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 Hannah Grimes Center
Farm Focus Newsletter
January/February 2010
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What is Success to You?
Success, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship wants to help farm and food processing business owners achieve their vision of success. What we've heard so far from Monadnock Region farmers is that a successful farm: - Provides a living wage to all farm workers.
- Affords health insurance to the farmer's family.
- Raises happy farm animals & satisfied customers.
How does Hannah Grimes currently help farmers and food processors achieve success?
We're currently in the process of developing better ways for Hannah Grimes and our partners to support farm businesses in our region. Please feel free to share your vision for your farm's success and other thoughts with us - email us at jen@hannahgrimes.com or call 603-352-5063; http://www.hannahgrimes.com.
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Farmer Input Needed: Do you store vegetables for winter sales, or are you producing vegetables to harvest between December and April? The University of Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, and Seacoast Eat Local are seeking input from vegetable farmers to help build the capacity for winter vegetable production in our region. It is a 5-10 minute survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2WYDLPS. Thank you for your interest and your time! Kate Donald, Seacoast Eat Local; http://www.seacoasteatlocal.org, 603-734-4223. *The Hannah Grimes Center is posting these classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement. Add your own classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting entrepreneurs to jen@hannahgrimes.com. Make sure to include the best way to contact you.
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Events to Help Your Business Innovate
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Markets & Profits:
Making Money Selling What You Grow
Cornell Small Farms Program
January 20 - March 2
Online Webinar
Many people get into farming for the love of it, with little thought to the considerations of how to establish a business that will be viable long-term. Who will buy what you grow, and will they pay enough to sustain you through the long years of hard work it will take to get the business going? This popular introductory-level online course can help you research these topics, providing resources, a cohort of peers to discuss ideas with, and presenters to focus your planning process. The course runs Jan. 20 to Mar 2, 2011. Fee: $150. If you live out-of-state and are concerned about our ability to meet your needs, please email ejf5@cornell.edu with any questions. Register at: http://www.nybeginningfarmers.org.
Labor Management Workshop Series: Introduction to Labor Law CISA Tuesday, February 1, 6pm-9pm CISA, South Deerfield, MA
The first workshop of CISA's 2011 Winter Workshop Series on labor management issues. We will discuss fair wage and labor laws, and the legal aspects of categories of farm laborer such as seasonal labor, child labor, intern and apprentice. Representatives from the Department of Labor and the MA Fair Labor Division will be present to shape the discussion. Questions can be submitted in advance to CISA. This is the first of six workshops on labor issues, more information and registration information will be posted shortly. More information: 413-665-7100; info@buylocalfood.org.
Systematizing a Diverse Vegetable Operation NOFA MASS Saturday, February 5, 8:30am - 5:30pm Barre Congregational Church, Barre, MA
This seminar presents practical information for making farms more economically viable through soil health and effective management. It is tailored to the needs of small (4 acres) and medium-scale (25 acres) diversified commercial vegetable growers who wish to refine or revamp their farm systems to enable incorporation of new equipment and hiring of employees. Regardless of his or her scale, the seminar will benefit any grower wanting to improve their farm's systems.
The morning session is "Soil & Plant Health from a Whole Farm Perspective". The afternoon is "Planting and Harvesting Procedures, Record Keeping, and Financial Analysis." Fee: $90. Discounts available for NOFA members and for early-bird registration. More information: 413-658-5374, ben.grosscup@nofamass.org; http://www.nofamass.org/seminars/winterseminar.php.
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Events to Help You Connect
With Farmers & Other Experts
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Organic High Tunnel Production Meeting
UNH Cooperative Extension
Friday, January 21, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Unitarian Universalist Church, Concord
This workshop is designed for experienced producers who want to better understand organic soil, crop and disease management in high tunnels. Grower and researcher presentations will be followed by a farmer-to-farmer discussion where you can learn from each other. There is no cost to attend this workshop but registration is requested. For the agenda and registration information, see the brochure.
