What's Happening In and Around the State of Ohio Related to Local Foods and Farming!
As part of our mission to promote local agriculture and healthy eating, Local Roots will host a number of gardening programs this winter and spring.  The first will be an open discussion of community gardening in Wayne County, featuring speakers from four different gardens in the area. The discussion is at 1 PM at Local Roots Market, 140 S. Walnut St., Wooster. Given the current economic situation, we know there are people interested in joining or starting a community garden, and we hope to learn more about how to start and run neighborhood or full-community gardens. There is no charge for the event.
 
Tuesday February 2, 2010
Locally-Integrated Food Systems: An Opportunity for Our Future
Join Mike Hamm, CS Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at Michigan State University in connecting the dots between public health, economic development, community development, and community based food systems. Event is at 7 PM in the Health Education Building Room 100, University of Toledo Health Science Campus (enter from Arlington or Glendale - easy parking). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 419 530-3595.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Earn a Little "Green" by Growing Greens
As part of Turner Farm's "Reap What You Sow, Sell What You Grow" series, this discussion will focus on varieties of greens that sell well and grow well, along with tips to raise them year round. All classes cost $12 and reservations are required. Held at the Turner Farm in Cincinnati from 7-8:30 pm. For more information, visit:  http://turnerfarm.org/2010%20gardening%20classes.indd.pdf or e-mail:  turnerfarm@zoomtown.com
 
February, 3, 2010
AgriCulture - A Panel Presentation presented by GenWex at The Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University
With Jaime Moore, Jeni Britton Bauer, Amy Bodiker, and Michael Mercil
The discussion will focus on the many connections between food, art, and culture and how those connections have impacted the local food movement in Ohio and elsewhere.
Location:  Film/Video Theater at 7:00 p.m. with a reception immediately following the panel discussion.
For more information on this opportunity, visit:  http://www.wexarts.org/ed/index.php?eventid=4421

February 6, 2010
Vegetables 101: An Introduction to Vegetable Gardening
Ohio State University Extension will offer classes this winter for folks who have thought about starting a garden and for those who want advanced gardening tips. This class will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the National Trail Parks and Recreation District Office, and again on Feb. 11 from 6-9 p.m. at the Clark County OSU Extension office. The workshop will cover vegetable gardening basics including garden site selection, soil preparation, garden plants, crop selection, heirloom plants, planting times, starting seeds and transplanting, cultural practices, weed and disease controls, and fall clean-up. Registration is $15 per class or $25 for two sessions. The National Trail Parks and Recreation District office is located at 1301 Mitchell Blvd., Springfield. The Clark County OSU Extension office is located at 4400 Gateway Blvd., Springfield. For more information, log on to http://clark.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/workshops-classes call 937-328-4607
 
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Land Protection Resources Meeting
Hear local experts discuss the programs that you and your farm may be eligible for to preserve, protect and enhance your farm operation.  Programs discussed include:  Agricultural Security Areas, Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, Conservation Easements and EQIP. 
Location:  Hiram College Kennedy Center Ballroom, 2nd Floor (11730 Garfield Road, Hiram, OH 44234)
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Co-Sponsored by:  The Countryside Conservancy, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Western Reserve RC&D, and Portage County Regional Planning Commission.  For more information, contact:  Katie Myers @ kmyers@cvcountryside.org

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Get the latest in agriculture trends to increase farm profits
Farmers looking to capitalize on financial, environmental and marketing trends to increase their farm profits have the opportunity to attend an Ohio State University Extension "Future Trends for Profitability in Agriculture". The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wyandot County Fairgrounds Masters Building, 10171 State Hwy. 53 North, Upper Sandusky. Registration before Jan. 29 is $35 per person. After Jan. 29, registration is $45 per person.

Topics include the 10 Best Farm Management Practices; Peer Advisory Groups and Alternative Business Arrangements; Profiting from Ecosystem Services: A Review of Opportunities in New and Emerging Environmental Markets and Adding Value to Your Crop: Ideas for Specialty Markets and Commodity Markets. Speakers include Chris Bruynis, OSU Extension educator; Danny Klinefelter, Texas A&M Extension economist; Brent Sohngen, Ohio State agricultural economist and Corinne Alexander, Purdue University Extension grain marketing specialist. For more information, contact Bruynis at 419-294-4931 or bruynis.1@osu.edu.
 
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Healthy Corner Stores Network National Conference Call - Using Economic Development Funds to Create Incentives for Healthy Retail Conference call/Webinar
This call will outline how economic development tools and financing mechanisms can be leveraged to work with small corner stores to increase the availability of healthy choices and create new business models for small food retail.  Presenters will discuss the opportunities and limitations of economic development tools and offer ideas for how partnerships with local economic development agencies and small store owners can deepen the impact and sustainability of their healthy corner store work. Please register for this FREE webinar in advance at webex.com Registration typically takes under 5 minutes to complete. Login information will be included on the Webex confirmation email received after registration. The webinar will be from 12:30-2 pm PST; the Meeting Number is 576 667 835 and Meeting Password: planning123.

