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Non-members
are usually welcome but please let us know if you intend to attend
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| 3rd, 4th
and 5th May |
Food Lovers Festival at Oldham
– NWOC, NWOMP and CO will be represented.
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| 4th and
5th
May 2008 |
2nd Northern
Biodynamic Conference is being held at Brantwood, Coniston.
The
Conference is titled ‘Long Life to the Land’. Book
for this at Brantwood. Credit/debit card payment preferred telephone 015394 41396 (
10am-4.30pm
). Cheques
payable to ‘The Brantwood Trust’, sent to: BD Conference,
Brantwood,
Coniston
,
Cumbria
LA21 8AD. Places
are limited.
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| May |
Cumbria
Farmer Network are organising a visit to an Anaerobic
Biodigester on a farm at Dalbeattie at the beginning of May.
If you are interested in going, contact Kate ASAP.
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| Sunday
July 6th |
Cumbria
Organics Farm Walk at Paul Casson’s farm, Beaumontgate, Slyne,
Lancaster
. Family event and a chance to
look round this established organic dairy farm. More details
nearer the time.
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CO
Farm walk at Wootton Park Farms, Staffordshire, courtesy of Farms Manager, John
Reid, (formerly of Lowther Park Farms). Are
you interested in this and possibly also a visit to the JCB
factory? The Bamford
family own both. Please
let Kate know if you are interested in going in August or
September, what dates, and whether you would be interested in
the factory visit.
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Permaculture course running
at Middlewood this season– contact
www.middlewood.org.uk
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| April-May
2008 |
Biodynamic
Introductory Workshops
The
BDAA is offering a series of introductory workshops across the
country for farmers and gardeners who are interested in
developing their organic system and enhancing the health and
vitality of their crops and livestock. Each
one is led by an experienced practitioner who can demonstrate
the key principles involved in a practical hands on way. Topics
covered include: Biodynamic concept of the farm, soil and
compost treatment, the use of biodynamic sprays, the planting
calendar, quality and Demeter standards. Participants
should bring suitable outdoor clothing and a packed lunch. Cost
for the day is £30 / £25 conc. Workshops
will take place from 10.00 – 17.30. Workshops
will be taking place in the following areas: 12th
April –
Sheffield
3rd
May – N. Yorkshire 31st
May – Dumfriesshire. For further information and to book contact:
Biodynamic Agricultural
Association, Painswick Inn Project,
Gloucester
Street
,
Stroud
GL5 1QG
Tel
01453 759501 Email: office@biodynamic.org.uk
or visit www.biodynamic.org.uk
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13
May
20 May
1 June
20 July
20 August
14 September
20 September
28 September
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Flora
of the Fells farm walks for the public (and that’s you if you’d like to
go along and support or learn about different types of farm…)
will be held at:
Deer n Dexter on 1st June, 20th July, 20th
August and 14th September
Matson Ground on 20th July and 14th September
Susan Aglionby’s at Armathwaite on 13th May
Howbarrow on 20th September
Low Sizergh on 28th September
Book for Deer n Dexter with Jane Emmerson on 01768 480069
Book for all others on 01539 720 788 and look on the website www.floraofthefells.com
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Are you interested in having more school visits
to your farm? Then the Countryside Educational Visits
Accreditation Scheme & Vocational Training could help you.
Courses are being organised this autumn at Garstang,
starting on 31st October and at Low Luckens Organic Resource
Centre on 6th/7th November. Contact
Ian at ian@farmgarden.org.uk
or phone 01373 302204. Most
farmers will be eligible for the subsidised rate of £75 + VAT. STOP
PRESS Soil Association will pay for this if you are interested in
having more school visits to your farm. Ask
about it when you book.
The
Forward Farming project, run by Myerscough college is organising a number of events in Cumbria
– have a look
in their booklet and contact Andrea Gardner for more details 07801
022880.
Director / Trustee / Committee Training
Are you a member of a Board or similar and looking for training to help
you with your role? Contact Kate for details of a course in the NW this
year
Low Luckens Organic Resource Centre have recently finalised their programme of events for the coming year.
Look on the website (www.lowluckensfarm.co.uk)
to see more details about:– ‘Making Music, Belly Dancing,
Wildflowers, Willow workshops, Herbal workshops, Moths, Bike-rides,
Meditation, Compost - toilet building……’
From the Soil Association - Tractor
Ted
We
have recently helped develop a film called Tractor Ted visits an Organic
Farm - part of a popular series aimed at toddlers. The makers of the
film are able to offer the dvd at trade prices for farm shops (trade
£5.99 - RRP £10.99). To help boost sales - if you are planning a large
public open day, there is also an opportunity for Tractor Ted to visit
the farm (a large wooden model that children can play on). Please
contact me if you are interested raker@soilassociation.org
Check
the Cumbria Farmers' Network website for more details about what else is
happening www.cumbriafarmernetwork.co.uk
Feed from farms and livestock
trade information - contact
Susan Woof
015396 21343. Store
and Breeding Sheep Sales at Hexham and
Dumfries
. Not
sure of dates at the moment due to disruption.
Please contact them directly to find out when new dates have been
arranged (probably Dumfries
sale towards the end of October).
Buy collectively with Growing
Well KLASSMANN COMPOST.
Thinking of next year? I
am trying to get together a buying group, for compost or growing media. I
have been quoted £4.30 inc VAT/70 litre bag of Klasmann Blocking, seed
module, potting, and general purpose peat free, delivered to Low Sizergh,
Kendal. This is based on a
full load of 27 pallets. If
we don’t get 27 the price will increase. If
you are interested please contact me James@growingwell.co.uk
or phone 015395 61777. Deadline
end of October, payment will have to be made with your order and
transport from Low Sizergh must be arranged. Have
you thought about becoming a member of Growing Well? Check
out www.growingwell.co,uk
James Smith, Growing Co-ordinator, Growing Well, Low Sizergh Farm,
Kendal LA8 8AE.
Farming Connect Cumbria
Technical Consultancy Grants are still available for specialist advice
to help you develop your business. Eligible
items include: planning advice, manure management plans, nutrient
budgeting and renewable energy advice. Telephone 01768 891444. Small
capital grants for specific items are also available for FCC clients who
have not had a grant from the programme.
Workshop on the Effects of the Environment on the
Nutritional Quality and Safety of Organically Produced Foods to be held
at the University of Reading on 18 and 19 December 2007.
The purpose of the Workshop, funded by the Natural Environment
Research Council as part of their Environment and Human Health programme,
is to address the following questions:
Are there quantifiable effects of organic rather than
conventionally produced food on human health?
How does the environment impact on these possible health
benefits? How do the public
perceive these benefits? and to define the current state of
understanding and outline future research possibilities.
Information regarding the Workshop, along with registration
details, can be found at: http://www.apd.rdg.ac.uk/organicfoods
SAC Organic Farming Event for
Business Professionals, Advisers and Producers
One-day Conference on BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES IN ORGANIC FARMING
Wednesday 17TH October,
09.30am
. Birnam Institute, Birnam, Dunkeld
Speakers: Wide range of advisors
and those experienced in the organic market.
Further information from
Caroline
Bayliss, SAC (tel 01224 711073)
Organic Inform
This is a very useful website
for keeping up with news and events in the organic world, including
easily digested summaries of research projects. They
are holding another producer conference on 10th and 11th December.
PLEASE SIGN UP to updates on the website.
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