Calendar of Events

June 11, 2008: Twilight Tour: Livestock Integration from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Twilight Tours are a series of informal discussions on the production and management of vegetables, cover crops, forage crops, and livestock at the CEFS - Farm Unit. The series are intended to reveal the basic as well as the detailed evidence on the ever changing farm landscape. What’s on your mind? Participants will be encouraged to ask questions while we undertake a walking tour and discuss the fields of production and research. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

June 23, 2008: Panzanella's Farm Dinner from 5:30-9:00 pm in Carrboro, NC. Featuring a menu of foods created from ingredients grown by Perry-winkle Farm. Visit the Panzanella website for more information. Parties of six or more, call 929-6626 to make a reservation.

June 25, 2008: Specialty Crops Field Day from 10:00 am-3:00 pm at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs, NC. This field day will feature lettuce and strawberries and is sponsored by the NC Specialty Crops Program at NC State University. For more information, contact Department of Horticultural Science Extension Specialist Barclay Poling.

June 26, 2008: Bread Wheat and Organic Production from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Mountain Research Station, 265 Test Farm Road Waynesville, NC 28786-4016. We will discuss how production for the bread flour market differs from our conventional market and what varieties of hard wheat do well in North Carolina. Processors of bread flour and organic wheat will be there to answer questions about market conditions and requirements. We will also discuss weed and fertility management in organic wheat. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

June 28, 2008: National Pollinator Week Celebration at Chatham Marketplace from 9:00 am-noon in Pittsboro, NC. The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Chatham County Beekeepers' Association host an educational event celebrating honey bees and other pollinators that are so important to our food supply and ecosystem. Details will be released soon. For more information contact Debbie Roos at 919-542-8202.

June 29, 2008: ChathamArts' 3rd Annual Potluck in a Pasture from 6:00-8:00 pm at Ayrshire Farm in Pittsboro, NC. Come celebrate summer, share home-grown food and meet local artists at North Carolina’s first certified organic farm in North Carolina! Featured artists include singer/songwriter Sarah Shook, mural artist Erick Davis, woodwork artisan Dianne Swann, and Rambler magazine publishers Dave Korzon and Elizabeth Oliver. Dow, who has been on the forefront of organic farming and marketing of locally grown food for more than 20 years, will lead a tour of the scenic farm and the artists will demonstrate their work. “The idea behind our potlucks is to honor our local farmers and artists, who are crucial to Chatham’s rural economy and culture,” said Daryl Walker, founder of the potluck project for ChathamArts, the nonprofit county arts council. “We hope these suppers will encourage more people to buy locally produced food and art. And what better way to spend a summer evening than sharing a home-grown meal with local artists and friends on a beautiful farm?”

Visitors are asked to bring a pot-luck dish for eight that includes at least one locally grown ingredient (and the recipe to share, noting the origin of local items), as well as a beverage, lawn chair or blanket, and a donation to ChathamArts, which supports local, diverse arts and cultural programs.

Local food ingredients for your pot-luck dish may come from your own garden or neighboring farms; from local farmers’ markets at the Chatham County Fairgrounds or Southern Village (Thursdays), Fearrington Village (Tuesdays), or Siler City and Carrboro (Saturdays); or from Chatham Marketplace in Pittsboro, or Weaver Street in Southern Village and Carrboro.

Dow’s sustainably grown vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible flowers embellish the menus of some of the best restaurants in the Triangle area. Ayrshire Farm is located on Friendly Pooch Lane off of Jay Shambley Road, south of U.S. 64. Directions are available at the ChathamArts website or by calling 919-219-9840.

July 9, 2008: Twilight Tour: Vegetable Harvest Considerations from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Twilight Tours are a series of informal discussions on the production and management of vegetables, cover crops, forage crops, and livestock at the CEFS - Farm Unit. The series are intended to reveal the basic as well as the detailed evidence on the ever changing farm landscape. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions while we undertake a walking tour and discuss the fields of production and research. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 10, 2008: Fueling the Farm II: Managing energy risks, reducing energy costs and exploring alternative energy sources from 9:00-4:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This day-long workshop will provide farmers and other participants with information and tools to explore and evaluate farm energy use, potential economic risk and ways of reducing on-farm energy usage and expenses.  Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects will be discussed and demonstrated and potential funding sources will be identified.  Biofuel production topics will be a specific breakout thread and will include the step by step demonstration of biofuel production. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 11, 2008: Biofuels 101: Hands-on Demonstration of Biofuel Production from 9:00-4:30 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Piedmont Biofuels will teach a 'hands on' workshop on biodiesel production. Topics to be covered and demonstrated will include equipment set up and design, materials and supplies, titration, running the reaction, washing, drying, testing, and final product evaluation.  Additionally they will demonstrate a small oil seed press, and describe the steps necessary to produce biodiesel from an oilseed crop. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 14 , 2008: Panzanella's Farm Dinner from 5:30-9:00 pm in Carrboro, NC. Featuring a menu of foods created from ingredients grown by Eco-Farm. Visit the Panzanella website for more information. Parties of six or more, call 929-6626 to make a reservation.

