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X-WR-CALNAME:CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150404T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150404T140000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150226T223144Z
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UID:13373-1428141600-1428156000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Growing & Pruning Grapes
DESCRIPTION:Grapes are one of the most universally enjoyed fruits available. Many of the new varieties have excellent taste\, are winter hardy\, and can make excellent wine. Grapes are fun to grow but present some challenges. Sonia Schloemann will help participants through the basics and give them the tools to overcome some of the challenges. Specific topics will include selecting varieties\, planting\, fertilizing\, controlling pests\, pruning\, and vine training.  Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning and training grapes in order to produce a bountiful crop. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch. \nCost: $50 \nFor more information or to register\, click here.  \nThis workshop will be partially out of doors\, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet\, cold\, and muddy conditions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/growing-pruning-grapes/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20150407
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20150409
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150317T204404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150317T204404Z
UID:13624-1428364800-1428537599@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Welcoming Customers to Your Farm Conference
DESCRIPTION:A two-day gathering in Rutland for farmers\, agricultural service providers\, educators\, and others interested in agritourism\, on-farm education\, and direct sales. \nDowntown Rutland’s Paramount Theater and Community College of Vermont will be the venues for speakers and hands-on workshops. \nSpend Tuesday\, April 7 touring a variety of farms in the Rutland region. On Wednesday\, April 8\, learn from experts in agritourism\, on-farm education\, and direct sales — and share your experiences! \nThis is a great chance to learn from… \n\nFarm stay operator\, Beth Kennett\, Liberty Hill Farm\nMarketing consultant\, Pam Knights\, Pam Knights Communications\nFarm tour operator\, Chris Howell\, Vermont Farm Tours\nVermont Fresh Network’s\, Grace Meyer on Dig In VT\nFloating Bridge Food and Farms Cooperative\, Mari Omland\, Green Mountain Girls Farm\nMassachusetts diversified farmer and on-farm dinner extraordinaire\, Elizabeth Almeida\, Fat Moon Farm\nConnecticut farm-based educator and farmer\, Brianne Casadei\, Terra Firma Farm\nSalem\, NY farmer and educator\, Meg Southerland\, Gardenworks Farm \nAnd many more speakers and peers!\n\nFor more information or to register\, click here. \nREGISTRATION CLOSES MARCH 23RD
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/welcoming-customers-to-your-farm-conference/
LOCATION:Unnamed Venue\, Rutland\, VT\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150408T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150408T210000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150224T232214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150408T185454Z
UID:13342-1428480000-1428526800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Farm to Institution Summit at UMass Amherst: Farmer-focused workshops on April 8th
DESCRIPTION:Farmer-focused workshops on April 8th:\n\nSession Presenters: \n\nRachel Armstrong\, Attorney at Farm Commons\nElena Mihaly\, Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice Legal Fellow at the Conservation Law Foundation\n\nFinal Session Description: Facilitated by an attorney from Farm Commons\, attendees will receive a roadmap to the complicated maze of farm employment laws. The path begins with basic farm employment law obligations such as minimum wage and workers compensation. Our roads will diverge as agricultural employment laws give way to standard employment laws when farmers develop strong institutional sales. We will also make pit stops on the subjects of interns\, volunteers\, work-trade arrangements.  We won’t just talk about obligations; participants will learn from farmers who have found solutions for merging the rules with farm realities in their operations.  Finally\, participants will learn about the Legal Services Food Hub\, a resource where farmers can access free legal assistance with their employment contract needs. \n\nDesired Time: 3:45pm – 5:00pm \nSession Title: On Farm Food Safety: Regulations\, Best Practices\, Applied Research \nSession Presenters: \n\nAmanda Kinchla\, Extension Assistant Professor at UMass Amherst\nRich Bonanno\, PhD\, Assoc. Professor at UMass Amherst\nFrank Mangan\, PhD\, Extension Associate Professor at UMass Amherst\nMichael Botelho\, CQP Program Manager at MA Department of Agriculture\n\n\nFinal Session Description: There is a continued growing demand for improved food safety practices from farm-to-fork.  While proposed food regulations will require increased food safety practices\, there is little available to meet these expectations. This session will share the most up-to-date Food Safety Modernization Act regulations relevant to the proposed produce rule\, share strategies in utilizing food safety practices for enhance market access and learn up research efforts conducted at UMass specific to produce safety. \nProposed Symposium: \n\nDecoding On-farm Food Safety Regulation. Topics include:  Sharing the latest status on the proposed FSMA produce rule; Describe produce safety terms: FSMA vs. GAP certification vs good-agricultural practices vs. CPQ\nFood Safety as a channel for enhance market access.\nLessons learned in implementing an on-farm food safety plan\n\n\nApplied research for improved produce safety practices: Wash water quality control tools; Commercially available sanitizers for improved produce washing; Bio-sensor technologies for on-farm microbial testing for agricultural water.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/13342/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150410T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150410T150000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150224T192754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150224T192754Z
