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    • CRAFT >
      • Workshop notes
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    • High Country Farmers' Market Network
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Caldwell Extension to Host Tomato Grafting Workshop

10/29/2013

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013 

CONTACT: Amanda Taylor, Agriculture Agent NC Cooperative Extension Service (828) 757-1290; e-mail: amanda_jo_taylor@ncsu.edu 

Extension to Host 

Tomato Grafting Workshop 

LENOIR – The Caldwell Extension Service will host a tomato grafting workshop on Friday, December 6 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm at the Caldwell County Public Library in Lenoir. 

This workshop is designed for operators of small farms, greenhouse operators interested in a new market, and market gardeners who want to take their production to the next level. In this hands-on session, participants will learn the basics of grafting, including why grafting is important and how to graft successfully. Participants will have the opportunity to practice grafting under the direction of experienced personnel from the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University. An update on grafting research at North Carolina State University will also be provided. 

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required, and the cost is $5 per person. For more information on this program, please contact Amanda Taylor by calling 828.757.1290 or e-mailing amanda_jo_taylor@ncsu.edu 


Oct 2-4: 11th Annual Design Institute All About Food: Designing, Gardening, and Eating 

7/18/2013

 
11th Annual Design Institute
All About Food: Designing, Gardening, and Eating 

Registration Open!
October 2-4, 2012
NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC

The joy of nurturing a plant that bears fruit from a small seed or gathering ripe, sweet berries for a snack is found in the edible landscape. Including gardening, cooking, and eating in the design of the early childhood outdoor environment offers multiple opportunities for children to understand the food cycle and to build the foundation for a lifetime of nutritious habits. Activities ranging from sensory exploration to science learning are easily planned in the edible garden. Join us at the 11th Annual Design Institute to discover new approaches and share your insights on creating environments and programs that contribute to healthy diet and a love of growing food. 

Join us at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill for 3 days of presentations and outdoor sessions.
Registration is now Open. 
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April 23- Free Agritourism Workshop

4/12/2013

 
Spring Renewal for Small Businesses : Free Agritourism Workshop
Register Here

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM - There is no charge for this event.
Spring is here and it’s time for renewal! Does your tourism-related business need a new approach to attract tourists and locals? Join us in this interactive, unique seminar and discover ways to get creative with your time, resources and services.
Together, we will identify how to build retention and revenue for your business this Spring and beyond!

Speaker: Cortina Caldwell, Owner, Visit&Venture
Location: JE Broyhill Civic Center, Lenoir NC

2nd Annual Food Business Conference: For makers & sellers of prepared food items, sauces, or baked goods

4/4/2013

 
Registration is still open for the 2nd Annual Food Business Conference, to be held on Friday, April 19, at the Burnsville Town Center. We have a great line up of speakers covering everything from improving your chances of getting financing to using social media to promote your food business. Special emphasis is on food safety, one of the hottest food trends in 2013.

The registration form can be found here: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agribiz/food%20biz%20registration13.pdf

The regitration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and materials. 

If you make and sell prepared food items, sauces, or baked goods, then come join us for a great opportunity to learn more about growing your food business and to network with other food entrepreneurs!

Questions? Contact Annette Dunlap, Annette.dunlap@ncagr.gov or call 919.218.1049.

Women Working in the Meat Business Retreat: May 20th - May 22nd

3/26/2013

 
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NC CHOICES HOSTS WOMEN WORKING IN THE MEAT BUSINESS RETREAT: INTIMATE SETTING, HANDS-ON BUTCHERY, LADIES ONLY. Space is limited to 25 participants. Registration Information below

NC Choices is hosting aWomen Working in the Meat Business Retreat May 20th – 22nd in Chapel Hill, NC.  The retreat, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina, is in response to the emerging role of female professionals within meat businesses. “Women are increasingly playing a leadership role in the meat sector, whether it’s as livestock producers, meat butchers, chefs or business owners,” says NC Choices’ Program Coordinator, Sarah Blacklin. “We’ve developed a unique retreat designed to address the challenges female professionals face in a male-dominated arena.
The two-day, two-night retreat will focus on hands-on meat cutting, marketing, and merchandising.  Both sessions will be facilitated by Master Butcher Kari Underly, author ofThe Art of Beef Cutting: A Meat Professional’s Guide to Butchering and Merchandising. 


