow Up Video Conference
Thursday, June 15th, 2PM - 3PM
Explore the recently released "Blueprint for a National Food Strategy," a collaborative project between the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School and Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic. This webinar will be followed by a regional discussion focused on the Chesapeake Bay Region. Register here.
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2017 West Virginia Solar Congress: Envisioning a Future of Energy Freedom for West Virginia
Saturday, June 24th, 10AM - 4PM
in Moorefield, WV
The West Virginia Solar Congress is a free public conference that brings together solar supporters from across the state to learn and discuss the status and future for solar energy in West Virginia. The day will include a series of presentations and a participatory open forum discussion. The event will focus on two major topic areas: envisioning a future of energy freedom for West Virginia and energy basics for the home and farm. Learn more and register for free here.
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Farm to Institution: How Hospitals Overcome Barriers in Supporting Local Food Systems Through Innovative Community Outreach and Procurement
June 29th from 3 PM - 4PM
This webinar is designed for a hospital food service and community benefit audience but relevant to all organizations, agencies, and individuals seeking to assist institutions in using their purchasing power to leverage a healthier food and agriculture system. 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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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 c
ontact WVDA Communications Director, Crescent Gallagher, (304-380-3922
, cgallagher@wvda.us
) or Assistant Marketing Director, Beth Southern (304-558-5150
,bsouthern@wvda.us
) for more information.
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Call for Session Proposals: Northeast Sustainable Ag Working Group's Conference in Baltimore, MA
NESAWG is asking for you to submit session proposals for their November 2017 conference. The "conference is where [they] get to feature the work of farm and food systems leaders in the region, as well as have conversations about systemic issues in food systems work and brainstorm collaborative ways forward. [They] invite your innovative, instructive, and inspiring session ideas for consideration into the 2017 Conference Program." Submit your proposal
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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No Deadline
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Deadline: June 14, 2017
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Position Open Until Filled
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Deadline: June 16, 2017
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Farm Aid is Hiring a Full-Time Farm Advocate
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Deadline: June 30, 2017 |
Minutemen Farmers' Cooperative is Hiring a Farm Manager and Training Coordinator/Instructor in Ripley, West Virginia
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Send cover letter and resume to llagana@mail.wvu.edu
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Future Harvest CASA is Hiring a Central Chesapeake Field Programming Manager
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Deadline: May 19, 2017 |
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group is Hiring a Conference Coordinator
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Deadline: June 21, 2017 |
National Family Farm Coalition in Washington, D.C. is Hiring an Interim Policy Advocate |
Send cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and three references to familyfarmcoalition@gmail.com. |
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Profiles in Stewardship: How California Specialty Crop Growers are Producing a Better Environment. Check out the portfolio of profiles online here.
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USDA FSA Microloans Program expands to help farmers purchase farmland and improve property. Learn more here.
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Read NSAC's blog post on FSA County Committees and how you can influence farm policy at the local level.
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On May 16th,
Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the "Organic Agriculture Research Act of 2017". The Act increases funding for the Organic Agriculture Extension and Research Initiative (OREI) from $20 million to $50 million annually with hopes to increase innovative research and extension programs. Read NSAC's blog post about the Act here.
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FSA County Committee Elections are coming up. Nomination period opens on June 15, 2017. Run as a candidate or exercise your right to vote for members who influence the programs of FSA, hire the county Executive Director, and oversee the daily operations of the local office. Click here for important dates and forms.
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Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!
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