Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2009 Women in Agriculture Conference

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Plecker Workforce Center
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, Virginia

Keynote Speaker: Diana Endicott
Owner of Rainbow Farms,
Coordinator of Good Natured Family Farms, and
a recent nominee for White House Farmer

Sponsored by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Cooperative Extension

Friday, March 27, 2009

Farmers Worry About Proposed Legislation

by Tom Wilemon
Published on Friday, March 27, 2009

Some Mid-South farmers who sell their products directly to consumers worry that a food safety bill in Congress could put them out of business if enacted into law.

Read the whole story by clicking here.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Official First Day of 2009 Farmers' Market


April 18th, from 8 a.m. -- 1 p.m. (or sell out) will be the official first day of the Botetourt Farmers' Market at Ikenberry's on Rt. 220 in Daleville, VA.


You may catch a few early bird vendors from now until then, depending on what produce becomes available.


We would like to make April 18th special, and we'd we'd like to provide an opportunity for local bluegrass bands to come and play during the season. If you know of anyone who'd enjoy coming out for a few hours on a Saturday, would you contact us?


Thursday, March 19, 2009

VA Berry Conference

Second Annual Virginia Berry Production and Marketing Conference
will take place on March 26, 2009 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., VA State University, Petersburg, Virginia.

This Conference is designed to assist experienced and new growers in learning about production and marketing of berry crops.

The cost of registration is $10.00 per person and it includes lunch and Conference materials. The registration form and payment should be mailed by March 20.

For more information about the conference, contact Dr. Rafie, 804-524-5960

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Vegetable Garden Planning and Establishment

Join us at the Fincastle Community Center on April 2, 2009 to get started with your vegetable garden. We will discuss planting a vegetable garden from the very beginning – site selection, soil preparation, plant selection, seed starting, planting transplants, and more.

Class is free of charge, but registration is required.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Offered two times:
9 – 11 am and 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Fincastle Community Center

Please call 473-8260 to register for the class by March 31.

Vegetable Garden
Planning and Establishment

Sheri Dorn
Extension Agent,
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Roanoke

Part of a long series of
vegetable gardening classes
focused on “Growing Your Own”

Botetourt Office
P.O. Box 217 Fincastle, VA 24090-0217
Tel. 540-473-8260
FAX 540-473-8379
cmd@vt.edu
www.offices.vt.edu/botetourt

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tree Planting Event

Saturday, March 14th from 9 a.m. -- Lunch

Call for volunteers to help us plant 200 trees and 600 cuttings along the Rive Rise stretch of the North Fork, the last portion of the"Streamcare" these landowners are doing under the LIP program.

We'll plant regardless of the weather.

At the work's conclusion at 12:30 NRVTU is providing sandwiches, and landowners providing refreshments.

Please respond to Todd Lowe or Christy Gabbard if you can join us.

River Rise Rd, off Catawba Rd, Rte 785, is 4.9 miles up the valley fromLusters Gate, and 2.1 miles down the valley from McDonald's Mill.

For Catawba LandCare,

Ned Yost

McDonald's Mill on the North Fork
3875 Catawba Rd.
Blacksburg, VA 24060540-552-5198

Saturday, March 7, 2009

10 Things We Didn't Know About Food

Click here to read the entire article.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

"Starting and Operating a Food-based business in Virginia"

Presented by the Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepeneurship Program

Workshop Dates:
Spring 2009 March 30 and April 6

Location:
Albemarle County Office Building Room A
get directions or use dynamic map

Where do I start?

If you are ready to start your business or if you have a Food Based Business already here are some documents and guides to give some background and general information.

Attend the Workshop
In the spring of 2009, a series of workshops will be held in Albemarle County that will provide information and training on how to start and operate a food-based business in Virginia. The program aims to increase the quality and quantity of regionally produced food and value-added food products as a means to incorporate sustainable agriculture into our local economy. The curriculum will include the following topics:

How to comply with Virginia food processing and food safety regulations

Which inspections and certifications are recommended or required for which products

When food products need to be analyzed and evaluated

How to market and sell locally-made products

How to develop business plans and manage bookkeeping

Panel discussions featuring successful food producers and retailers looking for locally made foods
And more!

The VAFEP will also develop a free downloadable handbook, as well as resources and website links, covering the content of the workshops that will be available through this website.
For more information, contact Dawn Story at (434)-977-2033 or dstory@pecva.org or see: www.vafep.com to register. "