Come one and all! Cornell University's Mann Library will be hosting its 6th annual Local Food & Fiber Fair Thursday, November 19th, from 2-5pm. Stop by the lobby and enjoy a festive open market offering local produce, hands-on demonstrations, music, food and fiber. The fair is free and open to the public. For more information on this year's fair and those from the past, visit localfair.mannlib.cornell.edu. 

The newest meat locker in NYS opened in Steuben County in late September. This locker in Corning is part of the Finger Lakes Meat Project, launched by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Corning Meat Locker offers a 25 gallon bin for $8 a month, or an 18 gallon bin for $5 a month. Visit fingerlakesmeatproject.com for more information about this new locker, as well as the Ithaca Meat Locker.

November 5, 6-8pm. CCE Broome County, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, New York 13905

November 6, 9:30am-3:30pm. Big Flats Municipal Campus/Community Bldg, 476 Maple St., Big Flats, NY

November 13 & 14. 

This position provides a wide variety of programmatic, outreach, financial and organizational assistance to the Cornell Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture (CICCA), through the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), with full support of a range of project and grant-related duties and activities. Specifically, the incumbent will be providing a full range of specific program, outreach, and project-related administrative coordination for the CICCA Executive Director and Director, student workers and staff, and Cornell Cooperative Extension climate smart farming extension team. Furthermore, the incumbent will also help CICCA Directors and staff draft and edit climate change related materials; provide primary support and coordination for the Climate Smart Farming Program; help develop and maintain evaluation plans for programs to review effectiveness; and assist faculty with grant applications and reporting. For more information and to apply, visit https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10168/jobdetail.ftl?job=29889&lang=en.

Farm Credit East, along with more than 20 supporting organizations, is going to be holding a three-part webinar series, geared towards beginning and start-up farmers entitled "Harvesting a Profit". The series will tackle basic financial concepts of starting or running a small to mid-sized farm. It has been scheduled in three sessions in November: 6, 20, and 30, from noon - 1pm on each date. The webinars are free and open to anyone with an interest in farming. To register, visit FarmCreditEast.com/webinars.

Are you an experienced grower, or well on your way to being one? Our Farm supplies organically grown produce exclusively to our restaurant located in NYC and the farm is 30 miles north in Croton on Hudson. We practice low impact, intensive growing principles on 1+ acre. We also have 2 heated greenhouses on site for winter production. We are looking for someone who: has experience growing organically, likes a challenge, and likes to learn. Compensation package includes; housing in a great part of NYC above our restaurant, transportation to and from farm, great work environment, weekly stipend. Position open starting February 2016. Contact Michael at [email protected]

NIFA's Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program is accepting applications for three kinds of grants: (1) Community Food Projects; (2) Planning Projects; and (3) Training and Technical Assistance Projects. This U.S. Department of Agriculture program seeks to encourage healthy eating and physical activity at the individual and community levels, focusing on high-risk groups, and promotes healthy diet and physical activity behaviors.

This U.S. Department of Agriculture program seeks to support projects that increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase. Grantees will be expected to conduct a project assessment and to cooperate with and contribute to an independent evaluation to determine the relative effectiveness of the grant program in achieving the legislative goals of "increasing fruit and vegetable purchases" and "improving the nutrition and health status" of participating households. For more information, view the 2016 Request for Applications. Applications are due December 16th, 2015.

Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is leading the way toward a resilient future-rooted in today's research. In this issue ofperiodiCALS, you'll meet life sciences faculty who are exploring algae, willow and switchgrass crops designed to move us toward more sustainable bioenergy systems as well as social scientists who are harnessing communication, psychology, economics, and public policy to find new and inventive ways to give public health a big boost. You can also journey underground for a glimpse of subterranean science or travel with trailblazing students in new study abroad programs in Latin America. View periodiCALS online.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has published the 2015 Greenbook, featuring 19 stories about sustainable agriculture research and demonstration projects taking place on crop, livestock, fruit, and vegetable farms. The annual publication highlights projects funded by the state's Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant program. Whether you're more interested in the farmers' stories, the hard data, or simply want to read about new ideas, you'll find Greenbook 2015 a great resource. Find the present and past Greenbooks online here.

Sometimes local questions are best answered by your neighborhood Cornell Cooperative Extension agent. Check out our county-by-county listing of small farm agents here. You can also get to know our Cornell Small Farms Program staff, or contact us.   Just starting to farm?  We have an extensive directory of beginning farmer service providers across the Northeast in the "Who Can Help?" section of our Northeast Beginning Farmers Project website.