Now accepting applications for 2010 Cohort of the Organic Farmer Training Program at the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm (SOF)!

The Organic Farmer Training Program offers nine months of intensive instruction in year-round organic farming. The program focuses on diversified production of vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs for local markets. Students manage all aspects of a 10-acre certified organic farm, including passive solar greenhouses used for year-round production in cold climates. Students also manage the SOF garden and field production. Produce is grown for the farm’s primary markets, including a 48-week CSA, six-month on-campus farm stand, and sales to campus dining services. Students develop competencies in farm skills through trainings and through engagement in the daily operation of the farm. Hands-on training is combined with workshops, lectures, readings and assignments that build participants knowledge and understanding of organic farming principles and practices. The program is designed to give participants a strong background in production skills as well as the knowledge, management, and decision-making skills necessary to operate a diversified small farm.

Program participants include new and beginning farmers, urban and community farmers and gardeners, educators, and those interested in local or organic agriculture.

Space is limited

Rolling admissions

Application review begins Sept 1.

Visit the website for full program description and application: www.msuorganicfarm.org

See the flyer for more information here

or contact them at msufarm@msu.edu

517-230-7987

The Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc. (PBFP) is a non-profit organization that demonstrates and promotes agriculture that is ecologically sound, community oriented, and economically viable. PBFP achieves these goals through the operation of a working farm, education programs, internships, dissemination of information, and distribution of food to those in need. PBFP manages an historic, 65-acre farmstead in the New Paltz, New York area including a six and a half acre vegetable CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) operation. The CSA provides 180 shares including approximately fifteen for distribution to low income families. The education programs serve area schools, low income communities, and the general public.

They are currently looking for both a Farm Manager and an Executive Director to start in the fall of this year.

For more information on the Farm Manager Position go to: http://www.philliesbridge.org/news/farm_manager.php

For more information on the Executive Director Position go to: http://www.philliesbridge.org/news/executive_director.php

Farmers and school food service directors, please join us for a Michigan Farm to School Meet & Greet!

This Meet & Greet event will give school food service directors and farmers a chance to meet each other and develop farm to school programs in their areas. School food service directors from Calhoun, Ingham, and Oakland Counties, among others, are expected to attend.

If you are a school food service director who is ready to bring local foods into  your school meals program or a farmer interested in selling your products to local schools, please join us for this event and get connected! Read more »

PRESS RELEASE                        FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT DEB POUECH, REGISTRATION COORDINATOR
debpouech@nofamass.org or 860-684-0551

FREE REGISTRATIONS AVAILABLE FOR BEGINNING FARMERS TO NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION SUMMER CONFERENCE

Amherst, Ma – The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) is pleased to announce that it will offer 6 free full registrations earmarked for beginning farmers to its 35th Annual Summer Conference.  The conference runs from August 7-9th at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  The scholarships will enable the recipients to attend the conference for three days, participate in 8 workshops and take advantage of a multitude of opportunities to network and collaborate with other farmers and service providers.  The sessions they attend can be chosen from the extensive conference workshop program according to their individual educational requirements. Read more »

Cultivate the Soil: Resources for Beginning and Small Scale Farmers and Ranchers in Washington State is a 2008 Publication by Megan McPhaden from the Washington State Housing/Finance Commission Beginning Farmer/Rancher Loan Program.

It provides comprehensive information on financing and loan programs, business planning, marketing, finding land, insurance and risk management, energy efficiency, education, organic farming, and minority-specific programs.

The entire document is available at: http://www.wshfc.org/FarmRanch/resources.pdf

This event will be held on August 2nd, from 2-7:30 pm in Charlottesville, Virginia.

It will  feature a showing of the movie FRESH, exciting speakers, scrumptilicious food, and lots of fellowship.

Go to www.VICFA.org or call 760-5514 to learn more and register.

The Office Administrator will be involved in all aspects of MOFFA including, Membership, Mail, Telephone, Email, MOFFA Board Meetings, MOFFA Books, Tote Bags and other items for sale, Financial, Newsletter and NewsGroup, and the Website. (To see a full job description visit www.michiganorganic.msu.edu) Read more »

I just found a great new website called Freshman Farmer. Five first-year farmers, and one second year farmer detail their experiences starting organic farms through blog posts, pictures, and video. They each communicate their stories, struggles, and successes as they work to develop their farms. This is a great resource for new farmers, experienced farmers, anyone considering starting a farm, or anyone interested in the processes involved in beginning a farm.

