Growing Uncommon Fruit Tuesday, April 2, 2024 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Online Event Expand Your Knowledge of and Connection to Underutilized FruitDo you want to learn more about lesser-known fruit? This course will help you determine whether incorporating uncommon fruit into your operation is the right decision for you. We’ll walk you through all aspects of this decision, from possible fruits and appropriate site selection to marketing and profit potential, plus the advantages to including woody perennials into your farm plan. Many of these fruits can be successful in a forest farming setting, so are attractive to people with an interest in agroforestry. Expand your understanding of these promising crops and how they could improve your farm’s ecosystem while possibly also supporting your bottom line. Taught by Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program's Small Fruit Specialist Laura McDermott.This course is designed as a companion to the BF 122: Berry Production course, but you do NOT have to take BF 122 before taking BF 123.Target AudienceBeginning to Intermediate: Farmers with a few years of commercial horticulture experience will get the most from this course but all are welcome to participate. This course will also be beneficial to very small-scale orchardists/gardeners, permaculture growers, and those with an interest in agroforestry. Learning ObjectivesUpon completion of this course, you will know: How to identify and then measure success when incorporating uncommon fruit into your operationFactors for primary site selection and analysis considerationsSoil and climatic requirements of an array of uncommon fruitPotential benefits and costs associated with uncommon fruit in commercial settingsWhat factors to consider for successful marketing, analyzing costs, and generating income associated with these cropsHow to connect with grower-groups and farm resource agencies to support your operationWebinarsThe bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing. Webinar Schedule In 2024, this course will be offered live for 6-weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from February 27 – April 2. While we encourage live attendance, so you have the opportunity to engage with presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in the online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish. Join us! $199 - $299 varies by income Registration: https://smallfarmcourses.com/p/bf-123-growing-uncommon-fruit ========================================= Introduction to Tree Fruit Production Thursday, April 4, 2024 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Online Event Planning and Managing Orchards for Hobby and BusinessTree fruit are an important component of the agricultural and homeowner landscape. Planting and management of apple and other tree fruit orchards is a rewarding hobby and business, but you cannot simply plant trees and expect good fruit. There's a lot that goes into successful orcharding!This course trains beginning tree fruit growers in fundamental concepts in orchard planning and management. Content will include site selection and management, rootstock and cultivar selection, orchard systems, pest management, nutrient management, and harvest considerations for commercial orchards tailored to the northeast U.S.Target AudienceAll levels – The course is for beginning tree fruit growers, or experienced growers seeking a refresher on basic concepts in orchard management. The topics covered will be specific to orchard systems and may not be appropriate for all climatic zones.Course ObjectivesAt the completion of this course, you will: Understand of the basics of tree fruit production, harvesting, and marketingHave information sources to develop an orchard planting and management planWebinarsThe bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from outside presenters and ask questions to address your farm issues in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing. Access details will be posted in Teachable once you have registered and logged in.Webinar ScheduleIn 2024, this course will be offered live for 6-weeks on Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:30 PM (Eastern) from February 29 – April 4. While we encourage live attendance, so you have the opportunity to engage with presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in the online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish. Join us! $199 - $299 varies based on income Registration: https://smallfarmcourses.com/p/bf-223-introduction-to-tree-fruit-production ========================================= Seasonal Webinar Series from SLELO PRISM Wednesday, April 10, 2024 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Online Event We’re hosting a series of Zoom webinars will be held beginning in January 2024 through May. The webinars are free and continuing education credits are available. Registration is required to receive a link to the Zoom webinar and recordings will be sent to registrants. See below for a current schedule and registration links. January, 4th, 1 PM-2:15 PM- Invasive Species to Watch For in the New Year. Learn about invasive species encroaching on our region and how you can aid early detection efforts. February, 2nd, 1 PM- 2:15 PM- Swallow-wort Biocontrol Research. Hosted by SLELO’s Eastern Lake Ontario Swallow-wort Collaborative. Learn how researchers are using natural predators to aid the control of invasive swallow-wort plants and get updates on field applications occurring in the state and beyond. March, 1st, 1 PM- 2 PM- What You Should Know About Jumping Worms. Jumping worms reduce soil health and can be easily and unknowingly spread by gardeners. Learn how to recognize jumping worms and prevent their spread. April, 10th, 1 PM-2 PM- Enhancing the Health of Riparian Ecosystems Through Restoration and Invasive Species Management. Get an overview of our multiyear Riparian Restoration Initiative. Learn about the ecological importance of the project areas, invasive species impacts, control & restoration methods used, selected plants, community involvement, and future plans. May 17th, 1 PM-2 PM- Birds as Habitat Health Indicators. Conservation Director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Neil Gifford, will discuss a bird banding and tracking program used to determine ecosystem health on the preserve, the impacts invasive species can have on bird habitat, the benefits of invasive species management, as well as ways homeowners and land managers can support birds. $0 ========================================= Seasonal Webinar Series from SLELO PRISM Friday, May 17, 2024 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Online Event We’re hosting a series of Zoom webinars will be held beginning in January 2024 through May. The webinars are free and continuing education credits are available. Registration is required to receive a link to the Zoom webinar and recordings will be sent to registrants. See below for a current schedule and registration links. January, 4th, 1 PM-2:15 PM- Invasive Species to Watch For in the New Year. Learn about invasive species encroaching on our region and how you can aid early detection efforts. February, 2nd, 1 PM- 2:15 PM- Swallow-wort Biocontrol Research. Hosted by SLELO’s Eastern Lake Ontario Swallow-wort Collaborative. Learn how researchers are using natural predators to aid the control of invasive swallow-wort plants and get updates on field applications occurring in the state and beyond. March, 1st, 1 PM- 2 PM- What You Should Know About Jumping Worms. Jumping worms reduce soil health and can be easily and unknowingly spread by gardeners. Learn how to recognize jumping worms and prevent their spread. April, 10th, 1 PM-2 PM- Enhancing the Health of Riparian Ecosystems Through Restoration and Invasive Species Management. Get an overview of our multiyear Riparian Restoration Initiative. Learn about the ecological importance of the project areas, invasive species impacts, control & restoration methods used, selected plants, community involvement, and future plans. May 17th, 1 PM-2 PM- Birds as Habitat Health Indicators. Conservation Director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Neil Gifford, will discuss a bird banding and tracking program used to determine ecosystem health on the preserve, the impacts invasive species can have on bird habitat, the benefits of invasive species management, as well as ways homeowners and land managers can support birds. $0 ========================================= New York State Fiber Conference Sunday, June 9, 2024 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Butternut Hill Campground, 6893 US Route 20 , Bouckville, NY 13310 Sunday, June 9, 2024 9:30 am to 4:00 pm (sign in 9:00 am) Butternut Hill Campground, 6893 US Route 20, Bouckville NY 13310 Theme for this year: Quality Matters Beginners as well as the more experienced fiber producers are sure to gain valuable hands-on skills, and knowledge with respect to fiber quality, and what to look for. You will be physically touching, feeling and seeing the difference between various fiber and fleece types in the presence of an instructor. The instructor will show and demonstrate what you need to look for in a quality fleece or fiber. You will also learn how to skirt a fleece and what the best uses are for the different fibers. There will be a sheep shearing demonstration with a commentary on what needs to be done at this stage to ensure the best quality. Participants will go away with an understanding of the different certification programs and how they might be beneficial to their farm business.  Topics to be covered:Challenges and Rewards of Raising Animals for High Quality Fiber  Cornell University Small Ruminant Program - What to Expect •Wool and other Fibers Certification Programs – What’s Out There, Advantages and Disadvantages  Impacts of Certifications – Panel Discussion: Farmers and Retailers  Quality Exploration with Animal Fibers For conference agenda and registration https://caahp.ccext.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=193Registration opens April 1, 2024. Fee $30 per person.  Advance registration required by June 3, 2024. Conference is limited to the first 50 participants. New York Veterans will have their registration fee reimbursed by the Farm Ops Program. Registration questions contact Dara Boudreaux tff24@cornell.edu Registration fee includes free admission to the Central New York Fiber Festival (see below) on Sunday to explore during your 1 ½ hour lunch break. Food venders will be on site for you to purchase food. Overnight accommodations: https://www.reservations.com/hotels/bouckville-nyand https://cnyfiberarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/...The Central New York Fiber Arts Festival is on June 8 & 9, 2024 at the same location as the NYS Animal Fiber Conference. They expect a full complement of 120 booths filled with fleeces, yarns, fiber equipment, fiber animals and all manner of finished fiber products. They will have a full schedule of exciting lectures and workshops, a weaving competition, fleece sale, shearing demonstration, weaving booth, and children’s activities. For additional information regarding the Fiber Arts Festival: https://cnyfiberarts.org $30 Registration: https://caahp.ccext.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=193 =========================================