Celebrate and Support our Area Agriculture by Attending These Exciting Upcoming Events!

Catskill Mountainkeeper is pleased to support the following agricultural programs and events that are being presented by our partner organizations.  They include workshops for farmers and landowners on evaluating land for agricultural use and increasing land access for farmers, informational sessions for producers on how to better market your products, training for garden educators, and a workshop series on how to get the most out of your organic garden. Please come out to join us in supporting these fun, informative, and important efforts. Land Access Workshop Series for Farmers and Landowners Wednesday, March 21 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 eCenter, 5-1/2 Main Street, Delhi Thursday, March 22 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Duggan Community Center, 3460 State Route 55, White Lake Landowners and farmers are invited to the Catskills FarmLink Introduction to Evaluating Land for Agricultural Use & the Basics of Land Leasing workshops being held in Delaware and Sullivan Counties on March 21 and 22. Catskills FarmLink is an online land access resource, connecting farmers looking for land with property owners interested in maintaining a viable working landscape.  The workshop addresses two commonly asked questions: 1.) How do I evaluate my land for agricultural use, and 2.) How do I develop a land lease? A presentation by Dale Dewing, field crop educator and Watershed extension team leader with Cornell Cooperative Extension, will focus on how to evaluate land for agricultural use.  In a panel discussion of landowners and farmers on lease agreements and food and farm law expert, Jason Foscolo, will provide guidance and examples of personal experience with land leases. Additional workshop details are available on the Catskills FarmLink website. The workshops are free to attendees and RSVP is requested, as space is limited.  To RSVP for the workshop or for a free legal consultation with Jason Foscolo LLC, email [email protected] or call Sonia Janiszewski at 914-720-1020.

March 25 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CVI Building Liberty, NY Join Pure Catskills, Catskill Mountainkeeper, and other area organizations, businesses and individuals for a day of networking and education about the most current topics in direct marketing.  Gather with local food advocates from across the region including farmers, retailers, restaurateurs, specialty food producers, distributors, farmers' market staff and economic development practitioners.  Buyers of all types will be present from local retailers to regional distributors.  Educational topics will suit the interest of vegetable, livestock and dairy producers. The Farm to Market Connection is the perfect way to get the growing season off to the right start! For ticket purchases, click here. For more information on this and other Pure Catskills' events, please check out their website. Take Root! Training for Garden Educators Wednesday, May 9, 2012 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM CCE Sullivan County 64 Ferndale-Loomis Rd. Liberty, NY Fee: $50.00 includes lunch Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County's Master Gardener's Program is pleased to announce a new training for county educators and youth workers. Session 1- Plant a Seed, Inspire Interest. This is an introduction to garden based learning. All the information is research based. It connects gardens to all sectors of work and education. In this class, you will learn how to develop a garden program that promotes positive youth development, opportunities for leadership and community and volunteer participation, and review tips on effective teaching methods. An in depth overview of Cornell Garden-Based Learning (CGBL) will be reviewed. Groups new to garden- based learning or groups struggling to get participants involved in their efforts and program structure will particularly benefit from this session. Session 2 -Tend the Garden and Session 3- Building Capacity/Train-the Trainer will be offered at a later date For more information on these and other programs of Cornell Cooperative Extension, call 845-292-5220, or check out their website. Workshop Series - The New Approach to Organic Gardening Sundays, 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Domesticities & The Cutting Garden 4055 State Route 52, Youngsville, NY March 18 (Design), April 15 (Propagation), May 2 (Soil), June 4 (Maintain and Enjoy!) Work with nature to nurture your garden into becoming productive and beautiful by using organic methods and permaculture design techniques.  Four sessions take you step by step to start a permanent, low maintenance system of production for food, flowers, and trees based on the natural system of the forest.  This will be a hands-on course with emphasis on individual attention and will be taught by certified permaculture instructor, Maria Grimaldi, and assisted by Anne Hart. To learn more about the series and to register, contact Anne Hart 845-482-3333, or Maria Grimaldi 845-482-4164. This program is sponsored by NOFA-NY.  To learn more about NOFA-NY and it's programs, check out the website.