Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Events Calendar

Chesterhill, Ohio

Monday, March 27, 2023
1-4 p.m.

Do you own or operate a farm business? Join Rural Action and Central State University to get up to date on how agricultural products should be produced, packed, handled, and stored to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.

Learn about safe and sustainable agricultural production practices from our partners at Central State University! The training is open to the public. Seats are limited.

Click the link below to register for free.

**GAP Certification is not included in this training.

Location:
Triple Nickel Center
1060 High St.
Chesterhill, OH 43728

Contact:
Rural Action / (740) 677-4047 /

http://www.eventbrite.com/checkout-external?eid=581036755577

Online and Athens, Ohio

Monday, April 3, 2023
5-6 p.m.

Open/Close

Join OEFFA's Southeast Ohio Chapter for a monthly meeting either on Zoom (link below) or at Village Bakery and Café in Athens.

Location:
Village Bakery and Café
268 E. State St.
Athens, OH 45701

Contact:
Christine Hughes / (740) 592-1596 /

http://us02web.zoom.us/j/85374478176?pwd=S09mbldKQ1QzVnZGNmtJbTIvUFgwQT09

Online

Thursday, April 6, 2023
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Open/Close

Join farmers, researchers, educators, and other interested individuals on the first Thursday of each month to discuss a variety of topics related to organic production research.

Group leaders include: Julia Barton (OEFFA Organic Policy Specialist); Denise Natoli Brooks (Central State University); and Casey Brown (Ohio State). The event is hosted by The Ohio State University's Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) project.

Location:
Zoom

Contact:
Cassandra Brown / 419-685-1159 /

http://offer.osu.edu/news/events

Columbiana, Ohio

Friday, April 14, 2023 through Saturday, April 15, 2023
9 a.m.

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This two-day course will cover the principles of permaculture and how they have been used for over a decade to bring abundance and ecological restoration to Lamppost Farm's 160 acres of pasture land, vegetable gardens, and food forest. It will also cover soil health, rotational grazing, food forest design elements, fruit and nut tree guild design, water management and more. Your weekend will not only be filled with education, but also personal restoration as you experience life on this amazing farm.

The teaching will be guided by Steve Montgomery of Lamppost Farm and John Creasy of Garfield Community Farm. Both have been farming for more than a decade in very different settings. Steve's experience on Lamppost Farm has centered on pasture restoration through intensive rotational grazing of diverse livestock. John is the executive director of Garfield Community Farm where he and a team of staff and volunteers are developing three acres of abandoned city land into an ecologically diverse landscape of food forests, vegetable gardens, and community gathering space.

Housing is included in the price for Friday night and includes a bed and bathroom in the old farmhouse or the retreat house. Discounts on cost are available for those who want to tent camp on the property. Friday we will celebrate with a farm to table dinner included in the price that will feature grass-fed meats from Lamppost farm. Gluten Free, vegan, and vegetarian options can be made available upon request. Saturday's breakfast and lunch are simple and covered by the hosts.

To register, visit the link below.

Location:
Lamppost Farm
14900 Market St.
Columbiana, OH 44408

Contact:
John Creasy / (412) 979-7764 /

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/regenerative-agriculture-retreat-tickets-550107736047

Athens, Ohio

Sunday, April 23, 2023
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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Join OEFFA's Southeast Chapter for a tour of Ohio University's student farm. The OHIO Student Farm features student gardens, a tunnel for year-round growing, and field plots. The facility encompasses approximately two acres of planted space, mostly vegetables, and some small grains.

Location:
OHIO (OU) Student Farm
338 W. State St.
Athens, OH 45701

Contact:
Christine Hughes / (740) 592-1596 /

http://www.ohio.edu/cas/plant-biology/research/facilities-laboratories/ohio-student-farm

Online

Tuesday, April 25, 2023
2 p.m.

Open/Close

The CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series is a free online series demonstrating how businesses and projects within the food system can be connected to development finance tools, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds, to create equitable local and regional food systems. This series will showcase how development finance agencies from across the country are investing in local food systems. Speakers will present case studies on a range of food systems projects – including production, processing, distribution, retail, storage, and more – to explain why various financing tools were chosen for the specific project and how those financing tools work. Each installment of this series will explore how the development finance toolbox can be used to drive investment across the food supply chain.

