Farmers:

Interested in producing red meat for direct markets, but unsure of your options?

Join the Washington State Department of Agriculture  Monday, March 15, 2010 from 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM (PT)

Beginning in Tacoma, we will load the bus and head to Heritage Meats, a new
USDA meat processing facility in Rochester, to see a unique meat facility that
has both a USDA and Custom meat licensed facility under one roof. Owner Tracy Smaciarz will give us a tour of the facility and answer questions from farmers.

We will then visit two USDA approved farm sites for slaughter in Puyallup.
These farmers will walk you through their production methods and be available for questions.
At one of these farms we will see the Puget Sound Meat Producer Cooperative’s USDA Mobile Processing Unit and walk through the trailer guided by the Co-op’s Project Manager, Cheryl Ouellette, a.k.a. The Pig Lady. We will also cover display building and regulations for direct sales at farmers markets.

To register, go to: http://wsdatourredmeat.eventbrite.com

This workshop is organized by WSDA’s Small Farm and Direct Marketing Program. Funding is provided by USDA Risk Management Agency through a Community Outreach and Partnership Assistance grant.
Please see attached flyer for more details. for Farmers Transportation, lunch and snacks will be provided. Registration costs cover your food for the day.

Patrice
Patrice Barrentine
Direct Marketing Coordinator
Washington State Department of Agriculture
pbarrentine@agr.wa.gov
office: 360-902-2057 cell: 360-951-9610
http://agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/default.htm

It is CSA time again for 2010. KCAA directors Marilyn Holt and Jade Pope have been busy talking to CSA farmers to get an update on what they are offering this year. Abundantly Green Farm is moving in the direction of year round production. That’s exciting.

CSA Shares Are Rich and Flavorful

Handsown and Homegrown (Sara and Jared Hankins) are adding poultry and eggs to their lineup. Wow.

I have reprinted a message from them below but feel free to visit our CSA Directory. We will update the information as soon as our farmers get it to us but we didn’t want to wait any longer to begin the 2010 promotion. These shares tend to sell out quickly because we still do not have enough farms offering them for everyone in the county that wants them. We want our members and friends toget in there soon.

“Support Local Kitsap farmers!

The CSA model is was designed to provide small farms with the financial start up to begin their season farming.  We’re counting on our communities support this year, at this time, in order for us to provide you and your community with the heirloom variety grown produce that’s dear to our hearts.  If you want Poulsbo grown heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, lettuces, and more please invest in our farm today.  Last year we had 36 members this year we desperately need to add more supporters to our faithful four.  Spread the word to neighbors, friends, and co-workers.  We look forward to growing your food this year! Also, to those four members who have signed up for CSA shares for the 2010 season, thank you thank you! We love being your farmers!

Download Handsown and Homegrown CSA Brochure Here

EGGS, Poulsbo Fresh

We have eggs available!  Please help spread the word that we have Poulsbo farm fresh eggs, certified organic grain & grass fed.  Pink, White, Brown, and Blue are the colors of the year.

Chicken $5
Duck $6

Email us your order and your desired pickup day.  Currently looking to provide eggs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week.

Thanks!

Sara and Jared Hankins”

SATURDAYS, March 13th & 27th, and April 3rd 2010

Puyallup Room, WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Puyallup, WA

& Zestful Gardens, Tacoma, WA

and

SATURDAY, APRIL 10th, 2010 (Field Trip)

S&S Homestead Farm, Lopez Island, WA

Instructors: Barry Lia & Henning Sehmsdorf

… …

For more information, to preview the curriculum, and to register and purchase textbook, please contact:
Barry Lia

barrylia@comcast.net

Pre-registration required.  Limited to 25 students.

… …

This Course is supported by textbook discounts from the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association.

Sponsored by Pierce County Extension and by

S&S Center for Sustainable Agriculture, a WSU BIOAg Learning Site.

One of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center’s (NABC) missions is to improve the economic vitality of the agriculture industry within the northwest Washington State counties of Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom by providing business resources and hands-on guidance.  Farmland preservation is another.

David Bauermeister of the Puget Sound Food Network; and
FFA Members Project Presentations
KCAA General Meeting
Silverdale Grange Hall
12535 Clear Creek Rd NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

But one of this highly successful 501 (3) c organization’s programs is state-wide and has the potential to provide huge benefits to members in Kitsap and other counties. That program is the Puget Sound Food Network.

The Network’s primary purpose is to connect all aspects of agriculture, from producer to buyer to consumer… so they can communicate, find each other, and develop mutually supportive business relationships.