Organic Apple Production and Marketing A Beginner's Guide Thursday, January 27, 1:00pm (EST) Online Webinar
Commercial-scale organic apple production has entered the mainstream. Once thought of as practically impossible, profitable organic apple production is now a reality for established apple growers from coast to coast. And the techniques for successful organic apple production are backed up by research and recommendations from universities such as Cornell, Michigan State, and Washington State. To find out what's involved in profitable organic apple production, and whether this business is right for you, register for our free webinar. To register for the webinar, visit this website: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/282739802.
ServSafe Food Protection Certification
Course & Examination UNH Cooperative Extension Thursdays, February 3, 10 & 17, 2:30 - 4:30pm Keene High School, Keene
ServSafeŽ is a nationally recognized food safety certification program of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). his three-week (February 3, 10, 17) training provides participants with the latest science-based information on safe food handling and best practices in the foodservice industry. Participants passing the exam with a grade of 75% or higher will receive ServSafeŽ Food Safety Certification from NRAEF. Certification is valid for five years. At the end of the course (February 17), the exam will be administered. Some studying on your own time will be necessary. Fee: $135. Registration flyer.
NH Farms and Forests: Growth through Yankee Ingenuity NH Farm & Forest Exposition Friday, February 4, 9am - 7:30pm Saturday, February 5, 9am - 4:00pm Radisson Hotel, Manchester
Presentations include: Growing New Farmers & Foresters: NH's Agribusiness, Food Safety Education & Planning for Agritourism Providers in NH, Growing a Better Beer in the Granite State and Dairy Goat Nutrition 101. Fee: $7; $1 off each gate admission by bringing two non-perishable food items to benefit the NH Food Bank. Full schedule: http://www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org/schedule.htm.
Nutrient Dense Crop Production Course Real Food Campaign Various Dates & Locations in New England
After the success of last year's course, Dan Kittredge will be presenting another series of workshops for the 2010-2011 growing season. The goal is to engage and build on what you already know and are doing. Participation-based with questions and answers, the workshop series is designed for farmers, growers, and gardeners of any type to learn current research and proven methods, and go step-by-step through the process that will lead to optimum crop health and sustained yield. More details: http://realfoodcampaign.org/workshop-series-2010-2011.
Annual Meeting & Conference Small & Beginner Farmers of NH Saturday, February 19, 9:00am Common Man Inn & Spa, Plymouth
Workshops include: How to find land as a beginner farmer, Marketing your farm products and Backyard poultry other than chickens. Also a talk by NH Ag Commissioner, Lorraine Merrill, on upcoming Agricultural Legislation. Fee: $25 members, $40 nonmembers. Registration: http://www.beginnerfarmers.org; deadline 2/10.
Women in Agriculture Conference UNH Cooperative Extension Saturday, February 19 Charlestown, NH
Brochure available soon. Contact Carl Majewski at 603-352-4550, carl.majewski@unh.edu.
View all six NOFA Winter Conference Schedules throughout New England at the NOFA Interstate Council Website. |
News & Resources to Inform & Inspire
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Farming & Twitter Converge Through AgChat
Posted on About Harvest
In their own words, the AgChat Foundation defines it's purpose to: Empower farmers & ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms. About Harvest recently spoke with the treasurer of the AgChat Foundation about the great work they are doing connecting farmers to consumers via the twittersphere. In this podcast Darin Grimm tells us all about the organization and their current and future plans to continue connecting farmers to consumers in meaningful and lasting ways. 
Still On the Fence About Hoophouses? Watch this one-hour video from ATTRA: Hoop Houses For Extending Your Growing Season Topics include the uses and benefits of hoop houses, including increases in crop quality and yields; different types of hoop houses; construction, materials and cost estimates; management of crops, soil fertility, pests and weeds; and the economics and marketing of crops. For convenience, slides from the Hoophouse Webinar are also available in PDF format. Looking for Funding? Conservation Stewardship Program Fact Sheet Posted on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Website The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a working lands conservation program administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and available on a nationwide basis. CSP offers technical and financial assistance to farmers for maintaining high standards of environmental stewardship. Assistance is available for both the active management and maintenance of existing conservation systems and for implementing new conservation activities on land in agricultural production. Download fact sheet.
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