Mochi Tsuki Festival
January 3, 11:00am – 3:00pm
Traditional Japanese sweet rice-making festival at IslandWood. For over a millennium, making and eating the sweet rice treat mochi has been a celebrated New Year’s tradition in Japan, with generations of families and communities coming together to wish good health and prosperity for the New Year. www.bijac.org
Growing Groceries – Organically
January 9, 9:00am – 3:00pm
A series of classes designed and taught by WSU Kitsap County Extension Master Gardeners to help
you create your own backyard organic vegetable garden. Class will be held at the Norm Dicks Government Center
Meeting Chambers. For info call Peg Tillery at 360-337-7224 or email Kathy Morse at kmorse@gmail.com
Farm Hands – Afterschool Programming
January 11- February 22, 2:30 – 5:00pm
Join us for an afternoon full of learning, playing games and having fun while investigating and experiencing life on a working farm. For students grades 1-4 at Suyematsu‐Bentryn Farms, 8989 Day Rd. East, Bainbridge Island. $195 per session. Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays & Thursdays. They can accommodate children with later school release times. For registration info: http://www.globalsourcenetwork.org/FFCE-farmhands.htm or (206) 780-5797
Sustainable Farming Business Course
January 13 – March 31, 6:30 – 9:00pm
WSU Kitsap County Extension is offering the farm business planning and agricultural entrepreneurship class at the Norm Dicks Government Ctr. 345 6th Street Bremerton. $200 per family/farm. Class materials $25. Partial scholarships available. For info: Arno Bergstrom, (360) 337-7225 or awbergstrom@wsu.edu
Kitsap Food Coop Annual Meeting
February 22
Now taking nominations for 2010 Board Positions. Nominations close January 4th. For more information visit their blog at: www.kitsapfoodcoop.org
Regional Events
Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit – Key Ingredients: America By Food
Until December 20, 10am – 4pm (Tues –Sat)
Key Ingredients: America by Food explores the connections between Americans and the foods they produce, prepare, preserve, and present at the table – a provocative and thoughtful look at the historical, regional, and social traditions that merge in everyday meals and celebrations. Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen St. Kelso, WA 98626. 360-577-3119. http://www.keyingredients.org/
2010 Cropping Connections Workshop
January 8, 8:30am – 3:30pm
WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Mount Vernon, WA presents workshops on forage crops, soils, tillage techniques, alternative feedstocks, and nutrient managment for cropping. To register contact Don McMoran 428-4270, ext. 225 or donaldm@co.skagit.wa.us
Backyard Beekeeping 101
January 9, 10:30am – Noon
Learn the basics of backyard beekeeping and decide if it is right for you. http://www.seattletilth.org/learn/classes-and-workshops/backyard-beekeeping-101 $30 for Tilth members, $40 non-members. Advance registration and payment is required. For info call Carrie Niskanen 206-633-0451 x101. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
Starting With Baby Chicks
January 9, 1:30 – 4pm
A comprehensive introductory course for those interested in keeping chickens and want to start with baby chicks. http://www.seattletilth.org/learn/classes-and-workshops/starting-with-baby-chicks $30 for Tilth members, $40 non-members. Advance registration and payment is required. For info call Carrie Niskanen 206-633-0451 x101. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
NEW!! Delta Farm / Nash Huber’s Tour
January 16, 11:30am – 4:00pm
The Delta Farm was purchased in 2001 by the PCC Farmland Trust to keep it in organic production forever. Nash Huber of Nash’s Organic Produce is the primary farmer on the land. Sequim, WA
www.pccfarmlandtrust.org
Cultivating Success: Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching Course
January 19 – April 20 5:30 – 8:30pm
WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, 2606 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371. Cost: $250/Farm Family. To Register: http://wsupiercecountyextension.wufoo.com/forms/sustainable-farming-and-ranching-registration/ OR call Chris Benedict Pierce County Extension (253)798-7098 or chrisbenedict@wsu.edu
Small Farm Expo and Cattleman’s Winter School
January 30, 7:30am – 5pm
Do you own a few acres and want to farm it? Do you want to raise your own beef? Improve your animal project? Or just want to learn about country living? Join us at the Stanwood High School. Register and download the program at http://skagit.wsu.edu/CountryLivingExpo/index.htm. Cost $50 – includes a prime rib lunch!
