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 is at Hiram College Kennedy Center Ballroom, 2nd Floor (11730 Garfield Road, Hiram, OH 44234) from 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.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Permaculture Meeting at the Spore
Come to meet your permaculture buddies! Come to get involved in a permaculture project in the Columbus area! Spring is coming so there's going to be a lot we can do! Do you want to build a rain garden, a permaculture food garden? Do you want to install a rain barrel or a greywater system? Do you want to give a talk or workshop to pass on your skills? These are the people to talk to. If we don't have the skills yet, then we're going to get them! Meeting begins at 7 pm. Location: Spore Infoshop, 172 E. 5th Ave., Columbus Contact: Geoffrey Tolle <Gtolle0709@wowway.com>. Don't forget to spread the word if you'd like to carpool.
 
Registration deadline is February 12, 2010
“Futuring the Dairy Farm Business: In, Out, Moving Ahead”
OSU Extension will offer a dairy workshop on February 17, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shisler Center on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center campus in Wooster, Ohio. The workshop will provide the tools producers need to evaluate their current business position and make informed and effective decisions to meet the farm’s short and long-term objectives.

Topics being covered include calculating cost of production, milk price outlook, managing milk prices at the farm level, and legal issues. Speakers include: Eric Meyer, a risk management consultant with Downes-O’Neill, FCStone; Cameron Thraen, an OSU Extension agricultural economist; Warren Graeff, a market manager in agri-banking for PNC Bank; Peggy Hall, director of the OSU Ag and Rural Law Program; Paul Wright, an attorney for Wright Law Company; and Dianne Shoemaker, an OSU Extension dairy management specialist.

The first 100 reservations are fully covered by sponsor support. Reservations for industry personnel and producer reservations after the first 100 seats have been reserved will be accepted at $30 per person. For more information, or to register, contact the OSU Extension office in Wayne County at 330-264-8722 or e-mail lingle.1@osu.edu.

Friday, February 12, 2010
Introduction to Growing Organically
Join team members from OSU’s Organic Food and Farm Education and Research program to learn the fundamentals of growing organically, including integrated pest management and organic weed management. Session taught by OSU Specialist’s Deb Stinner, Joe Kovach and John Cardina. Lunch and materials provided. This session is targeted to commercial growers, not for home gardeners. OCNT Credits. Program is $30 and runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Furnace Run Metro Park, Richfield. This is part of OSU Extension’s Summit County & the Western Reserve Area Horticulture and Agriculture Workshop Series.  For program questions, contact Denise Ellsworth at: ellsworth.2@osu.edu or 330-928-4769 ext 21.

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Master Gardener Home Gardener Series
The Franklin County Master Gardener Home Gardener Series offers a class on Annuals with Bart Hayes, OSU Annuals Trials coordinator, and master gardener Sue Jolley. To register, contact Cory Skurdal at 247-6046 or mailto:skurdal.1@osu.edu.
 
Friday, February 19, 2010
Greenhouse Growers’ Update
Join OSU Floriculture Specialists Claudio Pasian and Beth Fausey ­ along with fellow growers ­for an update on current issues and innovations in the greenhouse. Lunch and materials provided. This session is from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Furnace Run Metro Park, Richfield. Session qualifies for private ODA recertification credits for category 6, and OCNT credits. Program is $30. For program questions, contact Denise Ellsworth at: ellsworth.2@osu.edu or 330-928-4769 ext 21.

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.

Saturday, February 20, 2010
Herbs: Site Preparation, Design, Plant Selection, and Maintenance
Site preparation, design, plant selection, and maintenance with Franklin County Master Gardener Sue Jolley. Location: Wittmeyer Conference Room, Waterman Farm 2490 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210. Class is from 9 am -12 noon. Class descriptions, maps, directions, and parking information available at: franklin.osu.edu/topics/master-gardener-volunteer-program. Registration fees: $40 per class. Register for four classes (winter, spring, summer, fall) in a single e-mail or phone call and save $10 on total registration fee. Register by email or phone: contact Cory Skurdal, Master Gardener Program Assistant, OSU Extension, Franklin County 614-247-6046 or email skurdal.1@osu.edu.

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.

Tuesday,Food Safety Update Workshop
February 23, 2010
Ohio State University Extension will offer two workshops this winter as part of its Farmers’ Market series for those interested in learning about food safety and direct marketing. The workshop will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust Street, Owensville, Ohio. Guest speaker will be Kathleen Cooper, a food safety specialist with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Cooper will cover such topics as food rules and regulations, meat labeling and egg labeling. She will also lead a question and answer session. The cost of each workshop is $5 per person and can be paid at the door, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP to ensure enough materials are provided. For more information or to RSVP, contact Latham Farley, OSU Extension educator, at (513) 732-7070 or e-mail farley.142@cfaes.osu.edu.
 