With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CDFA is researching how development finance agencies can become more engaged in developing localized food systems through traditional finance approaches. The premise of this project is to suggest and then prove that, if organized and defined properly, the food system can become a defined asset class worthy of traditional investment. Through this work, CDFA aims to advance opportunities and leverage existing capital financing streams that scale local and regional food systems and increase access to better food while creating new living wage jobs in communities across the country.

Click the link below to register.

Location:
Online

Contact:
CDFA / (614) 705-1300 /

http://www.cdfa.net/e/2023fsfws

Athens, Ohio

Thursday, April 27, 2023
Noon-4 p.m.

Open/Close

Join OEFFA's Southeast Chapter to celebrate Earth Day at Ohio University! The chapter will be tabling with Community Food Initiatives (CFI) at the campus' Earth Day event.

To volunteer for a shift, please click the email address below.

Location:
Walter Hall, Ohio University
25 S. Green Dr.
Athens, OH 45701

Walter Hall Rotunda

Contact:
Christine Hughes / (740) 592-1596 /

http://athensohioearthday.weebly.com/

Online

Saturday, April 29, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Open/Close

The dream to farm is powerful! But the road to get there is long and complicated. We're here to help navigate it.

Join us for Farm Vision, a virtual workshop that will help you map out your farm plan, clarify your goals, and assess your strengths, resources, and needs before starting a farming enterprise.

A panel of mid-career farmers will reflect on their beginnings, followed by a Q&A. In addition to learning from the successes and challenges of these farmers, this interactive workshop will provide you with tools to help you get started, including:

- Assessment of the rewards and risks of starting a new farm business;
- Farm mapping and enterprise brainstorming;
- Farming and business skills assessment; and
- Action plan for starting your business.

This workshop will use a combination of virtual presentation, individual skill assessments and vision exercises, and breakout discussions to help you find out if you are ready to begin farming. Participants will leave with an action plan for developing their farm dreams.

COST: $20 for non-members, $15 for OEFFA members.

Beginning farmers (with <10 years operating their own farm/ranch) who would benefit from tuition assistance may enter "BEGINFARMING" at checkout to receive $15 off their registration.

Location:
Zoom

Contact:
Jerah Pettibone / (614) 725-3166 /

https://beginfarming.oeffa.org/farm-vision/

Painesville, Ohio

Sunday, April 30, 2023
12:30-3:30 p.m.

Open/Close

Join OEFFA's Lake Effect Chapter for two workshops:
- Fermenting Food for Storage: using bowls, jars and spoons, participants will pack a quart jar full of healthy organic vegetables to take home, ferment, store, and eat! Food and materials are supplied; a $10 donation is requested.
- Solar Energy Applications for Home, Farm, and Business: using solar panel kits, learn enough about solar energy technology to make your own simple home devices and consider full scale home or business systems. A $5 to $10 donation is requested.

More workshops may be added later.

Location:
Lake County Fairgrounds
1301 Mentor Ave.
Painesville, OH 44077

Youth and Community Center at the Lake County Fairgrounds

Contact:
Tom Rapini / (440) 257-2673 /

http://oeffa.org/chapter.php

Online and Athens, Ohio

Monday, May 1, 2023
3-5 p.m.

Open/Close

Join OEFFA's Southeast Ohio Chapter for a monthly meeting either on Zoom (link below) or at Village Bakery and Café in Athens.

Location:
Village Bakery and Café
268 E. State St.
Athens, OH 45701

Contact:
Christine Hughes / (740) 592-1596 /

http://us02web.zoom.us/j/83429439293?pwd=VW15U0QxMGxrNFFaWUs3N2ZmMGNXZz09

Online

Thursday, May 4, 2023
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Open/Close

Join farmers, researchers, educators, and other interested individuals on the first Thursday of each month to discuss a variety of topics related to organic production research.

Group leaders include: Julia Barton (OEFFA Organic Policy Specialist); Denise Natoli Brooks (Central State University); and Casey Brown (Ohio State). The event is hosted by The Ohio State University's Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) project.

