Organic Farming and Marketing Seminar, MA

On November 5, 2012, the Northeast Organic Farming Association/ MA Chapter (NOFA/Mass) and Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) are hosting Paul and Sandy Arnold of Pleasant Valley Farm in upstate New York. They will give a one day seminar titled "Profitable Year-Round Farming and Marketing." This seminar is a continuation of the NOFA/Mass Advanced Grower's Seminar Series, which has featured innovative farmers using organic practices to improve soil and farm profitability.

Profitable Year-Round Farming and Marketing Monday, November 5, 2012 (From 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m) Stonehill College, The Martin Institute, 320 Washington Street, Easton, MA

Seminar Outline (Details):

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1. Start-up through Good Business and Record-Keeping
2. Labor Efficiencies to Maximize Profits
3. Production from Greenhouse to Field
4. Mulching, Soil Management, and Weed Control
5. Post-Harvest Handling of Crops and Storage
6. Season Extension with Fieldhouses (low tunnels) and Row-Covers
7. Year-Round High Tunnel Production and Marketing

Registration Cost:

• The Registration Fee for the seminar is $65.
• The Pre-Registration Fee, if postmarked by Oct. 29, 2012, is $60.
• The Early Registration Fee, if postmarked by Oct. 22, 2012, is $55.
• Members of any NOFA chapter or SEMAP receive a $5 member discount.

Presenter Bios:

Paul and Sandy Arnold own Pleasant Valley Farm in upstate New York and have been farming for 24 years; they have two teenage children who are home-schooled and help run the family farm. Over 40 varieties of diverse fruit and vegetable crops are grown with organic methods on about 8 of their 180 acres of land, and they grow a diverse range of crops in two high tunnels. The Arnolds make their living selling their produce year-round at 2 to 3 area farmers’ markets each week; they specialize in season-extension and profitability, and enjoy utilizing renewable resources such as solar for hot water and electric. Although neither came from a farming background, they have enjoyed farming as their sole source of income for the past 20 years and have also enjoyed the great lifestyle it offers.

Other NOFA/Mass Educational Offerings this Fall:

• Practical Food Preservation Techniques September 22 (Barre, MA)
• Massachusetts Cheese-making Workshop Series September through November, 2012
• Running a Successful CSA Workshop Series October 27 (Waltham, MA); November 3 (Williamstown, MA); November 10 (Winchester, NH)