At the next KCAA meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 9, at the Silverdale Grange, the NABC’s Executive Director, David Bauermeister, will be giving what promises to be a fascinating, informative presentation on the Puget Sound Food Network and how it works.

“Bringing the farm to market is the goal of the Puget Sound Food Network,” says Bauermeister.

And receiving some of those products more directly from farm to market is one of the benefits the FreshLocal food store in Bremerton hopes to receive.  Jean Schanen of FreshLocal says they joined the Network just last week.

“I joined as a result of going to a Farm to Table workshop in Mt. Vernon and I’m looking forward to exploring and using the Network, particularly in regard to new, more direct food distribution opportunities. Right now, a local producer within 25 miles will bring food to me but I have to use a food broker for most local things on the other side of the water,” says Schanen

One of the big benefits of membership in the Network for farmers is providing a venue to showcase their products, expand their market, and to sell online.   Potential buyers can get product and contact information from sellers; correspondingly, farmers may also obtain contact information for possible markets, such as stores that feature locally produced items.  This also applies to finished product producers such as jam and jelly makers who use local produce for their product.

Helping to promote and foster a regional coordination with other producers with like needs such as supplies and distribution cooperation is another part of the program.

But there are benefits for the ultimate consumer as well.  Placing orders, paying on-line and arranging delivery with participating producers can result in tremendous savings as well as being assured of fresh local goods.

While the Puget Sound Food Network can be of direct benefit to food producers, sellers and consumers, here David Bauermeister will also be giving some useful information on some of the many outstanding projects the Network’s  sponsor group, the Northwest Agriculture Business Center has been involved with helping to promote or start in their local five-county  area.  Some of these may stimulate ideas for similar projects here.

Local, state and federal grants and funding have been obtained for many of NABC’s projects.  Projects include the following:

-establishing a permanent farmers market local in an historic building in Friday Harbor

-helping to establish “Whidbey Island Grown” local marketing group

-helping to get local farmers’ products into schools

-Greenbank Farm Training Center for new small scale farmers at Greenbank CSA

-Ten month value-added product development course

-Production of maps and guides for Arlington-Marysville Red Rooster Route and Skagit Valley Farm Guide

For people involved in local food growing, distribution and selling businesses, the March 9 meeting of the KCAA featuring Mr. Bauermeister should be a must-attend. More information about the Northwest Agriculture Business Center is on-line at: www.AgBizCenter.org and Puget Sound Food Network is at:  www.psfn.org

Growing Your Own Food
February 27, 1:00 pm
Leda Langley and Lorene Edwards-Forkner will lead a discussion, covering vegetables available this season, garden planning, crop rotation, how to extend the growing season and food storage. Bainbridge Gardens, 9415 Miller Rd. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. (206) 842-5888 http://www.bainbridgegardens.com/Classes.html  
 
Kitsap Food Coop Public Meeting
February 28, 1:30 – 4:30pm 
At the Norm Dicks Meeting Chambers. Join us for socializing and appetizers donated by local eateries and farmers and hear about site selection efforts from the Co-op Board of Directors. Member-owner shares will be available for purchase, as well as a silent auction. For more info visit the website at www.kitsapfoodcoop.org  

NEW!! Sustainable Cinema / Dirt: The Movie
February 28, 4:35pm
Monthly Sustainable Cinema film at the Orchard Theater in Port Orchard. All seats $3. http://www.orchardtheater.com/dirt-the-movie.html  Sponsored by Charlotte Garrido. For info call (360) 337-7097
 
Hoop ‘n’ Holler in Kitsap County
March 6, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Learn how to extend your growing season and increase farm profits with hoop houses, high tunnels, cloches and other techniques! Held at Silverdale Grange Hall & Pheasant Fields Farm Cost: $40. For more information contact: Arno W. Bergstrom, Director WSU Kitsap County Extension 345 6th Street Suite 550 Bremerton, WA 98337-1874 (360) 337-7225 tel (360) 337-4864 fax awbergstrom@wsu.edu  

NEW!! Bee Keeping Workshop
March 6, 9:00am – Noon
Instructor – Eugene Brennan – Local Kitsap County Bee Keeper and WSU Kitsap Extension Master Gardener. At the Norm Dicks Gov’t Building, Bremerton. Free parking in the 6th St lot beside the building. Class is free. RSVP – lrillie@co.kitsap.wa.us  or 360-337-7157

