11. Yes you can
can! A workshop on canning food
Anxious to learn how to benefit from
nature's fall bounty all winter long? Join us for "Canning 101 – Applesauce," to learn hands-on
how to make and preserve your own applesauce, on Nov. 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed
Church, 514 Eastern S.E, Grand Rapids. All participants will leave with their own
jars of applesauce to take home.
The workshop is sponsored by Mixed
Greens, a school gardening project – "Growing Kids Who Grow Gardens" (www.mixedgreens.org)
– and made possible by funding from
the Wege Foundation. The Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council (www.foodshed.net)
assisted.
The registration fee of $10 includes
equipment, jars, materials, apples and all necessary ingredients. (Scholarships
are available.)
Space is
limited so RSVP soon by e-mail to [log in to unmask] or by calling
616-301-3592. For more information on scheduling private canning classes,
please call 231-578-0873 or e-mail [log in to unmask].
12. A chance to share innovative approaches to farming and marketing
If your 2006
growing year has something to crow about you may want to create a poster for
the 2006 Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo. Perhaps you started a CSA this
year and are very happy with the impact it has on your community or you have
implemented a new cover crop program on your farm that you would like to share
with farmers. This is your chance to create a 4 x 4 display and present it at
the GLFV expo in Grand Rapids on Dec 5-7. This opportunity not only offers you
a chance to share and interact with others on a one on one basis but it also
offers you a reduced registration of $5.00 for the expo. So if this is of
interest please read on…. The poster does not have to be of research but
it does need to contain explanation and photographs with a professional
appearance.
The 2006 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO is scheduled for
December 5-7 at DeVos Place Convention Center. The poster session is an
extremely valuable part of the Expo as a means of showcasing your research and
extension information and meeting one-on-one with Expo attendees, many of whom
have had a stake in financially supporting our MAES and MSUE efforts. The
poster session location in the Grand Concourse of the DeVos Convention Center
provides a high visibility area that all Expo attendees pass sooner or later.
Also, remember that poster contributors now
get complimentary registration for the presenting author.
Additionally, there is a special registration fee of only $5 each for all other
participants having an MSU I.D. - faculty, staff, extension agents, graduate
and undergraduate students, etc.
Please send your poster title(s), full
authorship, and the name and mail/email addresses of the presenting author (i.e.,
the person to receive the complimentary Expo registration) to me via email ([log in to unmask]) by NOVEMBER 17 (or sooner, if possible), so
that we can assure that there is enough space for everyone, can pre-assign
poster board sites and host times (see below), and can provide a list, map, and
schedule for attendees to use during the Expo. I need the presenter(s) name and address in a timely fashion
so that Expo organizers can prepare the complimentary registrations
appropriately. We cannot guarantee space and
complimentary registrations for last-minute submissions.
Also, please indicate a specific date and
time (at least 1 hour, but which day and time during the Expo is your choice)
during which you will be available to answer questions about your work.
If space becomes limited, we will have to
give priority to those who commit at least one of the authors to be present
during their chosen time. Certainly, you can spend more than
an hour, or can host your poster at more than one time, or have various authors
host the poster over the course of the Expo, but we need a commitment of at
least one hour to place on the list/map/schedule of posters that is expected to
be included in each Expo attendees registration information.
The poster area will be set up with backboards on which you can pin your
posters. Each poster (you may have more than one) will be allotted a 4 x
4 ft poster area, as in scientific meetings. If, for any reason, you have
a conflict arise for your self-scheduled time to host the poster, please indicate prominently on your poster the revised
or additional day(s) and time(s) that you will be available.
Attendees also have noted that they particularly appreciate it when posters are
accompanied by a folder or envelope containing pertinent brochures, reprints,
or 8.5x11" copies of the poster, providing an excellent way for your
clientele to retain the take home message of your efforts. Also, please
indicate on your poster the contact information for the corresponding
author(s), including email addresses and/or office phone numbers so that you
can be reached regarding any follow-up inquiries.
All are invited to present as many pertinent posters as they wish; however,
please also note that if you have been funded
during 2006 by the Michigan State Horticultural Society Trust Fund, you are
required to present the results of your project in either a scheduled oral
session or as a poster. Commercial products, advertising, and
reports developed by commercial companies will not be allowed as a poster (that
is why we have exhibit hall space). We are hoping to have the poster area
set up by late Monday afternoon so that early birds can put up their posters
prior to Tuesday morning; at the latest, please have your poster up by
mid-morning on Tuesday. Please plan to
keep your poster up from Tuesday through the end of the program sessions on
Thursday. We will be collecting all posters at the end
of the Expo on Thursday for return to their authors, so you should not remove your poster prematurely even
if you cannot be present on Thursday to take it down. All collected posters will be available for pick-up in
Room B18, National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, MSU campus, after the
Expo.
Please note the suggestions below regarding
content and manner of poster presentations to achieve the greatest impact in
this forum:
1 - Growers attending the meeting have limited viewing time.
2 - Make your poster colorful with plenty of photos and summary graphs, and
less text.
3 - Information presented in text form should be in a large font readable from
several feet away.
4 - Focus on presenting the highlights of the work or story.
What type of content is appropriate for a poster presentation at the Expo:
1 - Results of extension, demonstration, and research work.
2 - Summaries, from previous articles or scientific publications, transformed
into posters.
3 - Previously presented posters from other scientific and industry meetings.
4 - Michigan State Hort. Society Trust Fund project reports.
