2012 Urban Agriculture - Rural Agriculture Virtual Calendar » Click Here to post your sumbit your event. JANUARY Date Description 12 - 13 Organic Commodities and Livestock Conference presented by: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Jan. 12th 8:30am - 7:00pm / Jan. 13th 8:00am - 11:30am If you are interested in the Carolina's rapidly growing organic agriculture sector, don't miss this opportunity to network with and learn from expereinced organic farmers. Registration: FREE For more information visit: www.carolinafarmstewards.org OR contact Brad Aderhold at brad@carolinafarmstewards.org FEBRUARY 3 Southeastern North Carolina Local Food Systems Annual Regional Conference presented by: Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program Time: 8am - 4pm Empowering the Southeastern North Carolina farmers with knowledge and skills to sustain and grow their farm businesses. Providing information to help institutions/schools/grocers support local farm businesses through the development of local buying agreements and marketing opportunities. Registration: None. Donations appreciated For more information visit: www.feastdowneast.org OR contact Leslie Hossfeld at HossfeldL@uncw.edu 18 - 19 Hampton Roads Sustainable Living Fair presented by: Five Points Community Farm Market Time: 10am-6pm and 11am-4pm The Sustainable Living Fair hatched out of a conversation between Five Points Community Farm Market Director, Bev Sell, and Green Alternatives' Owner, Amelia Baker. Starving to see better education surrounding sustainable living practices, the two put their heads together and decided that a foundation of knowledge, education, and information from local experts would prove to be a popular outing for everyone from young to old, single to family, poor to rich. Nobody excluded from the focus meant that the event would always be free and open to the public. Meeting after meeting, the 1st annual Sustainable Living Fair developed into a weekend at Norfolk's Waterside Marketplace buzzing with eco vendors, homesteading workshops, environmentally-minded films, and local food. We're coming up on our 3rd year! ODU was such a wonderful host last year, we'll be having it there again in 2012. For more information visit: www.slfhr.com 27 - 29 2nd Annual Green Schools National Conference (Denver CO) presented by: Green Schools National Network Time: 9am - 5pm The Green Schools National Conference has become the official event of the national Green and Healthy Schools Movement. This is the only national gathering of K-12 leaders and educators coming together to share and learn innovative ways to make their schools and districts green & healthy centers of academic excellence – from curriculum, to building and operations to health and fitness. Registration: $315 - $375 For more information visit: www.greenschoolsnationalconference.org OR contact Bretta Beveridge at bretta@bev-com.com MARCH 2 - 3 Savannah Regional Environmental Justice and Healthy Homes Conference presented by: Healthy Housing Solutions, Inc. Time: 7:00am - 5:30pm and 8:00am - 2:00pm Location: Hyatt Regency Savannah Hotel This Conference will promote environmental justice and healthy homes initiatives in the Savannah, Georgia area and surrounding region. It will focus attention on high-risk populations, including families with young children that have been exposed to the disproportionate disparity of lead and other home health hazards. The Conference will also showcase the three-year partnership of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Citizens for Environmental Justice, the Georgia Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, and the Chatham County Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The Conference will present progress to date on Healthy Homes initiatives and illustrate next steps to educate the local Savannah community and other regional communities on Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention activities and their link to environmental justice issues. Registration: Free For more information visit: www.healthyhousingsolutions.com/Home/Savannah-Registration.aspx 9 Raising Poultry for Profit and Pleasure: an intensive heritage poultry workshop presented by: South Carolina Organization for Organic Living (SCOOL) Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm If you've never had the opportunity to take a class from Jim Adkins, of the International Center for Poultry, don't miss this opportunity. Jim is featured in Acres U.S.A.'s February issue. He's a dynamic presenter - and this event is offered at an unprecedented price. Registration: $45; $35 when purchased with an Organic Growing Conference's ticket. For more information visit: www.scorganicliving.com 10 SC Organic Growing Conference presented by: South Carolina Organization for Organic Living (SCOOL) Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm Location: Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC Join us for a conference that focuses on sustainable and organic agriculture, taught by farmers and other local food system experts. Urban farmers, we have two tracks just for you. A locally-sourced lunch is included in the event price. Registration: $65 For more information visit: www.scorganicliving.com 22 - 24 2nd Annual Powering Up the Local Food System Summit presented by: Detroit Policy Food Council Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This event features speakers, presentations and work group sessions that address ways in which Detroiters can have a positive impact on the food system. Community empowerment and hearing community voices are imporatnt focus areas. Registration: $25 For more information visit: www.detroitfoodpolicycouncil.net 22 - 24 Bluegrass Local Food Summit Time: 8am - 4:30pm Location: Crestwood Christian Church, 1882 Bellefonte Dr., Lexington KY We invite you to join us in Lexington for the Bluegrass Local Food Summit held March 22-24, 2012 as we work to build a more sustainable, equitable and healthy local food system that builds local capacity and connection. For the past four (4) years this Summit has been a one (1) day event, but in 2012 we will expand to three days because of the comments and needs expressed at our 2011 Bluegrass Local Food Summit. This three (3) day Summit is now designed so that local government leadership in relationship with farmers, businesses, faith members, educators, chefs, youth and other citizens can attend the Summit as a team and leave with a shared vision for a local food system that serves to restore our economic vitality while also improving the health of people and the environment. Summit participants will return home with a comprehensive understanding of and increased capacity for regenerating a vibrant local food system that will accelerate the good work already going on in our communities throughout the state. » Click Here for more details » Click Here to register APRIL 7 Youth L.E.A.D. Fundraiser Time: 10:00pm - 12:00am Location: CHALK Miami Beach - 1234 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach Donation: $20 (includes free drinks) For more information visit: www.youthleadmiami.org/ 14 Second Saturdays at Sankofa Gardens Calling Volunteers! Adults and children are invited to the monthly community garden workday at Sankofa Gardens. Earth Day Fest at Sankofa Gardens When? April 14th, 8 to 11 AM Volunteers are needed to prepare the grounds for Earth Day Fest (April 21) Where? Sankofa Gardens 1651 Tulane Ave. Shreveport, LA 71103 Directions: Tulane crosses Linwood Ave. between Kings Hwy. and Midway, about 4 blocks south of LSU Medical Center. ALSO SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR EARTH DAY FEST THE FESTIVAL IS APRIL 21, 6 AM TO 4 PM A VARIETY OF SHIFTS & JOBS ARE AVAILABLE Please call Leia Lewis Henderson at (318) 230-2892 if you will help. E-mail: leia@sankofavision.org What? Garden weeding, mulching, trimming and moving bamboo, and yard work. Wear work clothes and closed shoes. Dress in layers. Bring your own hoe or rake. Water and fruit provided. Feel free to bring a bag lunch. Bring a friend! Meet cool people! For more information visit: www.sankofavision.org/ 17 USDA State Technical Committee Meeting presented by: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: SC Farm Bureau Building, Knox Abbot Drive, Cayce, SC The USDA State Technical Committee is chaired by the SC NRCS State Conservationist and convenes to discuss conservation and Farm Bill related issues. The meeting is open to the public. If you wish to make a comment or raise a concern, submit your request in writing to the NRCS State Conservationist at ann.english@sc.usda.gov For more information visit: www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/SCSTComm.html 21 EPACT's 5th Annual "What's the 411?" presented by: EPACT, Inc.: Empowering Parents & Children Today Time: 11:00 - 4:00 Location: Civic Center Arena, Savannah GA This year, we are conducting workshops that will enhance the work-ready skills of those we are trying to serve. “We Challenge” you to facilitate the work-related soft skills workshops that increase the chances of our youth obtaining long-term success, and solidify that commitment on the registration form in the designated space. For more information visit: www.epact-inc.com MAY   19 Get Your Tickets Now for Bazaar Bizarro, May 19th Presented by: Slow Foods Atlanta Time: 11:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. Location: Gaia Gardens - 900 Dancing Fox Road - Decatur, GA 30032 Get Your Tickets in Advance For Our First Annual Country Fair in the City What happens we you cross a country fair with a city festival, a farm tour and a circus? Bazaar Bizzaro! It's really good street food on a farm with circus performers, lots of roving musicians, games, artists and more. The Bazaar Bizarro will be nothing less than riveting, with aerialist and acrobatic performance from Infinity Circus Productions, a raucous Maypole dance, performances from many local music acts including Christ, Lord!, Black Sheep Ensemble, Sourwood Honey, Under White Pines, Lilly and the Tigers, High Strung String Band, Spinning Leaves, Pachamamas, Vivian and Alex, and many more. We also have a handful of carefully curated artists on hand to show and sell their wares. We'll have games and fun for children and adults, including tug o'war, a radish race, a blueberry hay ride, as well as street food from Farm Burger, the Sandwich Buddah and King of Pops. Pre-purchased tickets are $20 for adults and $12.50 for children and can be purchased at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/236962 All proceeds will go to Slow Food Atlanta's mission to support the travel costs of Georgia's Terra Madre delegates. Terra Madre is the bi-annual congress of food producers from all over the world that converge on Turin, Italy to discuss the state of food and build solidarity amongst the globe's farmers, food artisans, and educators. Please help us support our delegates for 2012 by coming out to the farm for a day of stellar performances, sunshine, and good food. Tickets will be $25, and $15 at the door. For more information visit: www.slowfoodatlanta.org JUNE 21 11th Annual Small Farms Field Day: Improving Practices to Profits Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Registration: Advanced registration suggested Location: University Farm at NCA&T SU, 3136 McConnell Road, Greensboro, NC Farm Tour Sites: Pastured poultry, alley cropping: pecan trees and watermelons, mixed grazing: meat goats and hair sheep, managing parasites in small ruminants, managing pests on collards. For questions or to register contact Alexis Gaines at 336-334-7956 or ajgaines@ncat.edu JULY 26 NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council Meeting Time: 1-4 pm Location: Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds For more information visit: www.ncagr.gov/localfood/ AUGUST 6 Small Fruit Production Basics Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: Kestrel Perch Berry Farm, Ithaca NY Cost: $25 Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming, part of the Ecovillage Center for Sustainability Education project, is offering an afternoon workshop on Small Fruit Production. This workshop is part of the Sustainable Farming Certificate Program and is open to the public. For more information visit: http://centerfortransformativeaction.org/events/small-fruit-production-basics.html SEPTEMBER 1 Mid-America Homesteading Conference Presented by: Antiquity Oaks Increase your self-reliance by learning how to raise livestock, keep bees, garden, and preserve the harvest. Network with others who have similar goals, and get inspired by those who are already doing what you want to do! Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL Cost: $87 ($75 early bird discount) For more information visit: www.homesteadingconference.com or contact Deborah Niemann at deborah@gmail.com 7 - 9 National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference Milwaukee, Wisconsin www.growingpowerfarmconference.org Early Bird Registration! Order before July 16th and save! Full Conference: (all meals included): $275 Student Full Conference: (all meals included) $175 Valid Student ID required at onsite registration. After July 16th Full conference (all meals included) : $350. Students: $200. Valid Student ID required at onsite registration. http://www.growingpowerfarmconference.org/register/register/ Pre-Conference 1-day workshop at Growing Power (September 5th): $200 Exhibitor Space Reserve by July 20th, 2012. http://www.growingpowerfarmconference.org/exhibitors/be-an-exhibitor/ 13 - 15 First Annual Finger Lakes Social Entrepreneurship Institute Location: Finger Lakes region at Cornell University, Ithaca NY The Institute will bring together new and experienced social entrepreneurs to share best practices and co-create new possibilities. Using the book “The Business Model Generation” as a guide, participants will come together to learn how to reinvent their mission-driven enterprises to have greater social impact while meeting the financial, environmental and social challenges of today. The Institute will offer dozens of workshops and panels, including: how to blend for-profit and non-profit purposes; developing networks for local investing; taking a holistic approach to grant writing; identifying mentors and key partners; evaluating and communicating impact; and co-creating inclusive community leadership, all while learning how to use equity as the driver for growth. » Click Here to view/download flyer For more information visit: www.centerfortransformativeaction.org/SE-Institute.html 15 Heart Of Florida Environmental Youth Summit Presented by: Cultural Arts Coalition/City of Gainesville Mayor's Office Time: 10am thru 2pm Location: Gainesville Regional Utilities Oprerations Center, 4747 N Main St Gainesville, Fl. Cost: Free One day event where high school and college age students learn ways they can positively impact their communities by implementing an environmental community service project. For more information contact: Nkwanda Jah at njah52@att.net 21 - 23 Black Environmental Thought Conference II: Translocal & Transnational Dialogues and Collaborations Location: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Call For Papers This conference articulates an exciting collaboration between community and university to explore the history of Black Environmental Thought. We seek scholarly contributions that acknowledge, articulate, and build on the ethical and philosophical grounding and traditions within the African and African American experience that shape the cultural production of knowledge around environmentalism. Key questions of interest include: What is the current state of the research and practice related to Black Environmental Thought? How are Black Environmental Thought and practice unfolding in the United States, in Africa, and across the African Diaspora? And in what new directions can scholars take the study and practice of Black environmentalism? The conference will open with a keynote address by Bernice Johnson Reagon, cultural historian and founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock. There will be scholarly sessions, panel discussions, and hands-on activities, including site visits to local initiatives that draw on core traditions of Black Environmental Thought. We envision this conference bringing together regional, national, and international scholars, practitioners, artists, farmers, and community members from many disciplines and perspectives. We hope to build interdisciplinary, translocal, transnational, and intergenerational dialogues in the space of the conference, a collaboration between AfroEco (a cooperative of African/African Americans and allies, including agriculturalists, educators, artists, activists) and the Institute for Advanced Study and the Department of African American & African Studies at the University of Minnesota. Potential topics for conference papers and sessions include: The African roots of Black Environmental Thought; the history of Black Environmental Thought; Black Environmental Thought across the African Diaspora; popular culture and Black Environmental Thought; the arts and Black Environmental Thought; Black life and the out-of-doors; urban gardens; urban farming; environmental racism; Food justice/ security/sovereignty; youth in the movement; Black cooperatives; sustainability; Blacks and the land. For more information visit: www.wix.com/blackenvironthought/bet2 29 6th Annual D-Town Farm Harvest Festival presented by: Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Time: Noon - 6:00 p.m. Farm tours, fresh produce, learnshops, children's activities, music, food, fellowship and fun. Registration: Free For more information visit: www.detroitblackfoodsecurity.org OCTOBER 26 - 28 Sustainable Agriculture Conference Location: downtown Greenville, SC EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS ON JULY 16th!! The Sustainable Agriculture Conference is the premier forum for networking and education for local and organic agriculture in our region, and features 50+ cutting edge and practical workshops on horticulture, livestock, farm businesses, soils, grains, food culture and more. For more information visit: www.carolinafarmstewards.org/sac NOVEMBER     DECEMBER