Polk Small Farms: The Cultivator Newsletter

Connecting farmers and food system innovators across Florida

Published Monthly by the UF/IFAS Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Extension Team

Issue No. 7

April 2016

Thank You
for a great Fort Myers Conference!

Check out our conference pictures here!

A farmer story: Sprouting for your health

Learn about farmer Chris Lindsey, who is well known as "The Sprout Queen." She co-owns a farm located in Bokeelia, FL.

Florida Food Policy Council Takes Root

Learn about the outcomes of the April 3rd organizational meeting and future plans. Learn how to join this effort.

Quick Links

- Small Farms Program Website

- UF/IFAS Extension near you

- UF/IFAS Virtual Field Day

- The Cultivator Newsletter

Archive

- Regional Small Farms

Conferences

Upcoming Webinars

- The Farm Financial Calendar. April 28, at 12:00 pm

Upcoming Events

Northwest Florida

- Conversations with an Agrarian Farmer
April 23, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Tallahassee
More information and registration here

- Panhandle Fruit & Vegetable Conference
October 11, 2016, Jackson County
More information forthcoming

Northeast Florida

- Hydroponic Gardening for the Homeowner
April 23, 2016; Live Oak

More information and registration here

- Intermediate Beekeeping Workshop
April 23, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Jacksonville
More information and registration here

- Building Your Own Farm's Food Safety
Manual
April 27, 2016; Jacksonville
More information contact Terra at 904-255-7450

- High tunnel Production in Northeast Florida
May 11 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Jacksonville
More information and registration here

- How to Start a Food Business in Florida
May 13, 2016; Gainesville
More information and registration here

- Cold Hardy Citrus Workshop
May 17, 2016; Perry
More information and registration here

- Soil Microbiology Short Course: Applications

and Analysis of Mycorrhizal Associations.

July 11-13, 2016, Gainesville

Registration and more info here

Central Florida

- FSPCA Training - to become "Preventative

Controls Qualified Individual" for Food Safety

June 1 - 3, Orlando
More information and registration here

South Central Florida

- How to Start a Food Business in Florida
May 27, 2016; Immokalee
More information and registration here

- FSPCA Training - to become "Preventative
Controls Qualified Individual" for Food Safety
August 9 - 11, Wimauma
More information and registration here

- Canning Under the Cottage Law
November 4 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Bartow
More information and registration here

South Florida

- Localecopia Meet and Greet
May 25 from 1:00pm-3:00pm, Palm Beach
RSVP to info@localecopia.org

- FSPCA Training - to become "Preventative
Controls Qualified Individual" for Food Safety
September 7 -9, Fort Pierce
More information and registration here

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Other Events outside Florida

- Southern SARE Cover Crop Conference

July 18-19, 2016, Mt. Olive and Goldsboro,

North Carolina

More information here

News and Announcements	Relevant Publications
- UF/IFAS to certify inmates in culinary class. More - Bok Tower Gardens Outdoor Kitchen and Edible Garden now open. More here - Leaf Mold infecting high tunnel tomatoes. More here - USDA designates 11 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas. More here - Value-added producer grant open. More here	- Vertical Farming by ATTRA/NCAT. Open here - New USDA toolkit helps measure economic impact of local foods. Open here - Teaching in Nature's Classroom: Core Principles of Garden-based Education. Open here - Growing Plums in Florida. Open here - Lowering soil pH to Optimize Nutrient Management and Crop Production. Open here