Northeast SARE Names Five New Sustainable Farmer Educators
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has named five farmers as Sustainable Farmer Educators. These farmers are paid a SARE stipend to travel, talk, and share their knowledge as they continue their farming operations. As time allows, they will be available to speak at meetings, conferences and field days, talk to individual producers, and generally support the region’s farmers as they move toward agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound and beneficial to communities. The program, now in its second year, has proved to be an efficient way to connect farmers and strengthen the farm community.
James Binsberger of Homestead Orchards in Perhkasie, PA, has expertise in farm-based marketing, including bakery and deli sales, and is a practitioner of agritourism, which allows the farm to become a destination in its own right. Binsberger has offered farm tours, hay and pony rides, seasonal events like corn mazes and pig roasts and a range of activities for families with young children. He has spoken at conferences and worked directly with farmers for many years. He can be reached at 215/257-9286 or hoi@netcarrier.com.
Jack Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm in Sparks, MD, runs a profitable organic farm on less than five acres. The farm products are marketed to area restaurants, distributed to shareholders of his community-supported farm, and also sold at two farmers’ markets. Much of Gurley’s experience is with developing new markets and products. He also focuses on how a very small farm can support a comfortable lifestyle. He has given talks and presentations on organic farming both in Maryland and nationally, and he can be reached at 410/472-6764 or giftcal@aol.com.
Courtney Haase of Nunsuch Dairy and Cheese in Bradford, NH, runs a small, award-winning dairy and is also founder of the Small Dairy Project, which gives farmers access to both knowledge and equipment, specifically a small pasteurizer that can be used for adding value to milk. Haase has also given cheese-making workshops and now focuses on giving farmers advice on cheese-making over the phone and via the Internet. She also has experience talking to farmers about direct marketing dairy products, licensing, and processing issues. She can be reached at 603/927-4176 or nunsuch@conknet.com.
Gregory (Dale) Neufeld of Meadowbrook Farm in Towanda, PA, is a dairy farmer with knowledge about managed grazing and pasture management, the use of different composts on grazing land, and seasonal dairying to reduce labor and production costs. Neufeld has also explored solar watering systems and pastured poultry. He has met with graziers and dairy farmers in Pennsylvania and New York and has presented at several regional conferences. He can be reached at 570/265-4072 or at neufeld@cableracer.com.
Eero Ruuttila of Nesenkeag Farm in Litchfield, NH, is the director of New Hampshire's largest certified organic vegetable farm, which provides fresh specialty food to chefs and for wholesale distribution and also sends produce to area food banks. He has a background in farm management, as a certified organic inspector, and as a local-produce buyer for a large consumer food coop. He has been a speaker at meetings, conferences, and farmer-to-farmer events over the past two decades. He can be reached at 603/886-8215 or pianofarm@tellink.net.
These five join ongoing Sustainable Farmer Educators Steve Groff, Elizabeth Henderson, and Larry Shearer. Conference planners, extension and farmers are encouraged to get in touch with the Sustainable Farmer Educators to arrange a talk or a meeting or to learn more about their area of expertise. The goal of the program is to disseminate knowledge and to support farmers as they adopt and improve their sustainable production practices. For more about the SARE program, call 802/656-0471 or go to www.uvm.edu/~nesare/SFEbkgd2.htm.
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