| Providing an educational hub for the sustainable farming and food community is one of the key activities of Future Harvest CASA. Scroll down for descriptions of Field Days and Special Events hosted or co-sponsored by Future Harvest CASA. These events are open to Future Harvest CASA members and the public. Members receive discounts on many events as well as other benefits. IMPORTANT: Online registration for all Future Harvest CASA events, begins by logging in to the website - see the log in or registration links to the right.→ Once you are logged in, you will be redirected to the registration screen. Click here for step-by-step registration instructions. Everyone, regardless of Future Harvest CASA membership, must log in first in order to register for events. Thanks! If you have questions about registration, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 410-549-7878. If you are already logged in, you may go to the event registration page to purchase tickets or RSVP. Visit our Facebook photo albums and our In the News page for a look at the activities from past Field Days. Click on our Calendar for a comprehensive listing of events hosted by both Future Harvest CASA and other sustainable agriculture organizations throughout the region. (Know of an event that should be on the calendar? Send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .) LEARN HOW TO BE A FIELD DAY SPONSOR. Upcoming EventsMay 29, 2013 Organic Orchard and Value-Added Farm Products at Country Pleasures Farm Wednesday, May 29, 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Processing and selling value-added products from the fruits and vegetables grown at Country Pleasures Farm is one of the successful farm profitability strategies pursued by organic farmers Eric and Lori Rice. "If we grow it, we make something from it!" Eric says. The Rices will take attendees on a tour of their fields, hoophouses and orchard, the oldest certified organic orchard in Maryland. They will also talk about the development of farm kitchen processing rules in Maryland, differences in farm processing and commercial kitchen processing, and organic certification as both a stewardship commitment and a value-added strategy. Guest speaker Juli Obudzinski of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition will talk about available funding programs that can help with value-added production, including Value Added Producer Grants, the FSA microloan program, and SARE and other research funding. Thanks to Whole Foods Market Kentlands for generously providing our light lunch and drinks.
June 22, 2013 Retail Farming for Success on the Delmarva at Greenbranch Farm Saturday, June 22, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Ted and Julia Wycall have transformed Greenbranch Farm, a former commodity farm where corn, soybeans and confinement chickens had been raised by Ted's grandfather, into a diversified organic operation with a retail marketing model. All their sales come through retail/direct marketing channels, i.e., farmers markets, a CSA with more than 200 subscribers, and an on-farm store. Their farm story includes tailoring their diverse product line, which includes produce and meats to attract the retail customer, pursuing methods that have relatively low start-up costs, and using production techniques that enhance long-term soil fertility.
July 13, 2013 Engaging the Public Through Farm-Based Education at Fox Haven Farm Saturday, July 13, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
How can you tap into the public's fascination with agriculture and farms by offering farm-based educational programs? This field day at Fox Haven Farm will demonstrate some of the strategies for successful farm-based education. The 626 acres of Fox Haven Farm are home to an ecological learning center, a demonstration organic fruit and vegetable farm, and a chestnut tree research orchard. Existing projects include organic haying, 85,000 trees planted on steep slopes in CREP, a local community garden, bluebird habitat, an American Chestnut Foundation experimental grove, a 3-acre organic direct-to-market garden, geothermal greenhouse under construction, solar-powered irrigation and beekeeping. The recently restored barn is used for educational workshops. Field day registration ($20 for Future Harvest CASA members, $30 for nonmembers) includes a walking tour of the farm led by Mark Eyestone and Dick Bittner, along with a discussion of conservation and alternative energy elements being demonstrated throughout the property; a presentation in the learning barn on engaging children through sustainable food and farming education by Peggy Eppig of the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and a light lunch. After lunch, optional workshops allow you to participate in some of the farm-based educational programs offered by MAEF and Fox Haven Farm. Each one-hour workshop is an additional $20. • Beekeeping with Peggy Eppig of MAEF and Maryland State Apiarist Jerry Fischer Bring the kids along! For only $20 for the entire day, your young ones will participate in fun activities such as a creek walk and scavenger hunt. You'll all have fun learning all day! July 21, 2013 Farm Longevity and Multi-Farm CSA at Potomac Vegetable Farms Sunday, July 21, 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
In operation by the Newcomb family since the 1960s, Potomac Vegetable Farms on Route 7 near Tyson's Corner is now the only commercial farm still operating in Fairfax County, Virginia. The farm has grown and prospered through a mix of hard work, perseverance and adaptations to changing markets over the years. This field day will focus on direct-market strategies that have proven successful for the farm, including farmers markets, a farmstand on Route 7, and a 550-member CSA, which includes produce from several cooperating farms in the area. The field day will take place during the cooperating farms' weekly delivery time, so attendees can see how the various contributions add up to a full CSA share, and learn more about the mutual benefit to the farms that participate. PAST EVENTS April 25, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Whether you are interested in working on a farm for a summer, thinking about becoming a farmer, or if you just want to hear some great tales from successful farmers who recently made this career choice, come to New Farmer Pathways, a fun panel presentation coinciding with Earth Week and Sustainable Food Day at George Mason. Panelists include Pablo Elliott, farmer at Stoney Lonesome Farm and board member of Future Harvest-Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, Stacey Carlberg and Casey Gustaworow from Potomac Vegetable Farms, and Maureen Moodie from Moutoux Orchards. The event will also include the screening of a brief film about innovative landowner-farmer partnerships in Virginia's Piedmont region, produced by the Prince Charitable Trusts. Attendees will leave equipped with a number of resources that will help them determine which pathway to farming best fits their needs. For more information on George Mason University's Green Week, please visit the Mason Earth Week website. No pre-registration required! Starting a Small, Intensive Commercial Farm for Local Markets In partnership with the Farm Alliance of Baltimore City and Civic Works’ Real Food Farm, Future Harvest CASA Click here for information and recordings from last year's Urban Workshop Series!
