June Update

Hello faithful readers! Ben here. It's hard to believe we're already half way through June--the month is passing by like an afternoon shower!

The past month has been full of activity here at the Local Food Project. So full, in fact, that we haven't kept up with this blog as much as we would like. Since so much has happened, let's lean on this writer's favorite crutch: bullet points. Here's a smattering of what we've been up to at the LFP.

• We attended another great CRAFT program event at The Farm at Sunnyside. A great turnout and a lot of great food! See this post for more about the CRAFT program.
• Pablo contributed an article to Flavor Magazine, describing the CRAFT program its value to aspiring farmers.
• We planted 30 beds (2700 sq ft) of squash, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce mix, and beets...in one day!

• Filled the hoop house with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
• Completed various infrastructure projects such as reinforcing our deer fence and cutting new row cover.
• Humanely trapped a family of groundhogs whose home was not even ten feet from our squash beds. We dropped them off far away from the garden. I believe a groundhog is born with the right to look for his shadow, as long as that shadow is not cast on our crops.
• Hosted several tours and a team building dinner with guests at the Airlie Center.
• Last, but certainly not least, we acquired two interns to (do all of the) work for us during the next 6-8 weeks. Welcome Shaina and Yuka!

Now you're up to speed. We have another CRAFT event this week and plants growing quickly, so we'll have more to report soon.

Programs for Emerging Growers

The last week has featured two exciting programs for aspiring local food producers here in the DC area. First, on April 11, we enjoyed a full evening program titled- Project Launch- here at Airlie Center, which brought together emerging food producers for a spring networking session and evaluative exercises designed to help new food projects get off the ground. Speakers included Harvey Ussery of The Modern Homestead in Hume, VA, Jesse Straight of Pastured Poultry in Warrenton, VA, and Stacey Carlberg of the Farm at Sunnyside, Little Washington, VA. Modeled after the Exploring the Small Farm Dream course, this one-time event was designed as a refresher as the busy spring season gets underway.

On Wednesday, April 14, we were thrilled to participate as a cofounder of the CRAFT program (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) here in the DC Metro Area. Featuring monthly tours of different farms and potlucks, the CRAFT program will facilitate new farmer training and networking. Chesapeake CRAFT is modeled after other CRAFT programs in the United States, and is a cooperative, farmer-based effort.

2010 Local Food Project Conference a Success!

Eric, Anne, Mary-Howell and Klaas answer questions from the audience....

 

 

Eric Nordell provides an overview of Beech Grove farm

Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens emphasize the importance of 'thinking upstream' in organic agriculture

Klaas tells the story of Lakeview's transition to organic agriculture

Guest enjoy the local food lunch!

The Martens family takes a break from presenting to refuel before the afternoon sessions...

The Nordells and the Martens rocked the house at Airlie Center with in-depth presentations on innovative approaches to organic agriculture, at this year's Local Food Project conference, last Wednesday, January 13.

Guests not only enjoyed five hours of intensive seminars with the Nordells & Martens, but a wonderful lunch featuring local foods, prepared by Chef Jeff and the Airlie Center kichen staff.

The premise of the annual Local Food Project is that quality, true quality, is at the heart of the local food movement in the United States. The quality that local food systems bring to our lives, in the form of fresh, nutrient dense vegetables, meats, dairy, fruits, grains and herbs; the quality of local farms in our communities as centers of learning for our children, habitat for wildlife, places of restoration for ecosystems and humans alike; the quality of the relationship between local food producers and consumers; all of this quality should resonate with high quality programs on sustainable agriculture as well.

Rather than a thousand presenters overwhelming the audience with information on countless subjects, the Local Food Project conference concentrates on a few, in-depth presentations featuring effective presenters, and in an intimate environment where attendees have the opportunity to ask questions both specific and broad in nature, where the conversations penetrate beneath a surface level consideration of any topic, to the deeper practical and philosophical underpinnings of the topics discussed. Both presenting farms each brought over twenty years of organic farm experience and production to the table, along with practical, tried-and-true approaches to innovative organic agriculture.

Eric & Anne Nordell of Beech Grove Farm (Trout Run, PA) kicked off the morning presentations with a seamless discussion of "Culture in Vegetable Cultivation", and explained the incredible sytem of crop rotations and strategies they have developed to eliminate weed pressure while enhancing soil fertility and crop growth. Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain (Penn Yan, NY) followed up with "Thinking Upstream", the story of their transition to organic agriculture after Klaas could no longer feel his left arm one season thanks to toxic agricultural chemicals, and the development of their organic grain and feed production in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

After a feast in the Airlie dining room featuring local foods, we split into breakout sessions where presenters could talk more in-depth about specific organic agriculture topics. In two afternoon sessions, the Nordells covered "Minimalist Tillage, Tools & Techniques", and "Season Extension with Portable Hoophouses". The Martens covered "Small Grains for Feed, Food & Forage", "Understanding and Using Your Soil Tests," and "Homesteading on a Commercial Scale Farm".

