Farmer-to-Farmer Grazing Meet

Organic and conventional dairy and livestock farmers are invited to the next Farmer-to-Farmer Discussion Group meeting on Monday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Guilford, Vermont. Hosted by the David and Mary Ellen Franklin family, this is part of a series for farmers to share experiences and information to help them improve their farms.

Highlights include "Holistic Planned Grazing," a form of management intensive grazing methods to optimize soil health and fertility, forage production, and livestock nutrition. Attending farmers will work with professional advisors, who are in a multi-year training program, to develop a grazing plan with the Franklins.

Franklin Farm is a certified organic dairy, milking herd of 40-plus head multi-breed cows, with breeding (including NZ genetics) for peak grazing and forage utilization.

Come share your ideas and experiences. The group will also identify upcoming topics and on-farm meetings.

Note: NOFA VT will provide disposable pull-on booties for participants.

'Cultivating an Organic Connecticut since 1982'

CT NOFA's 28th Annual Conference, Sustaining Connecticut: Growing Local,Eating Healthier, Living Smarter is March 6, at Manchester Community College, Manchester.

Meet people, tour the exhibits and goods for sale, talk shop, and learn plenty.

For complete details, see www.ctnofa.org.

Images are from the 2009 event.

NOFA CT Organic Harvest Celebration

NOFA Connecticut's 2009 Organic Harvest Celebration and Annual Meeting is Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in New Haven, inside the Jones Auditorium at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The public is invited to shop at the market (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and a potluck lunch and to learn more about NOFA CT.

Keynote speaker at 2 p.m. is Marydale DeBor, who will speak about the "Plow to Plate Program" at New Milford Hospital. This effort is to engage as many individuals and organizations as possible in improving the health of residents of the northwest corner of Connecticut. To learn more, visit www.ctnofa.org.

To minimize paper/plastic waste, bring your own plate, cup and utensil (and something to contribute to the lunch if you wish.)

At 1:30 there will be a half-hour annual meeting. The CT NOFA Member of the Year Award will be presented at 3 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call CT NOFA at (203) 888-5146. To participate in the Farmers’ Market, contact Deb Legge at (203) 888-5146.

Wayne Young of High Hill Orchards in Meriden, is a NOFA CT member.

CT NOFA is the Connecticut chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, a non-profit educational, membership organization for everyone interested in organic food, gardening, farming or land care. For CSA details (winter) or more information about High Hill Farm and orchard, call Young at (203) 294-0276.

What Future for Agriculture in Connecticut?

The Litchfield Garden Club will present a panel discussion on "Supporting the Future of Agriculture in Litchfield: Farming and the Community", on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center, Route. 202, Litchfield.

The meeting is open to the public.

Panel participants include: State Senator Andrew Roraback; William Burgess, president and executive director of Litchfield Hills Food Systems; Henry Talmage, executive director CT Farmland Trust; and Bill Deusing, Northeast Organic Farming Association-CT Office.

The Litchfield Garden Club is a member of Garden Club of America and Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.

People, Exhibits, Ideas, Network At NOFA CT

That's Elaine Frost of Frostfire Farm located in Goshen, talking about Connecticut Women's Agricultural Network (CT WAgN) at the recent NOFA CT conference in Windsor.

CT WAgN is a network for women who farm, have an agriculturally-related business, or want to have one. (This includes producers of specialty goods, fiber, yarn and wool, wine, flowers, herbs, etc. Artisans, entrepreneurs, chefs, farm market participants and others are welcome to network and learn.)

Wayne Young of High Hill Orchards (located on a gorgeous farm that really is perched atop a high hill with the backdrop of Beseck Mountain in Meriden) offered sliced samples of his apples and talked about the winter CSA his farm offers. (A CSA is "community-supported agriculture" - in this case participants can choose a full share for four months worth of local organic fruits, vegetables/greens, and fresh cider . . . or just the fruit portion). For details or more information about the farm and orchard, call Young at (203) 294-0276.