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply, an organic products company is supporting this effort.

Please visit the website at http://www.freshmanfarmer.com/

For those who don’t know about the NOFA Summer Conference, this listing of the workshops to be presented in just the first of the weekend’s eight sessions will provide a flavor.

For full list and descriptions go to http://www.nofasummerconference.org/workshops.html.

All these plus Will Allen, Paul Stamets, dancing, music, a fair, great local and organic food and over a thousand wonderful people of all ages at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, August 7-9, 2009.

Hope to see you there.

Visit http://www.nofasummerconference.org/ for more information. Read more »

Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF)

MISSION: SAF is a non-profit organization based in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 1992, SAF brings students and farmworkers together to learn about each other’s lives, share resources and skills, improve conditions for farmworkers, and build diverse coalitions working for social change. For more information: www.saf-unite.org
STAFF SIZE: 6 full-time, 30 interns and fellows, 2 work-study

ANNUAL BUDGET: $567k

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
o    Coordinate the ongoing planning, implementation & evaluation of SAF’s organizing & advocacy work
o    Organize SAF alumni, youth, & other students’ participation in the farmworker movement (conduct training, presentations, tabling, rallies, marches, letter writing, events, conferences, and delegations)
o    Coordinate National Farmworker Awareness Week (convene national sponsor committee, update website and materials, and support students organizing events)
o    Play leadership role in state advocacy coalition and provide ways for students to support policy advocacy campaigns
o    Develop & maintain partnerships with farmworker organizing groups & provide ways for students to support farm labor campaigns
o  Coordinate SAF’s Alumni Association and alumni/student advisory board
o  Assist with coordination of SAF’s End of Summer Celebration
o    Participate in SAF’s program committee to evaluate & improve programs
o  Represent SAF on farmworker coalitions and student-labor alliances as needed
o   Coordinate SAF’s grassroots fundraising campaign and support other fundraising efforts as needed (e.g., grant-writing, annual individual donor campaign) Read more »

The Ceres Trust has announced a competition for $500,000 in organic research grants for non-profit institutions and universities in the 12 state North Central Region.

The deadline for applications is September 15th, 2009. You can find the call for proposals at: http://www.thecerestrust.org/pdf/TheCeresTrustRFA.pdf

Grassroots Action Network Overview:  The Grassroots Action Network (“The Network) is one of three program areas that, together and in partnership with other organizations, are building a global movement to address the systemic causes of and solutions to persistent hunger and poverty.  In particular, the Network identifies and champions the work of innovative grassroots hunger and poverty organizations that promote self-reliance among the people they serve, especially those organizations who are embracing a community food security model.  The Network is a resource to these organizations, mobilizing and equipping them to implement sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty in their own communities as well as engaging in related policy and advocacy efforts.

Position Summary

The core functions of the Grassroots Action Network Director are the following:

•  To ensure the effective implementation of programmatic activities that support community based organizations with capacity building resources and networking opportunities, encourage the replication of model programs and best practices, and grow an active and engaged national network of community-based organizations.

•  To continually innovate and improve the Grassroots Action Network, its strategies, programs and resources.

•  To manage and lead a team of staff including a Capacity Building Coordinator, a Grassroots Outreach Coordinator and a Program Assistant, creating a supportive, learning environment for this team where everyone is encouraged to grow and succeed professionally and held accountable for contributing creatively and effectively to WHY’s programs, services and strategies.

•  To lead the Grassroots Action Network in collaborating effectively and collegially with other Program Areas and WHY Departments as well as external partner organizations.

•  To contribute to setting the strategic direction and vision of WHY’s Programs in support of its mission. Read more »

The Food Project is a fantastic organization that works with young people on sustainable agriculture projects.

Check out their great new website at http://thefoodproject.org/

Learn how a Rapid Market Assessment can provide a one-time snapshot of your market. An
RMA team of market managers and other experts use simple, tested methods to: count market
customers, survey customers using the dot survey method, and compile market observations
and recommendations. At this workshop, you will acquire the skills to participate in and
conduct your own RMA.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participants must register by Thursday, July 16th. Contact Dru Montri at 517-432-3381 with any
questions or to register.