SNOHOMISH COUNTY FOCUS ON FARMING

"This site serves primarily as a one-stop business information site for anyone working in Snohomish County's agricultural industry. If you're not in the industry but you're interested in farms, find information here about public events and attractions such as the Evergreen State Fair and Snohomish County's fall farm festivals, as well as information about local farms, products and resources like Puget Sound Fresh."

CHECK IT OUT HERE.

BUILDING A FUTURE WITH FARMERS

HERE'S A LINK WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BUILDING A FUTURE WITH FARMERS PDF.
CLICK HERE

Agenda for February 14, 2012

Week 5 “Management & Operations”

6:00-6:15                    Holly – Announcements

                             Vote on field trip locations for Snohomish trip

5-Minute ?’s – assessment of class so far

                             Business Plan due dates & example plans

                             Week 7 –Feb. 28^th turn in your rough draft BP

                             Business handbook chapter 4,5,6 review

Definition of Management PPP

6:15-7:00            Steve Sakuma “Sakuma Family Business - Management of Farm Operations

7:00-7:15            Break

7:15-8:00            Steve Sakuma “Managing Your Books - Farm Bookkeeping suggestions and advice

8:00-8:45            Peter Quist - WSU/EdCC Small Business Development Center “Sustaining Business Success – What It Takes and How We Can Help”

8:45-9:00            Class Activity –Share reasons why business fail, list                                       them on white board.

                             You Tube “Top 10 Mistakes New Business Owners                               Make”                                                                                                                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJZs5ClYE6w 

Look at blog page: agentrepreneushipspring2012.blogspot.com

Homework:

• Read Management 101 Article
• Read Personnel Management

·         Read Valuing Labor and Improving Efficiency on an Integrated Farm

• Read Manage from the Ground Up (pg. 4-25 thru 4-37)
• Read Lease Agreement Guide for Landowners and Farmers
• Start on Managing Human Resources and Risk Management worksheets

·         You Tube Video “Behaviors Of Successful Business                         Owners”       5 minutes                                                                

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWsI8eLA36M                                             

·         You Tube Video “How to Manage Employees” 2 min.                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVv6ZBlhaAY

4 acres for lease, Snohomish, Lake Stevens

You’ve probably already seen this, but wanted to pass this along just in case, for the interest given to the Cultivating Success students…

Thanks, and see you in class tonight!

Best, Hilary

Hilary Aten

Conservation Project Manager

PCC FARMLAND TRUST

Saving Local Organic Farmland Forever

1917 First Ave., Level A-100 Seattle, WA 98101 | (206) 547-9855|

pccfarmlandtrust.org | Facebook | Twitter | E-News

From: farmlink@lists.cascadeharvest.org [mailto:farmlink@lists.cascadeharvest.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Wilcox
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 12:26 PM
To: farmlink@lists.cascadeharvest.org
Cc: corbina@wsu.edu; Sarita Role Schaffer
Subject: [farmlink] 4 acres for lease, Snohomish, Lake Stevens

Hi FarmLinkers,

We have a new FarmLink landowner who is looking for a tenant for about four acres of tillable land in Snohomish County, Lake Stevens.  The landowner is interested in leasing to someone who has taken or is taking WSU's Cultivating Success course/s or have several years of growing experience under their belt.  Please contact me if you are interested in more details - Sarah@cascadeharvest.org or (206) 632-0606.

Happy Tuesday,

Sarah

Growing Groceries Volunteer Training March 3

Growing Groceries Volunteer Mentor Training Begins March 3

Become a certified WSU-Snohomish County Extension Growing Groceries Mentor and help others learn to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables.

The Growing Groceries program increases local access to fresh, healthy food by training volunteers in sustainable gardening practices that optimize success while keeping costs low. Then it trains the volunteers in ways to share their knowledge with others in their community.

This year’s mentor training will be on eight Saturdays. Classroom work will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mar. 3, 10, 17 and Apr. 7, at the Extension’s Education Center in McCollum Park, 600 128^th St. SE in Everett. Half-day garden sessions will be on Apr. 21, May 19, Jun. 16, and Jul. 21, in various locations.

