What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Grant

The Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts (RIACD) has been awarded $148,853 in grant money by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The grant is called a Beginning Farmer Rancher Development grant. This type of grant is used to help beginning farmers or ranchers in ways that makes it easier for them to get answers to their questions as well as help them learn about the business of farming in today’s ever changing world.

The RIACD will partner with URI, UCONN, and a number of private and public entities to help beginning farmers in three basic ways. There will be a feasibility study done to determine if an equipment bank would be financially viable in the State of Rhode Island as well as Eastern CT and Southeastern MA. There will also be a web tool created that will allow beginning farmers to ask questions and be directed to places where they can access answers to those questions. Lastly, there will be a series of modules that will teach the beginning farmer about his or her business and how to create a financial plan.

For additional information, please contact:

Richard Went, RIACD President
2283 Hartford Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
401- 934-0840 or 401-345-3974
[email protected]

Buy All You Can at the Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands before Irene Barrels In!

From Coastal Market Manager, Bevan Linsley (Casey Farm, Saunderstown)

As Irene blows up the coast your farmers are working frantically to harvest everything they can just in case she really does hit us hard.  If she does, the damage to crops here may be substantial and our guys are already pretty tired at this time of the year.  Now, at the height of the harvest season, they have to stop their usual work, store everything away, tie everything else down, make sure the animals are safe and then harvest, harvest, harvest just in case there is nothing left next week. And then what to do with all that fresh produce if we don't come to market?  This is where we understand what local and sustainable really means, for this is the time for us to come to the aid of our farmers and share the risks of the weather and the season with them.

So, what they need from us now is our support on Saturday morning at the market. Come early, come often and buy as much as you can possibly afford to cook, can, freeze and eat while you are stuck inside during the storm this weekend!  The forecast currently anticipates Irene arriving here later on Sunday, so we are likely looking at a stormy morning on Saturday with wind and maybe a little rain but the [SOUTH COUNTY] MARKET WILL BE HELD AS ALWAYS!

See What Grows On in Rhode Island Sales Subcalendar for an easy-to-see summary of times and locations of upcoming Farmers' Markets. Full details about what's for sale when and where, and who sells what in addition to lists of farm stands, are on the Farm Fresh RI website.

NOFA Organic Growing Summer Conference ~ August 12-14, 2011

From Friday August 12 through Sunday August 14, the NOFA Summer Conference will take place at the UMass Amherst campus. Stay for the weekend to select from over 200 organic growing workshops, enjoy organic food, friends and exhibitors.

There are 225+ workshops on organic farming, gardening and land care, draft animals in farming and forestry, homesteading, sustainability, nutrition, food politics, activism, and much, much more.

Some special workshops are designed for kids and teens. An educational, fun opportunity for your children to bond with others from the Northeast while you attend workshops and events.

Entertainment for the whole family: Music and dance, an old-fashioned Country Fair, farmer's market, games and fun. Modest registration, inexpensive dorm rooms, camping and delicious, wholesome organic meals.

They guarantee it will be worth your while!

Register online!

National Farm Bill Reform Rally ~ April 5, 2011

On Tuesday, April 5, concerned citizens around the country are calling on Congress to reform the Farm Bill in 2012.

What is the Farm Bill?  It is the clearest example of special interests distorting American democracy.  Indeed, nearly every major American newspaper and advocacy groups from all sides of the political spectrum, from the Heritage Foundation to the Sierra Club, recognize that the Farm Bill causes widespread damage to America's land, economy, health, culture, and international standing.

Protests are happening in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Ithaca, New York; Princeton, New Jersey; Meadville, Pennsylvania; Northfield, Minnesota; Walla Walla, Washington; and Providence, Rhode Island!

Join us in Providence:  Burnside Park (next to Kennedy Plaza) at 4:30-5:30 pm.

Questions?  Please email [email protected].

Read more at http://bigagbill.org. Also see FarmBillOne-Pager

Find us on facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194256927280123 

Rhode Island Women in Agriculture ~ March 31, 2011

Reminder!

The Women in Agriculture Conference, sponsored by URI, USDA-FSA, NRCS, RINLA, and RI Farm Bureau will be held Thursday on March 31, 2011 at URI Coastal Institute, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration and continental breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Registration is $20 and includes boxed lunch.
 
The conference will bring together farmers, educators, agricultural service providers and activists to build production and business skills, share educational and organizational strategies and forge new connections all aimed at expanding the success of women in sustainable agriculture. It will celebrate farm women's accomplishments and set the stage for future success. 
 
Conference topics include: Opportunities and Challenges of Being a Woman in Agriculture, Financial Opportunities for Women, Marketing, Balancing Farm and Family, Beginning Farmer - Things to Know, Transitioning the Farm to the Next Generation and Networking Opportunities Using New Technologies.
 
Registration form and additional information available here.
 
Contact Heather Faubert for questions & additional information by e-mail  or by calling 874-2967

RI Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair ~ March 2, 2011

What is "community supported agriculture" (CSA)? Find out on Wednesday, March 2 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Wintertime Farmers Market @ Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket, RI

Learn all you need to know about Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions in Rhode Island. With 15 different CSA farms in attendance, come and get your questions answered about pick-up locations and times, produce available during the upcoming season, and the various farms.
Visit www.farmfreshri.org/csa for more info.

Farms that will be attending the CSA Fair:

• Baby Greens - North Kingstown
• Farmacy Herbs - Providence
• Four Friends - Cranston
• Healey Farm - North Kingstown
• Hickory Hill Farm - Burrillville
• Local Catch - Community Supported Fishery - Narragansett
• Luckyfoot Ranch - East Greenwich
• Mello's Farm Stand - Portsmouth
• Moonstone Gardens - Charlestown
• Oakdale Farm - Rehoboth, MA
• Pat's Pastured - Jamestown
• Red Planet Vegetables - Johnston
• Rosasharn Farm - Rehoboth, MA
• Scratch Farm - Cranston
• Simmons Farm - Middletown
• Wishing Stone Farm - Little Compton

Followup on the 2011 RI Local Food Forum

There are now two new discussions on growindependent.com that touch upon some of the topics brought up at the 2011 RI Local Food Forum last week. If you are interested, check it out. Your participation is welcome!

Best Wishes,
Julie Munafo
Wingover Farm

email

Local Food Forum ~ February 8, 2011

The Local Food Forum at Brown University's Andrews Dining Hall on February 8, is THE networking event for Rhode Island food producers and buyers. This is the 7th annual forum, organized by Farm Fresh Rhode Island, that attracts farmers, chefs, schools and institutional food service to network. Share best practices for local sourcing and ways to develop our local food system. Learn how to build your menus around the added value of fresh foods from Rhode Island. Discuss the social, environmental and economic benefits of supporting local family farmers through direct food purchasing.

The 2011 theme is Fresh Where We Work. Only 1% of the food Rhode Islanders eat comes from RI farms. Workplaces, hospitals and schools represent a great opportunity to stimulate growth in local agriculture, develop the infrastructure for our local food system, and increase access to good food to thousands of Rhode Islanders.

1. What red tape exists as a barrier between fresh local foods and the institutional market?
2. How can we develop leadership around local food purchasing at local worksites, hospitals and other institutions?
3.  What infrastructure needs to be developed to support the supply and demand for local foods by institutional customers?
4.  How can both small and mid-sized farms benefit from connections to workplaces?

See the complete agenda, and register by February 6.