NFU NFP Update – September 16, 2011
NFU NEW FARM PROJECT NEWS
1. Lacto Fermentation Workshop – Sunday October 2nd
2. Bookkeeping Seminar for Small Farm Businesses – Monday November 14th
3. Fall Gathering 2011 – Save the Date – Saturday December 10th
4. Equipment Sharing Co-ops – Funding Available!
5. FARMER SURVEY for Kingston Frontenac Area – From the NFU New Farm Project – Plan To Grow Project – $300 value draw prize!
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
6. OMAFRA’s Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference: Scaling up our regional food system
7. Water Well Informational Talk – Hearthmakers – Sept 28
8. Biodynamic Study Group
9. Leading the Way Towards A Third Industrial Revolution – Jeremy Rifkin Talk on September 29th
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NFU NEW FARM PROJECT NEWS
1. LACTO FERMENTATION – PRESERVING VEGETABLES WITH SALT
Sunday October 2nd, from 10 am to 3 pm at Elm Tree Farm
Using Salt brines to ferment vegetables and fruits as a preservation technique is done all over the world. Come explore the unique and diverse flavors created by fermenting your own food. In the first part of class we will discuss the basic principles of lacto fermentation. There will be a variety of ferments to taste and add to your own bag lunch. Then we will each make a vegetable ferment of choice. A variety of freshly harvested vegetables grown at Elm Tree Farm will be available to choose from. All other materials will be provided. There is a fee of $15 to cover food and material costs.
Workshop size is limited to 12 people.
To register for this workshop, please visit http://www.newfarmproject.ca/farming-training/.
2. BOOKKEEPING SEMINAR FOR SMALL FARM BUSINESSES
Monday November 14th, 1 – 4 PM
This seminar will explore ways to organize your bookkeeping system that will serve your business management needs and enable you to file your tax returns more easily. Participants should come prepared to share what works for them and to describe the challenges they have with keeping up with their paperwork.
During her professional career as a Certified General Accountant, Linda Van Hal has helped many new businesses set up their bookkeeping systems and for 36 years has been “keeping the books” for her husband’s automotive and farm equipment repair business on Wolfe Island.
Directions: The seminar will be held at the CFDC boardroom at 4917 HWY 38 in Harrowsmith (the building with green awnings at the main intersection in town). Max 15 participants.
To register for this workshop, please visit http://www.newfarmproject.ca/farming-training/.
3. FALL GATHERING – SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY DECEMBER 10TH
This year’s 4th annual NFU Fall Gathering will be held on Saturday December 10th at the Harrowsmith Golden Links Hall – please mark the date on your calendars! More information and registration instructions coming in the next month. In the meantime, if you are interesting in volunteering at the event to help with setup, decorating, or in the kitchen, please let us know!
4. EQUIPMENT SHARING CO-OPS – FUNDING AVAILABLE!
You can start your own Equipment Sharing Co-op with nearby farmers by identifying a piece of farm equipment would be useful to the group and then submitting a proposal to the NFP Coordinator listing the co-op members and a plan for sharing the ownership, use, maintenance, transportation and storage of the equipment. If the proposal is approved, the NFU New Farm Project will reimburse up to $1000 of the cost upon submission of a receipt and a signed Passing on the Gift agreement to the NFP coordinator. Please visit http://www.newfarmproject.ca/equipment-sharing-coops/ or contact us for more information.
5. FARMER SURVEY fOR KINGSTON FRONTENAC AREA – From the NFU New Farm Project – Plan To Grow Project – $300 value draw prize!
Help shape the future of farmer training and supports in the Kingston Region. We want to hear from you! This is a quick survey about keys to success for sustainable local farm businesses. Results will become the focus of future farmer training programs in the Kingston region and beyond.
Join in: http://tinyurl.com/3mwnq3x
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
6. SAVE THE DATE: EASTERN ONTARIO LOCAL FOOD CONFERENCE: Scaling up our regional food system
December 1, 2011
University of Guelph Kemptville Campus
A bilingual conference designed to facilitate stronger relationships among local food groups, as well as provide technical information on key topics.
