Calendar of Events

June 2, 2008
Pullman, Washington

This event is part of a series of Farm Walks jointly sponsored by Tilth Producers of Washington and WSU Small Farms Team. The Zakarison Partnership is an innovative family-run crop and livestock farm that produces wheat, feed grains, locker lambs and pastured poultry. With ten acres in transition to organic, Eric Zakarison is experimenting with ‘solar tractors,’ using draft mule, horse and oxen teams (fueled on-farm), with manure to complete the power/nutrient cycle by enhancing soil fertility.

June 4, 2008
Sterling, Massachusetts

NOFA/Mass, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of Grazing Workshops as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. Topics at each event will vary, but will include pasture management, organic transition and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems, and summer and winter grazing. Pasture walks will take place from 10:00 - 1:00.

June 5, 2008
Lanesboro, Minnesota

This training-workshop is intended for professionals in forestry, agriculture and natural resources within the State and Federal Government Agencies, University Extension, Non-Profit, and Professional Organizations who deal with land management issues and/or interact with farmers and landowners. This workshop will enhance and improve the capacity and understanding by natural resource managers of the design and application of agroforestry practices as natural resource management and sustainable agriculture options.

June 6, 2008
Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Join PA-Women's Ag Network representative Melanie Barkley for a tour of two Bedford County farms that are producing meat goats and sheep. Melanie will guide a tour of the farms and discuss pasture species, fencing, and water systems. The tour will compare the farms' different marketing strategies—direct marketing meat goats on the farm, sales to New Holland, and sales of breeding stock.

June 6-8, 2008
Brattleboro, Vermont

The theme of this year’s agricultural celebration is "Live Green!" To transform the public’s concern about global climate change into civic action, the weekend's festivities will focus on protecting the environment. Events on the agenda include a celebration of women in agriculture, farmers' market, local food meals, and farm tours.

June 7, 2008
Chestnut Ridge, New York

In this one-day workshop, farmer Mac Mead will present a comprehensive picture of the role of the horse in the farm organism. After reviewing the basic nature and care of the draft horse and its harness and equipment, we will move from the classroom to the barn, where attendees will get hands-on instruction and practice in the tasks of grooming and harnessing. In the field, attendees will try their hands at several practical tasks, such as logging, plowing, discing and working raised beds.

June 8 - August 15, 2008
Craftsbury Common, Vermont

The Sterling College Sustainable Agriculture Semester immerses students in the daily rhythms and realities of farming. The Sustainable Agriculture Semester is a 8-11 credit integrated program of work and study exploring ecological management of plants, animals, and land. Classroom instruction, hands-on training, and work on the farm are combined to teach sustainable practices and to foster discussion about agricultural issues. The deadline for application for the 2008 summer semester is April 14, 2008.

June 9, 2008
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

Join Pennsylvania Women's Ag Network representative Sandra Miller at Painted Hand Farm in Cumberland County for a hands-on construction workshop. At this event, the third in a series of construction workshops, participants will build small, light, and inexpensive shelters for sheep and goats.

June 10-14, 2008
Burlington, Vermont

ISSRM is the official meeting of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources, and is the largest international meeting of social scientists who focus on environmental and natural resources issues. The theme for this year's symposium is "People and Place: Linking Culture and Nature."

June 10-11, 2008
River Falls, Wisconsin

This is the first of several times this school will be offered around Wisconsin during the summer. The school includes sessions on economic considerations in grazing, agronomics, soil fertility, pasture monitoring and grazing systems layout and design.

June 11, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Participants will receive individual, hands-on instruction to evaluate cash flow and product profitability. They will learn how to use software to help them determine product costs and custom processing rates for maximum profitability in their operations. The workshops are supported in part by the Small Meat Processors Working Group, a member of the Value Chain Partnerships project coordinated by the Leopold Center.

June 11, 2008
Goldsboro, North Carolina

Center for Environmental Farming Systems offers this twilight tour as part of its Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture series. The tour is free, but advance registration is required.

June 13-22, 2008
Summertown, Tennessee

The aim of this workshop is to liberate people to provide for their own and their communities' needs from the smallest practical area of land. Learn to save life on our planet from devastating climate change. Perennial biodynamic gardening, mortgage-free shelter, catching and storing water, biological waste management, aquaculture, forestry, saving the wild, and how to organize secure local economies. A. Goodheart Brown, Scott Horton, Albert Bates, Cliff Davis and others, $1100 for 9 days, or $2000 for couples, includes meals, lodging and course materials.

June 14, 2008
New Prague, Minnesota

Cedar Summit Farm has been a family dairy farm for three generations. In an effort to sustain their farm for future generations, Dave and Florence Minar have adopted a grazing system where all animals are pastured on the land most of the year. Cedar Summit Farm strives to provide their community with a variety of meat products and has diversified their dairy operation to include steers, hogs and turkeys. The Minars are licensed retail food handlers and have an on-farm creamery that enables them to sell value-added dairy products directly to customers both on the farm and at farmers’ markets.