July 17, 2008: Pasture-Based Dairy Workshop from 9:30-3:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. The pasture-based dairy at CEFS will host a workshop for interested dairy producers, educators, and students. Topics will include horn fly control strategies, forage production and management, herd management, crossbreeding, and summaries of recent and on-going research projects.  Topics will be relevant for organic dairy herds as well as for herds using various amounts of pasture in their production systems. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 19, 2008: Bugs in the Garden from 10:00-12:00 pm at the Wayne County Public Library, 1001 E Ash St, Goldsboro, NC 27530. This hands-on workshop will introduce kids to the fun and fascinating world of insects. Come learn what makes a bug a bug and identify a few insects in the field. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 21-22, 2008: Raising Heritage Turkeys on Pasture from 9:00 – 4:30 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Turkeys are moving back outside. And not just any turkey; heritage turkeys. This 2 day clinic will teach outdoor production of heritage turkeys from brooding through processing and marketing. Nutrition & feeds, diseases & predators, management & more will be covered. Participants will receive a complete production manual (also available for free at www.albc-usa.org/downloads.html). Frank Reese, Jr., the primary instructor, has 45 years of experience raising heritage turkeys, and is now leading the nation in re-establishing a market for these hardy and flavorful historic birds. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has been saving heritage turkeys since 1997. As a Professional Development Project, Extension agents are eligible for fee waivers and travel support. For more information contact mbender@albc-usa.org. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 24-26, 2008: Out-of-State Organic Grain Tour: VA, MD, PA will take place over a 3 day tour. This 3 day tour will involve travel to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland to visit the Rodale Institute and several large-scale, successful organic grain farms. For information, please contact Molly Hamilton at 828-273-1041. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 25-27, 2008: Wild Herb Weekend in Valle Crucis, NC. Spend a delightful, relaxing weekend attending interesting herbal educational sessions, strolling amongst vendors with tables full of herbs and herb products, and sitting in rocking chairs on big covered porches chatting with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever want to meet. All this and more at a charming conference center in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and at an affordable price.  This annual event brings together herb hobbyists, gardeners, and professional herb growers and practitioners from across North Carolina and neighboring states.  This year we are honored to present as our Keynote Speaker, Dr. James Duke, world renowned ethnobotanist and author of The Green Pharmacy.  In addition to giving presentations on Biblical Herbs and Herbs of the Amazon, he will lead a plant walk.  This is an opportunity not to be missed. For more information visit the North Carolina Herb Association website.

July 28, 2008: North Carolina Egg Grading School for Small Producers from 8:00 am-4:30 pm at the NC State University Poultry Science Teaching Unit in Raleigh, NC. The class is directed at new and established small producers of free-range eggs, extension agents, and purchasers of locally grown products. If you are an individual who wants to learn more about the proper methods of grading and evaluating the internal and external quality of shell eggs, then this workshop should be of interest. The training will include a review of the North Carolina Egg Law and components which apply to small producers. The class will include both lecture material and hands-on laboratories. Visit the Egg Handling School website for a detailed agenda and to download a registration form. Registration is $25 and the deadline to register is July 18. Register early to guarantee your spot! For more information contact Dr. Ken Anderson at 919-515-5527.

July 30, 2008: Making Use of Beneficial Insects for Crop Pest Management & Pollination from 9:00-3:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This workshop will include information on beneficial insects used for pest management as well as beneficial insects involved in pollination.  The pest management portion of the workshop will begin by providing a background on biological control and how it relates to IPM.  We will also take an objective look at how and where biological control can be used and improved.  We will cover the DOs and DON’Ts of purchasing and releasing beneficial organisms.  We will also objectively examine beneficial insect habitats, a common pest management approach on organic farms.  Field demonstrations and hands on activities will provide participants with a practical background in beneficial insect habitats, and straight-forward strategies for increasing the value of beneficial insects released on farms.  In the pollinator portion of the workshop participants will learn about the important crop pollinators and the habitat that can help increase their numbers. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

July 31, 2008: Why Buy Local? from 7:00-8:00 pm at the Wayne County Public Library, 1001 E Ash St, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Discover why eating seasonal and locally produced food is one of the most important choices you can make for improving the health of your family, community, and the planet.  In this workshop we will discover what is a "local food system"; the health and environmental benefits of eating local, seasonal foods; and why local food systems stimulate communities and local economies. Also, find out what you can do to support the production and consumption of local foods through the Wayne County Local Food System Initiative. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

August 13, 2008: Twilight Tour: Irrigation & Water from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Twilight Tours are a series of informal discussions on the production and management of vegetables, cover crops, forage crops, and livestock at the CEFS - Farm Unit. The series are intended to reveal the basic as well as the detailed evidence on the ever-changing farm landscape. What’s on your mind? Participants will be encouraged to ask questions while we undertake a walking tour and discuss the fields of production and research. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