NEW!! Vegetable Gardening Class
March 7 – April 25, 4:00 – 6:00pm
Get you ready to grow some of your own local food! Designed for both beginning and more experienced gardeners, the classes cover all aspects of growing vegetables. At Pheasant Fields Farms in Silverdale on Clear Creek Rd. Cost: $150. Class size limited to 6 participants. For info call 360-981-7127 or dancingravendesign@hotmail.com  
 
KCAA Meeting
March 9, 6:30pm
This month’s meeting features David Bauermeister of the Puget Sound Food Network discussing building a regional food network and how KCAA members can help. Note: new start time at 6:30 pm and new meeting location at the Silverdale Grange is located at 12535 Clear Creek Road NW, Silverdale, WA 98383, (360) 692-2172 http://www.buylocalfoodinkitsap.org/

Orchard Mason Bees
March 13, 1:00 pm
Improve fruit production in your garden by starting your own Orchard Mason bee colony. Mason bees are non-aggressive and highly effective pollinators. Join Lisa Novich of Knox Cellars to explore the fascinating world of native pollinating bees, what you need to get started, where and when to place your bee houses & more. Bainbridge Gardens, 9415 Miller Rd. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. (206) 842-5888 http://www.bainbridgegardens.com/Classes.html   
 
The West Sound Beekeepers Association
March 16, 7:00pm
General membership and educational meetings at Stedman’s Bee Supplies located at 3763 NW Anderson Hill Road, Silverdale.
 
Kitsap Master Gardener – Third Wednesday Seminar: Mason Bee Keeping
March 17, 1:00 – 3:00pm
The Latest in Mason Bee Keeping – New Housing and New Organic Treatment for Mites presented by the Peninsula Fruit Club. Members and public welcome. At the Eagles Nest, Fairgrounds Rd, Silverdale, WA.
 
Kitsap County Twin Lakes 4-H Camp Fundraiser
March 17, 5:00 – 8:00pm
Spaghetti dinner and silent auction at the Silverdale Grange Hall, 12535 Clear Creek Road NW. Silverdale, WA 98383. Donation: $5/person, children (0-5) free. Contact Kelly Fisk kfisk@co.kitsap.wa.us  for info or to donate.

Home Cheesemaking Workshop
March 20 or 27, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Learn the art and science of making cheese in your own kitchen with easily accessible and inexpensive tools! Lunch will be served, including a cheese course. Cheesemaking kit, workshop notebook, and of course your own handmade cheese are all included! $90 per student. Call Suzanne: 360-732-0771

Regional Events

Farmer – Chef Connection
March 1, 8:00am – 6:00pm
All-day networking opportunity for local Food Producers & Buyers, brought to you by Seattle Chefs Collaborative. At Herban Feast SODO Park, 3200 1st Ave. S, Seattle WA 98134. Buy tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/95536   Cost: $50 Feb. 1 – Feb. 14th. $60 thereafter. No sales at the door if event is sold out!
 
Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer
March 4, 6:30 – 9:00pm
Hands-on workshop on livestock management practices; see a variety of options and work with technicians to discover how you can have less mud, better pastures, manage manure, and care for streams and wetlands. For info: King Conservation District at 425-282-1904, or paul.borne@kingcd.org .
 
Garden Educator Workshops
Beginning March 6
Three part series will explore organic gardening basics, outdoor education techniques and ways to integrate the garden with classroom curriculum. Teams of three or more people from a school or garden project suggested.

     Part 1: Intro to Organic Schoolyard Gardening, March 6 & Sept. 23; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
     Part 2: The Garden Classroom, March 27 & Sept. 30; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
     Part 3: Curriculum Working Group, April 17 & Oct. 20; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Workshops held at Good Shepherd Center; 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Room 202, Seattle, WA 98103. $120 for all three workshops or $40 per workshop. Advance registration and payment is required.
 
Ties to the Land – Estate Planning Workshop
March 11 & April 1, 6:00 – 9:30pm
Gain tools for communicating with family members, identifying goals and options, and building a team of professionals advisors. For info http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/TTL2010.htm  or 425-357-6017. Register by March 3
 
Rain Garden Classes
March 11 – April 27
Hands-on classroom workshop on designing and installing rain gardens to prevent stormwater pollution, attract beneficial wildlife, and beautify the landscape. Workshops are free and registration is required. Contact Stacey Gianas at Stewardship Partners: 206-292-9875 or sg@stewardshippartners.org . For more rain garden information visit http://stewardshippartners.org/raingarden_central.html.
 
