Webinars for farmers

Three new webinars coming up soon. All of them are free and open to the public, and advance registration is required. They all take place at 2:00 PM.


March 30, 2017: Using Biofungicides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers to Boost Crop Productivity and help Manage Vegetable Diseases<http://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6332950960916838915>

Effectively managing diseases is one of the biggest challenges facing organic vegetable growers. A wide range of biologically based products are now available on the market that claim to boost crop growth and help plants withstand many plant diseases. However, there are few independent, scientifically-based studies to validate the efficacy of some of these products, and instructions detailing how and when to apply these products to achieve the best results are unclear. In this webinar, participants will describe the different types of products available in the marketplace today, provide an overview of recent studies evaluating their efficacy, and discuss strategies for identifying the most effective products and application practices. Presenters: Giuseppe Colla of Tuscia University in Viterbo Italy, MariaTeresa Cardarelli at the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Rome, Italy, and Dan Egel and Lori Hoagland of Purdue University. Register<https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6332950960916838915>


April 6, 2017: Taking Stock of Organic Research Investments<http://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6702579283953605122>

This webinar will present the findings from the report by the Organic Farming Research Foundation:Taking Stock: Analyzing and Reporting Organic Research Investments: 2002-2014<http://ofrf.org/sites/ofrf.org/files/staff/WholeTakingStockReport_V5.11_Web.pdf>. This report provides information on the progress USDA funded organic research projects have made in addressing critical research needs. We will describe the types, locations, and impacts of USDA funded research, as well as research gaps and topics that require greater attention. The webinar will conclude with a set of recommendations for strengthening organic research in the US to best support the needs of organic farmers. Presenters are Diana Jerkins, Joanna Ory and Mark Schonbeck. Register<https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6702579283953605122>


April 11, 2017: Use of High Glucosinolate Mustard as an Organic Biofumigant in Vegetable Crops<http://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8878799766349704962>

Brassica plants, including mustards, contain glucosinolates that, when broken down, produce compounds that can reduce weed pressure, insect pests, populations of parasitic nematodes, and soil-borne pathogens such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Verticillium, and Phytophthora. In this webinar, we’ll address the use of mustard cover crops that have been bred specifically to have high glucosinolate concentrations and act as a biofumigant in crops like potatoes, peppers, carrots, black beans, and strawberries.Webinar presenters include Heather Darby and Abha Gupta, University of Vermont Extension; and Katie Campbell-Nelson, University of Massachusetts. Register<https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8878799766349704962>
Find all upcoming and archived eOrganic webinars at http://articles.extension.org/pages/25242/webinars-by-eorganic

Minnesotans Struggle to Find Healthy Food

An idea for New York?

St. Paul, MN - Lawmakers are considering funding the Good Food Access Program. It was approved last year to help end some of the food deserts in the state. Comments from Leah Gardner, Good Food Access Campaign Manager, Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition; and Janelle Waldock, vice president for Community Health and Health Equity at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

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In Defense of Food

It was great to have 40 people join the Potsdam Food Co-op and GardenShare for a viewing of "In Defense of Food," Michael Pollan's documentary, yesterday.

"In Defense of Food" tackles a question more and more people around the world have been asking: What should I eat to be healthy? Michael Pollan distilled a career's worth of reporting into a prescription for reversing the damage being done to people's health by today's industrially driven Western diet. "In Defense of Food" debunked the daily media barrage of conflicting claims about nutrition. Traveling the globe and exploring the supermarket aisles to illustrate the principles of his bestselling "eater's manifesto," Pollan explored in the movie how the modern diet has been making us sick and what we can do to change it.

Some of his advice had the ring of common sense.  My favorite was, "If your great grandmother would not recognize it as food, don't eat it."  And as we debriefed about it this morning at GardenShare, the moms on our team were astounded to learn that, in many cases, a container of yogurt has as much sugar as a bottle of soda!

Did you attend?  What did you come away with?

Gloria

Poll: Hunger a Uniting Issue Among Colorado Voters

Denver, CO - Polarization among the electorate seems to be at an all-time high, but voters of all stripes in Colorado agree ending hunger should be a priority, according to a new poll conducted by Kupersmit Research. A strong majority do not want to see cuts to programs such as food stamps and subsidized school meals, and the research found bipartisan support for the role of government in addressing hunger.

