Southern SARE Common Ground July 2012 Edition Available
Check out the attached email to see the latest sustainable agriculture news from Southern SARE. Highlights include upcoming events, a grant writing workshop for producer grants, information on using native fish species, and a recap of North Carolina A&T University Small Farms Field Day.
Webinar: Grass-Based Dairy: High Value, Low Input
Thursday, July 19, 3:30-4:45 EST
From the National Good Food Network: “Livestock production has become a source of intense controversy in the United States. As our food system evolves toward sustainability, management intensive grazing offers a triple bottom line approach to meat and dairy production. Pasture based dairy offers a low input, environmentally friendly means of producing milk. Moreover, it can provide a sustainable income for family scale farms, economic development opportunities for rural communities, and even yield a product with some uniquely desirable characteristics. We will begin the webinar with some information about the basics of dairy grazing, its environmental performance, and the growing market for pasture based dairy. Then a replicable case study of a successful grass-based dairy business, will get into some of the practical considerations of transitioning to a managed grazing operation. Finally we will introduce you to the first in the nation Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program* designed to train beginning and transitioning dairy farmers and help them get established on their own farms. Reserve your spot - click here”
Citrus Art Contest!
Entries Due October 1, 2012
The Florida Department of Citrus is inviting local artists from the Gainesville and surrounding areas to creatively demonstrate through the artistic media of their choosing, including paint, drawing, photography, digital, etc. Artwork should pertain to the citrus industry and may also incorporate details of the 150th anniversary of the land-grant university system. Submit an expression of interest via email to Kathy Wolford at kwolford@ufl.edu by August 15, 2012 if you are interested in participating in the contest and intend to submit artwork. See attached email message for more information on guidelines and judging criteria.
Farm to Restaurant Month
August 2012 will be proclaimed “Farm-to-Restaurant Month” in the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. “Farm-to-Restaurant Month” is an extension of the Farm-to-Restaurant Initiative of two local non-profits: Blue Oven Kitchens and Forage. There are a variety of events planned so you can enjoy local fare at local restaurants and learn more about local food while helping Blue Oven Kitchens in its fundraising efforts toward opening a commercial kitchen facility. This facility will be available for cooking and nutrition classes, and for rent to North Central Florida’s food entrepreneurs. Attached is the press release and the Farm-to-Restaurant Month informational flyer with ticket and sponsorship sign-up forms.
Farm to Cafeteria Conference
Last chance: Conference registration closes July 13!
Hurry! There are less than three days left to register for the 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! Representatives from all sectors of Farm to Cafeteria work will convene in beautiful Burlington, Vermont August 2-5 for four days of education, conversations and fun. There will be skill-building short courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network with inspiring individuals from across the country.
Conference updates:
- Conference space is limited, and lodging options are filling up fast, so if you want to be among the 900-plus movers and shakers to attend the nations' largest Farm to Cafeteria conference, reserve your space now! Here's an insiders' tip: Consider the dorms. Champlain College offers rooms in a turn-of-the-century mansion while the University of Vermont's new dorms are in a new, LEED certified building.
- Several field trips are already full, but there is still space in both of our short courses: "The Protein Puzzle: Institutional Procurement of Local Meat and Seafood" and "Growing Food Leaders: Empowering the Next Generation."
- Looking to raise funds to cover the cost of your registration? Check out the Farm to Cafeteria Fundraising Packet located on the bottom of the scholarship page.
- Stay up to date, find a ride to the conference and connect with conference organizers and attendees on Crowdvine, our very own social networking site! You'll receive an invitation to join shortly after you complete your registration.
- Are your kids coming with you to Vermont? Consider enrolling them in a Burlington summer camp! July 30 - August 3, the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center offers ECHO Adventurers, a camp combining hands-on science with behind-the-scenes animal encounters. If Superheroes, dancing or crafts are more your style, look into the Flynn Center for Performing Arts camps.
