Organic Farming Workshops in Connecticut, August 23rd, 30th

For Immediate Release:   August 12, 2010 Contact: Bill Duesing 203-888-5146 bill@ctnofa.org www.ctnofa.org Organic Farming Workshops in Ridgefield and Simsbury in August With the demand for local and organic food rising quickly among consumers, institutions, restaurants and retailers, Connecticut needs more farms and farmers producing food for local consumption.  To address this need, CT NOFA (the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut) with the support of the Connecticut Farm Risk Management and Crop Insurance Program, is hosting two on-farm workshops on certified organic farms this month. Each spring, CT NOFA gets calls from consumers who want to purchase a CSA share but find their local CSAs are all sold out.

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On August 23, 2010, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, at The Hickories in Ridgefield. (www.thehickories.org)  farmer Dina Brewster will talk about Starting and Managing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Dina runs a 200 member CSA and is an excellent teacher. Topics covered will include all aspects of starting or expanding a CSA – business planning, marketing and communicating with members. There will time for questions and a tour of Dina’s farm.   The USDA defines a beginning farmer as anyone who has farmed for less than 10 years.  It takes a while to learn to farm and market well.

On August 30, 2010 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Community Farm of Simsbury (CFS – communityfarmofsimsbury.org,) we’ll learn about its Incubator Farmer Project. Four beginning farmers will be present to discuss their growing and marketing strategies and their successes and challenges in starting a farm business. Maggie Siska grows flowers for local markets.  Rodger Phillips grows some of the vegetables here for the Grow Hartford CSA, Bob Brinton grows vegetables for local restaurants and markets and Anne Patrie tends the teaching garden at CFS, which is used for camp and school programs. The Community Farm of Simsbury is certified organic so all the incubator farmers grow certified organic crops.  The Farm also donates a lot of its food to those in need.   Pre-registration is requested through www.ctnofa.org or by calling 203-888-5146.  The workshop fee is $20 for CT NOFA or CFS members and $25 for non-members and also includes a light supper.

CT NOFA is a non-profit membership organization that has been educating for and promoting a local and organic food system in Connecticut since 1982.  All are welcome.