Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 21, 2008 issue
Ag Events in February and March
Compiled by Kathleen McFadden
A marketing conference, a grape-growing workshop, seed swaps and a workshop for poultry and rabbit producers are just some of the events on the agricultural calendar in the coming weeks.
Spring’s right around the corner, and the time to gear up for spring planting and growing is now. Check out the many opportunities to expand your expertise or finally get going with your own food production.
Saturday, February 23: Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference
The Fifth Annual Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference is a one-day event packed with information about how to effectively promote farms, what crops and techniques to consider for farm diversification, and how to reach local markets from direct to wholesale.
The conference will be held Saturday, February 23, at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa. The registration deadline for the ASAP Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference has passed but ASAP still has space, so registration remains open until filed. Call ASAP at 828-236-1282 to register.
Attendees are working farmers and others seriously considering farming as a profession. Speakers include agriculture experts, farmers experienced in reaching local markets, buyers and ASAP staff.
The conference will feature 18 workshops on topics ranging from CSA operation to medicinal herbs to selling to supermarkets, and includes the option of spending the afternoon in a half-day farm business-planning workshop. Lunchtime includes visits to Warren Wilson College’s gardens and pastured livestock operations, as well as opportunities to meet with buyers. For more info about the conference, click to www.asapconnections.org/marketingconference.htm.
Ashe County Cooperative Extension is offering FREE transportation to the ASAP Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference on February 23. To ride in the Extension van, you need to do three things: register for the conference; email Richard Boylan, Area Agent for Alternative Agriculture, at richard_boylan@ncsu.edu; and meet at the Ashe County Cooperative Extension building at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday. Spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The van will return to the Ashe County Extension Center after the conference.
Monday, February 25: Chef-Farmer Networking Meeting
To help growers, value-added food producers and chefs make the connections needed for a local food system to really thrive here in the High Country, Creative Food Ventures is holding a food networking event on Monday, February 25, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Family Central in Ashe County. For directions to Family Central, click to www.blueridgegraphics.com/acpc/map.asp.
Anyone who is interested is invited to attend the session that will connect growers with restaurateurs, chefs and retailers to find out who can grow what and how the chefs want it. For more info, contact Rhonda Church at 336-982-5127.
Saturday, March 1: Grape Growing Workshop
After winning four more medals at the North Carolina State Fair for wine made from grapes grown in the High Country, Dr. Richard Wolfe, co-owner of Banner Elk Winery, and Dr. Norm Oches, director of the ASU Viticulture Program, are hosting a free workshop on Saturday, March 1, at Banner Elk Winery from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The workshop will cover what kinds of grapes can be grown in the High Country, how to buy them, how to plant them and how to prune them.
“This workshop is for all the people who want to grow grapes, learn how to plant them and have a vineyard,” said Wolfe.
Roughly 20 farmers in the High Country are already growing grapes and Wolfe said that roughly 10 more have expressed interest in growing grapes on their own property. “It’s great,” said Wolfe. “I’m encouraging every one of them.”
The workshop includes a free lunch and wine tasting. Attendees should dress to be inside and outside. For more info, call 828-898-9099.
Saturday, March 8: Organic Growers’ School Spring Conference
The Organic Growers’ School Spring Conference, an annual March event, consists of a diverse array of workshops and hands-on classes for all folks interested in organic and sustainable agriculture—from the beginning backyard gardener to the advanced commercial grower. Each year, the conference features around 70 classes and 10 extended, hands-on workshops on a wide range of topics, including soils, pest management, livestock, herbs, cooking, permaculture, homesteading, urban growing, forestry and much more. Also offered are a children’s program for kids 7 to 12, a trade show and a seed and plant exchange.
The Spring Conference will be held Saturday, March 8, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, N.C. The conference is a great place to connect with people and network within the regional agriculture community, learn new things and collect ideas for the coming growing season. The event has grown from about 100 people in 1993 to 1,000 in 2007. Participants come from more than 17 states.
For more information about the Organic Growers’ School Spring Conference, or if you are interested in sponsoring this event, click to organicgrowersschool.org or contact event coordinator Meredith Leigh McKissick at meredith@organicgrowersschool.org.
