Howdy Folks!

Check out this story I heard yesterday about farmers and farmers markets: http://lakeshorepublicmedia.org/stories/should-only-farmers-be-allowed-to-sell-in-farmers-markets/

Y’all know peaches aren’t ripe in May in Tennessee, didn’t you? That’s exactly why I do this blog–the more you know about your food and where it comes from, the more power you have to make informed decisions about your health and the health of our world. Oh, and when to buy the tastiest peaches, of course!

Have a safe Memorial Day!

Jada

Saturday, May 23, 2-4pm
Herbal Body Care Workshop
Well-Fed Community Garden
1321 Athens Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606

This workshop will help to educate you about the chemicals and additives used in body care products and what herbs and essential oils can be used instead. Our instructor Meg Brown, will go over how to make an herbal oil to be able to customize your skin care products with herbs that are helpful for skin conditions.

Thursday, May 28, 8am-5pm
Regional Come to the Table Conference
Elon Community Church, Elon, NC

In a recent Gallup poll, the Greensboro High Point area was identified as the #1 food insecure metropolitan region in the nation. North Carolina is #8 for US states ranking. With poverty and food insecurity rates continuing to rise in our state, alongside an explosion of interest in local food, it is a potent time for us to gather, listen, learn and strategize how to build just food economies that include everyone.

These full- day events bring together members of the faith community with farmers, gardeners, farm workers, educators, health professionals and community organizations to find ways to relieve hunger and support local agriculture. The conferences include plenaries, topical breakout sessions, lunch, and networking opportunities.

Saturday, May 30
8th Annual Pollinator Day Celebration
Lawn next to the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market
Pittsboro, NC
9am-1pm
Kid Friendly

• Presentations on beginning beekeeper
• Watch someone work a hive (while you watch safely from the other side of a wire “bee cage”
• Learn  what to plant to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators
• Tour Cooperative Extension’s demonstration Pollinator Paradise Garden at Chatham Mills and get a close look at visiting pollinators
• Try honey wine (mead) from co-sponsors Starrlight Mead—Visitors can also visit their meadery on the property!
• Kids’ tent: scavenger hunt, plant-a-pollinator-plant, beeswax candle making, face painting, pollinator games and balloons, and more
• Native plant giveaways and gift certificates from local nurseries throughout the day, thanks to generous support from Niche Gardens, Mellow Marsh Farm, Cure Nursery, and Big Bloomers Flower Farm.

For photos and a program schedule visit the Growing Small Farms website at http://go.ncsu.edu/2015-pollinator-day

Thursday, June 11
2015 Small Farm Field Day
NC A&T State University Research Farm
Greensboro, NC

Demonstrations:

• High Tunnel Reboot: Solar Energy and Rain Catchment System
• Summer Cover Crops for Organic and Conventional Vegetables
• Alternative Farming for Urban Areas
• Pastured Pork and Swine Genetics
• Truffle Farming: Unearthing a New Niche

Poster Presentations:

• Animal Production and Human Health
• Forest Farming with Medicinal Plants
• Grapes: The Value Added Promise of Pomace
• Keeping the Peas: Using Vegetable Oil to Deter Beetles

Please Note: Lunch will be guaranteed to first 250 registrants. Pre-Registration is recommended. Please contact Alexis Gaines at: ajgaines@ncat.edu or336.285.4661

And if you have an upcoming event, let us know (just comment below).

If you know of a place consolidating food or farm info, please let me know! Until then, I’ll provide periodic updates of the happenings in the Piedmont Triad.