Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) EVENTS CALENDAR

Wooster, OH

Thursday, December 12, 2013
7 p.m.

Join OEFFA's Real FOOD Chapter to participate in a group seed order. Members will be putting together a seed order for Fedco to qualify for a bulk discount.

Local Roots Market
140 S. Walnut St., Wooster, OH

Contact:
Sheryl Billman / (440) 926-3114 /

Amesville, OH

Thursday, December 12, 2013
10am - 4pm

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Agriculture educators and farmers looking to become peer-to-peer educators are invited to join Rural Action to replicate and teach the Green Edge model of year-round production in their home regions. This intensive workshop series equips agriculture educators with the tools needed to pass on high tunnel guidance to their constituents. All agriculture educators are encouraged to attend, with mileage reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. RSVP by December 5.

Green Edge Organic Gardens, 16232 Henry Rd., Amesville, OH

Contact:
Tom Redfern / 740-677-4047 /

http://www.ruralaction.org

Athens, OH

Thursday, December 12, 2013
5:30 - 7pm

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Join Badger Johnson of Integration Acres as he shares his love and know-how when it comes to fermented foods!

Free to CFI Members, $5 for non-members

ACEnet, 94 Columbus Rd., Athens, OH

Contact:
Community Food Initiatives / 740-593-5971 /

Wooster, OH

Saturday, December 14, 2013
7:30am - 3:30pm

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Sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, as well as other industry partners, the day-long symposium is part of an ongoing effort to help sheep and goat producers continue to improve their operations.

The program is open to beginner, intermediate and advanced sheep and goat producers.

The keynote speaker for the symposium will be Jack Fisher, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, who will speak on, “Celebrating Ohio’s Water Resources - What can small ruminant (sheep and goat) farmers do to help solve Ohio’s nutrient management issue?”

Registration includes the entire program and a lamb lunch. Registration is $50 per family and $30 per individual for OSIA members or $70 per family and $50 per individuals for nonmembers by Nov. 22. Registrations after that date are an additional $10.

OARDC Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH

Contact:
/ 614-246-8299

http://www.ohiosheep.org

Marysville, OH

Sunday, December 15, 2013
2pm

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Learn the basics about herbs and their medicinal uses. Cost: $40.

Mockingbird Meadows Herbal Health Farm, 16671 Burns Rd., Marysville, OH

Contact:
www.mockingbirdmeadows.com / 614-354-5162

Granville, OH

Wednesday, December 18, 2013
7 - 9pm

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Erin Harvey of The Kale Yard will be teaching a year-long series of 12 gardening classes, which covers topics from garden planning, seed starting and cover cropping, to permaculture, harvesting, and season extension. It also bridges garden and kitchen, with post-harvest handling techniques, lacto-fermentation and other preservation methods.

More than just a class, Veggie School includes field trips, ongoing support, a community of like-minded gardeners, and a celebration at the end of the year.

Classes are held the third Wednesday of each month.

Sign up for 6, 9, or all 12 classes in the series: 6 classes: $175, 9 classes: $250, 12 classes: $320, add an extra class later: $30

The Going Green Store, 909 River Rd., Granville OH

Contact:
Erin Harvey / 740-808-9908 /

http://www.thegoinggreenstore.com

Granville, OH

Wednesday, December 18, 2013
7 - 9pm

Open/Close

Erin Harvey of The Kale Yard will be teaching a year-long series of 12 gardening classes, which covers topics from garden planning, seed starting and cover cropping, to permaculture, harvesting, and season extension. It also bridges garden and kitchen, with post-harvest handling techniques, lacto-fermentation and other preservation methods.

More than just a class, Veggie School includes field trips, ongoing support, a community of like-minded gardeners, and a celebration at the end of the year.

Classes are held the third Wednesday of each month.

Sign up for 6, 9, or all 12 classes in the series: 6 classes: $175, 9 classes: $250, 12 classes: $320, add an extra class later: $30

The Going Green Store, 909 River Rd., Granville OH

Contact:
Erin Harvey / 740-808-9908 /

http://www.thegoinggreenstore.com

Columbus, OH

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 through Wednesday, December 18, 2013
7:30am - 8pm

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Sheep producers can learn innovative new techniques to produce consistent, high quality lamb and how to better market their specialty meats during a two-day course. The course will be taught by livestock experts from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and industry experts.

The Lamb 509 short course is designed to help producers increase sales and improve their financial bottom line through hands-on training in the value-determining factors that influence prices received for market lambs and lamb products. Participants will learn about muscle quality attributes affecting lamb, as well as the management, environmental, nutritional, and genetic factors that contribute to muscle quality deficiencies.

Other workshop topics will include:
--Live animal evaluation
--Ultrasound evaluation and demo
--Grid pricing
--Lamb harvest
--Grading procedures
--Carcass and retail fabrication
--Processing and product development
--Retail product discussion
--Open discussion
--Review live, carcass, and retail values

Registration includes the program, all meals, materials and parking. Registration is $125 per person.

Sponsored by OSU Extension, CFAES’ Department of Animal Sciences, the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, and Ohio Sheep Improvement Association.

2029 Fyffe Rd., OSU Animal Sciences Building, Columbus, OH

Contact:
/ 614-246-8299

http://www.ohiosheep.org

Free Online Webinar

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will host a day-long tax webinar and workshop for those who want to learn more about federal tax law changes and updates they may encounter when filing 2013 tax returns for farmers. The six-hour program will focus on special issues specific to farm tax returns related to agriculture and natural resources and is open to tax preparers as well as individuals who file their own farm taxes.

The cost for the one-day school is $125. Registration includes the Agricultural Tax Issues Book. The deadline to register is Dec. 5.

