The following is a great time-lapse video of the last week of CSA pickup from Birch Point Farm in Leelanau Co., Michigan.
This Amazing Video was Produced by Ken Scott.
Check out Ken’s website: http://www.kenscottphotography.com
He is also now on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenscottphotography/
See more of his time-lapse clip experiments here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KenScottPhotography
(click the link by the sound button for HD)
10-30-09
The easiest way to control plant disease
By Judy Scott, 541-737-1386
Source: Jay Pscheidt, 541-737-3472
CORVALLIS. Ore.— Fall is a good time to look around at what flourished this year in the garden and yard and what succumbed to disease. You’ll save yourself heartache and money next year if you choose disease-resistant varieties.
“Planting resistant varieties is the easiest means of disease control,” according to Jay Pscheidt, plant pathologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “Roses, fruit trees and many vegetables such as tomatoes are susceptible to a variety of diseases caused by fungi and viruses. Choose those marked ‘disease resistant’ or ‘certified virus-free’ whenever possible.”
For example, tomato seed packages and start tags often are marked with the letters V, N, T or F. V signifies resistance to Verticillium, a fungal disease causing premature wilt and reduced production. N stands for a nematode-resistant variety. Nematodes are small wormlike pests that puncture root cells. T indicates resistance to tobacco mosaic virus, which causes mottled leaves. An F means the variety is resistant to Fusarium, another fungal disease that causes wilt.
Tomato varieties known to be resistant to all of these diseases include Carmen, Carnival, Casino Royal, Cavalier, Celebrity, First Lady, Milagro and President.
Other vegetables also have disease-resistant or disease-tolerant varieties, including green beans, peas, cucumbers, peppers and spinach.
The fungal diseases rust, powdery mildew and blackspot are common in rose gardens in the Pacific Northwest. Roses known to be resistant to these diseases include the hybrid teas Electron, Keepsake and Las Vegas; the floribundas Europeana, Liverpool Echo and Play Girl; and climbers Dortmund and Dublin Bay.
Apples are susceptible to several diseases including apple scab, fire blight and powdery mildew. Varieties that grow well, have shown good scab resistance and are of good quality include Akane (Tokyo Rose), Chehalis, Liberty, Prima and Tydeman Red.
Crab apples have the same problems, and Pscheidt recommends planting disease-resistant crab apple cultivars David, Indian Summer, Red Jewel or White Angel.
Consult catalogs and local nurseries for other disease-resistant varieties, as new ones come out each year and some of the old ones get discontinued.
For more information about disease resistance call the Master Gardener Program at your local county office of the OSU Extension Service. Online at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/locations.php
About Garden News from OSU Extension Service: The Extension Service’s “Gardening Encyclopedia” web page, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/, links to a broad spectrum of information on Oregon gardening, such as news, calendars, how-to publications, audio programs, the Master Gardener program and “Northwest Gardeners e-News.”
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean McGovern: Phone: 614/306-6422, E-mail: outreach@sare.org
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has a new home at USDA, the recently launched National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA, created by the 2008 farm bill, replaces the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).
NIFA’s goal is to elevate the status of science in agriculture with the mission of using sound research and education to address some of the world’s toughest problems through agriculture: global food security and hunger; climate change; sustainable energy; childhood obesity; food safety.
“I want USDA science to focus most of its resources on accomplishing a few, bold outcomes with great power to improve human health and protect our environment,” says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Read the NIFA launch press release or view the launch video for more information.
SARE is proud to be part of NIFA and will continue to support cutting edge research and education projects advancing sustainable innovations to the whole of American agriculture.
Distributed by SARE Outreach for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) USDA. SARE’s mission is to advance – to the whole of American agriculture – innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education. SARE Outreach operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Maryland and the University of Vermont to develop and disseminate information about sustainable agriculture. Visit www.sare.org for more information.
Merrigan to Host 2nd Facebook Chat in November
USAgNet – 10/30/2009
U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan twill host her second Facebook chat about the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative on November 5 at 3 p.m. The topic of this chat will be farm to school, which involves getting and using fresh produce and other farm products from local and regional farmers for use in local schools. The effort not only supports increasing economic opportunities for local farmers but also helps school children make healthy food choices.
The ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative emphasizes the need for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and consumers. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for increases and flexibility for USDA programs in an effort to promote local foods.
Merrigan hosted her first Facebook chat on the initiative on Oct. 1. Questions were submitted from people across the nation about beginning farmer and rancher programs, interest in school nutrition, food safety and supporting local and regional food systems. During the 30 minute session, more than 115 questions and comments were submitted.
Details are available at www.usda.gov/live and people can submit a question in advance of the chat or watch the conversation on the USDA website.
The website, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, features social media tools to help focus the public conversation about farming and food, while engaging American agriculture and linking producers to customers. The public will be able to send their stories, ideas or videos to the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ team at knowyourfarmer@usda.gov. The public can become a fan of USDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USDA.
Written by Adam Williams
With spring bringing out the gardener in many of us — veteran, rookie and in between — my household has been expanding our growing. Last year, we had a couple of small vegetable plots that maybe totalled 15-20 square feet. Plus, we created a wildflower and native grass section that stretches to a slim 40 square feet.BUSINESS / SMALL BUSINESS | October 31, 2009
Pushing Fresh Produce Instead of Cookies at the Corner Market
By KEVIN GRANVILLE
Cities across the country like Newark and Cleveland are joining in a new effort to improve the diets of low-income residents.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/business/smallbusiness/31grocery.html?_r=2&emc=eta1
Subject – NorCal ARCSA Meeting – Monday, Nov 9th, Oakland
Please join the Northern California chapter of the American Rainwater
Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) at our monthly Monday
meeting for rainwater professionals (and those that want to be them). We allow time before and after the meeting for networking.
This month, our speakers are Charlene Burgi of Marin Municipal Water District, and Bruce Hallinan of Aussie Rain Tanks.
Date: Monday, November 9, 20097pm – 9pm
Location: City Slicker Farms Office
1625 16th St
Oakland, CA
RSVPs are requested. Feel free to repost this invitation.
To Learn more about the Northern California supporters of ARCSA, please visit: http://www.wiserearth.org/group/arcsanorcal
——————————
Charlene Burgi, MMWD www.marinwater.org
Charlene is a Water Conservation Specialist Supervisor for the Marin Municipal Water District. She will present a report back from the National ARCSA meetings in Georgia and also focus on creative and inventive methods of capturing rainwater and ways of promoting this concept to the public.
Bruce Hallinan, Aussie Ran Tanks www.aussieraintanks.com
Bruce will talk about the latest developments in rain harvesting products and programs in Australia, what water authorities have done to promote rain harvesting and the growth of rain tank manufacturers for the US residential market.
Aussie Rain Tanks LLC was established to bring state of the art design and functionali ty developed in drought stricken Australia to the United States. Our head office is in San Jose, California and we currently distribute to contractors, landscapers and do-it-yourself homeowners within the San Francisco Bay Area. The residential rain tanks are produced by a variety of Australian and US manufacturers.
Aussie Rain Tanks LLC is owned by Bruce Hallinan, a dual Australian/US citizen, with over 20 years developing and marketing new consumer products. He is proud to supply products that help reduce domestic water consumption, save precious drinking water, keep gardens green and even look good in your side or backyard.
The Michigan Boer Goat Association Inc. will be holding their Christmas membership meeting December 12bat 10:am @ the Aldaco Restaurant – 6527 S. Cedar St. – Lansing, MI
The will also be giving two $500 Youth Scholarships. Applications must be received by Dec. 1st. To Apply click HERE
I get my goat from one of their members: Full Circle Ranch in Potterville, MI. 517 (242-5928) or NSS132000@yahoo.com.
Help to support Lexington Community Farm by signing their Petition to allow BUSA land to be used for the community Farm.
An interesting opinion article which appeared in the LA Times reports on the increasingly positive attitudes of Americans towards farmers and farming.
You can read it at: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum29-2009oct29,0,2987190.column
This From Hartke Is Online: http://hartkeisonline.com/2009/10/28/fresh-documentary-screening-and-panel-discussions/:
“On November 8, 2009, a screening of the local foods documentary, Fresh, will be held in Oakton, VA. A panel discussion will follow, including these Hartkeisonline.com Heroes of Sustainable Agriculture: Sally Fallon, President of the Weston A. Price Foundaton, Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm, Andrew Kimbrell Center for Food Safety, Carole Morison, Sustainable Food Systems Consultant, Monica Corrado, Chef and Nutrition Consultant.
