A message from the Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center – Growers Academy registration deadline approaching

Time is running out to register for the 2013 Growers Academy. We’re extending the registration deadline through January 20, but don’t delay, sign up now.

 

2013 Growers Academy:

http://www.cpe.vt.edu/grac/

 

The Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center is offering the fourth annual Growers Academy, a series of courses specifically designed to help new and transitioning agricultural businesses succeed. This eight week learning series is focused on low input, small scale production and starting your own agribusiness. Instructors include resource professionals and farm business owners.

Topics include:

• Planning for Success: Setting Goals and Establishing Targets

• Soils and Composting

• Marketing

• Business Plan Development

• Equipment for Small Farms

• Preventative Pests and Weed Management

• Crop Production and Planning

• Business Plan Review

• Farm Tour on Saturday, March 9

 

Dates and Location

January 22 – March 12 • Tuesdays, 6-9 pm (no class on February 19)

Virginia Tech Roanoke Center (http://www.vtrc.vt.edu/index.asp) in the Roanoke Higher Education Building at 108 North Jefferson Street

 

Contact

Josh Nease

Manager, Catawba Sustainability Center

jnease@vt.edu

(540) 553-2311

 

http://www.facebook.com/VTcatawba

http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/catawba/

Josh Nease

Catawba Sustainability Center, Manager

(540) 553-2311

jnease@vt.edu

 

http://www.facebook.com/VTcatawba

http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/catawba/

2013 Local Food Networks Conference – Feb 26 Richmond, VA

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability (Virginia FAIRS) and Virginia Farmers Direct Marketing Association (VFDMA,) in partnership with USDA Rural Development and Lulus Local Food are pleased to announce the . . .

2013 Local Food Networks Conference
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Virginia Farm Bureau Office – Richmond, Virginia

Who should attend?
Farmers, farmers market managers, school system representatives, community representatives and Extension faculty who are developing local food systems, exploring new marketing opportunities for local foods and wanting to learn about safe food handling.

Who is speaking?
This year’s focus is on “safe products” . . . including safe production and harvesting/handling along with best practices for managing the risks. Morning sessions will include two groups of panelists .

· Group I will focus on dairy, poultry, meats, eggs and
· Group II will focus on produce and value-added products.

The afternoon will be devoted to Networking Buyers and Sellers. Sellers will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with buyers who are interested in purchasing local food.

The list of speakers is included below.

How do we register?
Just visit https://vafarmbureau.org/Agriculture/LocalFoodNetworksConference.aspx and complete the registration page.

What does it cost?
$20 per person. This investment includes all meals and conference materials.