Saturday, March 15: Ashe County Growers’ School & Seed Swap
Swapping heirloom varieties of seeds, roots, bulbs and apple scion wood has become a springtime tradition in the High Country. This year, Cooperative Extension and partners are planning a Growers’ School & Seed Swap for Saturday, March 15, at Ashe Family Central in Jefferson.
The Seed Swap will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 4:00 p.m. All growers and gardeners are invited to bring a mix of seeds from what they have grown and saved and to take some new varieties home. Classes will take place throughout the day on several topics, including seed-saving techniques presented by noted heirloom vegetable grower and seed saver Lee Barnes. Ron and Suzanne Joyner of Big Horse Creek Farm will offer their ever-popular class on grafting apple trees. The Joyners will offer a chance for hands-on learning by sharing their knowledge of successful grafting techniques and also offering rootstocks for sale to growers who want to start their own apple trees.
The High Country Growers’ School & Seed Swap is FREE (with the exception of apple rootstocks) and open to the public. The Ashe County Farmers’ Market will hold a vendors’ expo in combination with the seed swap, so all types of gardeners will hopefully be present: from the home-scale hobbyist to commercial growers. If you are just starting out gardening and don’t yet have seeds or root divisions to share, don’t worry; just come this year and get what you need, and be sure to grow and save enough seeds to share at next year’s swap.
For more information, call the Ashe County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at 336-846-5850. For directions to Family Central, click to
www.blueridgegraphics.com/acpc/map.asp
Saturday, March 22: Watauga County Seed Swap & Growers’ School
Seed swapping and idea exchanges will continue at the 7th Annual Watauga County Seed Swap & Growers’ School at the Watauga County Cooperative Extension Center on Saturday, March 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
All growers and gardeners are invited to bring a mix of seeds from what they have grown and saved and to take some new varieties home. Classes will take place throughout the day on several topics, including fruit tree grafting (taught by Watauga orchard grower Bill Moretz) and composting (taught by Watauga vermiculturist and composter Tracy Mahalyk).
For more information, call Richard Boylan at the Watauga County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at 828-264-3061.
Monday, March 17: Watauga County Farmers Market Annual Meeting
During the 2007 season, the Watauga County Farmers’ Market had its best year ever, and grower participation and customer support looks to make 2008 even better. The annual meeting of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market will take place Monday, March 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center. The meeting’s agenda will include an update from the Farmers’ Market Board, a review of rules and policies, a discussion of the year ahead and elections for the open officers’ and board members’ seats.
All current and potential market vendors are invited to attend, but you must already be a member to vote. For more info, call Richard Boylan at the Watauga County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at 828-264-3061 or Market Manager Karen Bauman at 828-264-1917
Friday, March 29: WNC Independent Poultry and Rabbit Meat Producers Workshop
Exciting things are happening in the world of poultry and rabbit meat production in western North Carolina. A full-day workshop—from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.—in the William Harold Smith Building at McDowell Technical Community College in Marion N.C. will focus on how to succeed in this growing niche market. Learn about best practices for farm management, tips on successful marketing and information about regulatory requirements for direct marketing of poultry and rabbit meat.
Presenters will include fellow farm producers, Cooperative Extension personnel, marketing specialists and supermarket and restaurant buyers. The keynote speaker is Dr. James McNitt, rabbit production specialist and professor of animal science at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge, La.
This workshop is organized by the Independent Small Animal Meat Processors Association of Western North Carolina (ISAMPA). ISAMPA’s mission includes promoting best practices for raising, processing and marketing small meat animals; supporting the development of a small animal processing facility meeting state or federal inspection requirements; and raising public awareness of small animal meat products humanely raised and processed in a manner that contributes to the social, economic and environmental well being of western North Carolina’s people and natural resources.
Lunch will be served, and admission is free with a $10 suggested donation. RSVP by Saturday, March 15, by calling Smithson Mills at 828-273-9119, or by emailing smithson@smithsonmills.com. Provide your name, phone number and email address when your register.