Please come and bring a friend! For more details, and to attend, please join our Northern Virginia Whole Foods Nutrition meetup group and register for the event (it’s free). http://www.meetup.com/WholeNutrition/calendar/11430362/”
Farmer/Author Joel Salatin’s article Everything I Want to Do is Illegal is available in .pdf form HERE or on the Institute for Ecological Agriculture‘s Website at:
http://www.permaculture.com/drupal/node/148
Salatin has also now published a book by the same name. It can be ordered from Chelsae Green Publishing at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/everything_i_want_to_do_is_illegal:paperback
Salatin, who owns Polyface Farms, has been called “the high priest of pasture” by the New York Times, and refers to himself as a “Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-lunatic farmer”.
Art and Agriculture: A Celebration of Food
Sunday, November 15, 2009
11:00 a.m.: Grand opening of ArtSites “Food” exhibition with works by local artists with a food theme. Admission to the art show is free.
4:00 p.m.: Lecture on Jewish Agricultural Communities in North America by Dr. Theodore Herzl (Ted) Friedgut, Professor of Russian and Slavic Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
6:00 p.m.: Organic vegetarian dinner, featuring locally grown foods
Dinner and the lecture:
$15 for Calvert Farm CSA members
$18 for the general public
$5 for children 12 and under
Lecture only: $5.00
Location:
Tikvat Israel Congregation
2200 Baltimore Road
Rockville, MD 20851
RSVP by November 9 to execdir@tikvatisrael.org or call 301-762-7338.
See http://www.artsitesjudaicguild.org/ or http://tikvatisrael.org/ for more information.
Check out Handy Farm Devices
This is a terrific site!
It presents a laundry list of old time farm and homesteading tools that you can make yourself.
Lots of timeless tools and tips.
BeginningFarmers.org now has a new Permaculture Page which features information, links to permaculture sites, wikis, and blogs.
The page address is http://beginningfarmers.org/permaculture/ but it is also available from the Navigation Bar.
Co-founded by Australian’s Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture is an ecological approach to developing perennial agricultural systems and sustainable, self-sufficient communities of life. Originating as set of concepts which promoted the design of sustainable agroecological systems, permaculture has grown to become a global social movement based on emergent and reflexive, principles, practices, and ideals related to the development of a responsible, compassionate and regenerative way of life. It now crosses numerous disciplinary boundaries including agriculture, horticulture, economics, political science, architecture, engineering, community development, and many more.
Permaculture embodies universal principles, including the notion that “Humans, although unusual within the natural world, are subject to the same scientific (energy) laws that govern the material universe, including the evolution of life (Holmgren).” Yet despite its foundational and shared principles, it is also dynamic, personal, and place based. The principles are grounded by an ethical foundation, which seeks to guide their use in productive, ways by emphasizing three basic tenets: care for the earth, care for people, and fair share.
Holmgren has developed 12 fundamental principles of design which may be understood as cognitive tools, meant to be applied through creative interaction with the world in an attempt to develop more holistic, healthy, and balanced social and ecological systems.
*From: Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability
There are an enormous number of web resources on permaculture, and it would probably take me months to compile half of them. If you have any particular suggestions, please send them to me at: beginningfarmers@gmail.com.
A new Know Your Farmer memo from USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan entitled USDA Research, Education and Economics support for local and regional food systems was released today.
Merrigan recently developed the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Program at USDA, is a friend of small and beginning farmers, and a supporter of sustainable agriculture.
Click here to read the full KnowYourFarmerMemo
The Memo Highlights:
Programs you can apply to to develop, test, and educate about innovations:
1) Community Food Projects
2) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
3) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
4) Small Business Innovation Research
5) Specialty Crops Research Initiative
6) Organic Agriculture Research and Extension
7) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
and Programs where you can get information and technical assistance:
8) Agricultural Research Service
9) Economic Research Service
10) National Agricultural Statistics Service
11) National Agricultural Library
12) Cooperative Extension