June 14, 2008
Shelburne, Vermont

This morning workshop is part of the Backyard Farmer series presented by Shelburne Farms. Learn the basics of backyard egg production, including the economics of producing eggs, selecting the perfect laying hen, basic and innovative housing solutions, feed requirements, and flock health management.

June 15-21, 2008
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

This 7-day course will provide in-depth knowledge of the principles and practical application of the aquaponic and biofloc tank culture systems that have been developed at the University of the Virgin Islands. Participants will be introduced to a variety of system designs that maintain water quality by various solids removal techniques and by hydroponic plant culture (aquaponics), a suspended growth process (biofloc tank culture) or fixed-film nitrification. Fish production instruction will be conducted using both the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and red tilapia. Hydroponic plant production will focus on vegetables, culinary herbs and ornamental flowers.

June 16, 2008
Osceola, Missouri

At this evening Growing Growers workshop, learn at what temperature vegetables should be stored, the fastest way to cool down produce after harvest, washing and packaging, food safety, harvest timing, storage and presentation. Presentations will be by Robbins Hail, Bear Creek Farms, and Red Carey, K-State Research and Extension. Includes farm tour of Bear Creek Farms, an organic vegetable farm that produces for market and for wholesale to Whole Foods.

June 18-21, 2008
Des Moines, Iowa

"The Wonder Under Us" is the theme for this four-day family camp that includes hiking, canoeing, land planning games and a farm tour.

June 18-20, 2008
Modena, Italy

The 16th Organic World Congress will be based on the IFOAM Principles of Organic Agriculture: Health, Fairness, Ecology and Care. Conferences, workshops, seminars, round tables, forums, active and living poster sessions are planned: many parallel events following different threads, but seamlessly woven together. "Cultivate the Future" is the conference theme.

June 19, 2008
Lake County, Indiana

This series of farm tours has been developed by Purdue University to provide an opportunity for farmers and other rural residents who are investigating ways to diversify their operations to learn from other diversified Hoosier farmers. The June event focuses on Chef's Connection to Local Foods at Chateau Thomas Winery.

June 19, 2008
Baltimore County, Maryland

Join Future Harvest at one of its popular, informative free field days. Bobby Prigel will give a tour of Belleview Farm, focusing on his successful rotational grazing strategies, organic management and his plans for expansion into value-added enterprises.

June 20, 2008
Mount Carroll, Illinois

This event is part of a series organized by Agroecology Sustainable Agriculture Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Extension. This event begins at Learn Great Foods with an agri-tourism presentation, then moves on for tours of Weidman’s Asparagus Farm and Seger’s Tree Farm. Optional afternoon tours highlight local history, architecture, and art.

June 20, 2008
Lamkin, Texas

Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association announces an event featuring speakers on Soil Fertility, Soil Microbials, Integrated Pest Management, and Marketing, as well as exhibitors, lunch, demonstrations, and networking.

June 21, 2008
Canby, Minnesota

The Land Stewardship Project is opening this Farm Beginnings event to public participation. During the morning Howard Moechnig, Midwest Grasslands, will discuss issues important in preparing a grazing plan. During the afternoon session, participants will visit the 200-acre Lyle Kruse Farm, to join Howard and Lyle for a pasture assessment of the rotational grazing system.

June 21, 2008
Hardwick, Massachusetts

NOFA/Mass, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of Grazing Workshops as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. Topics at each event will vary, but will include pasture management, organic transition and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems, and summer and winter grazing.

June 21, 2008
Lane, Oklahoma

The Lane Agriculture Center Annual Field Day is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for those attending to learn about new developments with topics such as vegetable production, biofuel and biofumigant crops, weed, insect and disease control, and production practices for certified organic vegetable production.

June 21, 2008
Shelburne, Vermont

This morning event is part of the Backyard Farmer Series offered by Shelburne Farms. Discuss backyard, small-scale livestock production, including some of the basic economics of raising livestock, selecting which varieties and how many animals to raise, land, facilities and feed requirements, livestock health management, and options for slaughtering.

June 22, 2008
Fairfield County, Connecticut

Tour three organic farms in Fairfield County with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut.

June 24-25, 2008
Gleason, Wisconsin

This school is offered several times around Wisconsin during the summer. The school includes sessions on economic considerations in grazing, agronomics, soil fertility, pasture monitoring and grazing systems layout and design.

June 25-28, 2008
Costa Mesa, California

Educators at all levels can attend this event to experience field trips, workshops, presentations, and collect resources on agricultural education.

June 26, 2008
Goldsboro, North Carolina

This evening event is part of the Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture series at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. Presenters will discuss how production for the bread flour market differs from the 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. The session will also discuss weed and fertility management in organic wheat.

June 26, 2008
Hudson, Wisconsin

This afternoon workshop will provide information to assist farmers and food buyers in the St. Croix River Valley who want to connect and explore best practices in working together. It will include a "speed-dating" inspired networking opportunity.