We wrapped up the day-long conference with a farmer social in the Garden Room at Airlie, an opportunity for networking amongst attendees and celebration of the knowledge-filled day.

Exploring the Small Farm Dream

This past Wednesday, December 2, 2009, eighteen emerging new farmers gathered for the fourth and final session of this year's Exploring the Small Farm Dream Course, held right here at Airlie Center. The course, developed by the New England Small Farm institute, is designed to be a concise and effective catalyst for small farmers to better evaluate new enterprise ideas, identify resources, and determine next steps. The course is so valuable because of the holistic design of the sessions, helping small farmers look more closely at the dollars and cents of a particular production model, as well as quality of life and family dynamics.

Each session, we invite a local farmer or two to share their story, experience and advice for the group. The goal of the course is not to teach how to farm, but to facilitate the connection of aspiring farmers with one another, with experienced mentors, and with the right questions. At the end of four sessions, course participants create an action plan with next steps, from additional research to mentorship opportunities to launching an enterprise!

This year we took a field trip to Moutoux Orchard and helped Rob Moutoux plant garlic while learning about his developing CSA and local grain & flour projects.

It is our hope that Exploring the Small Farm Dream and other programs create the beginnings of a more effective infrastructure to advance new farmers and new farm projects throughout the region.

Hallows' Eve: Scythe Time

This past Sunday's Hallows' Eve workshop was a blast from the past, and into the future! Guest presenter Harvey Ussery demonstrated proper use of the scythe, a mowing tool of old (commonly associated with the grim reaper & Halloween) which has come back to life recently as backyard food producers and small farmers alike focus on minimizing their use of fossil fuels. The high-quality & properly used scythe is not only efficient, as Harvey demonstrated, but meaningful and enjoyable!

The rest of the workshop examined the use of the broadfork and other hand tools in the Local Food Project garden system, and the consideration of season extension strategies and protection of crops in the late fall garden.

Cider and good times all around, we can see the Hallows’ Eve workshop becoming a pre-Halloween tradition here at Airlie Center.

Local Food Project at DC Green Festival

The Local Food Project met a lot of new friends at the Washington, DC Green Festival October 10 and 11. At our booth in the enormous exhibit hall we shared information about LFP and Airlie Center, handed out over 1700 lettuce starts for folks to plant at home, and talked about the role local food can play in an institutional setting. The festival provided a great opportunity to expand our outreach to an extended community and talk about LFP’s work to promote the benefits of local food. See more photos.
If you picked up a lettuce seedling and want to identify your variety, check out the October 8 post below to view photos.

Grow a Lot in a Small Space

Looking for strategies to produce a lot of vegetables in your own backyard? Find out how you can garden using Small Space, High Yield growing techniques at the Local Food Project’s next evening workshop on Thursday, July 2 from 6-8 p.m. We’ll discuss biointensive methods and talk about ways to increase soil fertility, decide plant spacing, keep pests away, and more! Local wine and beer, as well as snacks made from local ingredients, will provide a delicious start to the night. A new skit performed by the LFP crew and friends will spark plenty of laughter. And we’ll kick off the July 4th holiday with a fun and relaxing evening in the garden. Cost, $20. Learn more on our website. To register, send an email to bslate@airlie.org by July 1.

Organic Garden Primer Workshop a Success

We had blue skies and plenty of sun for the Local Food Project’s first evening workshop of the summer. About 35 people joined us for “The Organic Garden Primer,” enjoying the chance to see the LFP garden’s recent updates, mingle with other local food enthusiasts, and sample juicy mini-burgers made with local beef. Yum! The sixteen foot ladder also made an appearance, reprising its role in last year’s skit about organic gardening techniques.

If you missed the workshop, plan to join us for another great celebration on July 2. An LFP favorite, “Small Space, High Yield Gardens” will gather urban growers, suburban gardeners, and small farmers alike to learn about maximizing vegetable production in tight quarters. We’ll also enjoy local food treats, wine, beer, and lots of great conversation. Learn more and plan to attend!

H.O.E.—Hands-on Organic Education

Last week, the Local Food Project crew led a fun team building workshop from our new menu of garden activities for groups staying at Airlie. In addition to tours, the LFP now offers interactive gardening projects we fondly call “H.O.E”—Hands-on Organic Education. Guests not only learn about the project and its role at Airlie and in the community, they also have the chance to experience the garden up close, try out our favorite handtools, and collaborate with their co-workers.

Our first H.O.E. activity was a great success with the two teams—who named themselves “The Double Diggers” (after our Parking Space plot) and “The Earthworms”—quickly getting into the rhythm of using broadforks to loosen the soil. They worked together to weed, spread compost, and rake the beds smooth, then planted Mei Qing pac choi in 12-inch triangles. For the finishing touch, they protected their neatly planted beds with fabric row cover draped over wire hoops. The new gardeners were rewarded with the knowledge that the crops they planted would eventually take their place on the Airlie Center buffet, feeding future guests like themselves. And after an afternoon of hard work, they relaxed in the garden with locally-sourced treats. We’re looking forward to our next opportunity to break out the H.O.E.!

