Organic Connection, monthly eNews from NOFA-NH
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Organic Connection
Exclusive Meet the Farmers Event
Members of NOFA-NH and the Concord Cood Co-op are invited to Generation Farm in Concord for an exclusive meet-and-greet with New Hampshire's local, organic farmers. This free, members-only event offers the opportunity to get to know the people behind the produce. The Co-op will provide light refreshments for the attendees.  Please register as soon as possible as space is limited for this free event!

<NOFANH.ORG> Same Address, Whole New Look
We're excited to show off our newly redesigned website that went live at the beginning of September. Our new mobile-friendly site has been updated to better serve our membership, 40% of whom view our communications via a mobile device. 

The new site offers information about our programs and events as well as ways to connect with NOFA-NH.  We've stuffed the it full of links to local events and great resources for family farmers, home gardeners, school and community garden coordinators, and people who love to eat local organic food. Even more features, including the ability for members to update their memberships online, are in the works--stay tuned!
NOFA-NH Bulk Order Planning is Underway
Thank you to our sponsors for helping us to build a strong organic community in New Hampshire! 
Online Courses: Quickbooks for Farmers, PoultryProduction, and Woodlot Management
Cornell University Cooperative Extension's 2016-2017 season of Small Farm Online Courses offers over 20 different courses to build the technical and business skills of farmers. Expert farmers and extension educators guide students through the latest research-based information to help improve efficiency and increase profit on small farms.

Upcoming classes starting soon include Poultry Production, Intro to Quickbooks, and Farm Woodlot Management.  Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical tips without leaving their home. 
 
Farm Succession School Comes to New England
Concord, NH on November 2, 2016; December 7, 2016; 
and January 25, 2017
Planning for farm succession can be challenging. The Farm Succession School, sponsored by Land For Good, is for senior farmers and farm couples looking for a bit of structure and motivation to tackle succession planning. Farmers will move from thinking about the future to doing active planning! 
 
Program includes presentations, group discussions and individual exercises, with "assignments" between sessions. Topics include goal setting, estate planning, retirement planning, family communications, taxes, legal structure, Medicaid, and bringing on a successor. Participants will come away with a concrete "game plan" for their farm business, land, and retirement.

For more information or to register, call (603) 357-1600 or visit  landforgood.org/rsvp
Deadline is October 15, 2016. Space is limited!
Why Organic? Improves Soil Biodiversity & Soil Nutrient Content
Excerpted from article by The Organic Center 
A recent study conducted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and published in the journal  Organic Agriculture  found that soils from organic peach and apple have more microbes, more organic matter, and more of the important nutrients phosphorus and sulfur than conventional soils. Additionally, plant material collected from peach and apple trees in organic orchards were found to have more of the nutrients phosphorus and copper.  Read more . . .

Supporting Pollinators in the Landscape
Thursday, September 22, from 6:30pm to 8pm
Wilmont Community Assoc. Red Barn, Wilmont
Amy Papineau, UNH Cooperative Extension Field Specialist, will discuss the many types of bees that you may find you your landscape, the role these insects play in the environment, and how you can design your garden and landscape to provide pollinators with the resources they need. Free and open to the public. Please register by Sept 19th by contacting Kristy Heath at 526-6555 or  [email protected].

Harvest Day at UNH
Saturday, September 24, from 9am to 4pm
Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, Durham
Community members are invited to learn about the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture's sustainable agriculture educational programs and research at a Harvest Day Saturday. The event, which is free and open to the public, will have  several activities taking place as well as guided tours of both high tunnel operations and field work. Faculty members will present brief oral presentations on their summer's research, and a poster session will highlight the work of graduate and undergraduate students. For more info, visit: 

Preserving Your Harvest: The Basics of Preserving Food Safely
Wednesday, September 28, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock, Keene
Presentation by Jessica Sprague, Extension Specialist in food safety, will cover the latest research-based methods and recipes, answer questions, and share experiences about preserving food safely at home,  jams and jellies, pickling, canning fruits and vegetables, and freezing and drying food.  Pre-registration is required. Contact the Community Health Department at (603) 354-5460 to register. See flyer for more details:

Farm Feast Breakfast & Open House
Sunday, October 2, from 10am to 1pm
D Acres, Dorchester
The first Sunday of each month, D Acres hosts an All-You-Should-Eat breakfast featuring pancakes made with local flour, NH maple syrup (in season), local free-range eggs, D Acres meat, potatoes, and greens, and fair-trade coffee from Cafe Monte Alto. $5-15 sliding scale suggested donation. Work off your indulgence with a tour of the working, organic farm at 1pm.  *For the safety and preservation of farm and wilderness flora and fauna, please do not bring your pets.* For more info, contact:  [email protected]

NH School Garden Day
Thursday, October 6, from 4pm to 5:30pm
Schools around NH (see description for specifics)
School gardens state wide are opening their school gardens so others may come and learn. Learn new ideas for your own school gardens, meet other school gardeners in your area, share what you know.
Elm St Middle School, Nashua: Solar heated hydroponics greenhouse
Manchester West High School: greenhouse
Boscawen Elementary: 6 raised beds and a hoop house
Dover High School: greenhouse and community garden
Maple St School, Contoocook: vegetable beds, fruit trees, pollinator gardens and chickens!
Jacques Memorial, Milford: 10 raised hugelkulture beds
Josiah Bartlett Elementary, Bartlett: The Good Food Garden is incorporated into common core, food grown is served in the cafeteria.

Fun Family Farm Day
Sunday, October 9, from 10am to 3pm
Miles Smith Farm, Loudon
Visit with farm animals, pet a calf, ride a cow (12pm-2pm) take a hay ride (11am-3pm) pet a bunny, feed the pigs at the Miles Smith Farm Annual Farm Day Event.
The event is free, but RSVP is requested so they know your are coming! 

NOFA-NH Potluck
Tuesday, December 13, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
NH Audubon Center, Concord
More details to come. Get updates via the NOFA-NH Facebook page and website.

NOFA-NH Winter Conference
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Concord
Be a part of NOFA-NH's Annual Winter Conference--use these links to register to become a  presenter, sponsor, or  exhibitor--sign up today!  Have suggestions or questions for NOFA-NH's conference coordinator? Contact Monica Rico by email: [email protected].


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NOFA-NH
Office Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-2pm
Phone: (603) 224-5022       Email: [email protected]

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