UID:13339-1428656400-1428678000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Federal Grant Writing Workshop: Learn Successful Strategies for Writing Winning Grants for Local Foods
DESCRIPTION:Do you operate a local food related business\, organization\, or farmers market?  Are you seeking funding to expand your work and impact on the local food system?\nJoin us for a Federal Grant Writing Workshop to learn about federal grants for local food and farmers market promotion projects and how to develop competitive proposals for these funding opportunities.\nThis grant writing workshop will walk participants through all you need to know to navigate and apply for the upcoming 2015 USDA\, Agricultural Marketing Service Farm Bill grants which provide funding for local & regional food system projects including: \n\nLocal Food Promotion Program grant consists of two types of funding\, a planning grant and an implementation grant for a broad variety of food system activities including: growing\, aggregating\, processing\, or selling regionally produced food.\nThe Farmers Market Promotion Program grant is designed to support direct-to-consumer farm marketing activities and promotion.\n\nNo-cost\, and open to the public\nRefreshments provided  \nTraining Date\, Time\, and Location:\n \nFriday\, April 10\, 2015\n9:00-3:00\n \nHartman’s Herb Farm\n1026 Old Dana Road\nBarre\, MA 01005\n \n \nRegister Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GNTXVBK \nLink to Project Website: http://www.amsta.net/\nLink to Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AMSTAproject\n 
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/federal-grant-writing-workshop-learn-successful-strategies-for-writing-winning-grants-for-local-foods/
LOCATION:Hartman’s Herb Farm\, 1026 Old Dana Road\, Barre\, MA\, 01005\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150411T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150411T130000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150226T223449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150226T223635Z
UID:13375-1428746400-1428757200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Invasive Plants in Massachusetts: What\, Why\, Where and How
DESCRIPTION:This presentation will explain the characteristics that make a plant invasive and where these plants are considered to be troublesome in New England. Suggestions for effective management of several of the most common invasive culprits will be provided. \nCost: $50 \nFor more information or to register\, click here.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/invasive-plants-in-massachusetts-what-why-where-and-how/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150415T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150415T133000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150310T175723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150317T211354Z
UID:13505-1429088400-1429104600@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:LAND: The foundation of a healthy food system
DESCRIPTION:PVGrows 2015 Spring Forum \nREGISTER TODAY!  \nThe forum will be followed by a MA Food Plan Listening Session from 2:00 – 3:30pm \n\nJust as a house needs a strong foundation to support it over time\, farmers need secure access to land to produce food. Land is the foundation of our food system. \n\nHow does access to farmland fit into a vision of creating a healthy\, resilient\, and equitable food system?\nHow can we ensure that farmland is available and protected for future generations?\nWhat is the connection between food access and farmland access?\nWhat can urban and rural communities learn from one another about accessing land for food production?\nJoin us for the PVGrows 2015 Spring Forum to learn about the important role that secure access to land plays in our food system – and how we can all work to strengthen this foundation.\n\nAt the PVGrows Spring Forum we will explore topics related to land access including land affordability\, land transfer and succession planning\, land conservation\, farm and food business financing\, farm viability\, and food access. \n\nLearn why secure access to farmland is vital to creating a healthy\, resilient\, and equitable food system in the Pioneer Valley.\nUnderstand the barriers facing producers who are trying to gain secure access to rural and urban farmland.\nGet introduced to the diverse approaches available for overcoming these barriers including conservation easements\, shared ownership\, and creative leasing.\nHear stories of innovative approaches to land access and partnerships in rural and urban settings and meet with local people working on these issues.\n\nCommunity support is critical to help farmers access\, hold\, and transfer land – and to keep working farms viable for future generations. Join us to learn more! \nLike past Forums\, the 2015 Spring Forum will include interactive sessions\, structured networking\, opportunities for collaboration\, and a locally grown lunch. This event is open to anyone interested in and working for a healthy food system in the Pioneer Valley. \nWhat is a PVGrows Forum?  \n\nThis event is open to anyone working for a healthy food system in the Pioneer Valley.\nSpace is limited to 130.\nForum Registration is $0-50\, sliding scale and includes a locally grown lunch.\nRegistration Required.  REGISTER HERE\n\nFor more information about the event\, visit the PVGrows website. \nWednesday\, April 15th from 9:00am – 1:30pm\nOpen Square – Mill 1\, Holyoke\, MA
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/land-the-foundation-of-a-healthy-food-system/
LOCATION:Open Square- Mill 1\, 4 Open Square Way\, Holyoke\, MA\, 01040\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150418T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150418T140000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150226T224128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150226T224137Z
UID:13377-1429351200-1429365600@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Backyard Apple Orchard Fruiting Wall!
DESCRIPTION:Your fruiting wall will produce two bushels each of five apple varieties in just 3 years from planting using just over 100 square feet of backyard! We will spend some time indoors talking about site\, variety\, rootstock selection\, planting\, and annual care (including pest management) of your fruiting apple wall. Then\, we will go outdoors and actually plant the orchard from start to finish including site preparation\, fertilization\, pruning\, and tree support.  Voila! Instant orchard. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch or purchase lunch at Farmers’ Market. \nCost: $65 \nFor more information or to register\, click here.  \nThis workshop will be partially out of doors\, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet\, cold\, and muddy conditions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/backyard-apple-orchard-fruiting-wall/
LOCATION:Marshfield Fairgrounds Admin Building\, 140 Main Street\, Marshfield\, MA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150420T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150420T203000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150324T200025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150417T003113Z
UID:13692-1429551000-1429561800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Discover Local Beverages and Network at CISA's Spring Grower/Buyer Meet & Greet
DESCRIPTION:Farmers\, buyers\, and specialty producers\, join us for this networking event and get an in-depth look at beverages using locally grown ingredients. Our local ag “scene” includes quite a few beverage producers making wine\, mead\, hard cider\, and beer in the Pioneer Valley. Andrea Stanley from Valley Malt and Nate L’Etoile from Four Star Farms will share their role in growing local hops and processing malt from local grains. Local Hero beverage producers will be offering samples of their products and answering questions. All Local Hero farmers are invited\, as are restaurant owners\, chefs\, produce managers\, and other buyers\, so come build new relationships! Light refreshments will be provided by Mi Tierra. Please RSVP to Devon Whitney-Deal or call 413-665-7100\, ext. 22 by Friday\, April 17th.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/discover-local-beverages-and-network-at-cisas-spring-growerbuyer-meet-greet/
LOCATION:Mi Tierra Restaurant\, 48 Russell Street\, Hadley\, MA\, 01035
CATEGORIES:CISA Events,Farmer Events,CISA Workshops for Businesses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150423T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150423T200000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150324T200440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150330T225234Z
UID:13695-1429812000-1429819200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Google Analytics- Analyze & Improve your Web Performance
DESCRIPTION:This advanced class will teach you how to use Google Analytics to understand how people find and use your website. Carey Baker\, from Midnightson Designs\, will explain the wealth of information available through Google Analytics\, and how to use this information to analyze the traffic flow on your website\, improve the impact and usability of your website\, and think strategically about online advertising. This is the first session in a two-part series on advanced web marketing. Dinner will be provided; cost is $12 for Local Hero members / $15 for non-members. Please RSVP by Tuesday\, April 21 to Kristen Wilmer at 413-665-7100\, ext. 12. 
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/google-analytics-analyze-improve-you-web-performance/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:CISA Events,Farmer Events,CISA Workshops for Businesses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150425T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150425T120000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150226T224547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150226T224547Z
UID:13379-1429956000-1429963200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Insect Pests & Diseases of Apples- and how to manage them
DESCRIPTION:One of the most challenging thing about growing your own fruit is knowing how to identify the insect pests and diseases that might afflict them.  Learn the basics of pest and disease identification and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the home orchard. Hands-on\, scouting\, monitoring\, placement of traps\, etc. will be covered. \nCost: $50 \nFor more information or to register\, click here. \nThis workshop will be partially out of doors\, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet\, cold\, and muddy conditions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/insect-pests-diseases-of-apples-and-how-to-manage-them/
LOCATION:Newton Community Farm\, 303 Nahanton Street\, Newton\, MA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150425T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150425T120000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150226T224827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150226T224827Z
UID:13381-1429956000-1429963200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Healthy Soil- Testing & Amending your Garden Soil
DESCRIPTION:Healthy soils are essential for raising healthy crops.  In this workshop you will learn the basics of soil composition\, microbial life and structure  as they relate to the home garden\, as well as the nitty gritty on soil testing\, amendments and fertilizers needed to maintain crop health each season and build your garden’s soil over time. An annual soil test is invaluable for assessing the quality and nutrient status of your soil so in this hands-on workshop you will learn how to take a representative soil sample\, test soil pH\, and compaction.  We’ll go over the types of soil tests available and how to interpret results for vegetable crops with a soil test in hand. Walk away with a free soil test from the UMass Soil Lab and the skills needed to take your own samples. \nCost: $50 \nFor more information or to register\, click here. \nThis workshop will be partially out of doors\, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet\, cold\, and muddy conditions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/healthy-soil-testing-amending-your-garden-soil/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150430T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150430T200000
DTSTAMP:20260607T071818
CREATED:20150324T200708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150330T225310Z
UID:13698-1430416800-1430424000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Search Engine Optimization- Increase Traffic to Your Website
DESCRIPTION:This advanced class will give you the tools to help more customers find you on the web. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the ranking of your website on the results pages of search engine queries related to your business. Carey Baker\, from Midnightson Designs\, will discuss strategies to improve your ranking\, covering on-site strategies like keywords and web content\, and off-site strategies like backlinks and social media. This is the second session in a two-part series on advanced web marketing\, and will build on information covered in the first session. Dinner will be provided; cost is $12 for Local Hero members / $15 for non-members. Please RSVP by Tuesday\, April 28 to Kristen Wilmer at 413-665-7100\, ext. 12.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/search-engine-optimization-increase-traffic-to-your-website/
LOCATION:MA
CATEGORIES:CISA Events,Farmer Events,CISA Workshops for Businesses
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