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!
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:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blueridgepermaculturenetwork/
Best,
Christine, Terry and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
Best,
Christine, Terry and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
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
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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!
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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
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4.
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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.
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5.
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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
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6.
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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.
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7.
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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.
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8.
from our friends at Transition Cville:
*******************
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!
*******************
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.
*******************
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.
*******************
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/
*******************
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.
*******************
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.
*******************
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.
*******************
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.
*******************
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!
*******************
Check out PEC’s Holiday Buy
Fresh/Buy Local Guide
Find out where to get local
Christmas trees, decorations, holiday foods, spirits, and more!
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