[Farm Focus Newsletter]

NOFA-NH Small Fruit and Veggie Twilight Meeting
Thursday, August 20, 5 - 7:30pm
Blueberry Bay Farm, Stratham

Blueberry Bay Farm is a 12-acre, U-pick blueberry farm in the Seacoast town of Stratham. Besides the 1300 blueberry bushes, Ron and Lois Laurence grow cut flowers and herbs, mixed vegetables and raspberries. Their crops are grown "naturally" with no use of synthetic pesticides. They follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices using different insect traps for monitoring pests. They are successfully deploying parasitic wasps to preclude the need for spraying the blueberries for cranberry fruit worm, and also using predatory nematodes to hopefully attack the blueberry maggot larva that drop to the ground at the end of the season.

Alan Eaton, Extension Entomology and IPM Specialist, Becky Grube, Extension Sustainable Horticulture Specialist, Cheryl Smith, Extension Plant Health Specialist, Nada Haddad Agriculture Extension Educator, Rockingham County and Janis Connor, Agriculture Inspector with the NHDAMF, will cover the following topics: IPM; soil preparation and cultural practices; update on insects, diseases on blueberries, raspberries and mixed vegetables; organic, natural pesticide and alternatives; biological control; bird and netting control; and transitioning to organic farming. Pesticide Recertification Credits: 2 (private and commercial). Meeting will be held rain or shine; http://www.nofanh.org/calendar.html.

From the Ground Up
A Beginning Farmer Workshop on Infrastructure for Diversified Farms

Wednesday, August 26, 9 am - 3 pm

Green Mountain Girls Farm, Northfield, VT

This on-farm workshop will provide aspiring and beginning farmers with practical information on pasturing animals, fencing systems, watering systems and marketing strategies for livestock producers. The workshop will be held at Green Mountain Girls Farm, a diversified farm producing vegetables, lamb, pork, poultry, eggs and milk, and offering farm stays. Farmers Laura Olsen and Mari Omland will start the day with an overview of their enterprises and experiences establishing the farm. Then, with our team of grazing, fencing, watering system and composting experts, we'll how these components work in theory and in the practical farm setting. The day will end with a discussion of marketing and resources for beginning farmers.

Registration is $25 per person. After August 18, there is a $15 late fee. Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ginseng

Introduction to American Ginseng Forest Farming

Wednesday, August 26
On-line Webinar

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to one of the state's most valuable crops, American ginseng. The botany, biology, ecology, markets, growing options, propagation techniques and management issues (pests, theft and regulations) all will be covered. More at: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/upcomingseminars.html#.

High Mowing Organic Seeds Vegetable Growers' Walks
Wednesday, September 2, 5pm
Trial Gardens at High Mowing Seeds, Wolcott, VT

This summer, High Mowing is hosting five Growers' Walks at our Trial Gardens in Wolcott, Vermont. These walks are targeted towards professional vegetable growers; new growers and apprentices are welcome! Each session will be focused on specific crop groups, but there will also be time to tour our 3-acre trial and vegetable breeding garden with over 700 seasonal varieties and to share your input and questions. This is an opportunity to connect with other professional growers and with High Mowing staff to share tips about growing specific crops, handling pests and disease for those crops, and looking at what new varieties may soon be available organically. We will be soliciting feedback about varieties YOU would like to see us carry! Join us to learn more about melons, winter squash and pumpkins! More at 802-472-6174, http://www.highmowingseeds.com/visiting-our-farm.html.

NOFA-VT Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop

Thursday, September 17, 10am
Highfields Institute's Compost Demonstration & Research Site, Hardwick, VT

A demonstration-based workshop covering the basic principles of livestock mortality and butcher residual composting including site set-up, carcass preparation, pile building, and pile management. Please dress for weather. Contact 802-434-4122 or june@highfieldsinstitute.org to register by September 10th. Fees: $10 for Farmers, $20 for Non-farmers; http://www.nofavt.org.

Farm Design/Build Class
Creating Working Buildings and Farmscapes

October 25 - November 6

Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, VT

This course is aimed at those involved in small, integrated, local farms -- a farm apprentice responsible for building a chicken coop; a new farmer with a farm in need of regeneration; an established farmer looking to make capital improvements; or the family homesteader who needs a sheep barn. Topics covered will include energy efficiency and independence, barnyard layout, barn design and rehabilitation, site planning, sheds and outbuildings, greenhouses, root cellars, housing, long-term planning, and the many systems involved in a local food source.

The studio experience will be an opportunity for farmers to take to time and space away from the daily routine and imagine, prioritize, and plan the upgrades they have always dreamed of. Students are encouraged to bring a design project to the class to workshop through the week. A small building project at the school or at a local farm will give the students a chance to safely learn the basics of construction. Farm visits, presentations, and guest lectures will provide a first hand opportunity to see how others have taken on the noble challenge of building a farm. Beginner to Intermediate. Tuition: $1400, Materials: $45 (Scholarships available). More info: http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/wbc/farmdesign.htm.