(received via email)
In this update:
— Rural Vermont Events
— Volunteer Opportunities
— Other Upcoming Events & Announcements
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RURAL VERMONT EVENTS!
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Rural Vermont’s series of Free Enterprise Farming workshops kick off this week! Starting this Thursday, and running through the beginning of October, Rural Vermont will host several workshops intended to introduce folks to Rural Vermont’s newest campaign – Free Enterprise Farming – which seeks to create opportunities on the farm and in the marketplace. We believe that those growing, raising, and making farm products in small batches for direct sale to their communities should not have to meet the same regulatory requirements as their giant agri-business counterparts!
Both current and aspiring farmers are invited to come out and hear more about the Free Enterprise Farming campaign, while spending an afternoon learning, sharing, and getting to know a farm that is successfully incorporating either poultry or raw milk into their farm operations. Expect to tour the farm, learn about the farmer’s production, management, and marketing methods, and participate in a discussion about the regulations governing the sale of these products. Bring your questions, your experience, and your brown bag lunch! Each workshop costs $10 for Rural Vermont members, and $20 for all else. SPACE IS LIMITED – and preregistration is highly recommended. Reserve your spot today by calling Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or emailing shelby@ruralvermont.org.
(more below the fold)
From Brooder to Plate: Pastured Poultry Opportunities
Thursday August 26, 11 am – 3 pm
Chandler Pond Farm, SOUTH WHEELOCK
Includes a slaughter demonstration – please wear work clothes.
From Cow to Customer: Producing Raw Milk for Direct Sale*
Sunday September 12, 11 am – 3 pm
Lathe Farm, CRAFTSBURY
Intended for folks interested in Tier 1 raw milk production (up to 50 quarts per day).
From Cow to Customer: Expanding Raw Milk Production to Meet a Growing Demand
Monday September 13, 11 am – 3 pm
Family Cow Farmstand, HINESBURG
Intended for folks interested in Tier 2 raw milk production (up to 40 gallons per day and/or home deliveries).
From Cow to Customer: Producing Raw Milk for Direct Sale*
Saturday October 2, 11 am – 3 pm
Bunker Farm, EAST DUMMERSTON
Intended for folks interested in Tier 1 raw milk production (up to 50 quarts per day).
*same workshop being offered on two different dates at two different host farms
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** Beyond Milk! Raw Dairy Processing Classes
Learn how to make all kinds of delicious dairy goods in your own kitchen! With some simple instruction and good quality raw milk, it’s easy! Rural Vermont is partnering with some raw milk farmers to bring you both. Classes will cover dairy processing basics, and will include info about how and where to purchase local, raw milk.
Each class is $20 – 40 sliding scale. All proceeds benefit Rural Vermont. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited. Get in touch TODAY to reserve your spot! To sign up, call Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or email shelby@ruralvermont.org.
Feta, Ricotta, & Chevre with Sara Armstrong Donegan of Trillium Hill Farm
Friday, August 27th / 1 – 4 pm
United Church of Hinesburg, HINESBURG
Just a few spots left!
Mozzarella, Farmer’s Cheese, & Camembert with Lea Calderon-Guthe
Friday, September 17th / 1 – 4 pm
Milk provided by Tamarack Hollow Farm in Burlington
East Village Cohousing, BURLINGTON
Swiss Style Cheese (washed rind, semi-hard “raclette”) with Karen Bixler
Wednesday, September 22nd / 1 – 4 pm
Green Acres Milking Shorthorns, SOUTH RANDOLPH
* some previous soft cheesemaking experience recommended
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** 3rd Annual Tour de Farms – ADVANCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Shoreham Green, SHOREHAM
Staggered starts: 30 mile at 10:30 am; 25 mile at 11 am; 10 mile at 11:30 am
Advance registration fees: $20 adults/$10 kids 12 & under
FIRM DEADLINE FOR ADVANCE REGISTRATION: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Day-of registration fees: $30 adults/$15 kids 12 & under
All kids in trailers & bike seats ride FREE
RAIN OR SHINE!
Rural Vermont, Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, and Addison County Relocalization Network partner again for what’s becoming one of summer’s hottest events! Choose among three bicylce routes that wind through the beautiful Champlain Valley, and stop and sample Addison County’s freshest and finest foods at farm stops along the way. Fresh air, rural scenery, delicious food, good people = FUN!! New this year, expect special event tee shirts and a “to go” lunch available for purchase. The Tour de Farms is sponsored by Earl’s Cyclery and Sovernet Communications. Following the tour, the Platt Memorial Library will again be hosting the Shoreham Apple Fest on the green with lots of hot food options, farm & craft vendors, along with entertainment and merriment! Register online today or download your registration form & waiver at http://www.ruralvermont.org/td…
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SAVE THE DATE!
Rural Vermont will again partner with master storyteller Annie Hawkins for an enchanted evening of stories and merriment on Sunday, November 21st at the First Universalist Parish in Chester, Vermont. This event will be a fundraiser for Rural Vermont, and a great way to usher in the holiday season. Stay tuned for more details.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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***Do you want to spend a day amongst good food and lovely views,
enjoying early fall colors? Volunteers needed at the Tour de Farms in
southern Addison County on Sunday, September 19. Opportunities include
helping out at farm stops, collecting surveys from cyclists and general
event support. Volunteers will commit to at least 3 hours, and in
exchange receive a free t-shirt.
