vegetables

2023 Small Farm Conference and Trade Show

| Clifton Martin

Ohio State University Extension is hosting a Small Farm Conference in Mansfield Ohio on March 11, 2023.  The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation.  There will be five different conference tracks including: Farm Office, Horticulture and Produce Production, Livestock, Agritourism/ Marketing, Natural Resources.

Some conference topic highlights include: How to purchase our family farm, food animal processing, bee keeping, sweet corn, blueberry and pumpkin production, small ruminant nutrition, agritourism laws, fruit tree pruning and cut flower diseases.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mansfield OSU Campus in Ovalwood Hall, just minutes from I-71 and US Rt 30.

For conference and registration call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401.

Please follow this link for conference details and to register: https://go.osu.edu/2023osusmallfarmconf

Master Gardener Volunteer Training in 2023

| Clifton Martin

Zanesville, OH–Registration is currently open for anyone interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer in Muskingum County. OSU Extension Muskingum County will be conducting the training course which is offered in two formats: conventional classroom style or online web-based classroom. Participants may choose whichever format best fits their learning goals. The basic premise of the Master Gardener Volunteer program is to provide training in horticulture to interested volunteers in exchange for 50 hours of horticulture service back to the community. Training will begin on February 9, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm for conventional classroom instruction and on the same day for online classroom instruction. Program cost is $115. Applications are available online at muskingum.osu.edu/mgv or at the Muskingum County Extension Office, 225 Underwood St, Zanesville.  For more information, contact Clifton Martin at martin.2422@osu.edu or 740-454-0144. The Master Gardener Volunteer program in Ohio has existed since the late 1970’s and has had a presence in Muskingum County since 1996.

Youth Education Seed Starting Kits

| Clifton Martin

The Muskingum County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is offering a spring project for teachers or youth leaders with an interest in horticulture.  This year (2022), teachers and youth leaders in Muskingum County may apply for a seed starting kit by completing the attached application. We expect that they will be used in conjunction with instruction about seed germination, pollination, and growing food as appropriate.

Twenty kits will be available. If more applications than that are received by the deadline of March 16, 2022, awards will be made in order of date submitted. Kits include labels, growing media, seeds, and three 24-cell self-watering seed starting tray systems.  We hope these can aid in in providing an enjoyable experience for you in your classroom.

The application is available here: go.osu.edu/mgvedgrant

Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2021

| Clifton Martin

The 2021 edition of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers is a collaboration of land-grant universities from eight states. It provides vegetable production information that is valid for the current year in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio. This includes fertility, variety, cultural, and pest management recommendations.

Midwest Vegetable Production Guide (mwveguide.org)

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training Webinar

| Clifton Martin

This is a 3-hour educational course that covers good agricultural practices or GAPs. GAPs trainings provide growers with the knowledge and tools needed to implement on farm best management practices to reduce food safety hazards and the risk of on-farm produce contamination. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the training. Attending the OSU GAPs class does not equate to being GAPs certified. The instructors for this class are Melanie Lewis Ivey, Jaqueline Kowalski and Suzanne Mills-Wasniak.

Register:

GAPs Training Webinar
AUG 13, 2020, 6:00PM – 9:00PM

GAPs Training Webinar
AUG 27, 2020, 6:00PM – 9:00PM

 

Fruit and Vegetable Safety Program Events Page