Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Events Calendar

Athens, Ohio

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

http://athensohioearthday.weebly.com/

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 /

Farm Vision

Online

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

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

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 /

Lake Effect Chapter: Food and Energy Workshops

Painesville, Ohio

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

https://news.oeffa.org/lake-effect-chapter-2023/

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; register for $10 by April 27.
- 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 donation to OEFFA is requested.

More workshops may be added later.

Visit the link below to learn more and register.

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 /

Southeast Chapter: Meeting

Online and Athens, Ohio

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

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

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 /

Organic Farmer Researcher Network Meeting

community

Online

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

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

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 /

Lake Effect Chapter: Farm Tour

Mentor, Ohio

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

http://news.oeffa.org/lake-effect-chapter-2023/

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 donation to OEFFA is requested. Visit the link below to learn more and donate.

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

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

Dayton, Ohio

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

http://www.centralstate.edu/academics/cse/agriculture/index.php?num=28

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to inoculate and care for long-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Participants get to take a log home with them.

To register, contact the email below.

Location:
Elder Tree Forest School at St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church
4451 Wagner Rd.
Dayton, OH 45440

Contact:
Marc Amante / 937-376-6209 /

2023 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit

conferences

Cincinnati, Ohio

Friday, May 12, 2023
8 a.m.

http://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org/

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 /

Wilberforce, Ohio

Saturday, May 13, 2023
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

http://www.centralstate.edu/academics/cse/agriculture/index.php?num=28

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to inoculate and care for long-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Participants get to take a log home with them.

To register, contact the email below.

Location:
Central State University Botanical Garden
1400 Brush Row Rd
Wilberforce, OH 45384

CSU Botanical Garden, across from the main campus on US 42

Contact:
Marc Amante / 937-376-6209 /

Greenville, Ohio

Saturday, May 20, 2023
9 a.m.-Noon

http://www.centralstate.edu/academics/cse/agriculture/index.php?num=28

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to inoculate and care for long-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Participants get to take a log home with them.

To register, contact the email below.

Location:
Greenville, Ohio
7250 Miller Rd.
Greenville, OH 45331

Contact:
Marc Amante / 937-376-6209 /

Lancaster, Ohio

Monday, May 22, 2023
6-8:30 p.m.

http://www.centralstate.edu/academics/cse/agriculture/index.php?num=28

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to inoculate and care for long-grown shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Participants get to take a log home with them.

To register, contact the email below.

Location:
OSU Fairfield County Extension Office
831 College Ave. #D
Lancaster, OH 43130

Contact:
Marc Amante / 937-376-6209 /

Wine Cap Mushroom Production Workshop

Columbus, Ohio

Tuesday, May 30, 2023
5 p.m.

http://www.fpconservatory.org/events/the-communal-garden-mushrooms/

Learn how to inoculate and care for a mulched bed of wine cap mushrooms.

Location:
Franklin Park Conservatory Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Campus
1777 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43203

Entrance and parking for the community garden are on Franklin Park S., between Fairwood Ave. and Rhoads Ave.

Contact:
Marc Amante / 937-376-6209 /

Organic Farmer Researcher Network Meeting

community

Online

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

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

Location:
Zoom

Contact:
Cassandra Brown / 419-685-1159 /

Southeast Chapter: Farm Tour

Amesville, Ohio

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

http://oeffa.org/chapter.php

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 /

Food Systems Finance Series

webinars

Online

Tuesday, June 27, 2023
2 p.m.

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

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 /

Growing Oyster Mushrooms in Buckets

Wheelersburg, Ohio

Tuesday, June 27, 2023
6-8 p.m.