Goat Care Seminar
January 16, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Seminar date includes general goat care and nutrition, all about kidding and all about packgoats. Edelweiss Acres, Olympia. $20/person. Special rates for 4H folks $5/person, special rates for clubs and large families. Lunch will be served. For info call Donna at 360-481-0527 or edelweissacres@comcast.net
Mud Management Workshop
January 17, 1:00 – 3:00pm
FREE Workshop at the Gig Harbor Library – Learn some new techniques that will reduce mud around the farm to keep livestock and people safe and healthy. A workbook full of designs, resources and how-to sheets will be available to each participant that registers. For info www.piercecd.org or contact Erin (253) 884-9474, or erine@piercecountycd.org.
NEW!! Family Foresters Workshop
January 22, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Merabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, Spokane Valley, WA. For info: 208-446-1680 or www.cnr.uidaho.edu/exforest
41st Annual Northwest Agricultural Show
January 26 – 28
The premier agriculture event for the Northwestern United States & Southwestern Canada. $40,000,000 of Equipment and Product Displays, 7 Acres of Covered Display Space, 3 Days of Seminars and Meetings, Free Parking! Portland, Oregon. For info: http://www.nwagshow.com/
NEW!! WSU Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Workshops
January 26 & 27
This course will provide specific information regarding on-farm produce food safety (Good Agricultural Practices, GAPs). A two-series workshop will be offered. Session 1 will provide a GAPs overview and initial guidance on implementing on-farm food safety practices. Session 2 location/time TBA. January 26 – Sequim, WA and January 27 – Everett, WA. Registration: Cathy Blood (509)335-2845 or blood@wsu.edu
Washington State Farmers Market Association Conference
January 29 – 30
Join local farmers, market vendors, staff and governing boards in Renton. Contact Jackie Aitchison (360) 649-0274 or jackie50@comcast.net
for info. For registration and hotel information see: www.wafarmersmarkets.com.
Goat Care Seminar
February 6, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Seminar date includes general goat care and nutrition, all about kidding and all about packgoats. Edelweiss Acres, Olympia. $20/person. Special rates for 4H folks $5/person, special rates for clubs and large families. Lunch will be served. For info call Donna at 360-481-0527 or edelweissacres@comcast.net
Harvesting Clean Energy Conference
February 7 – 9
Farmers, ranchers and rural communities throughout the Pacific Northwest can learn how to make renewable energy – like wind, biofuels and solar – a profitable new crop. Clean energy offers real opportunities to attract new investment, produce new income, create local jobs and reduce the amount of money draining out of the local economy to pay for energy. Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, WA. http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/index.html
NEW!! Small Farm Winter School
February 20
Washington Hall at Centralia College, Centralia, WA. Information 360-140-1212.
NEW!! WSU Cheesemaking Short Course
February 16-18
Basic-Plus Cheesemaking Shortcourse. Chehalis, WA. This 3-day offering is intended for the beginning cheesemaker who is serious about pursuing cheesemaking as a business activity at the farmstead or artisan level. $259. For more info: Marc Bates at cheeseguy@charter.net (preferred) or 509-595-8652. http://www.wsu.edu/creamery/basicplus.htm
National Events
NEW!! American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Conference
January 10-13
Washington State Convention Center, Seattle Washington. Information at www.fb.com
EcoFarm Conference: Where the Future is Planted
January 20 – 23
This year’s conference builds on three decades’ worth of education, networking and celebration to ask: what will the next three bring for sustainable agriculture? Workshops, speakers—including Frances Moore Lappé—and other activities like farm and winery tours will highlight the challenges and opportunities confronting our food systems and provide creative ideas on how to move forward. Pacific Grove, California. www.eco-farm.org/efc
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