Columbus, OH
Sunday, October 6, 2019 through Sunday, February 9, 2020
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
The intensive, eight-part workshop series will enable farmers, with at least one year of production experience, to develop a whole farm plan through realistic goal setting, financial management, and assessment of resources, skills, and markets. Early career farmers will also receive the business planning tools necessary to successfully implement their plan.
The Heartland Farm Beginnings® program includes:
- 56 hours of farmer-led, community-based sustainable agriculture classroom education
- Course supplies (including a binder and reading materials)
- OEFFA Family Farm membership for one year
- Registration and lunches to attend the OEFFA conference (February 14-15, 2020)
- A passionate and like-minded cohort
- One-on-one mentorship with an experienced farmer, FSA Borrower Training Completion Certificate, and KIVA loan endorsement for qualified participants
- Guided development of a Growing Season Learning Plan
Cost: $1,000 ($1,200 for applications received after September 1, 2019) for up to two individuals from the same farm business working on the same business plan. Payment plans and partial scholarships of up to $500 are available.
Ready to learn more? Contact the Begin Farming Program Coordinator for an information packet including specific class topics, dates, and an application. Applications require a $75 deposit and will be accepted until September 20, 2019 or until the cohort fills.
Location:
OEFFA Office
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214
Contact:
Rachel Tayse / (614) 421-2022 / 
Cleveland OH
Saturday, January 25, 2020
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Come and swap heirloom and native seeds, rhizomes, and tubers with other gardeners across the bioregion. Learn, network and prepare for the gardening season ahead. Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about saving seeds and sharing their seed stories!
NO seeds required, but if you have them to share then please bring them! Feel like you need to bring something anyways? There will be a collection box for food items to donate to a local food pantry.
Envelopes, labels, markers, and seed saving knowledge is provided by the Cleveland Seed Bank. Everyone will leave with seeds, new garden friends and a renewed enthusiasm for seed saving!
Don't forget your sourdough starters, cheese and yogurt cultures, kefir grains and kombucha scoby to share. Also, house plants and plant cuttings have been added to the list of exciting things to swap.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a family & kid friendly event and an inclusive, anti-oppressive safe space for all humans.
Location:
St Patrick's Catholic Church
3606 Bridge Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
Plenty of street parking is available as well as a few spaces in the parking lot attached to St. Patrick's. Ohio City is accessible on the RTA Red Line (West 25th Street Station). Please visit www.riderta.com for schedules and fares.
Contact:
Kimberly Lessman / (614) 421-2022 /
Hebron KY
Saturday, January 25, 2020
7:30am - 5:00pm
Breakfast and lunch is included, and there will be several breaks to visit vendors and presenters, along with book signings.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-rogue-food-conference-tickets-63579774818?aff=OEFFA
Use the discount code OEFFA20 when you register for a special OEFFA members and supporters discount and receive $20 off the regular ticket price. There are a limited number of discounts available.
Location:
Marriott Cincinnati Airport
2395 Progress Drive
Hebron, KY 41048
Contact:
Joel Salatin / 540-885-3590 /
Athens, OH
Saturday, January 25, 2020
3:00 pm
Location:
Della Zona Bakehouse
270 E State St.
Athens, OH 45701
located next to Village Bakery
Contact:
Justin Hamlin / (740) 331-1488 /
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OEFFA.SEOhio.Chapter/?source_id=250560415334
Columbus, OH
Sunday, January 26, 2020
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location:
OEFFA Office
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214
Contact:
Carol Goland / (614) 421-2022 /
free online webinar
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
7:00pm - 8:00pm
They will share the challenges, rewards, and lessons lessons they have experienced from their years running successful educational events for farmers. They will also discuss considerations for the registration process, pricing, advertising and promotion, programming, and evaluation.
Location:
online webinar
Contact:
Larissa McKenna / (773) 525-4952 /
https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EE51DB86834930
Owensville OH
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
9:00am - 5:00pm
The course will cover basic produce safety; worker health, hygiene, and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water (both production and postharvest); postharvest handling and sanitation; and developing a farm food safety plan. Participants can expect to gain a basic understanding of: microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm; how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks; how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm; parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one; and requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
To receive a completion certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
There is no cost for in state residents, $85 for out of state. Regulation excluded and exempt growers are also welcome to register for the training.
There will be one hour for lunch (lunch is not provided)
Location:
OSU Extension Clermont County Office
100 Locust Street
Owensville, OH 45160
Contact:
Jordyn Brown / (614) 728-6250 /
https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/food-safety/news-and-events/all-events
Dalton OH
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
9:00am - 5:00pm
The course will cover basic produce safety; worker health, hygiene, and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water (both production and postharvest); postharvest handling and sanitation; and developing a farm food safety plan. Participants can expect to gain a basic understanding of: microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm; how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks; how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm; parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one; and requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
To receive a completion certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
There is no cost for in state residents, $85 for out of state. Regulation excluded and exempt growers are also welcome to register for the training.
There will be one hour for lunch (lunch is not provided)
Location:
Aaron Weaver Farm
5454 S. Mt. Eaton Road
Dalton, OH 44618
Contact:
Jordyn Brown / (614) 728-6250 /
https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/food-safety/news-and-events/all-events
Hamilton OH
Thursday, January 30, 2020
9:00am - 5:00pm
The course will cover basic produce safety; worker health, hygiene, and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water (both production and postharvest); postharvest handling and sanitation; and developing a farm food safety plan. Participants can expect to gain a basic understanding of: microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm; how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks; how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm; parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one; and requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
To receive a completion certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
There is no cost for in state residents, $85 for out of state. Regulation excluded and exempt growers are also welcome to register for the training.
