July NOFA-NY Beginning Farmer Workshops
Sunday, July 17th 1pm-6:00pm (including picnic)
Organic Berries and Apples—Adding Value and Diversity to your Farm To read more click here.
Thompson-Finch Farm, 750 Wiltsie Bridge Rd Ancram, NY 12502 (Columbia County)
FREE for NOFA-NY Members/$15 All Others
Pre-register by July 11th.
This Beginning Farmer-geared tour and lecture will provide insight into the practices and tools used in the production of five acres of strawberries, one acre of blueberries and a half acre of raspberries at Thompson-Finch Farm. The tour and talks will include information on crop rotation, site preparation, planting, cultivation, specialized tools and equipment, crop protection, harvest and sales. Organic apple production may also be covered, time allowing. A potluck supper follows the workshop; please bring food to share and your own place settings.
Thompson-Finch Farm is one of the largest and oldest organic fruit farms in the Hudson Valley/Berkshire Mountain region, growing certified organic fruit. The farm, run by Don and Marnie Maclean for 29 years, has been owned by Marnie’s family for five generations. Strawberries are the largest crop, complemented by blueberries, fall raspberries and apples as well as mixed vegetables, greenhouse tomatoes, potatoes and other field crops.
For more information about this workshop or Beginning Farmer workshop scholarships, contact Rachel at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511 or send an e-mail to rachel@nofany.org. Pre-registration is encouraged! To do so, visit our online shopping portal by clicking on the event at our online events page (www.nofany.org/events/field-days) or by calling Katie at (585) 271-1979 ext. 512.
Funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.
Sunday, July 24th 1pm-4:30pm (cookout and optional overnight following workshop)
Medium-Sized Animals to Diversify Your Farm To read more click here.
Bittersweet Farm , 1249 State Hwy 184 Heuvelton, NY 13654 (St. Lawrence County)
FREE for NOFA-NY Members/$15 All Others
Pre-register by July 18th.
The impressive heritage-breed animal production at Bittersweet Farm will provide the ideal backdrop for Beginning Farmers to learn about incorporating pigs and sheep onto their farms. An extensive farm tour will enlighten attendees about the range of animals raised in this North Country haven, though the discussion will focus on the raising of sheep and Tamworth Pigs, from breeding to marketing. There are diverse areas on the farm dedicated to different animal-raising needs; mini-lectures at specific points will highlight the essentials for starting up with heritage animals, including infrastructure needs and costs of production . All attendees are invited to a post-workshop cookout and are welcome to spend the night at the farm, either in the cabin or in your own tent!
Bittersweet Farm is a 112-acre family farm located in the St. Lawrence River valley. The farm has grown from a two low-tunnel operation to include vegetable and herb production, eggs, pasture-raised lamb, pork, and chicken. Ann and Brian Bennett focus on producing heritage breeds that thrive in a natural environment with a reduced consumption of grain.
For more information about this workshop or Beginning Farmer workshop scholarships, contact Rachel at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511 or send an e-mail to rachel@nofany.org. Pre-registration is encouraged! To do so, visit our online shopping portal by clicking on the event at our online events page (www.nofany.org/events/field-days) or by calling Katie at (585) 271-1979 ext. 512.
Funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.
Saturday, July 30th 1:30pm – 4:00pm
An Introduction to Farming with Horses
Essex Farm: 2503 SR 22, Essex, NY 12936 (Essex Co.)
FREE for NOFA-NY Members / $15 All Others
Join Mark & Kristin Kimball at Essex Farm for an introduction to farming with horses! We’ll discuss basic cultivation and harvesting techniques, appropriate equipment, and the financial costs and benefits of using draft power. Farmers thinking of powering their farms with horses won’t want to miss this opportunity for some hands-on work and training with the teams at Essex Farm. Show up earlier for a farmers-only tour of the farm (10:00am, $10 apiece, no pre-registration).
Mark and Kristin Kimball run a full-food, free-choice, horse-powered, year-round CSA at Essex Farm that now serves 170 in the greater Essex area. For an in-depth look at the story of Essex Farm, check out a copy of Kristin’s new book The Dirty Life.
For more information about the content or details of this field day, including scholarship opportunities for beginning and aspiring farmers, contact the education office at (585) 271-1979. Pre-registration is encouraged! To do so, visit our online shopping portal by clicking on the event at our online events page (www.nofany.org/events/field-days) or by calling Katie at (585) 271-1979 ext. 512.
Funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-49400-05878.
Sunday, July 31 10:00am-4:00pm (including potluck lunch)
Permaculture Principles to Enhance a Diverse Market Farm
Hollengold Farm, 222 Lower Whitfield Rd Accord, NY 12404 (Ulster County)
FREE for NOFA-NY Members/$15 All Others
Space is limited! Please pre-register by July 25th.
The principles and ethics of permaculture continue to increase in popularity, especially among Beginning Farmers starting their own farms. These topics will be addressed during a farm tour emphasizing the permaculture practices that inspired Hollengold Farm’s design. An introduction to constructing edible forest gardens will be given by the current farmers at Hollengold. Attendees will then split into groups with the objective of designing a guild around a tree on the property. The feasibility of implementing these designs will be discussed. If time allows, the day will wind down with a viewing of Geoff Lawton’s short films on existing food forests. A potluck lunch will break up the day; please bring food to share and your own place settings.
Hollengold Farm was established in 2009 by Wendy Hollender and her children Abby and Jesse. Using permaculture from the outset, they included no-till beds, a wide variety of annual and perennial vegetables and an assortment of fruit and nut trees to create a diverse system. Caitlin Quinn and Henning Grentz currently manage a for-market vegetable farm, Burly Worm Growers, at Hollengold Farm while continuing to implement permaculture and other sustainable land management practices. To read more click here.
For more information about this workshop or Beginning Farmer workshop scholarships, contact Rachel at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511 or send an e-mail to rachel@nofany.org. Pre-registration is encouraged since space is limited! To do so, visit our online shopping portal by clicking on the event at our online events page (www.nofany.org/events/field-days) or by calling Katie at (585) 271-1979 ext. 512.
Funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.