Piedmont Farm School 2012

The demand for locally grown food continues to grow despite a faltering economy.  Direct sales from farms to consumers grew 215% from 1992-2007.  The average farmer in NC is 57 years old, and looking forward to retirement.  We need new farmers to meet the demand for locally grown food in North Carolina.  Quite often I get people who come in my office and say “I have some land that I want to do something with… but I don’t know what.  Can you tell me what I can grow and make some money?”  This is really an open-ended question, because it really depends on the market and the operator on whether an agriculture venture will be successful.  Any good business starts out with a good plan and lots of research.  More and more families are looking at ways to supplement their incomes and put their land into something productive.  The Piedmont Farm School is a 7 month educational program that trains beginning and transitioning farmers with a strong commitment to operate successful small-scale sustainable farms.  The school offers seven business planning seminars, which will give farmers the tools to create a viable business plan.  Each business session will focus on different areas of writing a business plan including financial management and effective marketing strategies.  The school also includes seven day-long field trips at different working farms led by innovative experienced farmers and agricultural professionals.  Participants will learn about low-cost sustainable farming methods, from fruits, vegetables, cows, pigs, poultry, goats, specialty crops and agritourism.  The business classes will meet the second Tuesday of the month beginning in February from 6pm-9pm at the Davidson County Extension Center, and the farm field days will typically be the 4th Thursday of the month from 9am-3pm.  The farm field days will take place at various farms throughout the piedmont.  Registration deadline is December 16th, one person: $150,  two people: $200, families of three or more: $250. Go to http://davidson.ces.ncsu.edu  events page or call 336-242-2085 for more information.

Correll Farms in Cleveland NC is one of the farms we will visit during the farm school

Where is Amy-Lynn?

While the summer has been hot and humid it has still flown by.  I am half way through a high risk pregnancy that has recently put me on bed rest and out of commission for the next few months.  So I have to keep up with our local food scene via the internet.  Lucky for me most folks are using facebook and their smart phones to keep me up to date.

Childress vineyards is in the midst of harvest.  They are picking Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc right now.  Vineyard manager Max Ferrell says harvest looks good but we are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule due to the high heat. They will be harvesting one of my favorite white wines in the next two weeks Viognier.

High Rock Nursery has finished cutting their corn maze.  This is the first year they are trying out a corn maze.  The maze is in the shape of Davidson County.  The maze will open for the fall season after labor day, contact Thomas Penninger at  www.highrocknursery.com  or 336-250-5427 for more information.

The “Got To Be NC”  Big Cart is coming to the Denton Community Farmers Market August 19th.  The 13 foot tall grocery cart is quite the site and if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to make down to the Denton Market and check it out.  The Denton Community Farmers Market is open Fridays 3:30-8:00PM and Saturdays 8:00AM-Noon.  The market is located at 23 Salisbury Street across from the Post Office and Harrison Park in downtown Denton.