***We are looking for one person to help out at the Free Enterprise
Farming workshop in Hinesburg on September 13, and one person to help
out at the workshop in Dummerston on October 2. Want to help a farmer
and learn more about raw milk sales in Vermont? Please consider being
that one special volunteer to help during the workshop! You’ll be
helping to check people in and with any other random support needed
throughout the day.
***As always, we need people across the state to help spread the word
far and wide about our upcoming events by hanging up posters and
handing out flyers. Do you have a half hour to spare? Please hang up
posters in your libraries, town bulletin boards, and any other places
that seem appropriate!
For more info on these and other volunteer opportunities, please
contact liz@ruralvermont.org or call Liz at 223-7222.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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** RAFFL & NOFA host New Farmer Workshops Held on Local Farms this Summer
– Farm Equipment Primer: Safety and Types of Equipment for Small Farms, August 25th at the Larson Farm in WELLS ***New Farmer Mixer and Nofavore Celebration afterwards***
– Crop Planning: Succession Planting and Diversification Choices, September 8th at Cerridwen Farm on GMC, POULTNEY
– Organic Pest and Disease Management, September 22, Cerridwen Farm on GMC, POULTNEY
New farmers in the Rutland Region are invited to a series of training workshops at area farms this summer. These workshops are geared towards beginning farmers that are still “learning the ropes” to succeeding in agriculture. The workshops cover a range of skills that often challenge new farmers. For more info, http://www.rutlandfarmandfood….
** Brookfield Market Day: Celebrating the Bounty of Brookfield Community
Saturday, August 28th, 2 pm
Old Town Hall, Pond Village, BROOKFIELD
The newly-formed Floating Bridge Food and Farms Cooperative will hold their first official event this coming weekend.Brookfield Market Day is a joint venture between the Cooperative and the Brookfield Old Town Hall. Check out the farmers’ market, art in the park, silent auction, book sale, and more. At 5 pm, there will be a chicken barbecue, followed by square dancing. For information about the Floating Bridge Food and Farms Cooperative, contact Judith Irving, Coop Board Chair, 802-276-0787 or visit the web site http://www.FloatingBridgeFooda… for more details.
** Apply to the Vermont Farm Viability Program by August 31st!
Farmers can apply to the Farm Viability Program through August 31 at http://www.vhcb.org/viability. The Farm Viability Program provides in-depth, one-on-one business planning and technical assistance to farmers. Farmers regularly use the program to help improve business management, planning for expansion or diversification, changing markets or developing new products, starting value-added processing on the farm, or preparing for ownership transition. The program also provides competitive grants and technical assistance to help farmers implement their business plans. Farmers must be full time VT residents, be actively farming and demonstrate at least $10,000 gross income last year to be eligible.
** Growing Local Fest
September 11, 2- 7 pm
Vermont College of Fine Arts Green, MONTPELIER
$10 person, $20 family, $5 students & seniors
2nd annual event celebrates local food, local music, and local fun! Live music by Vorcza, the Dave Keller Band, and Starline Rhythm Boys, with youth farmers’ market, beer tent, food & gardening workshops, pesto contest, home-brew contest, local food vendors, and more. Be sure to stop by and visit the Rural Vermont booth! For more info, visit www.cvfsc.wordpress.com.
** Tunbridge World’s Fair
Thursday-Sunday, September 16-18, 2010
Tunbridge Fairgrounds, TUNBRIDGE, VT
Visit Rural Vermont’s booth at this old-fashioned agricultural fair in a rural setting; featuring working antique displays; horse, pony and oxen pulling; horse racing; cattle and horse shows; junior 4-H exhibits; contra dancing; gymkhana; and free shows. More info at http://www.tunbridgefair.com/.
** 4th Annual Northeast Animal Power Field Days
Friday-Sunday, October 15-17, 2010
Tunbridge Fairgrounds, TUNBRIDGE, VT
Dedicated to working draft animal enterprises supporting local communities and a land-based economy, this two-day trade fair and conference will feature workshops, equipment demonstrations, working demos, exhibitors, local food, swap meet, and more. ?Friday, October 15th will feature field and forest working demos at Howevale Farm, adjacent to the Tunridge Fairgrounds. Friday evening will include a community potluck dinner on the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. ?Saturday, October 16th will focus on workshops and equipment presentations, resource exhibitors, local food vendors, and networking sessions, throughout the Fairgrounds. ?Sunday, October 17th will start off with a Community/Teamster Appreciation Breakfast, then will offer a variety of activities including the premier annual meeting of the newly formed Draft Animal Power Network.Visit Rural Vermont’s booth at the Field Days! For more info, check out: http://www.animalpowerfieldday… or join our Discussion Forum: http://www.draftanimalpower.com. For more info: 802-234-5524,or info@animalpowerfielddays.org.
~Remember to visit the Rural Vermont website often for the latest agriculture news, to buy your NOTECARDS, get more information on issues, and to become a member of Rural Vermont! http://www.ruralvermont.org
Check out our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ruralv…