Calendar
Workshops, Trainings and Educational Opportunities Note:
Please visit our News page for a list of opportunities for RIRLA members and our Processing Scheduling Service page for a list of upcoming processing dates.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 8:30am–2:30pm
Farm Fresh RI – 8th Annual Local Food Forum
Brown University
Providence, RI
This year's focus: the 2012 Farm Bill
We are pleased to have one of the only farmers in Congress as our keynote speaker...
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
Author of the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act
Farmer in North Haven, Maine (though Congress occupies most of her time these day)
If you've never heard Chellie speak on farm and food issues, don't miss this opportunity when we're lucky enough to have her in Rhode Island! With introductions by:
- Ken Ayars, Chief of RI DEM Division of Agriculture
- Janet Coit, Director, RI DEM
... and a town hall meeting with:
- Annette Higby, Policy Director, New England Farmers Union
- Cris Coffin, New England Director, American Farmland Trust
- RI Congressional Policy Staff and Farm Bill Policy Experts (TBA)
Come join the discussion on how this very important piece of legislation shapes Rhode Island farmers and eaters. Every 5 years a new Farm Bill passes through Congress and reshapes our food and
our agriculture. It includes programs like SNAP, commodity subsidies, WIC, conservation programs, community food projects and more. Currently, in the $288 billion 2008 Farm Bill, the budget for local farms
and foods might as well be a rounding error. But there's an opportunity: the 2012 Farm Bill is currently being crafted!
The Local Food Forum is free, but space is limited. Feel free to pass along this invitation, but register online soon!
Friday, February 10 & Thursday, March 2
Looking at and Preparing for a Profitable Farm
Building 75
East Farm
University of Rhode Island
8:00am-3:00pm
Cost: $20 each session
A two session workshop will teach producers a brand new way
of looking at and preparing for a profitable farm. To be profitable in today's agricultural environment, most farmers need to develop a financial plan and monitoring system. This two session
workshop will teach agricultural service providers and farmers both principles and techniques, as well as provide an electronic tool to develop a whole farm financial plan. Come learn and share your
knowledge in these interactive, hands-on sessions, you will not look at farm finances the same!Thursday, February 16, 2012
Covers for all Reasons: How to Choose the Cover Crops Your Farm Needs
Sturbridge Village, MA
10:00am-3:00pm
1 Stallion Hill Road
Sturbridge, MA
$20
| |
10:00am |
Check-In |
| |
10:30am |
"Cover Cropping Strategies for Year-Round Weed Control on Mixed Vegetable Farms"
Rebecca Brown, University of Rhode Island |
| |
11:15am |
"Improving Soil Health With Cover Crops"
Andy Williamson, County Fair Farm, ME |
| |
12:00pm |
Lunch |
| |
1:00pm |
"Nutrient Considerations Related to Cover Crops"
Lauchlin Titus, AgMatters, LLC, Vassalboro, ME |
| |
2:00pm |
"Evaluation of Cover Crops for Biofumigation, and Improving Root Health and Yield of Vegetables"
Beth Gugino, Penn State University |
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:00p.m.
SVF Foundation Lecture Series
SVF
Newport, RI
Noah Fulmer, Executive Director of Farm Fresh RI, will be joining us for an exciting look into the local food systems of
Little Rhody. For more information, please visit www.svffoundation.org. This free event is the first in their exciting new Lecture Series, featuring topics pertaining to local, sustainable agriculture and conservation.
Space is limited and registration is required for this FREE event. Please contact Jill DeLeo at
jill@svffoundation.org or (401) 848-7229 x10 for more details and to sign up.
Monday, February 27, 2012 6:30 p.m.
(Note new time for winter months.)
RIRLA Monthly Meeting
Louttit Library Community Center
274 Victory Highway
West Greenwich, RI
(adjacent to the West Greenwich Police Department)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 6:30-8:00pm
Presentation by Holly Burdett, URI Cooperative Extension, Kingston, RI
Sustaining Healthy Landscapes and Protecting Our Water Resources
Best Management Practices for Small Farm Livestock Properties
North Scituate Community House
546 W Greenville Road (Rte. 116)
North Scituate, RI
The Northern RI Conservation District and Providence Water partnering to bring you the Scituate Reservoir Watershed
Education Program are pleased to sponsor this free event as we seek to increase public understanding of sustainable, environmentally-sound land use practices in the Scituate Reservoir Watershed.
Please join us! Refreshments will be served. For more information and to register, please contact Gina DeMarco, Northern RI Conservation District at (401) 934-0840.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Rhode Island Women in Agriculture Conference 2012
URI, CBLS Building
Flagg Road
Chafee Lot Road (Parking)
Kingston, RI
(401) 874-2967
Please join us for a day of information sharing, industry assistance, and resource guidance. The agenda is focused to
present women farmers with tips for the trade, strategies for how to make it work, and enlightening stories.
Monday, March 19, 2012
RIRLA Annual Meeting
West Greenwich Elks Lodge
42 Nooseneck Road (Rt. 3)
West Greenwich, RI
Saturday, May 12, 2012
2012 Annual Farm Supper Fundraiser
Addieville East Farm
200 Pheasant Drive
Harrisville, RI
Workshops, Trainings and Educational Opportunities
Holistic Management Trainings
Manage your farm profitably, enjoyably, and ecologically
Have you reached the end of the "busy season" exhausted, at odds with your family and business partners, and
dreading tax season? Are you convinced this let-down is just "part of farming"? Make next year different. Attend our interactive Holistic Management Trainings and learn how.
- February 3, 2012
Financial Planning with HM
- March 2, 2012
Financial Planning with HM
(Despite the similar titles, all workshops are unique, although they do build upon each other if you choose to attend more than one — Heidi)
All training sessions run from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Location: URI's East Farm, Bldg. #75, Kingston, RI 02881
Cost: $20/person/workshop (lunch included)
Guest Speaker: Seth Wilner, farmer and University of New Hampshire Extension Educator specializing in soil fertility, nutrient management, strategic planning, and marketing.
RSVP at least 1 week prior to each workshop to:
Kristen Castrataro
kcas@uri.edu or phone: 401-874-2967/401-256-7393
Make checks payable to URI and mail to:
Kristen Castrataro, URI Cooperative Extension
3 E. Alumni Avenue
Kingston, RI 02881
This event is part of a USDA/Northeast SARE grant: Taking in the Whole Picture: Incorporating Holistic Management on RI's Farms led by Kristen Castrataro.
URI provides equal program opportunity. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact us prior this event. |