August 20, 2008: Organic Certification from 10:00-3:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This workshop will help you understand what you need to know and do to get your farm certified under the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP).  Find out what the standards are, how to get certified, how to fill out an organic certification application, and how to find and choose a certifier.  You’ll receive an extensive notebook with record-keeping templates, mock applications, resources, approved materials lists and more.  If you are thinking about getting certified organic, this is the place to start! Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

August 25, 2008: Developing Community Based Food Systems from 9:00-4:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. State and local governments, agriculture professionals, policy makers, economic development specialists and consumers are beginning to see the benefits of developing local food systems.  Currently faced with declining numbers of farmers, waning vibrancy of rural communities, overdependence on fossil fuels, diminishing natural resources, lack of food security and access in urban and rural communities, and health epidemics such as obesity and diabetes, Local Food Systems are an alternative that promote entrepreneurial activities by local farms, markets, and supporting businesses and empower citizens to play an active role in their community's food security and successfully addresses the issues stated above.  This workshop will provide the nuts and bolts of developing local food systems including conducting food assessments, developing new markets- direct and institutional, supporting new farmer programs, providing business support for new local food entrepreneurs, forming a food policy council, policies that deter and facilitate local food systems. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

August 28, 2008: Pasture Establishment, Design and Management from 9:00-4:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This all day workshop will include hands on training for agents and producers involved in outdoor pork production.  Emphasis will be on techniques for helping farmers maintain groundcover in outdoor hog operations.  Topics will include groundcover management, pasture design, rotations, fencing, and watering systems.  The use of groundcover to address environmental issues such as erosion and offsite water quality will also be discussed. Training will will incorporate a discussion of results from short-term ground cover management trials supported by a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from NRCS. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

September 10, 2008: Twilight Tour: Winter Cover Crops from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Twilight Tours are a series of informal discussions on the production and management of vegetables, cover crops, forage crops, and livestock at the CEFS - Farm Unit. The series are intended to reveal the basic as well as the detailed evidence on the ever-changing farm landscape. What’s on your mind? Participants will be encouraged to ask questions while we undertake a walking tour and discuss the fields of production and research. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

September 14, 2008: ChathamArts' 3rd Annual Potluck in a Pasture from 5:00-7:00 pm at Jordan Lake Farm near Martha’s Chapel. Details will be release later. Directions are available on-line at www.chathamarts.org or by calling 919-219-9840.

September 15, 2008: Biointensive Agriculture from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Biointensive mini farming offers a holistic approach to produce food in a sustainable way. The workshop will include topics on diet selection, compost crop utilization and low tech methods for food production. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

September 25, 2008: How to Build Permanent Fencing from 10:00-4:00 pm at the WC Breeze Family Farm Agricultural Extension & Research Center, Hurdle Mills, NC. This workshop aims to show participants many types of fencing. Participants will be able to observe many combinations of posts, wire and braces suitable for fencing cattle, goats, sheep and hogs.  There will be demonstrations of how to build good braces, how to stretch wire and how to attach and splice wires.  The workshop will cover conventional and electrical fence types. Permanent and temporary fencing materials will be on display.  Hands on activities will include wire splicing, rounding curves with posts, setting end posts and attaching wire to posts. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

October 1, 2008: How to Build Permanent Fencing from 10:00-4:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This workshop aims to show participants many types of fencing. Participants will be able to observe many combinations of posts, wire and braces suitable for fencing cattle, goats, sheep and hogs.  There will be demonstrations of how to build good braces, how to stretch wire and how to attached and splice wires.  The workshop will cover conventional and electrical fence types. Permanent and temporary fencing materials will be on display.  Hands on activities will include wire splicing, rounding curves with posts, setting end posts and attaching wire to posts. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

November 14, 2008: Grass-Fed/Locally-Finished Beef Workshop from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. This workshop will provide beef producers with information needed to develop or improve a locally-finished beef production system.  It will help experienced producers fine-tune their production systems, and will help new producers determine if grass-fed/locally-marketed beef is a reasonable enterprise for their farms. Visit the CEFS website for more details and registration information.

December 2-3, 2008: 23rd Annual Southeast Vegetable & Fruit Expo in Myrtle Beach, SC. This annual event is sponsored by the North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association with the North Carolina Extension Service in partnership with the South Carolina Vegetable Growers Association. Visit the North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association website for more information.

January 21-24, 2009: Southern SAWG's Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The conference will offer practical tools and solutions for sustaining family farms. It will offer sustainable production and direct marketing information for horticultural and livestock producers, enterprise management lessons, farm policy education, community food systems development trainings and the opportunity to learn from peers across the region. Stay tuned to the Southern SAWG website for details to be released in October 2008.

This page last updated June 11, 2008.

URL: http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms

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