HomeGrown Directory

February 13: Local Forest Products: New Enterprises and New Markets: Asheville

A workshop for forest land owners, farmers, forest professionals, and policy makers

9:00-3:00 on Friday, February 13, 2009

At Land-of-Sky Regional Council, 339 Leicester Highway, Asheville, North Carolina 28806

Directions at: landofsky.org/mainlinks/contact.html

(828) 251-6622

Economic uncertainty is nothing new to farm and forest operators. This workshop explores a range of emerging forest enterprises to help land owners improve revenues from their forest land. It also explores ways for producers to connect with local buyers to capture a larger share of value of their forest products.

Workshop Agenda

Saturday, February 21, 2009: Watauga County Beekeepers Association 2009 Beginner Beekeeping Class

Interested in beekeeping? Want to learn more about the honeybee? This one day workshop is an introduction to the art and science of beekeeping. There will be beekeeping books and equipment for sale, speakers from all over NC, demonstrations and door prizes. Breakfast, lunch and a resource notebook will be provided.

When: Saturday, February 21, 2009*
8:30am (registration) - 4pm
Where: IG Greer Auditorium, ASU campus
(free parking located at Rivers Street Parking Deck)
Cost: $15/individual or $20/family of 2

Rainwater Barrels for Sale in Watauga & Ashe Counties: Orders due Friday, April 3

Rainwater is a high quality source of water available to us. Rainwater that is collected on roofs and stored appropriately represents a sustainable source of water. This water is ideal for various uses inside and outside the home. When rainwater is used for toilet flushing, laundry, and garden purposes, it can reduce water consumption in a typical household by as much as 70%. How do you capture this rainwater? Install a rain harvesting system. One of the easiest and affordable ways to do this is by installing an above-ground rain barrel. Help the environment, and help your water bill!

Wednesday, 2/11: Blueberry Pruning workshop featuring Bill Cline: Deep Gap

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop Tuesday, February 3, 1:00 PM: Creston

NC Cooperative Extension presents: A class for farmers wanting to begin or transition to Commercial-Scale, Certified Organic Production Of Vegetable and Fruit Crops

This class is geared toward growers who are already set-up for commercial scale production (1-acre of ready-to-be-certified-organic field land or more), and wish to enter the expanding Certified Organic Market. Topics covered will include soils & fertility, disease identification & control, insect identification & control, weed management, post-harvest handling, certification & record-keeping, and marketing to wholesale buyers.

The class will meet on Thursdays, from 5:30-8 PM, at the Ashe County Extension Center during the winter and early Spring of 2009.

December 3-5, 2008

Raleigh, NC

This Course is designed to convey the basic concepts of Farmstead cheese production including basic sanitation and milk processing, basic and cheese microbiology, quality control, hands-on cheesemaking and packaging / labeling issues. For more information on the course contact Gary Cartwright at gcart@unity.ncsu.edu or 919-513-2488.

Who Should Attend
The content of this course is directed at individuals that are investigating the requirements of Farmstead cheese making, prepared to begin or already making Farmstead cheese.

The Leola Street Community Garden in Boone is looking quite good this year, and the dynamics of the wonderful urban gardeners cooperating there make for an inspiring and diverse place. The garden group has monthly workdays scheduled through the rest of the season, and two of those will include brief workshops and question and answer sessions presented by NC Cooperative Extension.

The Upper Mountain Research Station, located in the eastern Ashe County region of Laurel Springs, hosts a truly astounding quantity (and quality) of research and demonstration efforts, all geared toward improving the productivity and profitability of agriculture here in the High Country. Across its more than 450 acres, a visitor can witness the cutting edge of many types of farming, from livestock and tobacco, to small fruits and organic vegetables. On Wednesday, June 25, the station will be open to visitors and showcasing its several research projects on Specialty Crops Production.