FarmStart News » Newsletter http://www.farmstart.ca/news The objective of FarmStart is to support and encourage a new generation of farmers to develop locally based, ecologically sound and economically viable agricultural enterprises. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:44:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Spring Newsletter http://www.farmstart.ca/news/spring-newsletter/ http://www.farmstart.ca/news/spring-newsletter/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:51:20 +0000 Farm Start http://www.farmstart.ca/news/?p=250 GloveSoilGardening.jpg

 

A New Season at FarmStart

 

You haven’t heard from us in a while, but not because we’ve been been hibernating. It’s been a season of birth, growth and putting down roots for FarmStart!

First, we’d like to say Congratulations to our Director, Christie Young, who has been on leave the last few months due to the birth of baby Reed.   

FarmStart has finally settled into an office in Guelph, where we’ve been able to welcome new staff members. Our team is moving forward with amazing programs, which we’d love to share with you in this Spring Newsletter. 

You can also check out our hands-on courses and workshops, including “Pasturing Pigs” and “Intro to Tillage” at www.farmstart.ca/workshops/.

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It’s Spring at McVean!

What’s exciting at FarmStart’s incubator project at the historic McVean Farm in Brampton? As it enters its second season of operation, its 5 farmers have multiplied to 13! Seven enterprises are now working … (to finish this article, please click here)

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Looking for Land?  Try Speed Dating

At the heart of the FarmLINK Ontario program is an on-line matchmaker tool to help farmland owners connect with new farmers looking for land. Aware that succession planning requires more than a website, we organized our first live matchmaking workshop ”Lucky in Land?”…  (to finish this article, please click here)

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Launch of the FarmON Alliance

FarmStart is very excited to announce the launch of the FarmON Alliance. FarmON’s mandate is to encourage the development of local food systems through the support of emerging, ecologically-oriented farmers. Regional coordinators will work closely with…  (to finish this article, please click here)   

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Academic Programs in Sustainable Agriculture are Proliferating
The School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences is offering a one-year Sustainable Agriculture Program…  (to finish this article, please click here)  

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FarmStart putting down Roots!
As of Dec. 2008, FarmStart has new roots! We’ve set up an office at the  Orchard Park Office Centre of Ignatius Farm in Guelph. Stop by to meet our new staff…  (to finish this article, please click here) 

 