There will be one hour for lunch (lunch is not provided)
Location:
OSU Extension Butler County Office
1802 Princeton Rd
Hamilton, OH 45011
Contact:
Jordyn Brown / (614) 728-6250 /
https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/food-safety/news-and-events/all-events
Columbus OH
Saturday, February 1, 2020 through Sunday, February 2, 2020
8:00am Saturday - 12:00pm Sunday
Eighteen sessions comprising 54 presentations will be available for attendees to choose from. Sessions are:
Advancing Aquaculture
Aquaculture BMP's
Aquaculture Business & Marketing
Aquaponics I & II
Culture Pond Management
Fish Health & Biosecurity
Fry & Fingerling Production
Getting Started in Aquaculture
North Central Regional Updates
Nutrition & Feeding
Percid Culture
RAS
Real World Farmer Experiences I & II
Regulatory Considerations
Sunfish / Bass Culture
Shrimp Culture
Location:
Crowne Plaza Columbus North Hotel
6500 Doubletree Ave
Columbus, OH 43229
Contact:
Bill Lynch / 614-604-8823 /
free online webinar
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Each session in this series requires a separate registration.
What can be learned from studying grazing systems which have been successful for decades? What do the plants in your pastures need so they can thrive, and become more productive and higher quality over time? This session will look at the practical application of basic guidelines of good grazing management and pasture ecosystem monitoring, based on plant physiology and soil health.
Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing, & Organic Dairy Production, is a nationally known speaker & consultant on grazing and organic livestock. She grew up on a Vermont family farm that used management-intensive grazing and mob stocking, later studying pasture management at the University of VT. Her approach as a consultant, writer and speaker is to take a practical approach to applying the science of grazing. Sarah has successfully helped many farmers create positive change in their pastures, soils, livestock, finances, and farm-family quality of life.
Location:
online webinar
Contact:
Larissa McKenna / (773) 525-4952 /
https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EE52DF85824E3C
Georgetown, OH
Sunday, February 9, 2020
1:45pm - 5:00pm
Followed by workshops and discussions on topics of interest to consumers, producers, and anyone with an interest in food policy:
Tools to form a Food Council
Starting a Rural Food Council: Lessons Learned
The Joys of Free Range Chickens and the Benefits of Free Range Eggs
Establishing an Animal Welfare Approved Processing Plant
Ohio Hemp Laws and Cultivation Practices
Successfully Growing Edible Figs in Southern Ohio
Bring your favorite seed catalogs and saved seeds to share during the break!
There is no charge for admission, and preregistration is not required but appreciated. For more information or to register, call Julie Kline at 937-515-1807 or Pat Hornschemeier at 513-752-0647
Sponsored by the Catholic Rural Life (CRL) and the Adams-Brown Diabetes Education Coalition
Location:
St George parish hall
509 East State Street
Georgetown, Ohio 45121
Contact:
Julie Kline / 937-515-1807 /
https://catholicrurallife.org/event/buy-local-foods-seminar-crl-st-martin-deanery/
Perry OH
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
9:30am - 5:00pm
The course will cover basic produce safety; worker health, hygiene, and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water (both production and postharvest); postharvest handling and sanitation; and developing a farm food safety plan. Participants can expect to gain a basic understanding of: microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm; how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks; how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm; parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one; and requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
To receive a completion certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
There is no cost for in state residents, $85 for out of state. Regulation excluded and exempt growers are also welcome to register for the training.
There will be one hour for lunch (lunch is not provided)
Location:
Perry Local Library Meeting Room
3753 Main Street
Perry, OH 44081
Contact:
Jordyn Brown / (614) 728-6250 /
https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/food-safety/news-and-events/all-events
free online webinar
Thursday, February 13, 2020
2:00pm
Location:
online webinar
Contact:
Organic Farmers Association / (610) 683-1400 /
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec14hkzPrPUZPA2DTpn5RWIqQNir89FvHVqRzzGMNAxMHgTA/viewform
Dayton, OH
Thursday, February 13, 2020 through Saturday, February 15, 2020
Three full days of learning, networking, sharing, and breaking bread!
• Nearly 80 educational, inspiring workshops on sustainable farming, livestock, homesteading, gardening, and business on Friday and Saturday;
• A three day trade show with 90+ businesses, organizations, and government agencies offering food, books, equipment, products, information, and services;
• In-depth, full day Food and Farm School courses on Thursday;
• Engaging nationally-recognized keynote speakers Laura Lengnick and Eric Holt-Giménez;
• Made-from-scratch, local, organic meals;
• Thursday and Friday evening networking and receptions;
• Kids' conference, child care, and more!
Register at www.oeffa.org/conference2020.
Location:
Dayton Convention Center
22 E. 5th St.
Dayton, OH 45402
Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /
free online webinar
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Each session in this series requires a separate registration.
Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing, & Organic Dairy Production, is a nationally known speaker & consultant on grazing and organic livestock. She grew up on a Vermont family farm that used management-intensive grazing and mob stocking, later studying pasture management at the University of VT. Her approach as a consultant, writer & speaker is to take a practical approach to applying the science of grazing. Sarah has successfully helped many farmers create positive change in their pastures, soils, livestock, finances, & farm-family quality of life.
Location:
online webinar
Contact:
Larissa McKenna / (773) 525-4952 /
https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EE52DF85824D3F
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus OH 43214
oeffa
oeffa
orgOEFFA: (614) 421-2022
OEFFA Certification: (614) 262-2022
