Chickens, Food Safety, Canning and Need your input on green market tomorrow

Subject: Chickens, Food Safety, Canning and Need your input on green market tomorrow Having trouble viewing this email? Click here Polk Small Farms Update Mid January 2012     Hello out there!   Public meeting on proposed market coming up tomorrow- hope you can make it!  Chicken program is filling up already!  Food safety and canning dates coming up too...  Wow, this year is getting busy already!     New Green Market in Polk?     UF/IFAS Polk County Extension has been contacted to participate in and gather growers for a discussion on a proposed green market in Polk County.  Pikes Place Market in Seattle has been cited as an example of their idea.  See Pikes Place here http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/     The meeting will be held Wednesday, January 18th at 10 am at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Rd, Auburndale, FL 33823.   We expect the meeting to last about 2 hours. See directions here http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=217964219781809525293.000453181969471143ab2   More Info on project   Invitation to meeting   The developer would like to pick the brain of those most likely to participate as vendors in the market.  His vision is big and hopes for public funds to help make the vision a reality.  The discussion is designed to draw feedback from producers as to the likelihood for producer participation as an indication of the feasibility and ultimate success of the project.    If you are not able to attend but are willing to provide comments on the project, please comment on the Polk Small Farms blog posting here  http://polksmallfarms.blogspot.com/2012/01/proposed-green-market-in-polk-county.html      Raising Chickens 101    Saturday, February 4 at UF/IFAS Polk County Extension in Bartow Lots of interest already!  Sign up quick!  The program will be limited to 40 people. More info and register at http://chickens101polk.eventbrite.com/     Canning classes    February 21 at UF/IFAS Polk County Extension in Bartow Both water bath and pressure canning will be offered on the same day! Click here for more info Flyer  Register     Build Your Food Safety Manual   February 23 at Neil Combee Polk County BOCC Administration Building in Bartow We'll sit down in front of computers and walk you through building a food safety manual for your farm.  Periodic headlines such as the recent issues in melons have more and more consumers and distributers looking for farm food safety plans.  Build yours at the session!  More Info Brochure Register     Save the date! Saturday, April 28 Local foods sampler grower exchange   My Advisory Committee and I have set a date to host a sample exchange between growers.  The idea is to allow people a place to meet and exchange samples of their products to try to foster cooperation and trade amongst local growers.  Plus who doesn't wonder what other people are growing?    This is a new one for me.  I have attended something similar but never organized one.  Let's hope we can reach lots of growers to foster the exchange and hopefully build relationships for the future!  Hold the date for now and watch for more details as they develop.      See more events on the calendar page of http://polksmallfarms.com. See more notices and comment on the Polk Small Farms blog here http://polksmallfarms.blogspot.com/      Mary Beth Henry Small Farms/Pesticide Licensing Extension Agent I, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County 1702 HWY. 17 S, Bartow, FL 33831 T: 863.519.8677 x 110  F: 863.534.0001 mbhenry@ufl.edu     http://polksmallfarms.comhttp://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/  No Farmers No Food   Need notice of upcoming training and other information? Join the email newsletter here: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001o4tMzQsu5DOxO2qVEDjYVdg1iw8e-mlP  Join the conversation here http://polksmallfarms.blogspot.com/   Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M., University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.   Forward email This email was sent to mbhenry@ufl.edu by mbhenry@ufl.edu |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. University of Florida IFAS Polk County Extension | 1702 Hwy 17 S. | PO Box 9005 Drawer HS03 | Bartow | FL | 33831