Carbon Markets for Small Woodland Owners Ma
March 12, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Forest owners and managers can position themselves to participate in emerging carbon offset markets and develop an additional income stream by selling the “ecosystem services” their forests provide. More info & to register: http://www.nnrg.org/news-events/events.  $25. Kirk Hanson, kirk@nnrg.org , 360-316-9317. In Oakville, WA. This workshop is exclusively for members of NW Certified Forestry.
 
Seattle Tree Fruit Society Spring Fruit & Grafting Show
March 14, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Lectures and demonstrations sponsored by the Seattle Tree Fruit at the at the Center of Urban Horticulture in Seattle. For info: contact by phone: (206) 715-4149 or email at seattletreefruitsociety@hotmail.com   
 
Carcass Composting
Saturday, March 20, 9:30 – 11:30am
Although many people have “gone back to the land” and are now producing their own livestock for self-consumption, they may not know that both offal and other unusable carcass parts can go full circle through the composting process to contribute to the productivity of their farms. Taught by Andy Bary, Scientific Assistant in Crops and Soils at the WSU Research and Extension Center in Puyallup. Contact Erin at (253) 884-9474 or erine@piercecountycd.org  
 
Foodportunity
March 22, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Foodportunity is a networking event open to food journalists, bloggers, public relations professionals, restaurateurs, farmers, companies and all food-passionate people. $22 ($28 after 3/14) Includes bites from local restaurants. At the Palace Ballroom, 2100 5th Ave., Seattle. www.Foodportunity.com . http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100118  
 
Food on the Table: A Food Systems Conference
March 26 & 27
Join local growers, educators, sustainable food advocates, and community members to collectively address our regional food system priorities at this unique “working” conference. Sponsored by the Universtity of Idaho Extension Sustainable Agriculture Program in Moscow, Idaho. For info: Kristen Koenig kkoenig@uidaho.edu or 208.883.2267
 
Natural Landscaping Course
April 15, 22, 29, 6:00 – 8:30pm
Naturalistic landscape style, with emphasis on water conservation and low maintenance, suited to the ecological conditions of your property. Three evenings and two field trips (4/17 & 24). Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 West Hendrickson Road. $20. To register: WSU Extension at 360-417-2279. Questions? Clallam Conservation District at 360-452-1912 ext 5 or http://clallam.scc.wa.gov/upcoming.htm .
 
WSU Cougar Youth Weekend – 4-H Dairy Projects
April 16 – 18
WSU Dairy Club workshops for youth 9-18 years old at the WSU Knott Dairy in Pullman, WA. Three tracks: fitting and showing of dairy cattle, dairy cow judging, and dairy goats addressing key points of your 4-H dairy projects. For info or registration contact Gabby Eddings – gabby_eddings@hotmail.com . Register by: March 5
 
Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts: Homesteading Basics
April 23 – 27
Get hands on experience growing your own food. Includes small livestock care, poultry for eggs and meat, goat milking, cheese making, organic fruit tree management, food preservation, framing a wall, micro and drip irrigation, garden development, composting, honeybees and pollinators. Participants stay on the farm – bunkhouse style lodging, meals and course materials included in tuition. (transportation not included). For info: Lora Lea Misterly, loralea@quillisascut.com  2409 Pleasant Valley Road, Rice, WA 99167 (509) 738-2011 www.quillisascut.com
 
Cider Making – Principals and Practices
June 28 – July 2, 8:00am – 5:00pm
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center is bringing internationally-recognized cider production expert Peter Mitchell. The course covers the cider market, business opportunity, orcharding, production methods and management, and quality control. To be held at the Skagit Valley College campus in Mount Vernon, WA. You may register online at: www.agbizcenter.org or contact Jake Fowler at (360-336-3727). Cost: $924/ person if paid by May 1.

National Events

Webinar: Natural Curing for Meats
March 4, 10:00 – 11:00am PT
If you make, eat, or sell naturally cured meats – or want to – tune in to learn how natural curing works, along with common concerns and challenges, including labeling issues. Speakers include Jeff Sindelar of the University of Wisconsin, Rob Lorentz of Lorentz Meats, Pam Saunders of Organic Prairie, and Chris Raines of Pennsylvania State University. Lauren Gwin, (541) 737 1569 or lauren.gwin@oregonstate.edu  To join the webinar, please go to the following website 10 minutes before the webinar is scheduled to begin: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nichemeat   
 
OSU Extension Service Small Farms Conference
February 27
Oregon State University, LaSells Stewart Center. $35.00 each or 2 for $60.00. Registration brochure can be found at
http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu  or call 541-766-3556 or Chrissy.Lucas@oregonstate.edu