Digging in to Small Farm Design

Participants at last weekend’s “Skills, Scale, Sustainability” workshop took home a whole new toolbox full of ideas and strategies for designing, managing, and enhancing a small-scale food-growing system. Facilitator Shane J. LaBrake drew on a lifetime’s worth of farming experience to inspire course attendees to put their sustainable agriculture dreams into motion.

During the 2.5-day workshop, Shane returned again and again to one of his favorite quotes from William McDonough—“Design is the first signal of human intention.” He showed participants how to apply that concept philosophically—in the way they set up and think about the integration of their farm system—and practically—as they lay out the beds and set the schedule for a vegetable garden. Shane’s approach to tractor operation and maintenance emphasized two simple policies: 1. Read the manual. 2. Safety, safety, safety. Attendees were empowered to understand how tractors work and feel comfortable operating them on their own farms. The workshop was a real success thanks to Shane’s depth of knowledge and the enthusiasm of the participants. View more photos from the weekend.

A Tale of Two Farms: Conference Highlights, Part 4

Attendees at the Local Food Project’s 2009 conference—“Half Pint and Essex: A Tale of Two Farms”—had the chance to see a local draft horse team in action. Justin Lamountain, owner of Piedmont Virginia-based Greenman Forest Management, and his hardworking Suffolks gave conference attendees a sense of the horse power in use at Essex Farm. Justin and his team are also responsible for sustainably harvesting the wood used in the frame of our passive solar hoophouse. Conference participants had the chance to see these beautiful animals up close and ask questions about their work.

View more conference photos in our online album. Thank you to everyone who attended “A Tale of Two Farms”! We look forward to seeing you at the next Local Food Project at Airlie event. Our 2009 calendar will be available soon.

A Tale of Two Farms: Conference Highlights, Part 3

A memorable part of the Local Food Project’s 2009 conference—“Half Pint and Essex: A Tale of Two Farms”—was the delicious buffet lunch prepared by Airlie’s talented team of chefs.
Conference participants enjoyed a feast of seasonal, locally grown foods—roasted carrots and braised cabbage, braised pork with rosemary and shitake mushrooms, roasted red and purple potatoes with herbs, and other sumptuous dishes. Aside from the yummy feast of local foods, attendees had the chance to share new ideas sparked by the presentations and hear one another’s farming and gardening stories.

View more conference photos in our online album. Stay tuned for more highlights from “A Tale of Two Farms”!

A Tale of Two Farms: Conference Highlights, Part 2

The Local Food Project’s 2009 conference—“Half Pint and Essex: A Tale of Two Farms”—shared a peek into the innovative systems of two very different farms. Mara and Spencer Welton of Half Pint Farm (Burlington, VT) inspired us with their passion for farming and eagerness to have fun while doing it. They wowed our audience with their dedication to record-keeping, showing samples of spreadsheets with data on every aspect of running the farm—from weather and soil conditions, to market sales and production yields and beyond! Participants also got a kick out of Half Pint’s “annual meeting”—the demanding agenda for last year’s strategy session showed how comfortably Mara and Spencer take on various roles—CEO, farm manager, field worker, marketer.

Mark and Kristin Kimball of Essex Farm (Essex, NY) led an interactive presentation that mirrored how they describe their farm—high-energy and physical. A series of hand-drawn posters gave conference attendees a visual sense of the systems that make Essex go. Essex employees Sam Ehrenfeld and Matt Volz helped Mark and Kristin take questions from the audience and they all spoke about the farm’s main components: providing a full diet—veggies, fruits, dairy, meat, and baked goods; allowing its 75 members free choice in what they select each week (no pre-measured boxes or bags); feeding members on a year-round basis (summer and winter shares); working the farm with draft horse power; and operating as a membership organization where folks pay for the food at the beginning of each season.

Conference attendee Ellen Polishuk, owner of Potomac Vegetable Farms, appreciated getting such an up-close look into the farms’ systems: “The intensive study of these farms is exactly what made it so valuable, and of course the fact that they were so funny and amazing.”

View more conference photos in our online album. Stay tuned for more highlights from “A Tale of Two Farms”!

A Tale of Two Farms: Conference Highlights, Part 1

The Local Food Project’s 2009 conference—“Half Pint and Essex: A Tale of Two Farms”—was a great success! On January 9, we welcomed more than 100 participants to Airlie for a dynamic day of learning, networking, food and fun. We want to share some of the highlights from this fantastic event and welcome feedback from anyone who attended. If you weren’t able to make it, explore the blog for content summaries, photos, and other valuable info from the conference.

This photo shows folks gathered in our passive solar hoophouse for the networking social that wrapped up the day. After a morning of in-depth presentations on designing successful farm systems, conference participants had the chance to get to know one another and share their impressions. One attendee, Nancy Gravely, appreciated the opportunity to talk with other small farm enthusiasts: “It really makes a difference to spend time with other people who are doing it, seems as though something gets passed along just by being in their company.”

View more conference photos in our online album. Stay tuned for more highlights from “A Tale of Two Farms”!