]]> http://www.farmstart.ca/news/spring-newsletter/feed/ 0 June Newsletter http://www.farmstart.ca/news/june-newsletter/ http://www.farmstart.ca/news/june-newsletter/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:52:28 +0000 Farm Start http://www.farmstart.ca/news/?p=157 Welcome to the June edition of the FarmStart Newsletter!
May and June have been a busy, challenging couple of months for FarmStart. After a late, cool spring in Southern Ontario, the last few weeks have brought warmer weather and a chance, finally, for our new farmers to work the land and start planting. However, sourcing water to irrigate our McVean incubator farm has proven to be stressful for our new farmers and farm managers, as the property does not have a well of its own. Fortunately we've managed to gain temporary access to water from a fire hydrant on a corner of the property, and thanks to the Toronto Regional Conservation's generous help, we'll soon be able to establish a permanent water main connection.
.
May also saw some mischief done to the heritage barn at the McVean farm by some local youths. In response to this incident, FarmStart has increased our efforts to engage local young people in our work, through odd jobs, farm work and community outreach. This summer, we have invited Afri-Can Food Basket to run a youth market garden on site. We look forward to engaging AFB youth leaders in the world crop research trials that Farm Manager and Agronomist, Carlton Allen, will be running at the site.
FarmStart is also starting to meet the local community and let them know what we are doing at the farm. We will be hosting a grand opening this summer for the McVean farm's neighbours and friends. Beginning in late June, Brampton residents will be able to purchase our new farmers’ produce at the local farmers market. We also hope this season to lay the groundwork for a community gardening project at the McVean farm. In other news, we are delighted to welcome Alma O’Connell to our team. She will be coordinating our Newcomer FarmStart-Up Project, helping new immigrants start viable farm operations in Ontario. Please read on to learn more about Alma and her exciting work. Alma and Sophie, our Resources and Training Coordinator, have been working on some new workshops and a new course for prospective farmers: Exploring the New Farm Dream. Details are provided below. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at http://www.farmstart.ca/signup/ Happy strawberry season! Christie FarmStart Director
2008 Summer/Fall workshop series: call for suggestions!
FarmStart will be hosting a series of monthly workshops over the summer and fall, focusing on technical skills for new farmers and future farmers. We’ve set three exciting workshop topics so far (see below), but we’re looking for your input on future educational offerings! Please let us know what kinds of skills you’d like to develop and what kinds of workshops and farm tours you’d like to attend, by filling out our short workshop survey.
Summer workshop topics: preliminary schedule June 28th: The Dirt on Soil, with Tarrah Young of Green Being Farm As a farmer, the most important resource you have is the soil under your feet. In this half-day workshop you will learn the basics of soil science in an accessible and hands-on way. Rather than relying on inputs for fertility, get ready for ideas on how to optimize your soil’s health, and ultimately the health of your crops, by using the biological community to unleash the tremendous potential in your soil. July 16th: Market garden basics for newcomer growers, with FarmStart’s own Alma O’Connell Even for newcomers with experience growing vegetables 'back home', learning to grow vegetables in Ontario can take some time. This workshop will introduce new Canadian gardeners and future farmers to the basics of setting up a market garden. Topics will include: understanding the Ontario growing season, drawing up a crop plan, sourcing and selecting seeds, extending the season with greenhouses and row cover, and managing weeds and pests the organic way. August 23rd: Post-harvest handling and market readiness, with Ali English, formerly of Whole Circle CSA Join Ali English, innovative CSA farmer and Agroecology MSc, to learn more about the ins and outs of post-harvest handling for small- to medium-sized market garden operations. From cooling and preparing for market to storing and transporting vegetables, the workshop will focus on designing post-harvest systems that ensure both high produce quality and optimal labour efficiency. Workshops take place at the Ignatius Incubator Farm, Guelph. For more information or to register, please visit our website
Coming soon: Exploring the New Farm Dream course
FarmStart is excited to announce our latest educational offering: the Exploring the New Farm Dream course, originally developed in by the New England Small Farm Institute. This course is intended "to help pre-venture, aspiring farmers learn what it would take to start and mange their own commercial agricultural businesses, and decide whether this is a path they really want to take". . We intend to run the course over five sessions - two in-class sessions, and three farm tours - held on Saturdays from late July to mid-September 2008. Dates and exact location in the GTA will be announced at the end of June.
.
If you've been thinking about getting into farming but aren't sure how to start, this may be an ideal learning and networking opportunity for you. For more information about the course, please contact Resource and Training Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn, at sophieATfarmstartDOTca.
FarmStart welcomes Alma O’Connell: Newcomer FarmStart-Up Project Coordinator!
FarmStart couldn't be more excited about the latest addition to our team. A farmer, community leader, and agent for change, Alma O'Connell comes to FarmStart from an impressive career in community development, both in rural Guyana and southwestern Ontario. Alma O'Connell . Alma brings to our Newcomer FarmStart-Up project a deep understanding of the value of growing your own food, and a commitment to sharing these skills with a new generation - a practice which has been in her native Wapishana culture for generations. Her Wapishana values and her experience with self-sufficient living in Rupununi, Guyana, provide a unique perspective on agriculture in Canada. Alma's personal experience as a recent immigrant to Canada has given her an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by new Canadians wishing to farm here. In the three weeks since she has joined our team, Alma has made impressive strides towards helping newcomer farmers to realize their dreams. She has met with new farmers from China, Zimbabwe, India, South Korea, Cuba, and Ghana, several of whom will be growing at our farm facilities this year. She is also working hard to design an educational program to help equip newcomers to farm in Ontario. When Alma is not growing her own food or helping others to do so, she can often be found at her loom. Alma is an avid weaver, a passion that she turned into a successful community development project in Guyana through her role as founder of the Rupununi Weavers Society. Alma's outreach and coordination work with the society reinvigorated the traditional practice of growing, processing, and hand-weaving cotton among the Wapishana people of Guyana. Her efforts to promote the group contributed to the international market that their beautiful, handwoven hammocks now command. More information about our Newcomer FarmStart-Up project will soon be available via FarmStart's website. Prospective farmers wishing to reach Alma can do so through our contact page.
Featured Resource: .A critical look at copper- and sulphur-based fungicides in organic agriculture
Last month’s featured article on the role of copper- and sulphur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production received a critical reception from some of our readers. An organic farmer friend wrote to let us know that these mineral-derived chemicals can be far more harmful than our article suggested. As an organization that supports ecological agriculture, FarmStart has since realized that we need to be a lot more careful about the types of products that we promote! And so, in the interest of balanced and thorough reporting, we commissioned a second article on these chemicals from Jillian Smith, a Guelph-based researcher currently working on her P.Ag. Jillian’s article suggests that ecologically-minded growers need to carefully consider the significant environmental impacts associated with copper sulphate and sulphur before applying them even as a method of last resort.
Is there a topic you’d like to see covered in this space? Please send your comments and suggestions to us at info@farmstart.ca! Continue reading...
Upcoming Events:
FarmStart will be exhibiting at this year’s Pick Ontario Freshness Farmers’ Market at Queen’s Park, Tues June 24th from 11am-2:30pm. We hope you’ll stop by our table and say hello!
FarmStart will soon be opening the McVean Farm gate to neighbours and friends, at the grand opening of this new farm facility. We haven't set a date just yet. but will let you know when we do! Visit FarmStart’s newswire for updated event listings.
Featured books:
.
Weed Management for Organic Farmers, Growers, and Smallhoders: A Complete Guide
by Gareth Davies, Becky Turner, and Bill Bond
. . . . . . Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture by John E. Ikerd
. . . . . . Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in .sustainable agriculture!
]]> Welcome to the June edition of the FarmStart Newsletter!

May and June have been a busy, challenging couple of months for FarmStart. After a late, cool spring in Southern Ontario, the last few weeks have brought warmer weather and a chance, finally, for our new farmers to work the land and start planting. However, sourcing water to irrigate our McVean incubator farm has proven to be stressful for our new farmers and farm managers, as the property does not have a well of its own. Fortunately we’ve managed to gain temporary access to water from a fire hydrant on a corner of the property, and thanks to the Toronto Regional Conservation’s generous help, we’ll soon be able to establish a permanent water main connection.
.
May also saw some mischief done to the heritage barn at the McVean farm by some local youths. In response to this incident, FarmStart has increased our efforts to engage local young people in our work, through odd jobs, farm work and community outreach. This summer, we have invited Afri-Can Food Basket to run a youth market garden on site. We look forward to engaging AFB youth leaders in the world crop research trials that Farm Manager and Agronomist, Carlton Allen, will be running at the site.

FarmStart is also starting to meet the local community and let them know what we are doing at the farm. We will be hosting a grand opening this summer for the McVean farm’s neighbours and friends. Beginning in late June, Brampton residents will be able to purchase our new farmers’ produce at the local farmers market. We also hope this season to lay the groundwork for a community gardening project at the McVean farm.

In other news, we are delighted to welcome Alma O’Connell to our team. She will be coordinating our Newcomer FarmStart-Up Project, helping new immigrants start viable farm operations in Ontario. Please read on to learn more about Alma and her exciting work. Alma and Sophie, our Resources and Training Coordinator, have been working on some new workshops and a new course for prospective farmers: Exploring the New Farm Dream. Details are provided below.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at www.farmstart.ca/signup/

Happy strawberry season!

Christie
FarmStart Director

2008 Summer/Fall workshop series: call for suggestions!
FarmStart will be hosting a series of monthly workshops over the summer and fall, focusing on technical skills for new farmers and future farmers. We’ve set three exciting workshop topics so far (see below), but we’re looking for your input on future educational offerings! Please let us know what kinds of skills you’d like to develop and what kinds of workshops and farm tours you’d like to attend, by filling out our short workshop survey.
Summer workshop topics: preliminary schedule

June 28th: The Dirt on Soil, with Tarrah Young of Green Being Farm

As a farmer, the most important resource you have is the soil under your feet. In this half-day workshop you will learn the basics of soil science in an accessible and hands-on way. Rather than relying on inputs for fertility, get ready for ideas on how to optimize your soil’s health, and ultimately the health of your crops, by using the biological community to unleash the tremendous potential in your soil.

July 16th: Market garden basics for newcomer growers, with FarmStart’s own Alma O’Connell

Even for newcomers with experience growing vegetables ‘back home’, learning to grow vegetables in Ontario can take some time. This workshop will introduce new Canadian gardeners and future farmers to the basics of setting up a market garden. Topics will include: understanding the Ontario growing season, drawing up a crop plan, sourcing and selecting seeds, extending the season with greenhouses and row cover, and managing weeds and pests the organic way.

August 23rd: Post-harvest handling and market readiness, with Ali English, formerly of Whole Circle CSA

Join Ali English, innovative CSA farmer and Agroecology MSc, to learn more about the ins and outs of post-harvest handling for small- to medium-sized market garden operations. From cooling and preparing for market to storing and transporting vegetables, the workshop will focus on designing post-harvest systems that ensure both high produce quality and optimal labour efficiency.

Workshops take place at the Ignatius Incubator Farm, Guelph. For more information or to register, please visit our website

Coming soon: Exploring the New Farm Dream course
FarmStart is excited to announce our latest educational offering: the Exploring the New Farm Dream course, originally developed in by the New England Small Farm Institute. This course is intended “to help pre-venture, aspiring farmers learn what it would take to start and mange their own commercial agricultural businesses, and decide whether this is a path they really want to take“.
.
We intend to run the course over five sessions – two in-class sessions, and three farm tours – held on Saturdays from late July to mid-September 2008. Dates and exact location in the GTA will be announced at the end of June.
.
If you’ve been thinking about getting into farming but aren’t sure how to start, this may be an ideal learning and networking opportunity for you. For more information about the course, please contact Resource and Training Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn, at sophieATfarmstartDOTca.
FarmStart welcomes Alma O’Connell: Newcomer FarmStart-Up Project Coordinator!
FarmStart couldn’t be more excited about the latest addition to our team. A farmer, community leader, and agent for change, Alma O’Connell comes to FarmStart from an impressive career in community development, both in rural Guyana and southwestern Ontario.

Alma O'Connell
Alma O'Connell

Alma brings to our Newcomer FarmStart-Up project a deep understanding of the value of growing your own food, and a commitment to sharing these skills with a new generation – a practice which has been in her native Wapishana culture for generations. Her Wapishana values and her experience with self-sufficient living in Rupununi, Guyana, provide a unique perspective on agriculture in Canada.

Alma’s personal experience as a recent immigrant to Canada has given her an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by new Canadians wishing to farm here. In the three weeks since she has joined our team, Alma has made impressive strides towards helping newcomer farmers to realize their dreams. She has met with new farmers from China, Zimbabwe, India, South Korea, Cuba, and Ghana, several of whom will be growing at our farm facilities this year. She is also working hard to design an educational program to help equip newcomers to farm in Ontario.

When Alma is not growing her own food or helping others to do so, she can often be found at her loom. Alma is an avid weaver, a passion that she turned into a successful community development project in Guyana through her role as founder of the Rupununi Weavers Society. Alma’s outreach and coordination work with the society reinvigorated the traditional practice of growing, processing, and hand-weaving cotton among the Wapishana people of Guyana. Her efforts to promote the group contributed to the international market that their beautiful, handwoven hammocks now command.

More information about our Newcomer FarmStart-Up project will soon be available via FarmStart’s website. Prospective farmers wishing to reach Alma can do so through our contact page.

Featured Resource:
.A critical look at copper- and sulphur-based fungicides in organic agriculture
Last month’s featured article on the role of copper- and sulphur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production received a critical reception from some of our readers. An organic farmer friend wrote to let us know that these mineral-derived chemicals can be far more harmful than our article suggested. As an organization that supports ecological agriculture, FarmStart has since realized that we need to be a lot more careful about the types of products that we promote! And so, in the interest of balanced and thorough reporting, we commissioned a second article on these chemicals from Jillian Smith, a Guelph-based researcher currently working on her P.Ag. Jillian’s article suggests that ecologically-minded growers need to carefully consider the significant environmental impacts associated with copper sulphate and sulphur before applying them even as a method of last resort.
Is there a topic you’d like to see covered in this space? Please send your comments and suggestions to us at info@farmstart.ca!

Continue reading…

Upcoming Events:
FarmStart will be exhibiting at this year’s Pick Ontario Freshness Farmers’ Market at Queen’s Park, Tues June 24th from 11am-2:30pm. We hope you’ll stop by our table and say hello!
FarmStart will soon be opening the McVean Farm gate to neighbours and friends, at the grand opening of this new farm facility. We haven’t set a date just yet. but will let you know when we do!

Visit FarmStart’s newswire for updated event listings.

Featured books:
.
Weed Management for Organic Farmers, Growers, and Smallhoders: A Complete Guide
by Gareth Davies, Becky Turner, and Bill Bond
.
.
.
.
.
.
Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture
by John E. Ikerd
.
.
.
.
.
.
Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in .sustainable agriculture!
]]> http://www.farmstart.ca/news/june-newsletter/feed/ 0 FarmStart :: May Newsletter http://www.farmstart.ca/news/fs-may-newsletter/ http://www.farmstart.ca/news/fs-may-newsletter/#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 13:04:15 +0000 Andrew Angus http://www.farmstart.ca/news/?p=144 Welcome to the May edition of the FarmStart Newsletter! Spring has finally arrived at FarmStart's Brampton and Guelph farm facilities! Many of our new farmers have seedlings on the go, ready for transplant in the coming weeks. Readying our Brampton facility to welcome these operations has proven an exciting, challenging process. Program Manager Mike Shook and McVean Farm Manager Carlton Allen have devoted countless hours this past month to turning McVean Farm from a heritage site into a working farm. Finally, as the signs of spring add up and the land grows ready for planting, Mike and Carlton can breathe a sigh of relief that irrigation, sanitation, shared equipment, and marketing opportunities are all in place for the season. Although the McVean farm still looks a little bare from the road, it will soon be a hive of activity. We have just purchased a small, portable office for the facility, where Carlton will take up daily residence in the coming weeks. Working from an office on-site will allow Carlton to provide mentorship and support to our new farmers; he will also be kept busy setting up our world crop research trials. Stay tuned for progress reports on our okra, bitter melon, scotch bonnet peppers, Caribbean pumpkin, and other exciting varieties as the season moves along. Eager to witness some of this exciting work? We're happy to announce that plans for an open house at the McVean farm are underway! We'll be sure to let you know once we've fixed a date. Please read on to learn more about our recent activities and upcoming events. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at http://www.farmstart.ca/signup/ Best regards, Christie FarmStart Director ------

Incubator Farmers on the Web!

Wondering how you can keep up on our new farmers' progress? Curious about where you can purchase the fruits of their labour? Check out our new farmers' websites! Beet Street CSA's colourful new website explains the ins and outs of Community Supported Agriculture, and shares the story behind Carolyn and Rachel's exciting new operation. Live in the GTA? Interested in receiving a weekly box of gorgeous, fresh, locally-grown veggies delivered to your front door? Visit www.beetstreetcsa.ca to find out how to join. Matchbox Garden Inc.'s lovely new blog shares regular updates on the Matchbox farmers' adventures in urban gardening in Toronto and near-urban farming at the McVean Incubator Farm. Matchbox will be selling their rare and heirloom variety seedlings, herbs, and vegetables at two Toronto farmers' markets (Trinity Bellwoods and Sorauren) and the Brampton Farmers' Market throughout the summer. Visit www.matchboxgarden.ca for more information. ------

FarmStart's Ready to Farm? Business Development Course graduates ten future farmers!

Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm The Spring 2008 Ready to Farm? Business Development Course concluded last Tuesday night with a celebratory supper of local delicacies. Ten future farmers - Alvin, Jason M., Jason H., Miguel, Valeria, Graham, Jake, Cheng, Tim and Jennifer - stuck it out through our intensive, nine-session course on farm business planning, co-facilitated by David Cohlmeyer of Cookstown Greens and our own Training and Resource Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn. The course guided participants through a process of identifying values, visions, and goals, through developing production, marketing, and financial plans, to building a business plan that new farmers can take to the bank. A series of workshops and farm tours anchored the theoretical stuff of our regular course sessions in the practical day-to-day considerations of planning and running a farm. Continue reading... Check out our newswire for updates on future learning opportunities. ------

Featured Resource:

The role of copper‐ and sulfur‐based fungicides in organic vegetable production By Ahmed Bilal, World Crop Agronomist
Curious about the role of copper- and sulfur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production? Agronomist Ahmed Bilal has your answer! As Ahmed points out in his first technical brief for FarmStart, copper- and sulfur-based fungicides are inexpensive, widely available, and have long been used to prevent the onset of a range of diseases. Follow the link below to learn more about the use of these chemicals as part of an integrated plant management system. Continue reading... ------

Upcoming Events:

FarmStart's Director, Christie Young will be speaking at the Imagining Sustainable Food Systems Conference, Wilfred Laurier, May 7-9. You can also look for Christie at the upcoming Canadian Farm Business Advisor Association's Wellington County meeting, where she'll be speaking on May 15. Check out our newswire for updated event listings. ------

Featured books:

Farming in the Dark: A Discussion About the Future of Sustainable Agriculture ..Rhonda R. Janke ..University Readers . . . Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock Judy Pangman Storey Publishing . . . Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in sustainable agriculture!]]> Welcome to the May edition of the FarmStart Newsletter!

Spring has finally arrived at FarmStart’s Brampton and Guelph farm facilities! Many of our new farmers have seedlings on the go, ready for transplant in the coming weeks. Readying our Brampton facility to welcome these operations has proven an exciting, challenging process. Program Manager Mike Shook and McVean Farm Manager Carlton Allen have devoted countless hours this past month to turning McVean Farm from a heritage site into a working farm. Finally, as the signs of spring add up and the land grows ready for planting, Mike and Carlton can breathe a sigh of relief that irrigation, sanitation, shared equipment, and marketing opportunities are all in place for the season.

Although the McVean farm still looks a little bare from the road, it will soon be a hive of activity. We have just purchased a small, portable office for the facility, where Carlton will take up daily residence in the coming weeks. Working from an office on-site will allow Carlton to provide mentorship and support to our new farmers; he will also be kept busy setting up our world crop research trials. Stay tuned for progress reports on our okra, bitter melon, scotch bonnet peppers, Caribbean pumpkin, and other exciting varieties as the season moves along.

Eager to witness some of this exciting work? We’re happy to announce that plans for an open house at the McVean farm are underway! We’ll be sure to let you know once we’ve fixed a date.

Please read on to learn more about our recent activities and upcoming events.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at http://www.farmstart.ca/signup/

Best regards,

Christie

FarmStart Director

——

Incubator Farmers on the Web!

Wondering how you can keep up on our new farmers’ progress? Curious about where you can purchase the fruits of their labour? Check out our new farmers’ websites!

Beet Street CSA’s colourful new website explains the ins and outs of Community Supported Agriculture, and shares the story behind Carolyn and Rachel’s exciting new operation. Live in the GTA? Interested in receiving a weekly box of gorgeous, fresh, locally-grown veggies delivered to your front door? Visit www.beetstreetcsa.ca to find out how to join.

Matchbox Garden Inc.’s lovely new blog shares regular updates on the Matchbox farmers’ adventures in urban gardening in Toronto and near-urban farming at the McVean Incubator Farm. Matchbox will be selling their rare and heirloom variety seedlings, herbs, and vegetables at two Toronto farmers’ markets (Trinity Bellwoods and Sorauren) and the Brampton Farmers’ Market throughout the summer. Visit www.matchboxgarden.ca for more information.

——

FarmStart’s Ready to Farm? Business Development Course graduates ten future farmers!

Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm
Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm

The Spring 2008 Ready to Farm? Business Development Course concluded last Tuesday night with a celebratory supper of local delicacies. Ten future farmers – Alvin, Jason M., Jason H., Miguel, Valeria, Graham, Jake, Cheng, Tim and Jennifer – stuck it out through our intensive, nine-session course on farm business planning, co-facilitated by David Cohlmeyer of Cookstown Greens and our own Training and Resource Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn. The course guided participants through a process of identifying values, visions, and goals, through developing production, marketing, and financial plans, to building a business plan that new farmers can take to the bank. A series of workshops and farm tours anchored the theoretical stuff of our regular course sessions in the practical day-to-day considerations of planning and running a farm.

Continue reading…

Check out our newswire for updates on future learning opportunities.

——

Featured Resource:

The role of copper‐ and sulfur‐based fungicides in organic vegetable production
By Ahmed Bilal, World Crop Agronomist

Curious about the role of copper- and sulfur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production? Agronomist Ahmed Bilal has your answer! As Ahmed points out in his first technical brief for FarmStart, copper- and sulfur-based fungicides are inexpensive, widely available, and have long been used to prevent the onset of a range of diseases. Follow the link below to learn more about the use of these chemicals as part of an integrated plant management system.

Continue reading…

——

Upcoming Events:

FarmStart’s Director, Christie Young will be speaking at the Imagining Sustainable Food Systems Conference, Wilfred Laurier, May 7-9.

You can also look for Christie at the upcoming Canadian Farm Business Advisor Association’s Wellington County meeting, where she’ll be speaking on May 15.

Check out our newswire for updated event listings.

——

Featured books:

Farming in the Dark: A Discussion About the Future of Sustainable Agriculture
..Rhonda R. Janke
..University Readers

.
.
.

Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock
Judy Pangman
Storey Publishing

.
.
.

Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in sustainable agriculture!

]]> http://www.farmstart.ca/news/fs-may-newsletter/feed/ 0 May Newsletter http://www.farmstart.ca/news/may-newsletter/ http://www.farmstart.ca/news/may-newsletter/#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 14:49:41 +0000 Andrew Angus http://www.farmstart.ca/news/?p=143 Welcome to the May edition of the FarmStart Newsletter! Spring has finally arrived at FarmStart's Brampton and Guelph farm facilities! Many of our new farmers have seedlings on the go, ready for transplant in the coming weeks. Readying our Brampton facility to welcome these operations has proven an exciting, challenging process. Program Manager Mike Shook and McVean Farm Manager Carlton Allen have devoted countless hours this past month to turning McVean Farm from a heritage site into a working farm. Finally, as the signs of spring add up and the land grows ready for planting, Mike and Carlton can breathe a sigh of relief that irrigation, sanitation, shared equipment, and marketing opportunities are all in place for the season. Although the McVean farm still looks a little bare from the road, it will soon be a hive of activity. We have just purchased a small, portable office for the facility, where Carlton will take up daily residence in the coming weeks. Working from an office on-site will allow Carlton to provide mentorship and support to our new farmers; he will also be kept busy setting up our world crop research trials. Stay tuned for progress reports on our okra, bitter melon, scotch bonnet peppers, Caribbean pumpkin, and other exciting varieties as the season moves along. Eager to witness some of this exciting work? We're happy to announce that plans for an open house at the McVean farm are underway! We'll be sure to let you know once we've fixed a date. Please read on to learn more about our recent activities and upcoming events. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at http://www.farmstart.ca/signup/ Best regards, Christie FarmStart Director ------

Incubator Farmers on the Web!

Wondering how you can keep up on our new farmers' progress? Curious about where you can purchase the fruits of their labour? Check out our new farmers' websites! Beet Street CSA's colourful new website explains the ins and outs of Community Supported Agriculture, and shares the story behind Carolyn and Rachel's exciting new operation. Live in the GTA? Interested in receiving a weekly box of gorgeous, fresh, locally-grown veggies delivered to your front door? Visit www.beetstreetcsa.ca to find out how to join. Matchbox Garden Inc.'s lovely new blog shares regular updates on the Matchbox farmers' adventures in urban gardening in Toronto and near-urban farming at the McVean Incubator Farm. Matchbox will be selling their rare and heirloom variety seedlings, herbs, and vegetables at two Toronto farmers' markets (Trinity Bellwoods and Sorauren) and the Brampton Farmers' Market throughout the summer. Visit www.matchboxgarden.ca for more information. ------

FarmStart's Ready to Farm? Business Development Course graduates ten future farmers!

Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm The Spring 2008 Ready to Farm? Business Development Course concluded last Tuesday night with a celebratory supper of local delicacies. Ten future farmers - Alvin, Jason M., Jason H., Miguel, Valeria, Graham, Jake, Cheng, Tim and Jennifer - stuck it out through our intensive, nine-session course on farm business planning, co-facilitated by David Cohlmeyer of Cookstown Greens and our own Training and Resource Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn. The course guided participants through a process of identifying values, visions, and goals, through developing production, marketing, and financial plans, to building a business plan that new farmers can take to the bank. A series of workshops and farm tours anchored the theoretical stuff of our regular course sessions in the practical day-to-day considerations of planning and running a farm. Continue reading... Check out our newswire for updates on future learning opportunities. ------

Featured Resource:

The role of copper‐ and sulfur‐based fungicides in organic vegetable production By Ahmed Bilal, World Crop Agronomist
Curious about the role of copper- and sulfur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production? Agronomist Ahmed Bilal has your answer! As Ahmed points out in his first technical brief for FarmStart, copper- and sulfur-based fungicides are inexpensive, widely available, and have long been used to prevent the onset of a range of diseases. Follow the link below to learn more about the use of these chemicals as part of an integrated plant management system. Continue reading... ------

Upcoming Events:

FarmStart's Director, Christie Young will be speaking at the Imagining Sustainable Food Systems Conference, Wilfred Laurier, May 7-9. You can also look for Christie at the upcoming Canadian Farm Business Advisor Association's Wellington County meeting, where she'll be speaking on May 15. Check out our newswire for updated event listings. ------

Featured books:

Farming in the Dark: A Discussion About the Future of Sustainable Agriculture ..Rhonda R. Janke ..University Readers . . . Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock Judy Pangman Storey Publishing . . . Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in sustainable agriculture!]]> Welcome to the May edition of the FarmStart Newsletter!

Spring has finally arrived at FarmStart’s Brampton and Guelph farm facilities! Many of our new farmers have seedlings on the go, ready for transplant in the coming weeks. Readying our Brampton facility to welcome these operations has proven an exciting, challenging process. Program Manager Mike Shook and McVean Farm Manager Carlton Allen have devoted countless hours this past month to turning McVean Farm from a heritage site into a working farm. Finally, as the signs of spring add up and the land grows ready for planting, Mike and Carlton can breathe a sigh of relief that irrigation, sanitation, shared equipment, and marketing opportunities are all in place for the season.

Although the McVean farm still looks a little bare from the road, it will soon be a hive of activity. We have just purchased a small, portable office for the facility, where Carlton will take up daily residence in the coming weeks. Working from an office on-site will allow Carlton to provide mentorship and support to our new farmers; he will also be kept busy setting up our world crop research trials. Stay tuned for progress reports on our okra, bitter melon, scotch bonnet peppers, Caribbean pumpkin, and other exciting varieties as the season moves along.

Eager to witness some of this exciting work? We’re happy to announce that plans for an open house at the McVean farm are underway! We’ll be sure to let you know once we’ve fixed a date.

Please read on to learn more about our recent activities and upcoming events.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this Newsletter, please pass it along. Anyone can sign up at http://www.farmstart.ca/signup/

Best regards,

Christie

FarmStart Director

——

Incubator Farmers on the Web!

Wondering how you can keep up on our new farmers’ progress? Curious about where you can purchase the fruits of their labour? Check out our new farmers’ websites!

Beet Street CSA’s colourful new website explains the ins and outs of Community Supported Agriculture, and shares the story behind Carolyn and Rachel’s exciting new operation. Live in the GTA? Interested in receiving a weekly box of gorgeous, fresh, locally-grown veggies delivered to your front door? Visit www.beetstreetcsa.ca to find out how to join.

Matchbox Garden Inc.’s lovely new blog shares regular updates on the Matchbox farmers’ adventures in urban gardening in Toronto and near-urban farming at the McVean Incubator Farm. Matchbox will be selling their rare and heirloom variety seedlings, herbs, and vegetables at two Toronto farmers’ markets (Trinity Bellwoods and Sorauren) and the Brampton Farmers’ Market throughout the summer. Visit www.matchboxgarden.ca for more information.

——

FarmStart’s Ready to Farm? Business Development Course graduates ten future farmers!

Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm
Farm business course participants visit Greenfields Organic Farm

The Spring 2008 Ready to Farm? Business Development Course concluded last Tuesday night with a celebratory supper of local delicacies. Ten future farmers – Alvin, Jason M., Jason H., Miguel, Valeria, Graham, Jake, Cheng, Tim and Jennifer – stuck it out through our intensive, nine-session course on farm business planning, co-facilitated by David Cohlmeyer of Cookstown Greens and our own Training and Resource Coordinator, Sophie Llewelyn. The course guided participants through a process of identifying values, visions, and goals, through developing production, marketing, and financial plans, to building a business plan that new farmers can take to the bank. A series of workshops and farm tours anchored the theoretical stuff of our regular course sessions in the practical day-to-day considerations of planning and running a farm.

Continue reading…

Check out our newswire for updates on future learning opportunities.

——

Featured Resource:

The role of copper‐ and sulfur‐based fungicides in organic vegetable production
By Ahmed Bilal, World Crop Agronomist

Curious about the role of copper- and sulfur-based fungicides in organic vegetable production? Agronomist Ahmed Bilal has your answer! As Ahmed points out in his first technical brief for FarmStart, copper- and sulfur-based fungicides are inexpensive, widely available, and have long been used to prevent the onset of a range of diseases. Follow the link below to learn more about the use of these chemicals as part of an integrated plant management system.

Continue reading…

——

Upcoming Events:

FarmStart’s Director, Christie Young will be speaking at the Imagining Sustainable Food Systems Conference, Wilfred Laurier, May 7-9.

You can also look for Christie at the upcoming Canadian Farm Business Advisor Association’s Wellington County meeting, where she’ll be speaking on May 15.

Check out our newswire for updated event listings.

——

Featured books:

Farming in the Dark: A Discussion About the Future of Sustainable Agriculture
..Rhonda R. Janke
..University Readers

.
.
.

Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock
Judy Pangman
Storey Publishing

.
.
.

Visit the FarmStart bookstore to view other essential titles in sustainable agriculture!

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