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Marketing/Branding Food Products Seminar

The Center for Innovative Food Technology and the Agricultural Incubator Foundation (AIF) is hosting a seminar to discuss marketing and branding food products.
Leslie Schaller of the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, Inc. (ACEnet), will present Foods We Love, which will prove informative and beneficial for start-up companies.  She will discuss the impacts associated with applying a brand to products, the correlation between producers and consumers, and the benefits of maintaining a consistent message on promotional materials.
ACEnet, located in Athens, Ohio, is known nationally as a leader in helping businesses turn their product idea into a reality.  Their food product development and manufacturing sector provides a shared-use facility for more than 150 caterers, bakeries, restaurants and other food businesses every year.

The seminar is from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Agricultural Incubator Foundation, 13737 Middleton Pike, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
Registration Fee - $25.00/person or $40/two guests
Cash or check only. Please make checks payable to: Agricultural Incubator Foundation. No credit cards accepted.
For additional contact and registration information, please contact Paula at 419.823.3099 or pray@eisc.org.

Thursday, February 25, 2010 
Meet Your Farmers: A Community Supported Agriculture Fair
Representatives from several local farms, including Wayward Seed Farm, will be in the café at the Wexner Center to speak with guests individually about the virtues and possibilities of community supported agriculture (CSA). Learn more about the simplicity of finding food raised close to home in a relaxed and conversational atmosphere. You’ll also be able to sample snacks from several of the farms. Event is from 5:00 - 7:00PM in the Film/Video Theater at the Wexner Center at OSU Columbus. Presented in collaboration with Wayward Seed Farm and Local Matters. This event is presented in conjunction with the Field & Screen film series. For more information, see http://wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=4471.

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:

• 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!  For up-to-date information, visit:  http://www.ifoh.org/
 
March 12-13, 2010
Opening Doors to Success Small Farm Conference and Tradeshow
The conference will feature 40 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers.  The conference kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on March 12 with a session dedicated to organic production.  The program is co-sponsored by OSU Extension Small Farm Program, Wilmington College, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agriculture Statistic Service and Rural Development.  Registration is $20 for March 12, $50 for March 13, or $60 for both days. Registration deadline is:  March 2.  For more information, visit:  http://clinton.osu.edu/top-stories/opening-doors-to-success, or contact OSU Extension educator Tony Nye at 937-382-0901, nye.1@osu.edu. 
 
Mark Your Calendars
March 27, 2010:  Northeast Ohio Small Farmer Conference and Trade Show
 
On-Going Events and Other Announcements
 
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Announces  the 2010 Grow and Know Series
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/

OSU Extension Winter & Spring Programs –Summit County, Western Reserve Area
OSU Extension is proud to offer this selection of workshops to professionals in the horticulture and agriculture fields. Most programs are conveniently located in Richfield (northern Summit County), at two sites with easy access to major freeways. Continuing Education credits are offered for many sessions, including ODA pesticide credits and ISA arborist CEUs. All sessions qualify for OCNT (Ohio Certified Nursery Technician) credits.
Programs include high tunnels, greenhouse update, pruning, organic production and urban farming. For complete offerings and to register, visit:  http://summit.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/2010-program-guide/diseases%20of%20ornamentals%20PDF.pdf
Of Special Interest:
•Introduction to Growing Organically, February 12
•Greenhouse Growers’ Update, February 19
•Summit Urban Farming Initiative, An Intensive Urban Farm Management Program, March 11 - April 22
•High Tunnels 101, April 16

OSU Course  - Rural Sociology 733 Spring 2010 - Sociology of Agriculture and Food Systems
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 AM to 12:18 PM
Classroom: Agricultural Administration Building, Room 205
Call # 26813                                      5 credits
Instructor: Jeff S. Sharp
A central theme of the course will be to understand the the emergence, development and future of local food systems. Specific subsections of the course will examine social theories that seek to understand the evolution of the agricultural system; research examining the impacts of agricultural change on farmers, communities, and society; exploration of the role of ethnicity in shaping the structure of agriculture; the growing importance of grades, standards, and transnational supermarket chains in shaping the food system, and a critical examination of alternative agricultural and food systems.  The course will generally be conducted as a seminar and students will be encouraged to actively participate in a synthetic discussion of the material.  Course requirements include participation in discussion, facilitation of discussion and abstract writing for two class sessions, a farm and/or food system related group project, and a final paper on a subject of the students choice.
 
Call for Papers for Local Food Systems in Old Industrial Regions: Challenges and Opportunities Conference
The conference aims to bring together both academics and practitioners to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise with regard to developing and maintaining local food systems in old industrial regions. While this conference is sponsored by the International Geographical Union we are particularly interested in participation from individuals in a variety of academic disciplines (including, but not limited to, geography, planning, public policy, public health, environmental science, horticulture, women and gender studies, sociology, anthropology, and economics.)
For a list of topics for papers and more information on the conference, please see: http://uac.utoledo.edu/igu_commission/ToledoMC2010-Home.htm.
April 2, 2010:  Deadline for 300-word abstract.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Land Protection Resources Meeting