The live webinar, which will also feature a real-time Q&A, can be viewed at several host locations statewide and will include lunch. New this year is the option to view the webinar from home for those who aren’t able to attend a host location. For those who choose not to attend the host location, a web address of the webinar will be sent to those who have registered.

Host locations include:
Ashtabula County: OSU Extension Office 39 Wall St., Jefferson

Auglaize County: OSU Extension Office 208 S. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta

Champaign County: OSU Extension Office 1512 S U.S. Highway 68, Suite B100, Urbana

Darke County: OSU Extension Office 603 Wagner Ave., Greenville

Noble County: OSU Extension South Central Region Office 16714 Wolf Run Road, Caldwell

Putnam County: OSU Extension Office 1206 E. Second St., Ottawa

Ross County: OSU Extension Office 475 Western Ave., Chillicothe

Wayne County: ATI Campus - Skou Hall 1328 Dover Road, Wooster

Wyandot County: Elks Lodge 320 E. Wyandot Ave. Upper Sandusky

Contact:
gearhardt.5@osu.edu / 614-292-2433

http://www.go.osu.edu/taxschools

Marysville, OH

Saturday, December 21, 2013
5pm

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Learn about homesteading through dinner and conversation. Cost: $60.

Mockingbird Meadows Herbal Health Farm, 16671 Burns Rd., Marysville, OH

Contact:
www.mockingbirdmeadows.com / 614-354-5162

Granville, OH

Monday, January 13, 2014
7-9 p.m.

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Join OEFFA's Heart of Ohio Chapter for a discussion about cultivating practices. Topics will include raised beds, strip beds, use of low tunnels, use of shade cloth, seed germination, planting practices, and soil preparation. Speakers and more details TBA.

The meeting will begin with a short business meeting (30 minutes), followed by the program (90 minutes). The program discussion will be geared toward both the urban gardener/farmer and the rural gardener/farmer.

Granville District Office
130 N. Granger St., Granville, OH

Contact:
Chuck Dilbone / (740) 587-8114 /

http://www.oeffa.org/chapters

Erie County, OH

Tuesday, January 14, 2014
9:00am – 4:00pm

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Growers who want to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion and cut down on nutrient losses may want to consider using cover crops such as oilseed radish, cereal rye, or Austrian winter pea and crimson clover. Jim Hoorman, an Ohio State University Extension educator and an assistant professor studying cover crops and water quality issues, will hold a workshop, “Using Cover Crops to Improve Soil Health,” on Nov. 14 and Dec.10, 2013 and on Jan. 14, 2014. The workshop will offer growers an advanced, marathon session on cover crops, with the opportunity to work hands-on with soils and seeds and learn about specific cover crops.

Topics for the daylong workshop include:
-- ECO Farming: Ecological Farming Practices
-- Soil Ecology and Nutrient Recycling
-- Using Cover Crops to Adapt to Extreme Weather
-- Biology of Soil Compaction
-- Soil Demonstrations
-- Economics of Cover Crops
-- Using the Cover Crop Selector Tool
-- Raising Homegrown Nitrogen
-- Using Grasses and Brassica in Your Crop Rotation
-- Open Discussion: Using Cover Crops in a Crop Rotation

The registration cost is $30 and includes lunch, handouts, fact sheets and a new Cover Crop Field Guide.

Erie County, Location TBD

Contact:
hoorman.1@osu.edu / 419-523-6294

Caldwell, OH

Thursday, January 16, 2014
6 - 8pm

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Aging farmers who want to gain insight and tips on how to remain productive in agriculture, continue gardening and stay active outdoors can learn tips and techniques from the Ohio AgrAbility Program at Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences during a workshop designed to address the evolving needs of older farmers, titled “I’m Not as Young as I Used To Be.”

The workshop will feature discussions on mobility, managing arthritic limitations, planning a productive day, applying Universal Design concepts to the whole property, and showcasing adaptive tools and equipment. Topics to be discussed during the workshop include: Safety tips and techniques for older farmers; the availability of assisted technology that can be used on farms and for gardening; and tricks of the trade for aging limitations. The workshop is free and open to the public.

OSU Extension South Central Regional Office, 16714 Wolf Run Rd., Caldwell, OH

Contact:
mcguire.225@osu.edu / 614-292-0588

http://www.agrability.osu.edu

Amesville, OH

Thursday, January 16, 2014
10am - 4pm

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Rural Action and Green Edge Organic Gardens present another in their intensive workshop series that equips agriculture educators with the tools needed to pass on high tunnel guidance and outreach to their constituents across the state and nation. Focus on winter production during this session. All agriculture educators are encouraged to attend.

Green Edge Organic Gardens, Amesville, OH

Contact:
Tom Redfern / 740-677-4047 /

Sandusky, OH

Monday, January 20, 2014 through Wednesday, January 22, 2014

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This year’s OPGMA conference will include a trade show and 40 sessions aimed at solving your growing problems, addressing your marketing challenges, and keeping your food safe for consumers.

Kalahari Convention Center, Sandusky, OH

Contact:

http://opgma.org/?q=congress

Amesville, OH

Thursday, January 23, 2014
10am - 4pm

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Rural Action and Green Edge Organic Gardens present another in their intensive workshop series that equips agriculture educators with the tools needed to pass on high tunnel guidance and outreach to their constituents across the state and nation. Focus on advanced topics for previous attendees and experienced educators during this session. Past introductory session attendees and educators experienced with high tunnels are encouraged to attend.

Green Edge Organic Gardens, Amesville, OH

Contact:
Tom Redfern / 740-677-4047 /