Dear colleague,
We would greatly appreciate your help in letting new and beginning 
farmers know about this upcoming workshop on veggie and other 
horticulture topics. Please see the workshop brochure on-line at 
http://www.uvm.edu/wagn/womeninag.html.
With thanks, Deb Heleba


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Women’s Agricultural Network, 802-233-2389, [log in to unmask]

Beginning Farmer Workshop Focuses on Small-Scale, Diversified Horticulture

South Londonderry -- New and beginning farmers will have the opportunity 
to learn practical information on production and marketing approaches 
for their small, diversified horticultural operations in a day-long 
workshop on August 7, 2008.

The workshop, called “From the Ground Up,” will be held at Anjali Farms 
and Lotus Moon Medicinals, a South Londonderry, Vermont certified 
organic farm producing heirloom vegetables, culinary and medicinal 
herbs, eggs, perennial fruit, and honey for direct retail markets.

The day will start with an introduction to the farm by owners Emmett 
Dunbar and Lini Mazumdar. After learning how the farm integrates its 
production, marketing and educational activities, participants will 
explore some strategies and systems in more depth. These include: direct 
marketing and agri-tourism strategies for “off-the-beaten-path” 
operations and for growing a farm business; soil management systems for 
building and maintaining soil fertility for horticultural crops with UVM 
Extension Vegetable and Berry Specialist Vern Grubinger; strategies for 
developing farm infrastructure, including barns, greenhouses, root 
cellars, and water sources for irrigation; and weed and other pest 
management strategies. The day will end with discussion of resources to 
support beginning farmers and time for questions and answers.

The workshop will run on August 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with on-site 
check-in starting at 8:45 a.m. It will be held rain or shine; 
participants are asked to dress accordingly. Participants should bring 
their own lunch; the workshop fee will cover materials, drinks and desserts.

Please be sure to register early as space is limited to 40; 
registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis. The 
fee is $25 per person and is due by July 29; after that date, the fee is 
$40 per person. To register, send your check, made payable to “UVM,” to 
 From the Ground Up, UVM Extension, 617 Comstock Road, Berlin, VT 05602. 
For more details, see the program brochure on-line at the “WAgN 
Workshops” website at uvm.edu/wagn.

The workshop is sponsored by University of Vermont Extension Women’s 
Agricultural Network and Center for Sustainable Agriculture with grant 
support from USDA-CSREES, USDA-RMA and the Northeast Center for Risk 
Management Education. UVM and USDA, cooperating, offer education and 
employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, 
gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation 
and marital or familial status. Individuals requiring accommodations or 
financial assistance to participate in this program should contact WAgN 
at [log in to unmask] or 802-223-2389 by July 29, 2008.

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