Opening Your Farm to the Public
Garland is Going Away-Back in Two Weeks
To my faithful blog readers, I’m going to be away for two weeks, May 11th through May 27th, the blog will be a bit quiet until I return. My colleagues will post here if anything extra exciting or urgent comes up.
Thanks for your understanding!
Registration Deadline is Today for “Selling Meat from Your Farm” Workshop in Rutland
Selling Meat From Your Farm: Understanding the Regulations
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at the US Forest Service (conference room) at 231 North Main Street in Rutland from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
Vermont leads the nation in direct sales of local and specialty foods production on a per capita basis. Selling value-added or processed foods can be very rewarding, but it also requires a great deal of planning and attention to the rules and regulations.
Want to take advantage of the increasing opportunities to sell meats locally and nationally? Come join the Rutland NRCD for a FREE workshop about producing, processing, and selling your farm raised meats. Randy Quenneville from the Vermont Department of Agriculture Meat Inspection Division will be the guest speaker.
*Information will be available for
NRCS, FSA, and District programs
Space is LIMITED so Please RSVP by TODAY, Friday, May 10, 2013
Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District
170 South Main St., Ste 4
Rutland, VT 05701
Nanci McGuire, District Manager
Phone: (802) 775-8034 ext. 17
Little Village Farm Seeks an Apprentice/Intern/Farmhand for the Growing Season
Little Village Farm, a diversified vegetable CSA farm is looking for some help this growing season. Educational opportunities abound!
For more information check out their website by clicking here.
You can contact Jeremiah and Cara directly by emailing littlevillagefarm@gmail.com.
Conserved Farm for Sale in Dummerston
The Vermont Land Trust seeks a farm buyer for a 169 acre farm in Dummerston, Vermont. The sale price is $375,000. This southern Vermont farm is in a very attractive location with easy access to the interstate. The farm consists of 50 tillable acres, 12 acres of pasture, and 105 acres of woods including a small sugarbush. There are 25 acres of prime soil and 29.5 acres of statewide soils.
The farm includes the following buildings:
• Two-story, 2,252-square-foot farmhouse with four bedrooms
• Greenhouse on gravel foundation (28 feet x 97 feet)
• Equipment shed, well-built with water and electricity (40 feet x 108 feet)
• Antique barn in very good condition (45 feet x 60 feet)
• Loafing shed (45 feet x 73 feet)
• Additional small shed and old sugarhouse
Vermont Land Trust will purchase the farm in May and look to enter into a lease and purchase and sales agreement with a farmer. The lease period will be approximately 8 months while the conservation process is finalized. The land will be available during the 2013 cropping season. Please pass this information on to anyone you feel might be interested. Additional information and maps are enclosed, information and photos are on the VLT website www.vlt.org
VLT is hosting two “open houses” at the farm to allow potential buyers to see the property. They will be held on May 18, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and May 22, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applicants are requested to respond if interested in attending the open house.
Do you have Kingsbury Silty Clay Loam or Vergennes Clay? We need you!
Help Protect Small Farms!
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is trying to gather data on producers utilizing smaller-acreage parcels to use as evidence during ACT 250 proceedings. In sum, the Agency is having difficulty in showing that parcels less than 10 acres can qualify as “primary agricultural soils” and be economically viable.
If you are cultivating Kingsbury Silty Clay Loam or Vergennes Clay (both found in the Champlain Valley), even if you have more than 10 acres in cultivation, please contact me by sending an email to garland@rutlandfarmandfood.org.
The agency is working to prove that these soils are in demand for farm businesses and that they should be considered in the Act 250 proceedings.
Your responses will be kept anonymous, and your information will not be shared without your permission the agency just needs to show the number of farms cultivating these soils in this region.
Thank you in advance for responding!
Growing Places course Offered this Summer– UVM Extension New Farmer Project
Registration is now open for the Vermont New Farmer Project farm business class Growing Places.
This Summer:
Growing Places for aspiring and start-up farmers
Location: Vital Communities offices, White River Junction, VT
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Dates: June 24, July 8, July 22, & August 5
Fess: $100-$135
Registration Deadline: June 10; early discounts available for registrations by May 31.
This four session course introduces new and aspiring farmers to important topics, resources and services integral to getting their farm started off right. Participants will learn about the cornerstones of farm business development—goal setting and decision making, accessing capital and financial management, exploring markets, and learning about the resources and services available to support beginning farmers.
The in-person classes are scheduled for Monday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning June 24. The course fee is $100 if received by May 31, and then $135 until June 10. Course information andonline registration can be found at www.uvm.edu/newfarmer. Click on “Classes” then “Growing Places.” For questions and additional information, email newfarmer@uvm.edu. Offered by the UVM Extension New Farmer Project in collaboration with Vital Communities and co-sponsored by the Women’s Ag Network.
