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Organic Trade Association town hall meeting

October 10, 2012 by marian33031

Join FOG and the OTA on October 12th in Homestead, Florida Florida Organic Growers (FOG) and the Organic Trade Association (OTA) cordially invite you to a Farmer Town Hall Meeting to take place on October 12, 2012 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Miami-Dade County Extension building in Homestead, Florida. FOG is looking for farmer input regarding a number of critical issues that can affect or benefit sustainable and organic agriculture in the state of Florida. FOG’s Executive Director Marty Mesh and OTA’s Executive Vice-President Laura Batcha will be the there leading the discussion.

Topics on the agenda: Organic Research and Promotion Program, an update on the Farm Bill, an update and discussion on Food Safety issues, a listening session of growers’ challenges and needs in terms of producing and marketing crops, how to use Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) programs to help your farm, and FOG’s new farmer’s market initiative.

For more information call 352.377.6355 or e-mail jose@foginfo.org.

Location:

UF/IFAS Extension Office
18710 SW 288th Street
Homestead, FL 33030-2309

Posted in events, farm, farmer/grower | Tagged , |

Free Organic Farming Workshop

October 9, 2012 by marian33031

Florida Organic Growers (FOG) is organizing a Free Organic Farming Workshop at LNB Groves and Bee Heaven Farm in Homestead, Florida. The event will take place on Thursday October 11th 2012 , from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The workshop will provide practical information and advice about organic tropical fruit and vegetable production, sustainable soil and weed management, marketing, and organic certification. The workshop is designed for current and prospective farmers, as well as service providers who are interested in learning and sharing about organic farming.

Marc Ellenby from LNB Groves and Margie Pikarsky from Bee Heaven Farm, along with FOG, will lead this workshop in these two locations. Marc Ellenby manages about 160 acres of tropical fruit groves in South Florida. He’s currently transitioning 15 acres to organic management. Species in production includes sapodilla, mamey sapote, black sapote, jackfruit, and dragon fruit. Marc will share with participants his insights into tropical fruit species and variety selection, weed management, organic certification and marketing. Marc will have the assistance of Tropical Fruit Crop Specialist Jonathan Crane from IFAS’ Tropical Research and Education Center.

Later in the day workshop participants will move to Bee Heaven Farm (about 1 mile away from LNB Groves) to learn about intense organic vegetable farming. Since 1995 Margie Pikarsky has managed Bee Heaven Farm, a five acre certified organic vegetable, herb and fruit farm. Bee Heaven Farm produces prized avocados and heirloom tomatoes, along with a wide variety of crops. Additionally the farm created a multifarm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that has grown tremendously. Margie will lead participants into an interactive tour of her farm and will share insights into managing organic vegetable production on limited acreage, soil management, organic certification and her CSA program.

The Farmer workshop is organized by Florida Organic Growers (FOG), a non-profit organization established in 1987 in Gainesville; and supported by a Specialty Crop Block Grant administer by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. FOG’s Education and Outreach Program promotes organic agriculture and healthy and just food systems, informing producers, consumers, media, institutions and governments about the benefits of organic and sustainable agriculture.

Space is limited and registration is required. Mail your completed registration form to Florida Organic Growers, P.O. Box 12311, Gainesville, FL 32604, fax to 352.377.8363, call 352.377.6355 or e-mail jose@foginfo.org. For more information visit www.foginfo.org/workshops . Download registration form here

Posted in events, farm, farmer/grower, fruits | Tagged , , , , |

GrowFest vendors and exhibitors

October 8, 2012 by marian33031

Plenty of vendors will have their tents set up at the inaugural GrowFest! Some you may know from local, grower-supported farmers markets, and some may be new to you. Take a moment to say hi and see what they’re all about. They’re a pretty good representation of the growing local food scene.

Bee Heaven Farm – heirloom tomato and vegetable seedlings, dried fruit, produce, Rachel’s Eggs, smoked eggs, CSA shares
Casey’s Corner – native plants, fruit trees, plant-based products for gardening
Copperpot’s – jams, jellies and sriracha
Crackerman – flax seed crackers, breads and chili sauce
Dade County Farm Bureau – educational display about local agriculture, children’s activities, Ag in the Classroom program
Division of Plant Industry – info on Great African Land Snails and other invasive species
Earth Learning – local produce, seeds, pickles and jams
Fertile Earth Foundation – worm castings, worms, plant starts
Florida Keys Sea Salt – local sea salt, gomasio, Keys sponges
Florida Organic Growers – educational lectures, documentary screening, organic juices and Florida spring water
Going Bananas! – banana plants
Green Rocks Foods – sliders, cooking demos
Hani’s Mediterranean Organics – jackfruit curry, falafel, goat cheese, goat milk ice cream, Mediterranean food
Kiwanis Club – Just 1 Book children’s book giveaway
Miami-Dade County Extension – Master Gardeners plant clinic, vegetable and fruit tree growing info, 4-H activities, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods rain barrels, light bulb and shower head exchange
Miguel Bode Honey – local raw honey, fresh pollen, candles
Paradise Farms Organic – oyster mushrooms, dried herbal teas, dried fruit, fresh guacamole, ready-to-eat salads
Rochelois – local fruit jams
Slow Food Miami – edible school gardens, pie contest, dinners, cooking demos
Spice Galore – spices, teas, flavored salts and sugars
Teena’s Pride – potted herbs, fruit, CSA shares
The Tattooed Beekeeper – raw honey, balms, soap, backyard beekeeping demos
uRawk – raw energy bars
Urban Oasis Project – urban organic gardening and composting in underserved neighborhoods, gardening workshops, farmers markets
Wheatgrassing – wheatgrass and juicers

List is current as of October 7, subject to change.

Posted in agritourism, events, location, market | Tagged | 3 Comments »

Homestead avocados in Whole Foods

October 7, 2012 by marian33031

Seen at Whole Foods stores recently….

The store in South Beach is proud to support local growers.

The Aventura market had local, organic avocados from Homestead Organic Farms.

(Homestead Organic Farms is also the area’s largest organic green bean grower, and you will get their green beans in your CSA share come November.)

Local avocados from Homestead Organic Farms, next to grape tomatoes from Lady Moon Farms (which are not local, not this time of year).

Posted in fruits, market, photo | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments »

Seedlings for your garden

October 6, 2012 by marian33031

For Bee Heaven Farm, the heart of GrowFest is their annual heirloom tomato and vegetable organic seedling sale. Over two thousand seedlings have been planted and are waiting to go home to your garden.

The stars of the party are heirloom tomatoes in a rainbow of colors — black, red, orange, yellow and green. The available varieties are tried and true and do well in our hot and humid climate.

For the first time this year, Bee Heaven is offering two kinds of organic choy and napa cabbage seedlings, started by the Miami G.R.O.W. Project.

There’s also arugula and eggplant and a variety of mild and hot peppers. GrowFest is where you need to be, to get what you need to start your fall garden.

Posted in agritourism, events, photo | Tagged , |

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