2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WESTERN REGION POTLUCK & ONE-DAY CONFERENCE
March 7, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

CELEBRATE THE COMING OF SPRING!
PA-WAgN Regional Representatives are hosting a one-day conference and networking potluck. A full day of educational workshops is scheduled.

SHEEP PRODUCTION & MARKETING WORKSHOP
Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Festival
Waynesburg, PA
May 16, 2009
Noon - 3:00 p.m.
FREE workshop!

Meet Melanie Barkley, Penn State Cooperative Extension Educator; Gary Gregg, 84 Packing Company; and other sheep and fiber producers to discuss best production and marketing practices for sheep farms.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS REGARDING SHEEP & FIBER FESTIVAL

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SHEEP TO FIBER WORKSHOP
Hatton Farm
Hawley, PA
June 1, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
FREE workshop! Please bring a brown bag lunch!

Join Grace Hatton for a farm tour and an introduction to Finnsheep, a rare breed known for its prolific lambing ability. Learn about sheep husbandry, marketing, and value-added fiber production.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

There is no fee for this workshop. Please bring a brown bag lunch.  Participants are limited to 30

RODALE INSTITUTE: TRANSITION TO ORGANIC
Kutztown, PA
June 5, 2009
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

In collaboration, PA-WAgN, The Rodale Institute, PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture, and PA Certified Organic present a unique opportunity for farmers to increase their awareness about the resources available to them to help with the transition to organic process. Some of these resources are educational in nature and available online in the format of courses, modeling tools for crop budgets, comprehensive farm plans, average prices from around the nation for main crops, etc. Other educational resources are field based and available from organizations like the organizers of this field day. Rodale will introduce Path Organics, a pilot state program to reimburse farmers for some of the expenses related to the organic transition process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION & SOIL BUILDING FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION
Rippling Brook Farm
Sligo, PA
June 24, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

Join the Aaron and Priscilla Schwartz family for a tour of one of the largest organic farms in the state. Walk the fields and learn how soil building is the foundation of the farm's success. A representative of an organic certifying organization will be there to inform you of the organic certification process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

TRACTOR MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP
Josie Porter Farm
Stroudsburg, PA
August 26, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

Doug Schaufler, Senior Project Association with Penn State's Farm Services will facilitate this hands-on tractor maintenance workshop. Learn how to keep your farm tractor running smoothly.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MULTIPLE APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
Blackberry Meadows Farm & Mildreds' Daughters Farm
Allegheny County
September 2,  2009
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

Join Jen Montgomery from Blackberry Meadows, Barbara Kline from Mildred’s Daughters, and a panel of CSA farmers in Western Pennsylvania to discuss the many different faces of CSA: rural vs. urban; on-farm distribution vs. drop-offs; prepackaged shares vs. customer choice; farmer collaborations, and workshares.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SPRINGHOUSE VEGETABLE COOLER WORKSHOP
Clan Stewart Farm
Huntingdon, PA
September 2009 (date to be announced)
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

Details coming soon

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: INCREASING PROFITABILITY THROUGH TIME SAVING TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES ON THE SMALL FARM
Red Cat Farm
Germansville, PA
October 7, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

As farmers few of us time ourselves as we harvest lettuce or seed carrots. But our time is valuable. Tina Bailey, local market gardener will demonstrate a number of tools that have increased her farm productivity. Ann Adams and Liz Brensinger from Green Heron Tools will share the results of their recent survey on high-quality tools appropriate for women farmers. This will be an interactive, demonstration based workshop. Growers are encouraged to bring their favorite tools (or a picture) to share.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

TRACTOR & SMALL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE & WINTERIZATION WORKSHOP
Fulton Farm
Chambersburg, PA
October 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
$15 includes lunch & materials

Doug Schaufler, Senior Project Associate with Penn State Farm Services, will provide a hands-on tutorial to help keep your farm tractor and tillers running smoothly. Participants limited to 25.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER