Spring Young Farmer Events

Hello Young Farmers! Time to come out of hibernation! There are some events coming up — Equinox Community Farm is hosting their second annual Maple Syrup Bonfire at the farm in Waunakee. Find more information on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/272249292940461/

MOSES is also organizing a New Farmer Summit in Belleville Wisconsin that same weekend, which will include tons of hands-on workshops and opportunities to meet other start-up farmers. More info on the event website: http://mosesorganic.org/newfarmersummit/

Young Farmer Happy Hour

It’s a busy time of year for farmers — are you craving some respite and the company of other young farming folk? Meet us at Capital Brewery in Middleton this Wednesday for some local beer and good company.

For details, see the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/473087379440347/?ref=22

Wisconsin Young Farmers on the radio!

Tune in to WSUM (http://www.wsum.org) tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9 at 1pm to hear some Wisconsin Young Farmers being interviewed for the program Food: Beyond the Shelf.

BONFIRE POSTPONED

The bonfire at Equinox Community Farm is being postponed due to weather concerns!

But never fear! We’ve rescheduled. The event will take place on Saturday, March 30 instead. Same time same place.

Hope to see you there!

WI Food System Council

A Wisconsin Food System Council is in the process of being born!

They are looking for feedback from stakeholders. As young farmers, we are important stakeholders! Visit their website (http://wilocalfood.wordpress.com/food-system-council/), read their White Paper, fill out a short survey. Be a voice for state policy that supports young and beginning farmers!

Potluck!

Don’t forget! We are having a potluck next week (Thursday the 7th) on the east side of Madison, in which we will eat delicious food and meet other young farmers and discuss the selection of seeds for the coming season. All are welcome–young, young-at-heart, current farmers, aspiring farmers, community gardeners, young farmer supporters, etc.

For more info and to RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/events/101659153351749/

We hope to see you Thursday!

New USDA Microloan Program Offers Funding for Small Farmers

Nice article about the USDA’s new microloan program, and how it can help beginning farmers.

“To help support young and beginning farmers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently launched a new microloan program designed to help small and family operations, including beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, secure loans under $35,000. To appeal to this target demographic, the program offers an online application, a 1.5% interest rate, and flexible eligibility requirements.”

Read more here:

http://www.kcet.org/socal/food/the-nosh/new-usda-microloan-program-offers-funding-for-small-farmers.html

Find us at MOSES!

Attending the MOSES conference in La Crosse this weekend? Lots of Wisconsin Young Farmers will be there, too. You’ll find us at the many workshops and events put on by New Organic Stewards. We also will be at one of the “networking tables” on Friday evening from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Come introduce yourself and chat with us!

Madison Food Camp

Hey, Madison-area farmers! You are a wealth of food and farming-related knowledge and skills. Madison Food Camp is an opportunity for you to share some of those skills in a friendly, peer-to-peer setting. Run by Slow Food Madison, it’s a one-day (April 13) DIY skill-sharing event for all things food-related. They are looking for people to present, so think about a skill you might like to share (and at least think about attending!).

More info at their website: http://www.madisonfoodcamp.org/

A Growing Dilemma seminar series

Consider attending the ongoing seminar series, A Growing Dilemma: The Future of Food! They take place on Tuesday evenings from 5:45 to 6:45 at UW-Madison in 1125 Biochemistry.

This week’s topic (February 12) is “Can Functioning Ecosystems & Agriculture Coexist?” and features panelists Alison Duff (Doctoral Candidate, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies), Jeb Barzen (Director of Field Ecology, the International Crane Foundation), Chuck Prellwitz (Grower Member, National Institute for Sustainable Agriculture), Tony Thompson (Grower and Recipient of the Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture).

There will also be a brown bag lunch earlier that day, from 11:30 to 1:30 in 15 Science Hall, during which some of the panelists will discuss the topic “Conversations and Perspectives from the Land: Balancing Economic & Ecological Sustainability.”