Registration for all 3 City workshops - $15 Urban Farm Series ($15 registration fee for all three workshops) April 3 City Laws and Land Urban Farmer Panel – Getting Started with Marketing and Resources April 10 Urban Soils – Concerns About Contamination Building Healthy Urban Soils April 17 Starting a New Farm in a Baltimore Neighborhood Alternative Growing Systems For more info on speakers and topics at urban workshops, visit farmalliancebaltimore.org/workshops. TO REGISTER, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT TOP OF PAGE.
If you are interested in carpooling with others, please visit tinyurl.com/farmride
April 10, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The public comment period for the upcoming Food Safety regulations ends May 16, 2013. Future Harvest CASA, in cooperation with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), is holding a series of regional meetings to address this complex issue. Join PASA Executive Director, Brian Snyder - along with Susan Beal, PASA's Agricultural Science Advisor - as they summarize some significant points in this large document and help coach farmers, business leaders and interested consumers in the art of writing concise and effective comments. Future Harvest CASA President Joan Norman will also present results of an analysis of FSMA being conducted on behalf of Future Harvest CASA by the Georgetown University Law Center Institute for Public Representation. Get some help sorting through the many pages of regulations and potential rules; clarify the issues; discover what rules might influence your farm and farm business; and, most importantly, learn how to construct useful and creative comments - and how to ensure your comments are heard. In the comment process, all comments received become part of the public record. Additionally, the governing body must respond to all comments received. While the temptation is to use the comment period to vent, taking this opportunity to provide carefully worded comments containing potential solutions is a far more useful action - an action that can potentially influence the final rules. There is no charge for this meeting and walk-ins are welcome, however taking a moment to pre-register will greatly help with planning. Also, take our 5-minute food safety survey to help us craft Future Harvest CASA's comments on the regulations.
April 4, 2013
The registration for this event is now closed! Thursday, April 4, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
The farm tour and discussion will cover topics including soil, irrigation, temperature, crop selection, high tunnel rotations, harvest methods and overall production techniques. Tim Clippinger from NRCS will also speak about hoop house funding through the NRCS EQiP program and how farmers can qualify for financial or technical assistance.
February 11, 2013 Economic Diversification for Large Acreage Farms See pictures from this event on our Facebook page! Keynote addresses by Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens of Lakeview Organic Grains in Penn Yan, NY, and Yates Clagett of Bald Eagle Farm in Prince George's County, MD; a moderated panel of Eastern Shore Farmer Panel that will discuss diversification and its impact on profitability; a panel focused on tools, funding and resources to assist farmers to diversify large farms; and an optional tour of Chino Farm in Chestertown.
This event is generously sponsored by:
    A continental breakfast and locally sourced lunch will be provided by Washington College. If you need lodging near the Washington College campus, there are a few bed and breakfasts within walking distance, as well as two suggested motels about 3/4 mile away:
Holiday Inn Express Comfort Suites If you are looking to carpool to this event, please visit tinyurl.com/econacreage January 18 and 19, 2013
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. WALK-INS ARE WELCOME. PLEASE FILL OUT A REGISTRATION FORM IN ADVANCE TO SPEED UP YOUR WALK-IN REGISTRATION. Click the links above and below for conference details. Pre-Conference Workshops 2013 Sponsors
December 12, 2012 Farm Business and Production Planning Wednesday, December 12, 9 am - 3 pm Presentations by Dr. Lewis Jett and Dr. Dee Singh-Knights, as well as a Q&A panel with farmers, business coaches, and lenders.
