Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Upcoming events

Greetings all,

Below is an awesome collection of upcoming permaculture, sustainability and farming events in the central Virginia bioregion, including an opportunity to support Acorn Community and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.  If you know anyone else that would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can sign up here.  If you have an announcement, email us at blueridgepermaculture@gmail.com for the next monthly e-newsletter. Click here to view this email as a webpage.  Happy Holidays!

Also – check out the BRPN Facebook page and feel free to post:


1.
Our good friends at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange experienced a devastating fire a couple of weeks ago and are asking for help in rebuilding their home. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/acorn-community-s-post-arson-repairs/x/5251225?show_todos=true. Southern Seed Exchange is a vital organization committed to preserving and promoting healthy seeds, heirlooms and great species of foods and medicines that are otherwise hard to come by.  There is 11 days left to make a donation in this important campaign.


2.
Sacred Plant Traditions
Weekend Foundations of Herbalism Program -2014
This program is for those wishing to help their friends and families maintain health, deepen their plant knowledge or begin the training as a community herbalist. The curriculum is dynamic, contemplative and provides a sense of community as we move through the seasons learning each step of the process. 


3.
Virginia Association of Biological Farming
VABF Conference Early Registration Deadline Extended

Richmond-Midlothian, VA  - Jan. 31 - Feb. 1

We are making it easy to be early! The Early Registration Deadline for the Virginia Biological Conference has been extended to December 15th. Don't miss out on the special early rate - click here to register today!

Pre-Conference Workshops
Richmond-Midlothian, VA  - Jan. 30

Also, take a look at our intensive pre-conference workshops. The following three day-long workshops require a separate ticket purchase and have limited space available.
      Wholesale Success - FamilyFarmed.org
      Profitable Management of a Diversified Organic Vegetable & Flower Farm - Stacy Brenner & John Bliss, Broadturn Farm
      Biodynamic Gardening & Beekeeping - Gunther Hauk, Spikenard Farm & Honeybee Sanctuary


4.
Southern SAWG Annual Conference
Mobile, AL - January 15-18, 2014

This year's  Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference, sponsored by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) will take place at the  Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, AL.  Events start on Wednesday January 15,  with a choice of four Short Courses (lasting 1 1/2 days, ending Thursday at noon). 

The general conference on Friday and Saturday offers the usual wide range of breakout session topics, and networking opportunities by state and by interest area.  See attached flyer for more -  note that the featured speakers includes VABF member Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.  For more information or early bird registration (through December 20), click here.


5.
2014 Growers Academy
Roanoke, VA
February 25 – April 1 • Tuesdays, 6-9 pm
March 15 and March 29 • Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm

The Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center is offering the fifth annual Growers’ Academy, an  8-session series specifically designed to help new and transitioning agricultural businesses succeed. Focused on sustainable farming methods and business models, the course presents low-input crop production techniques and resources for launching your own agribusiness. Instructors include resource professionals and farm business owners. The Tuesday evening classes are offered at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center in the Roanoke Higher Education Building at 108 North Jefferson Street; the Saturday sessions consist of farm tours at nearby locations.

Topics include:
      Planning for Success: What it takes to start a farm business
      Healthy, Living Soils
      Organic Management of Pests and Diseases
      Business Plans, Startup, and Implementation
      Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for food safety
      Marketing Strategies for Your Business
      Crops and Crop Planning
      Farm Tours
Tuition for this 8-session course is $225.
Limited scholarships are available, please inquire.


Josh Nease
Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Manager
108 N. Jefferson Street, Suite 701, Roanoke, VA 24016
Phone: (540) 553-2311 or jnease@vt.edu


6.
Whole Farm Planning Workshops - VSU Beginning Farmer Program
Jan. 9th 2014 - Greenville Co. Ex-tension Office,105 Oak St., Emporia, VA. 23847 (Preregister by 1/3/14)
Jan. 24th 2014 - R T Arnold Library, 110 E. Danville St., South Hill, VA 23970 (Preregister by1/17/14)
Feb. 6th 2014 - Wedgewood Golf Center, 2131 Mountain Rd., Halifax, Va. 24558 (Preregister by 1/31/14)
Feb. 20th 2014 - Surry Co. Extension Office, 45 School St., Surry Gov. Center, Surry, Va 23883 (Preregister by 1/14/14)

The VSU Small Farm Outreach Program is proud to invite you to our new VSU Beginning Farmer Program Workshops. These workshops will cover the materials included in Module 1, Intro to Whole Farm Planning, of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program.

These workshops will be free and open to any Beginning Farmer (producer who has operated a farm or ranch for less than 10 years).  The Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program requires completion of Module 1, Intro to Whole Farm Planning, as a requirement for participation in the Virginia Farm Mentoring Program.

Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. All workshops will be from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Visit the VBFRCP website to learn more about our whole farm planning curriculum, mentoring, and state-wide programming.

Please register with Jim Hankins at jhankins@vsu.edu or call (804) 892-4492.


7.
Position Available: Farm Apprentice

Strawberry Creek Farm is in need of an apprentice for the 2014 season, running from March through October.
Strawberry Creek Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown CSA and Farmers' Market operation in the Chatham, VA area. We would have housing (a late model motorhome with heat, air and wifi), limited use of the company pick up, stipend of $500.00 a month for a 5 day work week, and all the produce, greens and eggs one could eat. Valid drivers; license and character references are a must.  The farm is in the beautiful foothills of southern Virginia, on White Tail Mountain. Please send resume or general info to Warren Landis at strawberrycreekfarm@hotmail.com.


8.
from our friends at Transition Cville:


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Better Business Challenge 2013-2014
From Better World Betty. The Challenge is a friendly competition that helps local organizations incorporate sustainable, smart practices into their operations – and be recognized for it. Central Virginia businesses, school, churches and non-profits can lower their environmental footprint and save money by reducing waste within their operations. More info at www.cvillebetterbiz.org. Do you know a business who could benefit? Download this flyer and let them know!

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Wednesday 12/11 Workshop:  Providing for the Full Eating Season
3-6pm at the Albemarle County Office Building, Room A, 1600 5th St.
The market for fresh food doesn’t end with the warm weather—people eat year-round! Join the Local Food Hub to learn how to produce a consistent supply of produce throughout the year.  The first half of the class will explain how to plan sowing dates for continuous supplies of popular summer crops, such as beans, squash, cucumbers and sweet corn, as well as year round lettuce. The second half will tackle growing at the “back end” of the year, with details on crops, timing, protection and storage.  Learn more about cold-hardy crops, scheduling, weather prediction, protection, hoophouse growing and vegetable storage.  This workshop will be taught by Pam Dawling, a writer for Growing for Market magazine and Twin Oaks Community vegetable gardener.   Register at: farmservices@localfoodhub.org.  $25.

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Friday 12/13 Mothers and Daughters Gift-Making Group
4-6pm at River's Edge Wellness Center, 330 Winding River Lane
For mothers and daughters of all ages:  Initiate the winter holidays creatively and meditatively within the beauty and calm of nature.  Group gift activities include nature walks, natural found objects collections with mindfulness meditation, yoga-movement-flow, music and dance, puppetry & theatre-arts with nature-art/recycled-art.  Expressive art practices will include drawing/doodling, painting, and/or writing.  For more information call Linda at (434)296-1338 or email linda@naturewellnessprograms.com.  Cost for 2 is $70 ($90 includes supplies), optional scholarship donation beyond $70. Full/partial scholarships may be available.

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Friday 12/13 Film: Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth
7pm at Greene County Library, 222 Main St., Stanardsville, VA 22973
Presented by Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population (ASAP). This groundbreaking documentary challenges our belief that prosperity and fulfillment require growth. It asks the most critical question of our time: How do we become a sustainable civilization? Jack Marshall, Board member of ASAP, will be on hand to briefly introduce the film and field your questions. https://www.facebook.com/events/228227227350682/

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Tuesday 12/17 Holiday Potluck with Transition Cville, 350 Central Virginia, Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, Better World Betty, and more
6:30-8:30pm at the Friends Meeting House, 1104 Forest St.
Come celebrate the holiday season with all of your favorite green groups!  Bring a dish to share and head over to meet people who enjoy your interests.  If you can, bring your own place setting to green it up a notch.  Please RSVP to dana.tornabene@gmail.com.

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Wednesday 12/18 Arts Incubator Meetup
6:30pm at McGuffey Art Center
Building on their last successful meeting, The Bridge PAI is continuing this monthly opportunity for a broad group of artists, designers, musicians and writers to share experiences and ideas. Revolutionary Soup will generously provide the soup. Nourish your art and body at the same time.

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Saturday 12/21 The Big Giveaway
2-4pm at First Baptist Church, 632 W. Main St.
This holiday season the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club is assisting the local nonprofit Helping Young People Evolve (H.Y.P.E.) in the third annual “Big Giveaway.”  This event will provide coats and shoes to families in need in our community. Last year 700 coats were given away.  This year the goal is to collect 1000 coats and 250 pairs of shoes of various sizes.  Hats, gloves, sweaters, and scarves will also be accepted. If you have new or gently used coats, shoes, or other items that you would like to donate, please contact John Cruickshank at jcruickshank4@gmail.com or (434) 973-0373.

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Support Opportunity: Rivanna Conservation Society needs your help!
The Rivanna Conservation Society is delighted to announce that it is the recipient of a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Small Watershed Grant.  The Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has approved a grant of $153,360 to the Rivanna Conservation Society, Inc. to support the Going X-Stream - The Rivanna River Makeover project. This grant is provided on the condition that these funds will be matched by $47,925 in matching contributions raised by the Rivanna Conservation Society, Inc.  Please visit http://www.razoo.com/story/The-Rivanna-Conservation-Society to help out our regional water system.

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Monday 12/23 is the fourth Monday of the month, and normally that means it’s time for our monthly Transition Town Potluck at the library. This month, we are taking time off to celebrate the holidays, spend time with family, and enjoy a meditative winter season. Please join us instead at the Holiday Potluck party on Tues. 12/17. We will see you in the New Year!

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Check out PEC’s Holiday Buy Fresh/Buy Local Guide
Find out where to get local Christmas trees, decorations, holiday foods, spirits, and more!