May 30, 2009 Market Offerings

Mini Blessings Farm: Howdy! Earl and I will have radishes, lettuce, perhaps a few turnips, and wonderful fresh broccoli (come early before its gone.) We will have an assortment of canned goods and freshly milled breads. Bless ya all, see ya tomorrow.

Full Circle Farm will have freshly milled whole wheat, spelt and ryebreads, pizza crusts and mixes. See you there!

Brambleberry Farm will bring eggs, asparagus, lettuce, pound cakes.

Peaceful Haven Farm will have 2 types of spinach, romaine lettuce, swiss chard and some freshly cut catnip.

Hello there, Berry Ridge Farms will be there Saturday with fresh eggs, homemade gluten free bread, gluten free mini pound cakes yellow and chocolate !, gluten free brownies , and freshly made heirloom strawberry preserves. see ya then!!

What's New at the Farmers' Market?

2009 Field Day

Shenandoah Valley

Agricultural Research & Extension Center

The Virginia Tech Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center will hold their bi-annual Field Day on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Field Day Program is listed below for your information.

During the Field Day, researchers will be on-hand to review and discuss on-going research projects being conducted at the Shenandoah Valley AREC. Of particular interest will be a review of the "Forage Systems" research project which is a cooperative effort between Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, Clemson University, and the USDA-ARS. Several components of this forage-based production system will be discussed including the cow-calf grazing system and calf creep grazing. We will be looking at several new forage species and participate in a hands-on forage evaluation exercise. There will also be several topics covering sheep production and forest management.

This is going to be an excellent educational program, especially for beef cattle, sheep, and forestry producers in the Shenandoah Valley interested in forage production, grazing, and forest management. We are asking persons interested in attending the Field Day to contact the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center at (540) 377-2255 on or before Friday, July 31, 2009 to sign-up.

Field Day Program

Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

1:00 – 1:30 Registration

1:30 – 1:35 Welcome, David Fiske, Superintendent, Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center

1:35 – 1:45 Load wagons and travel to the east end of McCormick Farm Circle

1:45 – 2:00 Forage Species Demonstration Plot – Jon Repair, Virginia Cooperative Extension

2:00 – 2:30 Forage Research Plots - Dr. Ozzie Abaye, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, and Christina Newman, Graduate Student, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech

Forage Chains for Year Around Grass Finishing Systems – Dr. Chris Teutsch, Extension Agronomist, Southern Piedmont AREC

2:30– 2:45 Load wagons and travel to Big Meadow

2:45 – 3:30 Overview of the Pasture-Based Beef Systems for Appalachia Project – Dr. William Clapham, USDA-ARS and Dr. Joe Fontenot, John W. Hancock Jr. Professor Emeritus, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

SVAREC Cow / Calf Forage Systems Project - Dr. Terry Swecker, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech and Dr. Ron Lewis, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

Overview of Calf Creep Grazing Systems - Dr. Ben Tracy, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech and Dr. Terry Swecker, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech

Using Residual Feed Intake (RFI) to Predict Animal Performance – Dr. Gene Felton, Department of Animal Science, West Virginia University

3:30 – 4:00 Poisonous Plants – Dr. Ozzie Abaye, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech

Botanical Composition of Pastures – Dr. Ozzie Abaye, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech

4:00 – 4:10 Load wagons and travel to Forestry Demonstration area

4:10 – 4:40 Overview of Sustainable Forest Management Project at SVAREC – Matt Yancey, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Dr. John Munsell, Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech

4:40 – 4:55 Load wagons and travel to Ram Evaluation Center

4:55 – 5:30 Strategies to Improve Carcass Composition in Sheep – Dr. Scott Greiner, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

Visual Overview of SVAREC Cow / Calf Forage Systems Paddocks - Dr. Terry Swecker, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech and Dr. Ron Lewis, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

5:30 – 5:40 Load wagons and travel to the McCormick Memorial

5:40 – 6:00 Poster session and visit with sponsors – Memorial Grounds

6:00 – 6:15 Pasture-based Production Systems: Much More than Wholesome Beef - Dr. Floyd Horn, Former Administrator, USDA-ARS

6:15 – 6:45 Panel Discussion – Current Issues Impacting Agriculture and the Forage Livestock Industry – Moderated by Dr. David Gerrard, Department Head, Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

Jim Saunders, President, Virginia Agribusiness Council

Bill Tucker, Immediate Past President, American Forage & Grassland Council
Hank Maxey, Board Member, Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board

6:45 – 7:00 Introductions and Comments from Special Guests

7:00 Dinner

To help facilitate meal planning, please contact the Shenandoah Valley AREC at (540) 377-2255 by Friday, July 31st to register for this meeting.

Saturday, March 23rd Farmers' Market Offerings

Oddly - Phil is not scheduled to work this Saturday so he will be able to set up a plant sale at Ikenberry"s this Saturday, May 23. All plants have been priced low for this close-out sale. However, the Botetourt Farmers may take an additional 20% off the prices on the plants.
There are a few Strawberries, and plenty of various sizes of thornless blackberries and red raspberries.