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Cabin Fever Trivia Night a Success!

GardenShare's fifth annual "Cabin Fever Trivia Night" was held on March 18, 2017 and was a record-setting event for the organization.  Sixteen teams of four took part in the event and answered questions about farming and farmers markets, the Adirondacks, North Country food and beverage, local sports, and music.  When we finished that evening, we had raised over $2,500 to support GardenShare's work to solve the problem of hunger in St. Lawrence County!

The winning team represented Deep Root Center for Self-Directed Learning in Canton.  

Second Place went to a team of Potsdam residents who called themselves “Wilson.” 

The prize for the best team uniform went to the team representing the Buccaneer Lounge in Canton.  

There was also a prize for the best team name, which went to “The Alternative Facts.”

Tony Lynn

Presenting sponsors who helped make this event possible included St. Lawrence Health System and Stauffer Farms.  Other sponsors included Save-a-Lot, Sandstone Family Dentistry, and Mort Backus and Sons.  Tony Lynn, morning show host at The Wolf 95.3 was the evening's Master of Ceremonies.

The amazing volunteer committee that organized this event demonstrated the difference that a small group of people can make.  All of the local farms and businesses who donated made this event possible and demonstrated their commitment to building a strong and vital community where people care about each other. Isn't it great to be part of such a place?

Some of the prize baskets

Thank you to all those farms and businesses who donated to the prize packages for the winning teams, including:  Bittersweet Farm, Canton Apples, Canton Farmers Market, Circle G Farm, Eight O’clock Ranch, Fullers Farm, Harmony Farm, Kent Family Growers, Martins Farmstand, Raymond Watkins, Red Wagon Farm, Smith Farm Chicken, Sweetcore Farm, Tupper Hilltop Maple Treats, and Warren’s Rustic Creations.

Cookies from Sugar Valley Bakery

Thank you to all who donated food for the event, including:  ARAMARK, Potsdam Food Co-op, Stauffer Farms, Stewart’s Shops, and Sugar Valley Bakery.  Special thanks to Brick and Mortar Music who donated the use of a sound system.

Go here for even more photos.

Funds raised will support GardenShare's work to solve the problem of hunger in St. Lawrence County.  GardenShare's annual Local Food Guide, farmers market promotion, and promotion of Community Supported Agriculture help ensure that the County has a vibrant, local food system where our food choices are healthy for us, for our communities, and for the environment and where local farmers are able to make a living that supports their families.   GardenShare also makes it possible for people to use food stamps at area Farmers Markets and helps low-income families buy CSA shares so that everyone in the County has access to enough nutritious and affordable food to sustain a healthy lifestyle.  

Farm to Food Bank Legislation

A broad coalition of New York legislators, farmers, anti-hunger and environmental advocates asked Governor Cuomo to step up to the dinner plate and fund the Farm to Food Bank bill (S.1606/A.6192) in the final New York State budget. The group held a joint press conference on the bill at the Capitol in Albany.The bipartisan legislation, which has tremendous support in the legislature, would provide a refundable tax credit to farmers of 25% of the wholesale value of donated food up to $5,000 annually. The money would partially offset the costs of labor, packaging and transportation needed to get fresh food from the fields to regional food banks and pantries across the state to benefit New Yorkers in need.

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New resources to prevent food waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the launch of a new virtual resource center dedicated to reducing food loss and waste: Further with Food: Center for Food Loss and Waste Solutions(www.FurtherwithFood.org). Further with Food is the product of a public-private collaboration among the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feeding America, the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Innovation Center for U.S. Diary, the National Consumers League, the National Restaurant Association, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund, with additional funding and support from the Keystone Policy Center and the Rockefeller Foundation. 

Further with Food is designed to be a central hub to find and share information and tools dedicated to reducing food loss and waste in the United States. This site provides a broad spectrum of users – from experts to novices – with high-quality information and proven solutions to reduce food loss and waste.  It also offers a platform for the public to share research, experiences, innovative approaches, and tools. If you have a resource that you think would be useful to others in the food loss and waste community – or know of a resource available elsewhere –use the Share Resource form to submit a resource for consideration. The Further with Food team will review the information provided, and if the team determines the resource meets its criteria for inclusion in the website, the resource will be added for others to access in the “Find Resources” section.