5 - Updated or revised extension advisories.
6 - Institutional promotional literature.
The Expo poster session is of critical importance to the program, because we
have a very limited number of hours of educational programming; therefore, oral
presentation timeslots are insufficient to communicate all that we do during
the course of the year for our clientele industries and stakeholders. The
Expo poster session compensates for the limited time, providing institutional
researchers and extension agents an opportunity to share their timely
information.
We look forward to learning of your work and projects at this year’s
session!
For the first time in the U.S. - The Internationally Acclaimed...
13. NTS Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture at ACRES Conference,
Dec 4, 5, 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota
Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS) are the undisputed leaders in high-production
biological agriculture in Australia, serving a client base of 15,000 farmers
and exporting to thirty five countries. Over the past six years many
hundreds of growers from around the world have attended the NTS Certificate in
Sustainable Agriculture course. Here are some of their comments:
"Thank you all for the most interesting
week. It was one of the most stimulating and satisfying seminars I have ever
attended" - Charl Geldenhuys, Research Scientist, New Zealand
"A thoroughly entertaining, information-packed few days which can be best
described as 'inspirational' and 'life-changing'" - Hennie Saaiman,
Consultant, South Africa
"It gave me the tools to change the way I farm and a reason why I should
change"
- Sandra Kirk, Tomato Grower, Qld Australia
This intensive 3 day course (with two evening sessions) covers 5 modules
including; Mineral Management, Microbe Management, Plant Management, Pest
Management and Human Health Management. Participants must successfully
pass all 5 modules (involving open book exams) to achieve their Certificate in
Sustainable Agriculture (a sought-after qualification). The presenters
are:
Writer/consultant, Graeme Sait, is
a world leader in high-production, biological agriculture, author of over 200
published papers and a best-selling book entitled "Nutrition Rules!".
Graeme's inspirational presentations are jam-packed with tips and techniques to
help build productivity, profitability and sustainability. His popular
human health presentations are often described as "life-changing"
Graeme is CEO of NTS, a trail blazing innovator working in 35 countries.
Ag Scientist, Joel Williams, is a
powerful, passionate presenter and a highly regarded biological
consultant. He is a skilled educator who has delivered numerous training
courses in Australia and beyond. Joel can provide expert advice in both
organic and conventional arenas, but he is a keen proponent of developing a
"functional hybrid" with a "best of both worlds
approach". He is head agronomist at NTS and responsible for the
popular Soil Therapy programs.
Day 1 - Mineral Management
Eight hours of presentations and workshops covering multiple aspects
of mineral nutrition in the soil, animals and humans including: productive
ratios, mineral stabilisation and magnification, chlorophyll management, trace
mineral nutrition, soil test analysis, fertiliser guidelines and the
"remineralisation imperative" for human health.
Day 1 - Evening Session - 90
minutes - Nutrition Rules and The Art of
Detox - Author/educator Graeme Sait delivers his thought-provoking
guidelines for proactive wellness including detox protocols.
Day 2 - Microbe Management
Discover how to house, feed and protect your microbial
workforce. Learn how to work with your soil biology using paramagnetism,
humates, compost teas, specialist inoculums and bio-stimulants. Understand
nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation and soil-life monitoring techniques
and realise the critical role of beneficial gut organisms in human health.
Day 2 - Evening Session - The Secrets of
Longevity - 90 min - An inspiring analysis of positive strategies to
achieve a happy, healthy, extended life.
Day 3 - Plant Management/Pest Management
Explore new crop monitoring tools, cutting-edge nutrition
technology, techniques to boost nutrient uptake and the use of natural hormones
and growth stimulants. Discover new techniques for non-toxic insect
management and poison-free control of disease and nematodes. This
absorbing 3 day seminar concludes with a human health workshop involving
several tests and a comprehensive personal health report card.
Date:
December 4th, 5th & 6th
Time:
8.30am - 5.00pm (& night
sessions)
Location:
Crowne Plaza St Paul, Riverfront, St Paul, Minnesota
Cost:
$470 (includes 300 page manual)
Registration: Fill out your registration form
online at www.nutri-tech.com.au , fax your details to +61 7 5472 9933, phone
+61 7 5472 9923 (office hours - Australian time) or email
[log in to unmask] and an NTS representative will contact you regarding
payment options. Registrations close 20 Nov or when fully booked. DON'T
MISS OUT!
Allan Balliett, HEN Friend, Fresh and Local CSA,
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
******************************************
14.
Animal Rights Initiatives A Little Scary Go Arizonia!! J
The most
publicized animal rights issue this fall was proposition 204 in Arizona which
prohibited veal crates for calves and gestation crates for pigs. A similar
initiative was passed regarding gestation crates in 2002, and was successful in
essentially eliminating the already small pig industry in Florida.
The animal rights movement has found a model for success and they took it to
Arizona where this measure passed by a whopping 61% of the vote. While the
agricultural industry was not prepared for the initiative in Florida, they were
well funded and well aware of the threat to their industries by this
initiative. But, they were simply outgunned on an issue that inherently has the
support of the public as they are not educated on the issue.
We can expect these initiatives to emerge at a more rapid pace, and agriculture
is going to have to figure out how to band together to counteract the massive
funding disadvantage that agriculture is going to have. If they pick each state
off one by one, step by step, they will have won not because of the correctness
of their agenda, but because of a vastly superior implementation of tactics and
strategy.
-- Troy Marshall
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
http://safs.msu.edu/
http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/