Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ)
2012 Winter Conference: Cultivating Change - Growing the Organic Food Movement
January 28-29, 2012
Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
Featuring Shannon Hayes, author of "Radical Homemakers," "The Farmer and the Grill," and "The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook;" and Michael Schmidt, dairy farmer and food rights advocate; and dozens of sessions for farmers, gardeners, consumers and more.
NOFA-NJ Pre-Conference Workshops at Duke Farms
On Friday, January 27, 2012, NOFA-NJ is offering two full-day intensive courses, one for farmers, and one for gardeners. Both workshops will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at Duke Farms. Registration for these courses includes lunch. Go to NOFA-NJ | Pre-Conference Workshops to register for either workshop. Space is limited – register early! For more information, contact NOFA-NJ at (908) 371-1111.
Farmers: Preparing for a Third Party Food Safety Audit Presented by Wesley Kline, Agricultural Extension Agent, Rutgers University
Growers are being requested to have third party food safety audits whether they sell in the wholesale or retail trade. These audits will become more important as the Food Modernization Act is implemented. This does not mean that everyone will need an audit, but everyone should have a food safety plan. A team from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will hold a step by step training on how to write a food safety plan and prepare for a third party audit. Each grower will receive a manual to help prepare a plan and training materials to help train workers.
Gardeners: How to Design a Kitchen Garden
Presented by Ellen Ecker Ogden, Co-Founder of The Cook’s Garden - America’s premier source or information for the kitchen gardener, and author of the new book "The Complete Kitchen Garden"
A kitchen garden can go beyond the simple straight rows of a vegetable garden to combine art and food in ways that enhance the experience of growing your own food. Let’s make the kitchen garden an extension of the home and a reflection of the gardener! This inspiring lecture and hands-on workshop teaches six steps for elevating a garden from ordinary to extraordinary. We will explore fresh ideas for how to create a satisfying design and discuss techniques for compost and soil building, seed starting and building trellises, and favorite recipes for the harvest. The goal of this program is to enhance the kitchen garden experience.
Visit the NOFA-NJ Website for more information.