Tuition is $125 plus a 35-hour volunteer commitment or $175 without the volunteer commitment. Attendance is required at all sessions to become a Certified Growing Groceries Mentor.

The deadline for application is Friday, Feb. 25.

Application forms and more information are available under “News and Announcements” at snohomish.wsu.edu. Or you may e-mail Karie Christensen at christensen4@wsu.edu or call her at 425-357-6039.

In these challenging economic times, the demand for Growing Groceries mentors is high.

Mentors are taught how to select a site with good sun, soil, and drainage; how to improve soil fertility, what fruit and vegetable varieties do well locally; and how to plant, care for, and harvest. 

Since its inception in 2009, the Growing Groceries program has trained 80 volunteer mentors who have taught and mentored in their community, school, church and food bank gardens. They have also shared their new knowledge through clinics, educational events, and learning fairs.

WSU Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Prune Fruit Trees Now, Harvest More Later

Learn to prune your fruit trees from ‘the guy that made the video!’

One of the keys to good tree fruit production is developing an effective pruning regimen and sticking to it. Properly pruned fruit trees are more disease resistant and produce better fruit crops. However, knowing how and when to prune is essential for success. Lucky for folks in Western Washington, the expert on pruning fruit trees lives right in our midst.

In 1990, Gary Moulton starred in the video, “Easy Steps to Fruit Tree Pruning”, demonstrating to Western Washington orchardists and backyard gardeners how to safely and effectively prune for maximum tree health and fruit production. The video is still available and Gary Moulton is still helping people learn proper fruit tree care through workshops around the region.

WSU Snohomish County Extension is pleased to present Westside tree fruit expert Gary Moulton in a hands-on workshop on Dormant Pruning; Sat. Feb. 25, 2012; 10:00am-3:00pm. Cost is $70 per person and includes a catered box lunch. Location is Ed’s Apples in Sultan, 13420 339th Ave SE just off SR 2.

Topics covered include the basics of pruning with an emphasis on the techniques and goals of dormant pruning. You’ll learn what issues can be addressed or exacerbated, the physiology of a tree’s response to pruning, along with what to look for when deciding to prune, or not to prune. Dress for weather & mud; bring gloves & pruners for hands-on practice in the orchard.

Instructor Gary Moulton started in 1980 with the Fruit Horticulture department at the WSU Research Station in Mt. Vernon. In 1991, he took over management, direction, and leadership of the program. When the Western Washington tree fruit program was eliminated due to budget cuts, Gary continued his work by hiring out as a consultant and workshop speaker. He holds a Master’s from WSU in Plant Pathology specializing in fruit diseases, and a Bachelor’s in Pomology/Fruit Science from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo. He has authored several WSU Extension publications, taught workshops at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture, and has been a guest expert on the popular program "Gardening with Ed Hume.”

Enrollment is limited. Registration and prepayment is required to hold your spot; Gary’s workshops often sell out. To register online, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/210026, or download the form at www.snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/Pomology2012.pdf and mail with your check. Contact Karie Christensen at (425) 357-6039, e-mail christensen4@wsu.edu.

For more information on the workshop, contact Andrew Corbin, corbina@wsu.edu, (425) 357-6012.

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office or to the WSU Center for Human Rights. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation can request accommodation 21 days before training at (425) 338-2400. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee availability on-site.

Karie L. Christensen

WSU Snohomish County Extension

600 - 128th Street SE

Everett, WA 98208

(425) 357-6039

christensen4@wsu.edu

 


NORTHWEST AGRICULTURE BUSINESS CENTER PROVIDES...

"farmers with the skills and the resources required to profitably and efficiently supply their products to consumers, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and food manufacturers." 

AS WELL AS OFFERING LOCAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, NABC HAS A POULTRY PROCESSING EQUIPMENT RENTAL PROGRAM FOR SMALL FARMERS.

VISIT THE NABC WEBSITE BY CLICKING HERE

OR BY VISITING http://www.agbizcenter.org