Season extension workshops planned in central Ohio

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association and the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy are offering a four-day, two-session workshop, Raising the Salad Bar: Advanced Techniques and Season Extension for the Established Specialty Crop Grower, featuring nationally recognized experts Eliot Coleman and Josh Volk.

To attend either workshop, growers must submit their application no later than Sept. 6.

First

Session 1 (Advanced Growing Techniques) will take place Nov. 5-6, and feature Josh Volk, a vegetable production expert, lecturer and regular contributor to Growing for Market.

Volk’s Slow Hand Farm in Oregon is home to his CSA, where he implements strategies for consistent yields of specialty crops. Volk and additional presenters will address season-long planning, seed starting and transplanting, weed management, harvest and post-harvest handling, marketing outlets and food safety.

OSU Extension entomologist Celeste Welty will also discuss pest and disease control.

Second

Session 2 (Season Extension) will take place Nov. 7-8 and feature author, commercial market gardener, teacher and lecturer Eliot Coleman. Coleman’s production techniques, including season extension and rotational grazing, have influenced organic and ecological gardeners for more than four decades.

He is the author of The New Organic Grower, Four Seasons Harvest and The Winter Harvest Handbook. Other presenters include Phil and Mindy Bartholomae of Breezy Hill Farm and OSU Vegetable Pathologist Sally Miller.

This session will address advanced techniques for season extension including high tunnels, low tunnels, cold frames, and greenhouses; utilizing season extension structures during the main season; crop selection; planting schedules and succession planting; harvest and post-harvest handling; soil management, and pest and disease control.

Both sessions will be held at Procter Camp and Conference Center in London, Ohio (Madison County). Farmers can attend one or both sessions. Each session is limited to 25 farmers.

Deadline

Due to limited slots and to ensure discussion and information presented remain at an advanced level, interested farmers are required to fill out an application, which can be found at can be found at www.cvcountryside.org/farmers/RaisingtheSaladBar.php. The application deadline is Sept. 6.

The cost for Session 1, including the two day workshop, lodging and all meals is $175-$225. The cost is $45 with lunch only and no lodging. The cost for Session 2, including the two day workshop, lodging, and all meals is $275-$325. The cost is $145 with lunch only and no lodging.

For more information or to fill out the registration application, go to www.cvcountryside.org/farmers/RaisingtheSaladBar.php.

For questions, contact Countryside Conservancy at 330-657-2542 or farmersmarket@cvcountryside.org or OEFFA at 614-421-2022 or michelle@oeffa.org. This workshop is sponsored by a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.