See you at Ikenberry's.
Phil & Christy Stoker

Brambleberry Farm will be bringing asparagus, eggs, peach pound cakes, peanut butter cookies, fresh rosemary, thyme, and curry; lettuces and chard.

Earl and I from Mini Blessings, will be bringing radishes, lettuce, onions, and fresh herbs. I will be baking freshly milled whole grain breads and a couple of sweet treats. We have some wonderful honey in quarts and pints. We will also have some jams and jelly's and a few canned vegetables. Bless ya'all, see ya tomorrow!

Full Circle Farm will have freshly milled whole wheat and spelt products and a little bit of our grass-fed lamb. Seeyou there!

Butchers Beef Workshop for Consumers and Producers

Confused? Grass or Grain? Ribeye or T-Bone?

Come to Blue Ridge Meats on Sat. June 6th at 1:00pm for a free and informative Butchers Beef Workshop for Consumers and Producers~~BEEF BREAKING 101 (Actual Beef Breaking)

How can I market my beef? (Added Value Cuts)

How we can maximize your yield?

Dry or Wet Aged? What is the difference?

Should I do it? How much will a half of a beef cost and what will I get?

Who Should I buy from & Why?

What is Certified Humane?

Label Discussion/Factory Farming Master Butchers (old world style) & Farmers Q&A Session Meet the Staff and Sample local beef and sides from Locke Store

Meet Dr. Joyce Harman, DVM, Certified Acupuncturist and a successful Grass fed beef Producer of Highland Cattle in Flint Hill.

Meet Mr. Bill Martin, Grain fed Angus Producer and an industry leader regarding beef production; local and nationwide. Small packers to large packers.

FREE GIFTS, FOOD, AND HOURLY DRAWINGS

Reservations Required~Limited Space~540-636-6050
http://www.blueridgemeats.com/

Blue Ridge Meats is a USDA federally Inspected Plant2391 Guard Hill Road Middletown, Virginia
The Local Choice for Fine Butchery

Farmers' Market May 16, 2009

It will be a fun filled week at the Botetourt Farmers' Market this week! Not only will you find a wonderful selection of local, hand crafted food, but you can also enjoy an Old-time jam session at the market featuring the group, Bumper Crop. This will be an informal jam of old-time fiddle music helping these friends prepare for the upcoming summer festival season.. "We play for 'maters."

The market opens at 8:00am and the music begins at 9:30.

Come to the Farmers' Market and you'll find:

Mini-Blessings Farm with delicious green onions, radishes and young lettuce (great for wilting, salads, or whatever). We will also have freshly milled 14 Grain, Ezekiel bread, Cracked Wheat etc. and an assortment of home canned items.

Kevin Roberts with a limited supply of dehydrated "fruikies".

Brambleberry Farm will have eggs, asparagus, cookies and cakes.

VA Mountain Winery will be there this week!

Full Circle Farm will be at the market with our freshly milled breads,
mixes and some delicious grass-fed lamb.

Peaceful Haven Retreat will have bags of spinach, baby swiss chard and possibly some bags of a mix of baby spinach, swiss chard and romaine lettuce.


Also mark you calendars for July 18th from 9 a.m. - Noon

The quality old-time band, the Black Twig Pickers will be performing at the Botetourt Farmers' Market at Ikenberry's. Join these energetic young musicians as they play hard-driving mountain music. Beginners clogging lesson for children at 9 a.m.

May 9, 2009 Farmers' Market Offerings

What a variety of goodies we have for you this week! We hope to see you all at the Farmer's Market at Ikenberry's this Saturday from 8am to 1pm!

At market this week you'll find:

Journey's End Farm with pasture raised chicken and duck eggs, crusty artisan breads, fresh wild greens and wood products

L&D Eggs with spinach, radishes and onions, canned goods - pickles and jams

Full Circle Farm with freshly milled whole wheat breads, mixes and
pastured lamb chops.

Brambleberry Farm with eggs, asparagus and Peanut Butter Cookies

Mini Blessings Farm with some fresh green onions, lettuce and possibly some radishes; freshly milled and baked whole grain breads, and possibly a cake decorated for Mother's Day and a pie, some apple jelly and a few other canned goods.
Bless ya all, And

Peaceful Haven Retreat with spinach

Kevin Roberts with ‘Fruikies’ – dehydrated fruit-based cookies

May 2, 2009 Farmers' Market

Happy May! Botetourt County is looking green and beautiful on this first day of May! Please come out to the Farmers Market this week at Ikenberry's from 8:00am to 1:00pm and you'll find:

Brambleberry Farm with asparagus, eggs and Peachy Pear Poundcakes.

Full Circle Farm with freshly milled whole wheat and spelt products

and many other local farmers with eggs, baked and canned goods.

We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend!