SFA Herb Project Continues With June Workshop & Field Day

As we enter the final phase of the SFA Herb Project, we welcome Connie Karstens – a grower, marketer and practitioner with years of practical experience and training – as our Herb Specialist. Building on the previous work on this project, which included herb demonstration plots and field days, Connie will conduct workshops and classes on the cultivation, use and selling of a variety of medicinal and culinary herbs and spices.

Read more about Connie here.

The first of these events was a session Feb. 11 at our Annual Conference in which Connie (right) discussed unique approaches to growing and marketing herbs, including the income potential of adding them to a farm’s product selection. By learning about creative marketing strategies, value-added products and the education of their customers, attendees left with new ways to diversify their enterprises.

Next up is a field day and workshop on Sat., June 24, 2017, at The Lamb Shoppe, 61231 Hwy. 7 W, Hutchinson. During that event, Connie will conduct a tour of her herb plots and on-farm market. Please RSVP for the June 24 Herb Field Day here.
 
The final programs for the Herb Project will be at Minnesota Garlic Festival on Aug. 12, 2017, where Connie will lead a presentation for consumers and retailers on the benefits and uses of local herbs. In addition, there will be an exhibit area at the festival with everything you ever wanted to know about growing and using the wide array of herbs and spices available in Minnesota.

Connie is also "on call" for your questions on herb production and marketing.

The Herb Project is made possible by a Specialty Crops Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and through it SFA intends to increase the supply of locally produced herbs, improve the operational efficiency of MN herb production, reduce the barriers to bringing new products to market, and generally strengthen the MN herb industry. Click here for more information.

2018 SFA Conference Voting Now Open & Other Tidbits

The 2018 SFA Conference will be next Feb. 10 at St. Ben’s. Do you have feedback on the date or time? The night-before social hour? Do you know people we should invite? Give us a holler at info@sfa-mn.org, or look for a survey in the coming weeks.

The online survey tool for the 2018 Annual Conference is now live! Enter your session topic ideas and vote on your favorites right on the AC homepage.

SAVE THE DATE: The Midwest Soil Health Summit will return to Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls on Feb. 14-15, 2018. 

Applications Available for Garlic Festival Vendors

Want to sell your products to a crowd of 3,000-plus at the state's stinkiest festival? Vendor Applications can be found here. Vendor fee discounts for SFA members!

Minnesota Garlic Festival is Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

Intro to Small Ruminant Husbandry Class is May 13

Anyone considering adding goats or sheep to their sustainable food production should attend our SFA Deep Roots class, Intro to Small Ruminant Husbandry, set for 1-5 p.m. Sat., May 13, at Paradox Farm, 11643 State Hwy 78, Ashby, Minn. The course is particularly suitable for beginning farmers and class size is small; there is ample opportunity to handle animals and equipment and to ask questions.

Held in a working-farm setting, this class will teach students how small ruminants can fit in a natural systems farm. Course topics include: holistic management, animal selection, animal handling, nutrition, fencing, shelters, grazing, and holistic veterinary care. Wear clothing appropriate for working with animals: closed-toe shoes, gloves, long pants.

Course instructors are Sue Wika, Ph.D., and Tom Prieve, DVM, of Paradox Farm. Cost is $100. Click here to register.

East Central Meeting is March 18 in Isanti

SFA East Central Chapter is hosting a meeting from 9 a.m. to noon March 18 at the meeting room in Coborns, 209 6th Ave NE, Isanti. This meeting will focus on finalizing the East Central Chapter summer schedule, solidifying volunteers for staffing education tables at farmer's markets, and sharing education topics for the education wheels for the farmer's markets.

Both chapter members and would-be chapter members are welcome; please RSVP at this link so we can properly plan. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck breakfast item.

Info: eastcentral@sfa-mn.org.

Western Chapter Barn Dance is March 24 at U. of M.-Morris

SFA Western Chapter is co-sponsoring a community barn dance featuring Ruperts Land Band from 7 to 10 p.m. March 24 at the Student Center at the University of Minnesota Morris, 600 E 4th St. 

Presented in partnership with the UMM Organic Garden Club, all SFA members and those interested in SFA Western Chapter should attend; the Organic Garden Club welcomes students but also the general public.

Park for free in the North Parking lot and other designated guest parking spots around campus. Light refreshments will be provided. Cost is $2 at the door; children are free. No RSVP is required.

Info: duram001@morris.umn.edu.

Southeast Annual Meeting is April 1 in St. Charles

SFA Southeast Chapter is hosting its Annual Meeting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 1 at City Hall, 830 Whitewater Ave, St. Charles. Lunch is included; registration is free for current SFA members and $10 for nonmembers.

Speaking on regenerative agriculture at the meeting will be Jim Riddle of Blue Fruit Farm and Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm. Discussion topics include chapter name change, upcoming chapter events, and direction and emphasis. 

Please RSVP here or at the door. Info: southeast@sfa-mn.org.

Save the Date: Salsa Fest is Sept. 16, 2017

Big plans are under way! Save the date for the Minnesota Salsa Fest at the Todd County Fairgrounds on Sept. 16, 2017, in Long Prairie.

Contact the Central Chapter at central@sfa-mn.org if you'd like to volunteer on the planning committee, be a vendor, or compete in the salsa competition.

The first planning committee meeting will be 5 p.m. Wed., March 29, at the fairgrounds. Watch the Central Chapter Facebook page for details.

Solberg Speaking at MDI Winter Dairy Event in New Prague

SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg will speak at an installment of the Minnesota Dairy Initiative Winter Dairy Series from noon to 2:30 p.m. March 13 at State Bank of New Prague, 1101 First St SE, New Prague. His presentation will focus on grazing alternatives and forage options for dairy operations. This event is free and lunch and materials are included; preregistration is preferred but not required. Info/RSVP: Alison Rickeman at abenson@co.carver.mn.us or 952.466.5322. 

Four Free RTC Mini-Workshops to Focus on Specialty Crops

Renewing the Countryside is looking for specialty crop growers in Minnesota who could benefit from peer learning opportunities and is offering four free mini workshops to help farmers troubleshoot and increase profitability for the upcoming growing season. Follow-up assistance is also available. If you are an established farm growing fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, etc. please see below. Register by emailing Monica Walch back at monica@rtcinfo.org. We hope you can join us!

Produce Packing and FSA Funding – 1 p.m. March 11, 2017, Seven Songs Farm, 46544 70th Ave. Kenyon. Learn about packing shed planning, financing, permits and building from your host Melissa Driscoll.

Fruit Tree Grafting – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 11, 2017, New Ulm Public Library, 17 N. Broadway, New Ulm. Learn how to propagate your own apple and apricot trees. Each participant will take home 4 newly grafted fruit trees.

High and Low Tunnel & Greenhouse Growing – 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 30, Easy Yoke Farm 450 Bench St. Millville. Learn about season extension and protective covering for market gardening from your hosts Hannah and Daniel Miller.

Soil Health – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13, Garden Farme, 7367 175th Ave NW, Ramsey. Learn about soil healthy and soil systems from your hosts Bruce Bacon and Christian Klatt.

Check This Out

• This article from Growler Magazine Editor John Garland extensively quotes SFA's Sue Wika and members of the Service Livestock group, and is a good reminder that the information presented at SFA's Short Course: Small Ruminant Husbandry is quite valuable!
• Ray Archuleta says "Cover crops are your first step to freedom" and we agree! Here's a feature on Ray from The Progressive Farmer. Sample quote: "Our farmers are running on ancient carbon, and it's how we're growing broke. We want our farms to run on new sunlight."
• This article out of Penn State presents research that says "recent trends in agriculture's environmental impacts shows that they are increasing and must drop dramatically to maintain clean water and stabilize the climate."

Annual Conference Photo Feature

Photographer extraordinaire Crystal Liepa once again documented our 2017 Annual Conference, held Feb. 11, 2017, at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. To learn more about Crystal, visit her website.

 

 

Also Noted

Scholarship Opportunity: The Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry Scholarship Fund at the Rochester Area Foundation is again awarding scholarships for students entering their junior or higher collegiate year and are engaged in sustainable agriculture and/or forestry studies. This scholarship could potentially be used for tuition to the SFA Deep Roots Farmer Development Program’s Farm Skills 101. This scholarship is for current farm practitioners from Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties. Deadline is April 15. To apply and learn more, visit protectourresources.org.

WCROC Outwintering Field Day: The dairy research team at West Central Research and Outreach Center evaluates various outwintering options and their effects on herd health and comfort, and an upcoming field day will include tours of the WCROC herd. The event is 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 9 at the center, 46352 State Hwy 329, Morris. The event is free and no preregistration is required. Info: hein0106@umn.edu or 320-589-1711 ext. 2118.

Women’s Environmental Institute is hosting a monthly course, “A Year In the Life of Bees,” from instructor Mike Mackiewicz on the fourth Sunday of the month starting at 1-4 p.m. March 26. Learn everything you need to know about raising bees as this course follows the entire season. No class in May; last course is November. Register here.

WEI is also accepting applications for summer and fall farm internships through March 15. Early summer, late summer and fall terms are available. Apply here.

---

 

 

---