Dr. Lewis Jett, a WVU Extension Horticulture Specialist, will be presenting about a variety of topics, including planting for uninterrupted supply, market windows for profitability, schedules for tunnels and field plantings, and preferred varities and maximizing yields. Dr. Dee Singh-Knights, a WVU Extension Specialist on Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be presenting about business planning and risk management, financial analysis and record keeping, as well as enterprise budgeting and input costs. This event is held in partnership with the Morgan County Association for Food & Farms and West Virginia University Extension Service, provided in part through a Specialty Crop Block Grant through West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
*Donations accepted for local foods luncheon. December 11, 2012 Field Day at Coastal Sunbelt Produce Tuesday, December 11, 10 am - 1:30 pm
When is it economically viable to work with a distributor if you are a small-to mid-size farmer? Distributors like Coastal Sunbelt Produce have trucks on the road all over our area. How would tacking on to their distribution routes affect your transportation costs? What processes help ensure that your product is handled with the care you feel it deserves all the way to the end user? Spend a day at the Coastal Sunbelt Produce facility for a field day and tour that will include a look at how Coastal Sunbelt manages the distribution of products from our local farms to the end users, within the shortest time of harvest. See and learn about the warehouse storage facilities, the coolers and other temperature zones, produce samples, sizing, pricing, the importance of packaging, handling guidelines, the supply chain, the customer segments served, how to shorten the distribution time, and which sustainable methods work best. Hear about the separate requirements for organic produce. Matt Nielson from Homestead Farm will also share his first-hand experiences with distributors. Finally, meet Coastal Sunbelt's chef who will not only prepare us a locally sourced lunch, but will also discuss product development and other culinary uses of our homegrown produce. Presented in partnership with Maryland Farm Bureau.
See a blog post on Catillation.com about this field day! November 15 From Farm to Woodberry Kitchen's Table with Spike Gjerde Thursday, November 15, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
One of the region's most noted farm-to-table chef/restaurateurs, Spike Gjerde, will take us behind the scenes at Woodberry Kitchen. At Woodberry Kitchen, not only do fresh ingredients star on each day's menu, the kitchen excels at preserving seasonal ingredients in-house for future use. Chef Gjerde will talk about what chefs need from local farmers to make sourcing relationships work and show us what happens to our lovingly raised farm products once we leave them at the restaurant door. Lite fare included. We are extremely grateful to Woodberry Kitchen for supplying food to our event!
September 28 Behind the Scenes: Artisanal Alcohol Production
Check out the pictures HERE. In the News: CASA Tour Showcases Local Artisan Alcohol Producers- The Delmarva Farmer, November 9, 2012 Friday, September 28, 10 am - 5 pm Bus tour of four farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, beginning at Stillpoint Farm – Mt. Airy, MD
This behind-the-scenes tour is designed for farmers interested in growing hops or fruits for alcohol production, and those who want to know what it takes to produce and market artisanal alcoholic beverages to a regional market. We'll visit:
Each stop will include a farm/facility tour and small tasting. Optional boxed lunch from Frederick's Lunchbox may be ordered for $15. All participants are requested to park at Stillpoint Farm and ride the bus for the entire tour.
August 21 Small- to Mid-Sized Farm Machinery Tuesday, August 21, 3 pm - 7 pm
With Rick Hood's background in engineering, it is no wonder that his Summer Creek Farm abounds with machinery. Rick will line up his tillers, planters, cultivators, and tractors to answers the what's, why's, when's and how's of machinery. Summer Creek Farm is 30+ acres offering a range of certified organic products including veggies, eggs, honey, small grains, pullets, fertilizers and other supplies. Walking tour of farm with boxed dinner included. In partnership with Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture August 9 Multi-species Grazing; Advocacy for Farmers
Thursday, August 9, 10 am - 1 pm
Come hear about both the production and the economic challenges and opportunities of multi-species grazing, as well as the importance of advocacy for farmers at Whitmore Farm in Emmitsburg, MD. The historic farm in northern Frederick County was built in 1764. Owner/operators Will Morrow and Kent Ozkum raise hogs, 100-percent grass-fed sheep and goats, rabbits, chickens and vegetables on 30 acres. Their lamb, goat and vegetables are certified organic by the USDA and sold directly to consumers on the farm, as well as to restaurants and grocery stores in Frederick, Washington DC and Baltimore. The lamb and goat are grass fed and grass finished, and processed at Stoney Point Farm Market, the only organic meat processor in the region. This key partner in Whitmore Farm's success will also speak at the field day, which will also include a farm tour and boxed lunch. Will Morrow also serves as Advocacy Chair for Future Harvest CASA and has been active in promoting policy priorities that support sustainable agriculture, both through media awareness and legislative testimony.
With Support From: Famers Cooperative Association, Inc.
August 1 You-Pick and Educational Tours on the Farm Wednesday, August 1, 4 pm - 7 pm Discover how Robert Hamilton has managed to start and operate his 40-acre organic fruit farm while working full time. As a one man show, Robert has worked overtime for years nurturing the bushes and trees using organic methods and now harvests thousands of pounds of berries per year. He is in his second year of offering a “You-Pick” operation. Light dinner included. Special thanks to Manor Tavern for catering the event: July 25 Transition to Organic on Maryland's Eastern Shore Wednesday, July 25, 3 pm - 6 pm
Learn from environmental lawyer-turned-organic farmer Cleo Braver about the challenges of embarking on a second career, transitioning a farm to organic production, the many lessons learned by trial and error, and the challenges ahead. Tour the 156-acre farm near Easton, which includes three 96'x26' high tunnels, extensive conservation buffers, wetlands and wooded areas, creating a mid-sized organic sustainable farm operation growing year-round. Light freshly grown snack provided. July 11 Small and New, Large and Established: Sustainability at Two Prince George's County Farms Wednesday, July 11, 2 -7 pm
This field day will begin at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Clagett Farm, where farm manager Michael Heller runs the operation established in 1992 on a former tobacco farm to demonstrate sustainable farming practices. The farm offers grass-fed beef and a 400-member organically grown produce CSA, with a percentage of shares reserved for low-income consumers at a reduced price. The farm includes a native tree nursery and hosts agriculture and conservation educational programs for children and adults. We'll then drive to nearby Radix Farm, founded three years ago by Kristin Carbone, a graduate of Future Harvest CASA's Beginner Farmer Training Program who also spent four years apprenticing at Clagett Farm. Kristin operates a small CSA and sells produce at farmers markets and to restaurants in the Washington, DC area. Those who are interested in bringing a dish for a potluck supper to follow the tours, please sign up for the potluck as well. Space for the potluck is limited! June 28 Starting an Organic Fruit Tree Orchard: Using Traditional and Innovative Practices to Build Success
Thursday, June 28, 10 am - 4 pm
The owners of Apple Tree Vineyard and Farm, Mike, Jim and Donna Travis, began their apple and peach orchard with careful site selection. To maximize the potential for high yields of quality fruit, the trees are trained to the latest apple and peach tree training systems using high density planting. Setting a goal of becoming certified organic also meant they had to learn techniques like how to fence out deer without using treated posts and how to use beneficial insects and natural materials to control pests. Their first certified organic fruit will be produced this season on three-year-old apple and peach trees. The Travises established Apple Tree Vineyard and Farm, LLC in 2008. Their goal was to grow organic tree fruit crops on their farm and produce high quality wine grapes on a leased 10-acre vineyard near the farm. Prior to starting the farm, presenter Jim Travis worked for Penn State Extension for 29 years specializing in the management of fruit crop diseases. Come learn from the Travises' experience and begin an organic fruit tree orchard on your farm or property. Participants will take away an understanding of goal setting, site selection, variety selection, training and trellis systems and basic organic fruit tree production techniques. Funds provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (Region III). Presented in collaboration with Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). To register for this event, please visit www.pasafarming.org.
June 27 On-Farm Small Flock Field Day and SeminarWednesday, June 27 - 6 p.m. Pre-Registration Required - RSVP to Tom Albright at 410 329-3269 or albrightfarmsinc@aol.com |
May
- DIY Series: Tabletop Composting
May 20, 2013 (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm) - Antibiotics & Agriculture: Protecting Public Health With Your Purchasing Dollars Webinar
May 22, 2013 (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm) - Farm Feast II
May 22, 2013 (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
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Jack and Beckie Gurley of Calvert's Gift Farm have 17 years of experience growing certified organic vegetables. They have used unheated high tunnels for 12 years to extend their growing season, taking weather out of the equation in early spring and allowing them to offer a fuller CSA box and have a greater variety of vegetables at farmers markets at the beginning of the season. Using three high tunnels, the largest of which is 96' x 30', the Gurleys conservatively estimate they have seen a bottom-line boost of some $10k per year.
Check out more pictures of this field day on our Facebook page 
