Michigan State University Student Organic Farm Field Days The MSU SOF with support from the USDA Risk Management Agency is featuring two farm field days this summer to highlight two sustainable production strategies for small scale and limited resource specialty crop farmers. Hoophouses and Passive Solar Greenhouses for Protected Cultivation Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:00am to 4:00pm Workshop will include: Design options for a range of costs and sizes Construction methods including cold frames and small scale build your own Crop selection and scheduling Soil preparation, building soil organic matter and fertility management Planting, growing and harvesting methods We expect to be harvesting tomatoes Presented by: Adam Montri, MSU and MIFFS Hoophouse Outreach Specialist Dr. John Biernbaum, MSU Professor of Horticulture **AND ** Edible Forest Gardening: Intensive Perennial and Annual Permaculture Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:00am to 4:00pm Workshop will include: Introduction to principles of the edible forest garden and permaculture Mimicking a natural forest ecosystem, guilds, three dimensional planning Comparison of a forest, orchard, annual vegetable, and mixed polyculture settings The MSU Edible Forest Garden Design and Planting; a 0.75 acre diverse planting Selection of perennial tree fruit, nut, small fruit and herbs for the edible forest garden Presented by: Jay Tomczak, MSU Graduate Student and Certified Permaculturalist Dr. John Biernbaum, MSU Professor of Horticulture * Location: Both workshops will take place at the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm, located at the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center, 3291 College Road, Holt, MI 48842 (Just south of I96 and east of 127 on the MSU Campus) We will be outside for the majority of the day, so be sure to wear hats, sunblock and work shoes. Please also bring rain gear if needed. There will be some classroom presentations mid-day, and resource materials will be provided Registration: Preregistration is required as enrollment is limited. To register, contact Adam Montri at [log in to unmask] or 517-432-3381. Please plan to bring your own lunch. A walk-in cooler is available to refrigerate lunches. Fresh vegetables and water will be provided. These workshops are supported by the USDA Risk Management Agency. 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://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/ http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/ If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html