 The Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina are providing scholarships for female producers, meat processors, and food professionals located in North Carolina.  “This is an important need and we are thrilled to be supporting NC Choices’ program,” said Maggie Hamm, SVP of Marketing for Carolina Farm Credit in Statesville, NC. “This event will be a superb opportunity for women who work in local and niche meat business to learn more about the important role they are playing in advancing the local meat industry.”

 A number of local business are also sponsoring the event, including Lantern Restaurant, which will provide space for participants to learn how to breakdown a beef and hog carcass, fabricate specialty cuts and create and prepare value-added products.  The Chapel Hilltop Lodge, a unique agri-tourism lodge located on 46 acres and eight miles outside of Chapel Hill, will provide retreat accommodations.

 “We look forward to bringing our female leaders together to network and increase their technical skills,” says NC Choice’s Blacklin.

ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES: Contact Sarah Blacklin, sarah@ncchoices.com

FOR REGISTRATION AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION AS WELL AS SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Meredith McKissick at meredith@ncchoices.com

Retreat Package:  $400 per participant. Includes overnight accommodations at The Chapel Hilltop Lodge eight miles outside Chapel.  Lodge sits on 46 acres and features an organic garden, saltwater pool, extensive balconies, patios, pool table, exercise room and expansive common space in a beautiful agricultural setting.  Meals include complimentary breakfast, lunch at the Carolina Brewery, cocktail social hour, and a special dinner at Lantern Restaurant, recognized by Gourmet Magazine as one of "America's Top 50 Restaurants" and "best farm-to-table restaurants". Participants will gain hands-on whole hog and beef butchery training from Kari Underly, a third generation meat cutter, inventor of the flat iron steak, and James Beard Award nominee.  Participants will improve their understanding of how to market and merchandise meat products with increased proficiency, communication, and confidence in an intimate environment with top industry professionals.  Participants will learn how to make specialty sausages and leave the retreat with meat to take home for their families. Butchery classes will be located in “Lantern Table”, Lantern restaurant’s new community kitchen and private dining room on Franklin St. in downtown Chapel Hill.  Space is Limited to 25 participants and registration occurs on a first come first serve basis.  

For more information on the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina please visit:
www.carolinafarmcredit.com
www.agcarolina.com
www.capefearfarmcredit.com

Innovative Approaches to Local Foods Markets: Free Event in Greensboro

2/21/2013

 
Join entrepreneurs and community builders/coops as they talk about the businesses and ventures they are creating to innovate North Carolina’s farm to table economy.
 
Who should attend?
Farmers, local foods entrepreneurs, restaurants, grocery stores/food retail outlets, services providers to the local foods community.

Date:

Time:

Location:

Tues,Feb 26

1:oo - 4:30 p.m.

Guilford County Extension Center
3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro

Agenda

Introduction

Debbie Hamrick, NC Farm Bureau/NC Local Sustainable Foods Advisory Council & Gary Bullen, NCSU Ag&Resources Economics Dept.