Location:
Zoom

Contact:
Cassandra Brown / 419-685-1159 /

http://offer.osu.edu/news/events

Mentor, Ohio

Saturday, May 6, 2023
10 a.m.-noon

Open/Close

Gather at the Lake Shore Blvd. field of the urban, organic A's and O's Farm to see examples of no-till mulch farming, solar water pumping, deer and rabbit pest protection techniques, and maybe share some ideas for pacifying the occasional human pest living next door. The organic asparagus field hopefully will be in full production by then, so you can pick a meal's worth to take home, as well as some rich, composted wood chips for your garden. And they may have the opportunity for hands-on planting of seeds, asparagus roots, or perennials, so wear boots and coveralls!

A $10 donation to OEFFA is requested.

Location:
A's and O's Farm
5947 Hopkins Rd.
Mentor, OH 44060

Contact:
Tom Rapini / (440) 257-2673 /

http://oeffa.org/chapter.php

Cincinnati, Ohio

Friday, May 12, 2023
8 a.m.

Open/Close

Join hundreds of sustainability leaders at the 2023 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, hosted by Green Umbrella. Now in its 10th year, the Summit will take place on Friday, May 12, at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and will feature a keynote by renowned climate strategist and best-selling author, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson.

Imagine visionary and inspiring possibilities that inform, empower, and motivate our actions to create a more vibrant, equitable, and thriving region. With the pressure to address the climate crisis with increased urgency, it is natural to feel climate anxiety and grief. How can we acknowledge the challenges we face while moving beyond perceived limitations to find optimism and active hope? What kind of world is possible if we get this right? We hope this conference can be a spark for connecting, learning together, deepening our resolve, and joyously finding our places in the mighty "we" rising to secure a just and livable future.

The event will feature a full day of programming (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), with 60+ speakers, expo, art show, networking reception, and more!

Ticket prices increase on March 1.

Location:
Duke Energy Convention Center
525 Elm St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contact:
Green Umbrella / (513) 541-1538 /

http://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org/

Online

Thursday, June 1, 2023
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Open/Close

Join farmers, researchers, educators, and other interested individuals on the first Thursday of each month to discuss a variety of topics related to organic production research.

Group leaders include: Julia Barton (OEFFA Organic Policy Specialist); Denise Natoli Brooks (Central State University); and Casey Brown (Ohio State). The event is hosted by The Ohio State University's Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) project.

Location:
Zoom

Contact:
Cassandra Brown / 419-685-1159 /

http://offer.osu.edu/news/events

Amesville, Ohio

Sunday, June 4, 2023
Noon-2 p.m.

Open/Close

Join OEFFA's Southeast Ohio Chapter for a tour of a community pollinator garden and beekeeping presentation in Amesville, Ohio.

The event starts at noon with a potluck brunch followed by garden tour and presentation at 1 p.m. Bring a dish to share.

Nearby Dutch Creek Winery that features mead (honey wines) welcomes attendees to stop by and taste their locally crafted wines after the tour.

Meet at home of Lynne and Roger Genter, 44 State Route 550,Amesville, OH 45711.

RSVP by May 29 to the email linked below.

Location:
Genters
44 State Route 550
Amesville, OH 45711

Contact:
Christine Hughes / (740) 592-1596 /

http://oeffa.org/chapter.php

Online

Tuesday, June 27, 2023
2 p.m.

Open/Close

The CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series is a free online series demonstrating how businesses and projects within the food system can be connected to development finance tools, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds, to create equitable local and regional food systems. This series will showcase how development finance agencies from across the country are investing in local food systems. Speakers will present case studies on a range of food systems projects – including production, processing, distribution, retail, storage, and more – to explain why various financing tools were chosen for the specific project and how those financing tools work. Each installment of this series will explore how the development finance toolbox can be used to drive investment across the food supply chain.

With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CDFA is researching how development finance agencies can become more engaged in developing localized food systems through traditional finance approaches. The premise of this project is to suggest and then prove that, if organized and defined properly, the food system can become a defined asset class worthy of traditional investment. Through this work, CDFA aims to advance opportunities and leverage existing capital financing streams that scale local and regional food systems and increase access to better food while creating new living wage jobs in communities across the country.

Click the link below to register.

Location:
Online

Contact:
CDFA / (614) 705-1300 /

http://www.cdfa.net/e/2023fsfws

COVID-19 UPDATE: