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Hannah Grimes Center

Farm Focus Newsletter

January 2012



Farm Focus Classifieds*
Plants for Sale:  NOFA-NH Herbal Network's Live Plant Order featuring culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herbal seedlings and potted perennials. All of the plants are grown by certified organic or pesticide-free New England farms. Visit http://www.nofanh.org/liveplant to learn more and download the order form.  Deadline: February 5. Pickup: June 2 Herb & Garden Day in Concord.   All proceeds benefit NOFA-NH. The order is open to all with special discounts for NOFA members.

*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 [email protected].  Make sure to include the best way to contact you.
Events to Help Your Business INNOVATE

New Hampshire  

Women in Agriculture Conference 

NH Farm & Forest Expo 

Friday, February 3, Noon - 5:00pm 

Radisson Hotel, Manchester 


Join the New Hampshire Women in Agriculture conference held for the first time at the NH Farm & Forest Expo. Meet our guest, the dynamic Dafna Michaelson, nationally recognized speaker, entrepreneur and community builder.  Learn from her experiences and those of others involved in agri-business in NH. Get ready for an empowering and idea filled afternoon and reach the next level in achieving your business dreams.  See brochure for more details.  Pre-registration deadline is 1/20/12.  Cost: $10 includes one day pass to the NH Farm & Forest Expo.  

HGCE Final Logo  

 

"The Power of Your Employees" Workshop:

 How to Manage Them to Success  

Hannah Grimes Center

Tuesday, February 7, Noon - 1:30pm

Hannah Grimes Center - Suite C, Keene 

 

Having a happy, cohesive and productive work team is key to the success of any enterprise - but not always easy to create.  This workshop will focus on how to create a culture of open communication, accountability and respect so your organization continues to grow and prosper.  Cost: Free. Register Now! 

 

Marketing Your Farm Business
Workshop Series

CISA

January - April, Times & Venues Vary 

 

CISA will hold a seven-workshop series entitled "Marketing your Farm Business" starting in January.  The series will provide farmers with in-person exposure to tried and true communication strategies and one-on-one support to begin to implement and improve direct marketing communications.  To be eligible for the one-on-one support you must attend a minimum of four workshops including the first session.  Dinner will be served at each session.  View complete series.  Cost to attend the series is $50 for Local Hero Members, with individual workshops $10 each.  The non-member fee is $70 for the series, $15 each for individual workshops.  To register, complete a registration form online at http://www.buylocalfood.org or contact [email protected] or 413-665-7100 x 22.
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Events to Help You CONNECT
With Farmers & Other Experts

2012 Winter Conferences

Northeast Organic Farming Association 

 

View all the upcoming NOFA Winter Conferences and find the topics and dates that work best for you! 

Been farming for less than 10 years? You may qualify for a scholarship! Recipients must work for two hours before or during the conference, and complete a post-conference evaluation form. Ask your NOFA chapter for details (NOFA-NH Application). 

 

 

Farmer to Farmer for Tomato Producers

UNH Cooperative Extension 

Friday, January 27, 12:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Student Conservation Association, Charlestown

 

Tomato growers are encouraged to come and participate in an afternoon meeting to share information and learn from one another. We'll  hear from Nick Warren, UNH Graduate Student, about the results of his indeterminate beefsteak tomato variety trial at UNH, and we'll also get an update on tomato tunnel nutrient management from Vern Grubinger from UVM and about IPM in high tunnels from Pooh Sprague, Edgewater Farm in Plainfield NH. We'll finish with a facilitated discussion about topics of interest to YOU (varieties, pruning, diseases, production challenges, marketing, etc) - a great way to network with and learn from other experienced growers.  View flyer. RSVP: [email protected]; 603-352-4550 or [email protected]; 603-863-9200.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Image:Hopfendolde-mit-hopfengarten.jpg

Growing a Better Beer in the Granite State

Farm & Forest Expo

Sunday, February 5, Noon - 3:00 p.m. 

Radisson Hotel, Manchester


Building on the success of last year's program, we will continue to take a look at the opportunities that exist for both local farming and local brewing. This year, we will look at the making of a beer from the field to the brew kettle with presentations from area hops and grain producers, and the breweries that use them. The event will feature a tasting of beers brewed with locally-grown ingredients. Cost: $30.   Pre-register at https://www.events.unh.edu.  Contact: [email protected]; 603-352-4550.  View flyer.

 

Save the Date:

Farm Appreciation Night

Monadnock Farm & Community Connection 

Friday, February 17 at Stonewall Farm, Keene

 

News & Resources to Inform & Inspire
NOFA-NH Introduces Journeyperson Program
Originally Posted on Vital Communities

  

NOFA-NH (Northeast Organic Farming Association-NH) is introducing its first Journeyperson program for beginning organic farmers, modeled after MOFGAs (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) well-established Journeyperson program. The Journeyperson program will be launched this spring, and it is looking for beginning farmers (between zero to 10 years experience) in the startup or re-strategizing phases of their farming career to apply. The two-year program will offer farmers hands-on, mentored farming opportunities and training, access to educational resources and business planning training, free membership to NOFA-NH, and access to all of its yearly programming. 


The program is also looking for established farmers to participate in the role of host farm/mentor, with training and a stipend provided. If you would like more information about the Journeyperson program, please contact Ray Conner at [email protected]

 

 

Be a Person with a Page

Originally Posted on Mack Hill Farm 

 

A common mistake that I see people (especially farmers) make is trying to participate in social media arenas as an entity (a "page") rather than as a person with a page. They register as "Awesome Farm" not Jane Farmer who manages a business called Awesome Acres. Read more.   

 

   

 

CISA Labor Law & Management Tipsheets


New CISA tipsheets on labor law and management include information on farm apprenticeships, hiring and management, wage and hour laws, and the H2A program. 

 

 

Funding Opportunities

From ATTRA 

 

- Conservation Innovation Grants National Component: Due January 31  

- Healthy & Humane Farm Funds: Due April 1 

 

More funding opportunities at: https://attra.ncat.org/calendar/funding.php.