Family, Farm, Food

Master Gardeners will be at Skagit Farmers Supply in OH!

The second of three free workshops held at Skagit Farmers Supply, Oak Harbor will take place on Tuesday, January 26, starting at 6:30 p.m.   Master Gardener Deb Mitchell will explain seed starting for the beginner gardener.   After the class, guests will be able to purchase seeds and the materials needed for their garden this year.   Refreshments will be served.    The third and final workshop will be about pruning on February 23.      Please pass this information on.  Thank you.  

Questions:  Call Adam Troyer, SFS, Oak Harbor, 360-675-2277 (except Mondays).

Cooking From The Pantry

Chris Williams, with the Deer Lagoon Grange, just sent more details about their upcoming class...

Cooking From The Pantry, with Roberta Hacking  Monday Jan 25^th  7 pm at the Grange.

 

She also sent along the final Organic Food Growing Class schedule Download Courseflier2010Finalv2. Please note this is TUESDAYS and starts at 6.30pm

 

Anybody interested in goat meat? Chris knows where there are two 8 month old wethers ( that is, castrated males, for the uninitiated ).

Stay tuned for more!

 

INTERESTING Classes!

Just got a message from the Shore Stewards Program Coordinator who lives on Camano. Check out these classes!

Hi, all,
 
Here are links to brochures on training classes for the small/beginning/sustainable farmers you might know, or come in contact with.
 
1. Master Beekeepers Apprentice training, Snohomish County WSU Extension: http://snohomish.wsu.edu/Ag/workshops/beekeeping10.pdf  In Everett, just a ferry trip away.
 
2. The Honorable Farmer (a course in simple farming): http://theopengatefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Farm-Course-Brochure1.doc   It's on Camano, taught by someone who is making a success of his small farm
 
 
-Scott

Ready to Learn More About Food Gardening?

South Whidbey Tilth and Deer Lagoon Grange present: 2010 Organic Food Growing Classes.

When: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm, starting Feb. 9th through Mar. 31 (except Mar. 2)

Where: Deer Lagoon Grange in Langley

Cost: $90 course fee, $15 drop-in fee per class (Half price for Tilth and Grange members!)For more info on the classes, check out the course descriptions here:

Download 2010 Tilth organic food growing class

Deer Lagoon Grange Food News

If you haven't been following all that the Deer Lagoon Grange has been up to, it's time to do so now. Check out their Food News!

Download Deer Lagoon Grange Food News

Our New Year

Can you believe it's 2010? I still have trouble writing that number.

Moving forward into the year, this blog will continue to evolve as we learn more about how to strengthen connection in our community. One of the first changes will be how it is maintained.

Initially, it was set up to build off of the WSU Sustainable Agriculture e-mail distribution list. But sometime in March (I'm guessing) I will lose access to that list. Don't worry, it's nothing bad. I'm leaving WSU Island County Extension but continuing my work to connect community, non-profits, and small businesses (yes, farms definitely fit here!).

The only reason this is important to you is that I won't be able to send e-mail reminders to check the blog, so you might consider bookmarking this site.

Also, please let me know if there are other organizations, individuals, or small businesses that you'd like to pull into this effort.

Our calendar function is one of our biggest challenges, so watch for improvement there. And we need photos! Don't be surprised if someone shows up with a camera to snap a few shots of your operation this spring :)

Thanks for your interest and patience....Happy New Year!

Looking for Something to Do or Someplace to Go?

Paradise Found Fiber Farm>> OPEN<< Rain or Shine

The following Saturdays OR just call for another day of the week…we are usually here

10 AM to 4 PM

Jan 16, 23, 30

Feb 6, 27

Mar 6, 20, 27

A fiber farm producing hand made products from our fiber animals including Alpacas, Llamas & Pygora Goats. The Farm Fiber Shack has Handspun yarn, roving, fleece, felted bags, hand knitted hats, scarves & more; Educational Farm tours; Fresh eggs all year, and seasonal produce. Sept Fiber Fair (WIFFFS) details & map on our website 

Hours: All Year, call ahead or Saturdays June-Oct 10-3 &/or as noted on the events calendar

Location:

4081 Springwater Lane
Clinton, WA 98236
Map This Address
 Phone: 360-579-1906
Fax: 360-579-1910
 Email This Member
Web Site: http://www.paradisefoundfiber.com
Member Page: Paradise Found Fiber Farm

 

Annual Membership Meeting January 24

South Whidbey Tilth hosts its annual membership meeting at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 24 in the Trinity Lutheran Church Chapel located in the community building on SR 525 in Freeland. The meeting features the highlights of Tilth’s activities in 2009 and will welcome new ideas for fulfilling Tilth’s mission. Join the membership to select its new president and council members for 2010. A scrumptious potluck dinner featuring local foods will follow the meeting. Participants are invited to bring their own eating utensils to reduce trash. Hot beverages will be available.
Current members are invited to participate in the brief business portion of the meeting. Members may check their membership status from a list upon arrival and dues may be paid that day.
For more information contact info@southwhidbeytilth.org or 360-579-2892.

Not So Sweet News - With a Sweet Local Solution

Did you read the big article about international honey chicanery, detailed in the Seattle Times  last year? Chinese honey was shipped into countries that have effectively no honey industry, then the honey was relabeled and exported to the USA  to avoid US tariffs on Chinese honey. Some of this honey contained antibiotics not allowed in the US food supply. Sounds like a good reason to buy honey from somebody you know. Our November speaker, David Neel , 331-1905, has honey for sale now  at home, and in Pickles Deli and maybe soon in local supermarkets.

Submitted by Chris Williams, Deer Lagoon Grange

 

Improve your farm business success!

January 4, 2010

Contact: Michel Wiman, WSU Small Farms Program, mbrockington@wsu.edu, 509-663-8181 x235.

 

Running a sustainable farming operation can be a challenge, especially in tough economic times.  Whether you’ve been farming for years, or have a dream of beginning or adding a new farm-based enterprise, you’ll learn exciting new tools & strategies for farm or farm business profitability with the Cultivating Success^TM  series of entrepreneurship classes.

The program courses include Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching, and Agricultural Entrepreneurship & Business Planning.  The 12 to 14-week evening courses feature a full line-up of guest speakers, including university experts and successful farm entrepreneurs. Courses are offered by the Cultivating Success Program, a collaboration of Washington State University, the University of Idaho and the non-profit organization Rural Roots, and are taught through County Extension.  The costs of the courses vary, but are typically between $150-250.

Designed to bring all types of students to a participatory learning environment to learn from established and other agricultural experts, the two courses of the Cultivating Success program provide an overview of the planning tools needed to be successful. In Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching, students are introduced to sustainable management practices for small farm operations. In Agricultural Entrepreneurship & Business Planning, students are guided through the business planning process needed to launch their enterprise. All classes encourage networking with other students, farms, and resource providers.

For more details on courses available near you and to register, find the available course you are interested in, below, and contact information for that course.  To read more about Cultivating Success courses, visit www.cultivatingsuccess.org.  The following locations have confirmed or tentative spring 2010 class offerings - please contact local sites to register.  For more information ,  Download Cultivating Success