Local Foods Business 2 Business

Pilot Mountain Pride, Bryan Cave, Surry County, New Home | Pilot Mountain Pride
Mint Market, Durham, Ricky Spero Mint Market | Mint Market launches online store for local food
Sandhills Farm2Table (food hub plans), Whispering Pines, Fenton Wilkinson Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative
ECO, Durham, Sandi Kronick Eastern Carolina Organics
D’Vine Foods, Dublin, Roy Taylor D'Vine Foods - Home
Farm Hand Foods, Durham, Jennifer Curtis Farmhand Foods | Welcome
Docks2Door, Chapel Hill, Amanda Miller EVENTS

10-minute break

Local Foods Direct to Consumer with Flair

Lo-Mo Market, Raleigh-Durham, Guenevere Abernathy  LoMo Market | Farm Fresh Food North Carolina 
The Produce Box, Courtney Tellefson/Kevin O'Connell, Raleigh, The Produce Box - Local Produce Delivery - Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex and Wilmington
Sandhills Farm2Table Cooperative, Whispering Pines, Steve Peters Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative
Bread Riot,  Salisbury & Rowan Counties, Sherry Walker Mission and Objectives

Wrap up

REGISTER HERE: http://2013piedmontgrownmtg.eventbrite.com/ 

For information about “Innovative Approaches to Local Foods Markets” (no fee) (agenda below), contact  debbie.hamrick@ncfb.org

Organized by the North Carolina Local Sustainable Foods Advisory Council Subcommittee on Economic Development & Infrastructure in cooperation with the NCSU Agricultural and Resource Economics Department and NCSU/NCA&T Cooperative Extension.
There is no charge to attend “Innovative Approaches to Local Foods Markets.”

Ashe County Beekeeping Classes

1/30/2013

 
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 5, The Ashe Campus of Wilkes Community College will offer beekeeping classes for both beginner and advanced beekeepers. The classes include 
  • Introduction to Beekeeping(Tuesdays, Feb 5-March 12, 6-9pm), 
  • Summer Beekeeping (Tuesdays, July 9-30, 6-9pm) and
  • Wintering Your Bees (Tuesdays, Sept. 3-10, 6-9pm). 
CLICK HERE to download a brochure with details. 

Registration is required, Call 336-846-3900 to pre-register.
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Crafters Needed for Fiddler's Convention Craft Fair

1/14/2013

 
The upcoming Appalachian Heritage Annual Fiddlers Convention will again feature the Handmade Market, and they are calling for crafters to sell & display.

Come display and sell handmade crafts in the Plemmons Student Union February 9. The deadline to register is February 5.  

If you are interested in setting up a booth, please email Brittany Johnson at johnsonba1@appstate.edu for more information.



Free Workshop: Seed Saving as a Farm Enterprise

1/4/2013

 
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Looking to add additional income to your farm business while preserving high country heritage?

Join local farmer and entrepreneur, Holly Whitesides, as she discusses general and specific parameters when considering seed saving as a farm enterprise (including crop planting, equipment and labor).

Holly has been farming in the High Country for over five years and began saving seed for catalogs in 2011 thanks in part to the Mary Boyer Sustainable Agriculture and Food Grant* she received from Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture.  The grant enabled her farm to pursue seed saving as a viable farm enterprise through the purchase of equipment and infrastructure.  In 2012, revenue from seed contracts totaled 15% of gross revenue.


* BRWIA is able to offer this grant program thanks to the generous support of the Appalachian Women's Fund.

When:

Time:

Where:

Thurs, Jan 24th

5:00-6:00 pm

Agricultural Conference Center

Download Presentation
Workshop offered in addition to the six week Agripreneur Workshop Series beginning Jan 10th on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30.  More information about Agripreneur series found here.
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Sign up now for the upcoming Agripreneur Workshop Series

12/13/2012

 
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Six week workshop beginning Jan 10, 2013
Thursdays 6:30-8:30
Agricultural Conference Center

Learn how to transform your farm into a thriving business

Led by NC REAL Certified Instructor Arlene Childres and featuring a variety of guest speakers who are knowledgeable about challenges and keys to success in the High Country's agricultural market.

You don't want to miss out on this opportunity.
Space is limited. 
Scholarships are available to all who apply
Learn more at the 
Agripreneur Workshop Series  Website
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 Boone, NC 28607 | 828.386.1537
Email: info@brwia.org

© 2021 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture | Most Rights Reserved

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is a non-profit tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code (Federal ID # 34-2011588). 

Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state.