February 13th and 20th, 2010
Master Gardener Home Gardener Series
The Franklin County Master Gardener Home Gardener Series continues with two classes: Annuals - Saturday (2/13), with Bart Hayes, OSU Annuals Trials coordinator, and master gardener Sue Jolley; and Herbs - Saturday (2/20), with master gardeners Karin Wilson, Lori Overmyer and July Hayes. To register, contact Cory Skurdal at 247-6046 or mailto:skurdal.1@osu.edu.

February 19 through April 11, 2010
Cincinnati?s 3rdAnnual Permaculture Design Certification
The OM Valley Permaculture will host this multi-week class; it will consist of the full 72 hours of class, hands on activity & key Permaculture topics for Certification. We will cover everything that will help you create a truly ecologically harmonized life including Holistic Home/site Design, Low Maintenance/ High Yield Agriculture, Ecological Building, Appropriate Technology, and much, much more. To learn more please visit our website http://omvalleypermaculture.wordpress.com/ and click on the link "Permaculture classes" or drop us a line via email at OMValleyPermaculture@yahoo.com or call Braden at 513-569-2579
 
Monday, February 22, 2010
Winter Gardening Close-to-Home
Sustainable Clintonville will host the first in our series of Educational Presentations during our next meeting, "Winter Gardening Close-to-Home" at 7pm at Cafe Bella, located at 2593 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43202. Our hosts will share with us what gardening and food production efforts they are making on-site even during the winter months.  Also presenting will be local producers and residents practicing some of the many ways we might produce food for ourselves and our neighbors even during the cold winter months here in Columbus. Members and non-members are welcome to attend. RSVP is not necessary but will be appreciated. Please contact Suzie Watkins-Martinez, watkinsmartinez@hotmail.com, regarding your plans to attend or questions.
 
February 26, 2010
Deadline for 2010 Call for Proposals for Interdisciplinary Grant Program for On-Farm Research
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Sustainable Agriculture Team and Agroecosystems Management Program (AMP) are offering interdisciplinary grants to promote on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. This program is made available through the Paul C. and Edna H. Warner Endowment Fund established specifically for on-farm research in sustainable agriculture related to crop (agronomic and horticultural) and animal production systems, that are ultimately intended for human consumption.  Research is intended to identify and publicize sustainable agricultural practices and systems that are profitable, socially responsible, energy efficient and improve water quality and other environmental concerns relevant to Ohio farmers. Contact Megan Shoenfelt, Program Coordinator at shoenfelt.9@osu.edu for the application package for your review. The application deadline is February 26, 2001 with the award notification scheduled for April 2, 2010.
 
Saturday, February 27, 2010
6th Annual Toledo GROWs? Seed Swap
Diversify your garden by exchanging seeds and learning new skills! No matter your gardening ability, you?ll enjoy the chance to interact with other gardeners, while swapping favorite seeds. The seed swap is from 12:00 - 3:00 PM at Wildwood Metropark, Ward Pavilion, 5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43615. Free and open to the public! Live entertainment by the Root Cellar String Band and activities for kids! For more information email michael.szuberla@toledogarden.org.
 

Friday and Saturday, March 5 & 6, 2010
Innovative Farmers of Ohio will hold its Annual Meeting, The Power of Agriculture:  Sustaining the Future in Athens, Ohio.

Highlighted will be bus tours to:  
 

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Garden Discussion at Local Roots
 

• Hocking College to see its energy projects
• AceNet to see the entrepreneurial spirit at work from those processing, packaging, and marketing their products
• Snowville Creamery and Chris Chieml's goat cheese facility to see how raw dairy products are processed, packaged and sold
• The famous gardens at Green Edge, Amesville, and other green growers.

The buses will as well visit the Russ Lab at Ohio University to watch algae turned into oil. There will also be on-site demonstrations of small grist mills grinding locally grown grains and bio-diesel fuel made from spent oils and/or sunflower seeds.

There will be a cheese tasting contest and a Taste of Athens where over 30 vendors will offer their foods to taste, the Athens Farmers Market will be on-going Sat., March 6.

There will be exhibitors displaying relevant products and information, breakout sessions on alternative crop production, carbon credit woodlots, new applied technologies and trends for the future on-farm production, and how tofund such enterprises!

Finally there will be a hog roast on Saturday featuring J.B. King Family's famous, delicious, home-grown pigs and good local musical entertainment.

This promises to be the biggest ever IFO event with plenty to see and consume!
 
Announcements
Join the experts for a series of workshops and seminars throughout Ohio for property owners, animal lovers, gardeners and food enthusiasts.  Get back to basics with your land and food, and make the most of your property, whether it?s a patio downtown or 50 acres in rural Ohio.  The Grow & Know series will offer something for everyone. 
            Don?t miss the first session: 

                April 17, Malabar Farm, Lucas
                If you?ve got a few extra acres, but you?re not really sure what to do with it, attend this Grow & Know Day for several ideas!  The sessions are designed to help you in growing                your own food ? for you, your family and friends.

For more information on up-coming sessions and to register, visit:  http://ourohio.org/resources/grow-and-know/
 
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Announces  the 2010 Grow and Know Series