Dear colleague, There is still space available at this upcoming workshop. We would greatly appreciate your help in letting new and beginning farmers know about it. Please see the workshop brochure on-line at http://www.uvm.edu/wagn/womeninag.html. With thanks, Beth Holtzman 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. ### __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3300 (20080725) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ******************************** Beth Holtzman Women's Agricultural Network 617 Comstock Rd. Berlin, VT 05602 [log in to unmask] 802-223-2389 ext. 15 ******************************