Farm News & Views
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011171598_badmilk24m.html
Local Raw Milk Recall

http://www.capitalpress.com/washington/AP-Bremerton-chicken-debate-022210
Bremerton chickens in the news around the region

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011060263_guest16goldmark.html
Preserving high value farm and timber land

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011166572_farmreport24m.html?syndication=rss
Number of Washington farms increases

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201003/walmart-local-produce
Will Walmart save local farms?

http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2010/02/helvetia_persuades_planners_to.html  
It is never too late to preserve farmland

March 6, 2010 10:00am – 4:00pm

Silverdale Grange Hall & Pheasant Fields Farm   Cost: $40

hoop and holler at Pheasant Fields

For more information contact: Arno W. Bergstrom, Director WSU Kitsap County Extension 345 6th Street Suite 550 Bremerton, WA 98337-1874 (360) 337-7225 tel (360) 337-4864 fax awbergstrom@wsu.edu

The KCAA board is a hard working group with a determination to get things done for local food. Most all of our directors are working entrepreneurs or farmers but still feel it is important enough to dedicate considerable time and effort to thinking through what our goal should be in the category of building a local food network. For self-starters like this group the good news is that the local food space offers almost unlimited opportunities if one can only see through the obvious difficulties that arise almost immediately.  Some of the KCAA directors are meeting on Saturday in Hansville to mastermind strategies for some huge local food opportunities for Kitsap County.  If you want to join a get er done team working to help local agriculture you may want to join us. The details are at the end of this article.

KCAA Director Peggy Hall

With such a depth of opportunity it would be important task to attempt to budget our resources to make the greatest advance toward our goal as possible. Prior to our all day board meeting in early January I asked all of the directors to read a book entitled “The Goal” by Eliyahu Goldratt, an Israeli physicist and student of business as social forms. The book made a big impact on our deliberations and gave us some tools to organize our thinking about our tasks.

Our goal is to build a local food network. Because as of yet so few people truly understand the importance of this goal as an organization we will continue to focus on farmer and consumer education to build “the list” of people who are members of the local food network.

(Hint: To join the list just follow Become a Member of KCAA)

We have some big jobs ahead of us this year. Many of them are repeats or followups to what we started in 2009. Some are new initiatives that are begging us to begin like our new “think Local First” radio show airing soon on KITZ 1400 AM. More on that later.

Maybe you remember that last year we celebrated an event that we called the Local Food Chef Showoff. It was a pretty big deal. Nearly 400 people attended. What was really impressive to me was that our speakers that evening gave us some important information on the topic of farmland preservation and farmer succession planning. Nash Huber of Nash’s Organics and a national leader on the topic of farmland preservation spent the early part of the day touring Kitsap farms and speaking with farmers like Brian McWhorter, Marilyn Holt and Scott Hall about that. I sure learned a lot.

Nash Huber, Farmland Preservation Champion

Well, KCAA directors Scott and Peggy Hall must have taken him seriously.

Although they have been working for many years with Farmer Gerry Petersen of the Petersen Farm in Silverdale on what they call the Legacy Farm Project just last year Mr. Petersen passed away. Scott and Peggy have been working very closely with the people managing the estate to make sure that this 240 acre little piece of heaven will remain in farm production as it has for nearly 100 years rather than fall to development.

Gerald Peterson 2008

Last year also a lot of people in the county including the KCAA were made aware of another large potentially cultivatable property owned by Olympic Properties LLC, a subsidiary of Pope Resources Corporation. It is called the Hansville Nursery. It contains approximately 145 acres of land about 100 of which had been utilized as a Douglas Fir seedling nursery to replant harvested timber areas in the Pacific Northwest.

Hansville Nursery Property

Several KCAA board members and others are meeting this Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 1:00 pm to visit the site and mastermind how to get this land into sustainable production, permanently. I will be putting together a page on our blog for this project (and the Petersen Farm Project) to keep people updated. Anyone that would like to join us for a visit is welcome. Just contact Jim Freeman or call 360-616-7924 to RSVP your spot.

In the meantime to see more information about the Hansville Nursery opportunity visit Hansville Nursery Listing Information.

Speak soon.

Bck, bck,bccaaackkk

And the sale goes on!  Please buy local eggs!  Better yet, please support young local farmers!
Duck eggs $4 a doz.
Chicken $5 doz.
*Free Range over large area + Certified Organic Grain!!!

Contact handsownhomegrown@yahoo.com

Stop and get your eggs Friday or Saturday at our Poulsbo location.  Place your order NOW!
Thank you to all who support us all year!

Your farmers love you,
Sara & Jared

206-913-7287

Check this out.