- We are collecting photos of Farm to Cafeteria projects from across the country to help tell the story of the movement -- YOUR story -- at the conference. The pictures will be used in a slideshow during the conference. If you have photos to share, please send them to photos@farmtoschool.org along with your name and the location where the photo was taken.
This conference takes place every-other year, so reserve your space, spread the word, and prepare to Dig In to all things Farm to Cafeteria August 2-5 in Burlington, Vermont!
Vegetable Grafting Symposium
November 8, Maitland, FL
“Development of Grafting Technology to Improve Sustainability and Competitiveness of the US Fruiting Vegetable Industry” will be held at a one-day symposium convened by a USDA SCRI-Supported University-USDA-Industry Team and hosted by 2012 Annual international Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions (MBAO). The symposium will be held at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel on November 8. More information regarding symposium objectives and registration, hotel, and presentation submissions can be found in the attached announcement or by visiting www.graftvegetables.org. Various deadlines apply. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Olya Sydorovych, Research and Project Coordinator, North Carolina State University: obsydor@ncsu.edu, 919-539-8851.
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Conference
September 9-10, Corvallis, OR
Convened in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, this conference will give sustainable agriculture educators, students, and advocates a chance to share and develop innovations in sustainable agriculture education. This year’s theme, The Campus Food System: A Learning Laboratory, will provide the opportunity to discover how campus food systems are and can be utilized to enhance understanding of the importance of sustainable production and complexity of local, regional, andglobal supply chains and food systems. Register and learn more at: http://www.sustainableaged.org/2012conference
Call for Abstracts: The theme of the 2012 SAEA conference is "The Campus Food System: A Learning Laboratory." Share your passion for sustainable agriculture and food systems education at the 2012 SAEA conference in Corvallis, Oregon by submitting an abstract for a presentation. Abstracts should be 150-250 words, single spaced, and submitted in a Word .doc or .docx via email attachment to: saea2012@oregonstate.edu . The deadline for abstract submission deadline is Monday July 23, 2012
Save the Date! 2012 Grape Harvest Festival
Saturday, August 25
The Annual Grape Harvest Festival will be held at FAMU on Saturday, August 25. More information about the event will be available soon. Save the date on your calendar’s so you don’t miss out on this day of family fun!
Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference
July 27-29, Kissimmee, FL
Have no fear! If you missed yesterday’s deadline to register at the early bird rate for this conference, that’s okay! You can still register at the regular conference rate and attend all the same great sessions! This conference is put on by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension and Florida A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences Small Farms Focus Team. The conference organizers have put together a fantastic program this year that you do not want to miss! Check out the full program and find information about registration and accommodations here: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/smallfarms
Save the Date! AGRItunity 2013 Conference and Trade Show
January 25-26, 2013, West Center Florida Ag Center, Bushnell, FL
If you are in the central Florida region you’ll want to block off these dates on your calendar now for this wonderful annual event! AGRItunity offer workshops and tours on various topics along with a tradeshow featuring various organizations and businesses. More information about the program and registration will be available at a later date.
Various Classes and Events
The University of Florida and Florida A&M University’s Extension Services are working hard to provide educational programs in your community. This calendar of events offers an easy way for you to browse events by location or topic of interest. Bookmark it and check back frequently so you never miss out on something that may help you. If you are having trouble finding programs in your area, you can also check your local county extension’s website directly. Find your local office here. Some upcoming programs that may interest you include:
· Canning Class, Lee County
· Marketing and Value Added Products, Duval County
· Edible Gardening: Growing a Salad Table, Orange County
· Florida Aquaculture Council Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale REC
Kelly Monaghan
Center for Sustainable and Organic Food Systems
Program Assistant, Florida SARE Program, UF/FAMU
3031 Mc Carty Hall D, PO Box 110310, Gainesville, FL 32611
Ph:(352)273-3508; Fax: (352)392-8196
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you think! Please use common sense and good judgement. Comments will be moderated if necessary.