Rural Roots in the News

Labor Management Series: Communication and Delegation

Join Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and collaborating organizations for a free, three-part labor management series this spring designed to help you support a strong, safe, and equitable farming season with employees.

REGISTER HERE

All are Zoom based.

Communication & Delegation – April 5th, 4-5:30 pm EST (1-2:30 pm PST)

Anne Devin of Chase Stream Farm will teach skills for farm managers to make sure their workers understand the overarching goal, and are given the tools to execute the task based on mission-type orders. She will introduce the topic and technique followed by break-out group practice time. We will then be joined by Farm Coaches Polly Shyka and Karen Groat who will discuss delegation tips and introduce the Farm Coaching program.

Other Sessions Include:

Supporting LGBTQ+ Employees and Apprentices – April 12th, 4-6 pm EST (1-3pm PST)

Join Equality Maine and a panel of queer farmers to learn and discuss some of the best ways to support LGBTQ+ employees and apprentices on your farm. Beginning with an introductory and interactive training, farmers will learn basics such as the differences between gender and sexuality and the importance of respecting pronouns. The second half will feature a panel of queer farmers and farm workers from Maine speaking about their experiences.

Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment on Small Farms – April 26th, 4-5:30 pm (1-2:30 PST)

Designed for farmers, this training will feature Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine providing definitions, examples, and strategies for responding to as well as preventing sexual harassment in a variety of settings. They will discuss Maine and Federal laws, but cannot give legal advice. After the presentation, SASSMM will highlight farms who have current sexual harassment policies, and SASSMM staff will facilitate a question-and-answer session for farmers hoping to implement their own policies.

In this first session on Communication and Delegation, Anne Devin of Chase Stream Farm will teach skills for farm managers to make sure their workers understand the overarching goal, and are given the tools to execute the task based on mission-type orders. She will introduce the topic and technique followed by break-out group practice time. Farm Coaches Polly Shyka and Karen Groat will discuss delegation tips and introduce the Farm Coaching program.

Postharvest Food Safety Series

Registration is FREE, but required: http://bit.ly/Postharvest-FS

Keeping a clean (packing)house

March 23

9-11am Pacific

Learn about on-farm packinghouse management that really impact your food safety programs.

Post-harvest practices to get the longest shelf life from your crops

March 30

9-11am Pacific

Managing produce quality also provides food safety benefits, come learn how you can kill two birds with one stone in this session.

When, where, why, and how: sanitizer application to prevent post-harvest cross-contamination

April 6

9-11am Pacific

We will cover different types of sanitizers, how they should be monitored, and factors that you should consider when using them on your farm.

Reach out to Faith Critzer with any questions (faith.critzer@wsu.edu).

Register here

Dr. Fred Provenza: Plant Diversity and Health

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Pacific Time)

> Register

April 7th, 2021

6 am PST

GRASS GROWTH & NUTRITION

In our second session, we will look at:
*Protein compared to animal requirements
*Forage characteristics based on stage of growth
*Difference between what is tested vs. what is consumed grazing
*Forage characteristics under some common grazing regimes
* Continuous
* Mild rotational grazing
*Under stocked situation
*High intensity rotation with some tall grass grazing

REGISTER

Seed, Plant, Package – Sell! Specialty Crops from Production to Product: Virtual Field Day
4/8/21, 11:00 AM -noon PST

Register NOW!
Salad Days Farm

Versailles KY, via Zoom

Diversity and year-round production have been part of the Salad Days Farm process from the start! Four seasons of crop harvest offer fresh vegetables and herbs to keep customers coming back. Value-added products extend and make use of every bit of the fresh harvest. New varieties, crops, and shelf products add to the Farm’s product line every year. GAP Certification and an on-farm commercial kitchen broaden Salad Days’ market possibilities and product potential.

Join us for a virtual visit to the high tunnels, greenhouse, fields, pack-shed, on-farm store, and on-farm kitchen of this diversified Certified Organic farm – and stick around for a live Q&A with Maggie Dungan. Maggie will lead us through her steps from seed to package, plant to jar, field to market, and idea to realization.

Open to all and FREE to attend. Registration is required.

Funding for this event was made possible by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

Labor Management Series: Communication and Delegation

Join Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and collaborating organizations for a free, three-part labor management series this spring designed to help you support a strong, safe, and equitable farming season with employees.

REGISTER HERE

All are Zoom based.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Employees and Apprentices – April 12th, 4-6 pm EST (1-3pm PST)

Join Equality Maine and a panel of queer farmers to learn and discuss some of the best ways to support LGBTQ+ employees and apprentices on your farm. Beginning with an introductory and interactive training, farmers will learn basics such as the differences between gender and sexuality and the importance of respecting pronouns. The second half will feature a panel of queer farmers and farm workers from Maine speaking about their experiences.

Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment on Small Farms – April 26th, 4-5:30 pm (1-2:30 PST)

Designed for farmers, this training will feature Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine providing definitions, examples, and strategies for responding to as well as preventing sexual harassment in a variety of settings. They will discuss Maine and Federal laws, but cannot give legal advice. After the presentation, SASSMM will highlight farms who have current sexual harassment policies, and SASSMM staff will facilitate a question-and-answer session for farmers hoping to implement their own policies.

In this first session on Communication and Delegation, Anne Devin of Chase Stream Farm will teach skills for farm managers to make sure their workers understand the overarching goal, and are given the tools to execute the task based on mission-type orders. She will introduce the topic and technique followed by break-out group practice time. Farm Coaches Polly Shyka and Karen Groat will discuss delegation tips and introduce the Farm Coaching program.

Dr. Fred Provenza: Creating Locally Adapted Herbivores

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Pacific Time)

> Register

Join American Farmland Trust President and CEO John Piotti and Special Guest Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for a teletownhall on Wednesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. They will discuss the benefits for farmers and ranchers provided by the American Rescue Plan. They will also look ahead to where the Department of Agriculture is headed, with a focus on regenerative practices and the importance of agriculture in the fight against climate change, the need to recruit a diverse next generation of farmers, and farmland protection.

Register for the call below to receive a reminder or to ask a question in advance that John and Secretary Vilsack will do their best to answer on the call. You can also call in directly on Wednesday evening by dialing (855)-756-7520 Ext.72568#.

Wednesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. (2pm to 5pm PST)

https://farmland.salsalabs.org/frc-sec-vilsack/index.html

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Chrys Ostrander

7034-C Hwy 291

Tumtum, WA 99034

Voice message and Text: (914) 246-0309

HOW NRCS CAN HELP YOU: REGENERATIVE GRAZING

6 am PST

April 21st, 2021

HOW NRCS CAN HELP YOU

Topics covered in this last session will be:

*Written grazing plan, prescribed grazing, fencing, clipping, reseeding, water distribution
*New Program of planning annual for grazing
*Present a case study example from NRCS
*Firsthand experiences with providers such as NRCS, FSA, Extension ect.
*Annual forages for grazing systems
*What species work?
*Crop nutrient needs and planting methods
*Challenges presented by grazing annuals
*How much land is needed?

REGISTER