Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Camel Milk USA, camel, milk, camel milk, dromedary, Dr. Millie Hinkle, medical research, autism, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's
I wonder how much land is required to keep a camel. The milk sounds like a miracle!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wikipedia's Anti-Natural Health Slant
I had no idea how slanted Wikipedia was toward alternative health topics. They are about as unbiased as they come. Read this article and bookmark, use and contribute to the alternative site, please.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Market Gardening Class
UF/IFAS - Sarasota County Extension
ANNOUNCEMENT AND SYLLABUS
Course Title: Market Gardening
Instructor: Robert Kluson, Ph.D., Ag/Natural Resources Extension Agent
Course Description: Market gardening is the commercial production of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other plants, on a scale larger than a home garden, yet small enough
that many of the principles of gardening can be applied, and is often oriented toward local markets, such as farmers markets. This series of 8 classes will cover different
aspects of the scope, startup and operation of a market garden business.
Class structure:
• 2.0 hours length•
First 0.5 hour = discussion of previous topic•
Remaining 1.5 hour = new topic presentation
Class Schedule:
•
September 22nd (6-8 pm) - Introduction•
September 29th (6-8 pm) - Holistic Management•
October 6th (6-8 pm) - Business Planning and Marketing•
October 13th (6-8 pm) – Production Systems and Planning•
October 20th (6-8 pm) - Equipment and Tools; Post-harvest handling•
October 27th (6-8 pm) - Food Safety; Regulations•
November 3rd (6-8 pm) – Farmers’ Markets•
November 17th (6-8 pm) – Financing; Class reports•
TBD – Local Market Gardener Onsite Visit
Location:
Colonial Oaks Park, 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34232-6844
Registration:
Online at education calendar on Sarasota Co Extensionwebsite at
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.
Cost:
$15 (for entire series) – Checks payable to AG/NR Extension Advisory Committee at 1st class. Cash or check only.
Participant Requirements:
•
Read recommended online resources•
Attend classes•
Participate in discussions•
Share gardening experience•
Share readings from online resources•
Peruse, if possible, recommended book resources•
Participate in class projects at final class, i.e., give an executive summary of your sustainable business planCourse Online Resources (Required Reading):
•
Building A Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses http://www.sare.org/•
Farmers Markets http://attra.ncat.org/attra-•
Market Gardening: A Start Up Guide http://attra.ncat.org/attra-•
Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production in the South (NC State)http://www.ncsu.edu/•
UF/IFAS/FAMU Small Farm & Alternative Enterprise Programhttp://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.
Book Resources (Available as Loan Library):
•
Aubrey, S.B. 2010. The Profitable Hobby Farm: How to Build a Sustainable Local Food Business.•
Byczynski, L. 2006. Market Farming Success.•
Coleman, E. 1988. The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener.•
Gibson, E. 1994. Sell What You Sow: The Grower's Guide to Successful Produce Marketing•
Hamilton, N. 1999. The Legal Guide For Direct Farm Marketing.•
Ikerd, J. 2008. Small Farms are Real Farms: Sustaining People through Agriculture•
Jeavons, J. 2006. How to grow more vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine.•
Lee, A. 1993. Backyard market gardening : the entrepreneur's guide to selling what you grow.•
Macher, R. 1999. Making Your Small Farm Profitable.•
Savory, A. Holistic Management.•
Seymour, J. 1978. The Self-Sufficient Gardener.•
Stephens, J., 1999. Vegetable Gardening in Florida.•
Tasch. W. 2008. Slow Money: Investing As If Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered.•
Whatley, B.T. 1987. Handbook On How To Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres.
Other Online Resources:
•
City Farmer News http://www.cityfarmer.info/•
EDIS http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/•
Farmers Market Coalition http://farmersmarketcoalition.•
Florida Association of Community Farmers Marketshttps://sites.google.com/a/•
Growing for Market http://www.growingformarket.•
Hobby Farms http://www.hobbyfarms.com/•
Kitchen Gardeners International http://www.kitchengardeners.•
The New Farm http://www.newfarm.org/•
Your Backyard Farmer http://yourbackyardfarmer.com/
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information,
and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability,
sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.
Friday, September 3, 2010
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