Keynote Speaker:
Tom Stearns, president of Center for an Agricultural Economy and High Mowing Seeds in Vermont will discuss key elements of success that Vermont has built upon to foster agricultural
economic development.
Panel of Eastern Ontario Initiatives:
An interactive session focused on various approaches to scaling up the regional food system
Other presentations include:
- Market Research 101
- Product Aggregation through New Generation Coops
- Local Food in a Planning Context
- Provincial Meat Inspection System
- Local Food Lessons from Quebec
- Understanding the Local Food Consumer
- And more…
Details and a full agenda will be forthcoming over the next few months. We look forward to your presence and participation!
For more information: Telephone: 1-613-258-8371, E-mail: katie.nolan@ontario.ca
7. WATER WELL INFORMATIONAL TALK – HEARTHMAKERS – SEPT 28
On Wednesday, September 28th, 2011, Hearthmakers Energy Cooperative is hosting a free informational talk on water wells, well safety and ground water protection. The speaker will be Angela Gulley, a certified and experienced Water Guide with the Well Aware Program. Angela will discuss the Well Aware program and how it helps protect our ground water sources. Topics covered will also include well maintenance, examples of “good” and “bad” wells and much more!
- When: Wednesday, September 28th, 2011, 7PM
- Where: Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area Outdoor Centre (click here for map)
- Admission: FREE
Please RSVP by Monday, September 26th 2011 by calling 613-547-8122 or emailing Liz Cooper at csr@hearthmakers.org .
8. BIODYNAMIC STUDY GROUP
Awakening Our Capacity For BioSynergy: The Spiritual Foundations of Biodynamic Agriculture
A Book-Study-Learning Group
Sunday Mornings, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
October 23, November 20, December 18, 2011; January 15, February 12, March 4, April 15, 2012, May 13, 2012. (8 sessions)
@ Anam Cara Spiritual Centre in Bellrock Ontario
Facilitator: Karen Holmes, B.Ed. Spiritual Director
This book-study-learning group will awaken our capacities to perceive the spirit at work in matter by exploring:
1) (through literature) The Foundations of the Biodynamic World-View (aka, anthroposophy); Contemporary Agricultural and Earth-Science that contributes to a spiritual-awareness of the Earth and Creation.
2) (through practice) The Spiritual and Meditative Practices proposed by Steiner and Plant Spirit Medicine practitioners & shamans to awaken our capacity for bio-synergy and clairvoyance (‘clear-seeing’).
The avenues for exploration are endless so we will focus our energies this time on creating a conscious-connection with the plant-world. In late April into early-summer 2012, we will make the biodynamic compost-preparations that contribute to soil-fertility.
Who is this for?
For anyone who
- has studied introductory biodynamics;
- has a firm commitment/intent to work with biodynamics either as a farmer or home-gardener;
- who is interested in developing their intuition, super-sensible capacities and relationship with the natural world.
Cost:
$80 – $240 for the seven months; or $12 – $32/session (it is strongly recommended that you commit to attend all sessions).
NFU-members: Free (or Good-Will Donation).
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 14, 2011 Contact: Karen Holmes, (613) 374-1303 spiritway@sympatico.ca
9. LEADING THE WAY TOWARDS A THIRD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION – Jeremy Rifkin Talk on September 29th
Join other sustainably-minded folks and come out to hear Jeremy Rifkin present a vision for how smart technologies and global communication networks can come together to reconfigure power grids, decentralize energy use and form the foundation of the Third Industrial Revolution. Jeremy Rifkin has served as advisor to the world’s Presidents, Chancellors and Prime Ministers, and on September 29th, he will bring his insights to Kingston Ontario.
Here is a link for the student coupon posted online: http://www.sustainablekingston.ca/news-events
More information about the event can be found at: http://kingstontechnology.net/events/jeremy-rifkin-lecture