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Organic
and
Hoophouse Training
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November
7-8, 2011 |
Ridgeland,
SC |
Blue
Heron Learning Center - Jasper County |
November
9-10, 2011 |
Easley,
SC |
Greenbrier
Farms - Pickens County |
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Southern
SAWG in partnership
with the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program/USDA, and in conjunction with South Carolina NRCS will offer a special 2 day training in Organic Horticulture and High Tunnels
for NRCS, Extension, FSA, State Agriculture Department and other institutional
and organizational personnel serving farmers interested in organic and high
tunnel production. Farmers who themselves serve as trainers or mentors to other farmers or to technical service professionals
are also invited to attend.
As any new information
about these training events becomes available it will be posted at Southern
SAWG's "Upcoming
Events"web page.
The training will
be led by practitioners who speak from personal experience with commercial
organic and high tunnel farm enterprises. The event will include both classroom and on-farm instruction, and will include
discussion of how NRCS cost share and technical assistance can be profitably
applied in organic and high tunnel production operations. This training
is intended to help agriculture professionals better serve farmers, especially
farmers with or considering NRCS EQIP Organic Initiative or Hoophouse
cost-share applications.
Farmers, if you think
this training would be helpful for service providers that you work with
please share this information with them.
There is no charge
for this training for qualifying agricultural professionals, but registration
is required. Lunch will be provided on both days.
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Topics to be
covered include
High tunnel siting, construction, and material/design options
Critical factors for profitable high-tunnel/hoop house production
Experiences with NRCS high-tunnel cost-share
Principles of organic and natural farming systems, and how
the principles are implemented
Building soil health and fertility in an organic system
Crop diversity and crop rotation as management strategies
Weed, pest and disease management
Marketing and maintaining economic viability
Program outreach to new audiences using a grassroots approach
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Trainers/Farmers:
Dr. Mark Schonbeck, an independent consultant in sustainable agriculture
from Floyd County, VA has been conducting organic related research and developing organic resources in cooperation with land-grants, nongovernmental
agencies and farmers for 22 years.
Mark Cain has
been operating a successful diversified organic farm enterprise in Arkansas
for over 20 years. Mark produces mixed vegetables, culinary herbs, blueberries, and specialty cut flowers for the popular
Fayetteville Farmers Market and CSA distribution.
Andrew Williams
is a retired NRCS conservationist from Alabama with 35 years of experience
as a soil conservationist, district conservationist, RC&D, and state outreach coordinator.
Donald Brant,
a farmer at Brandt Family Farm in Jasper County, will share his farm and experience on November
8.
Chad Bishop,
a farmer at Greenbrier Farms in Pickens County, will share his farm and experience on November
10.
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November
7-8, 2011
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November
9-10, 2011
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Blue
Heron Learning Center
321 Bailey Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936
(843) 726-7611
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Greenbrier
Farms
772 Hester Store Road, Easley, SC 29640
(864) 855-9782
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