Check out the latest edition of the Mountain Top Ag News here!
 Webinar Series: Learn The Language of Produce
The fruit and vegetable business has a language of its own. Learn the language of produce to ensure that you receive the product and quality you expect. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites you to take part in a series of free, interactive webinars that will provide practical information about how to buy, receive, and handle bulk fresh and fresh-cut produce safely and efficiently. Each webinar will include a presentation from a USDA expert on a specific topic, introductions to our staff, and an interactive question and answer session. If you purchase or receive shipments of fruits and vegetables for a school, hospital, other institution, food hub, or farmers market, these webinars are for you. Registration is required and space is limited. More information. Understanding Fruit and Vegetable Quality and Condition Defects November 20, 2014 2:00 pm Eastern Time To register: http://bit.ly/1pphJP8 How to Use Fruit and Vegetable Market News December 18, 2014 2:00 pm Eastern Time To register: http://bit.ly/1paiVB2 If you miss a webinar, just visit our Webinar Archive to watch it or any other AMS Series offering online. Register today to learn the language of produce. We'll see you online! If you have any questions about our webinar series or USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, please contact Christopher Purdy at (202) 720-3209 or christopher.purdy@ams.usda.gov. Join us in January for the first "Appalachia Grows - Beginning & Small Farms Conference for Ag-Entrepreneurs! More info to come - save the date! 
Visit http://smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu/conference for details!
Join us Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Garrett College, Continuing Education Building, 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541 Have you signed up yet? There are some wonderful speakers from the region.  Hands-On High Tunnel Construction Workshop
Frostburg Grows and University of Maryland Extension are offering a two session hands-on high tunnel construction workshop on Friday, October 25th and Saturday October 26th. The Friday session will run from 6pm to 9pm on the Frostburg State University Campus in room 237 of the Compton Science Center. The first session will cover the different types of high tunnels, construction methods and modifications made to high tunnels. On Saturday, participants will travel to the Frostburg Grows site to assist with the construction of a basic high tunnel. In addition to assisting with the construction of a typical high tunnel, participants will be able to see first hand many modifications that are being used at the Frostburg Grows site. Frostburg Grows is a unique and innovative five acre food and native plant nursery production, demonstration and teaching facility. The facility currently has a 30’ X 120’ high tunnel in production with tomatoes, peppers and raspberries and a nursery shade house growing native plants from seeds and cuttings. A second 30’ X 120’ high tunnel is nearing completion and will be used for fall and early winter food production with crops such as broccoli, lettuce and other greens. The Frostburg Grows facility is unique in that it is being constructed on a reclaimed strip mine site. Some of the unique features of the site include:
Initial funding for Frostburg Grows was provided through a Potomac Highlands Implementation Grant provided by American Rivers and the EPA. Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council and Frostburg State University have partnered to manage the Frostburg Grows project. To register for the workshop, contact the Garrett County office of the University of Maryland Extension at 301-334-6960. There will be a $25 fee for the workshop which can be paid at the time of the workshop. For more information contact Willie Lantz at 301-334-6960. The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.  Register Now!
“Advancing Sustainable Wood Energy in Maryland” 2013 Maryland Wood Energy Conference Sponsored by Maryland Wood Energy Coalition Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:30 am – 4 pm Sheraton Annapolis Hotel, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 Cost: $45 per person Approved for 4.5 Category 1 Society of American Foresters CFE Credits Hosted by the Maryland Wood Energy Coalition, a diverse group of state agencies, non-profits, and private businesses committed to advancing the responsible use of Maryland’s vast supply of woody biomass for clean, affordable energy production. The Coalition hosted the first Maryland wood energy conference last November. Audio presentations of last year’s conference and a research-based document “The Prospectus for Advancing Biomass Thermal Energy in Maryland,” are available at www.agroecol.umd.edu. This year’s conference will build on the momentum of last year’s successes. This includes new regulations that makes using wood as fuel in boilers to heat commercial and institutional buildings legal, paving the way for the growth of the wood energy industry. Examples of real-life projects, applications, and opportunities are provided. This event will address new incentives that will establish Maryland as a leader in wood heat policy and address new federal legislation. Speakers will address new advances in residential wood heat and improvements in the wood stove grant program. How to broaden the coalition of stakeholders and get on the ground projects initiated that will grow the wood energy industry will be discussed. The event will obtain feedback from government officials, interest groups, and other stakeholders on how to overcome remaining barriers and move forward the adoption of wood energy for residential and commercial/institutional applications. This is a unique opportunity – don’t miss out! Thanks to the support of the forum’s sponsors, the registration cost is $45 per participant. Registration includes a great program, continental breakfast, lunch, and meeting materials. In addition, the event is approved for 4.5 CFE Category 1 Continuing Education Credits from the Society of American Foresters. The meeting agenda and registration form is attached. This information along with sponsor information and information about the Maryland Wood Energy Coalition is available at www.agroecol.umd.edu. For questions or additional information, contact Nancy Nunn at (410) 827-6202, ext. 128 or nnunn@umd.edu or Pam Thomas at 301-432-2767, ext. 315 or pthomas@umd.edu Maryland Wood Energy Coalition Alliance for Green Heat American Wood Fiber, Inc. Association of Forest Industries Cambridge Environmental Technologies, Inc. College of Agriculture & Natural Resources - University of Maryland Extension & MD Agriculture Experiment Station Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology Maryland/Delaware Society of American Foresters Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service Maryland Energy Administration Maryland Forests Association Maryland Forestry Board Foundation The Pinchot Institute for Conservation The University of Maryland Extension actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.  Chutney, Condiments & Cranberries workshop with Kyle Weaner
Tuesday, October 8, 2013 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Canaan Valley Institute, 494 Riverstone Rd Davis, WV 26260. There is an optional cranberry gathering pre-workshop, and we'll be meeting at 2:00 pm at Tip Top in Thomas, WV to travel to the cranberry bog. Kyle will provide hands on fun while creating various Indian condiments, including cooked and fresh chutneys, fresh cranberry pickle, raita, and educate us on tempering spices and the benefits of certain digestive stimulants. Taste testing and take-home items will be included! Class fee is $20. Other options: $15 if you bring two 1/2 pint jars OR only $10 if you bring two 1/2 pint jars + help us pick berries. Please register with Kimmy at 304.259.5388 or phffi@frontier.com, by noon on Tuesday is preferred. For more information, visit the Potomac Highlands Food and Farm on Facebook. |
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