To avoid disappointment, pleae be certain to call ahead before attending any of the events listed below. Changes can -- and do -- happen. Many of the events require pre-registration, and for some there is a registration charge.

July 8, South Woodbury, VT
Herb Walk with Annie McCleary, sponsored by the Vermont Center for Integrative Medicine. 6-8 pm. Rain date: July 9, same time. Call 802-224-7100 to register.

July 9, Hardwick, VT
On-Farm Composting 101 Workshop at Highfields Institute. Workshop involves classroom, hands-on and demonstration components covering recipe development, feedstock mixing, pile formation, monitoring, management, andsite development. Make composting work for your farm by understanding the science of composting and effective management strategies. For more information: (802) 472-5138, june@highfieldsinstitute.org, www.highfieldsinstitute.org

July 14, Aurora, NY
Outwit Weeds! (Grain crop edition),  4-7 pm, Cornell's Musgrave Farm, 1256 Poplar Ridge Rd, Aurora, NY (Cayuga Co.) Sharpen your weed management skills through hands-on exercises, demos, and discussions based on the Organic Cropping Systems Project's long-term grain crop experiment. Learn to identify weeds at the seedling stage, to time cultivations and adjust cultivation equipment to maximize weed control, and to estimate weed density and its impact on crop performance.  See ridge-tillage and cultivation equipment demonstrated. Best practices for integrated weed management will also be discussed.  For further information, contact Elizabeth Dyck (607-895-6913).  Free.

July 12, Swoope, VA
Polyface Farm Field Day. Farm tours of pastured poultry, beef, pork, rabbit, water systems, fencing, and keylines at Joel Salatin's farm. $90 per adult. Lunch raised to order. Sponsored by Acres USA. (800) 355-5313, www.acresusa.com.

July 18, Kutztown, PA
Rodale Field Day. At the Rodale Institute's annual field day their researchers provide updates and tours of the Farming Systems Trial research underway on the 333-acre certified organic farm. for more info, see: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/on_our_farm

July 19, Mulitple locations, VT
Fist Branch Farm and Fiber Tour. Spend a Saturday along one of Vermont’s most scenic routes visiting three unique sheep farms and a wool scouring operation. Hosts include Tunbridge Wool Works and Land and Lamb Co., Inc. ,featuring Navajo Churro sheep; Hollow Hills Farm featuring Shetland sheep; and Vermont Grand View Farm featuring Romney sheep and angora rabbits. Tour a new wool scouring operation and learn about how wool is cleaned and processed. Learn about three unique breeds of sheep and how the shepherds care for them. See demonstrations of skirting fl eeces, spinning wool into yarn, felting, and weaving. See the wonderful products made using farm raised wool. For more information:
kimgoodling@yahoo.com , http://www.grandviewfarmvt.net/FirstBranch-
FarmandFiberTour.html for more information and to obtain a tour map.

July 21, Woodstock, VT
Selling Timber from Your Woodlands at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Carriage Barn. Join Thom McEvoy, Professor and Extension Forester at the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, as he guides you through the process of learning what to expect when you are considering accepting an offer to purchase your trees. Optional afternoon fi eld trip will look at recent timber harvests in Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park. 8-4:30. Free. Bring your own lunch. For more information: (802) 457-3368, ext. 22.

July, 22, Berkshire, NY
Diverse Organic Livestock Production.  4-7pm, Kingbird Farm, 9398 W Creek Rd, Berkshire, NY (Tioga Co.)  Kingbird Farm is a small, horse-powered farm where Karma, Michael and Rosemary Glos raise a diverse array of certified organic, pasture-raised livestock including pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and eggs.  They also raise grassfed Highland/Angus cattle.  Their farming methods are based on a belief in diversified, small family farms with a respect for the land and the animals they raise on it.  They manage their land organically; increasing fertility with compost, controlled grazing, and natural minerals.  Join the Glos family at their farm to learn how they manage their diverse organic livestock system.  $5 NOFA members, $10 non-members.

July 23, East Wells, VT
A Plan for Pastured Pork at Brown Boar Farm. Chris Burrows has been raising heritage hogs on pasture for six years. His business has grown steadily and intentionally through development of sound plans, good relationships, and a variety of life experience. Chris will start with an overview of Brown Boar Farm; the target customers, the products produced, and lay out the basic principles that guide the business direction. He will defi ne the logical steps that have been taken to establish a new farm venture in an era when unfortunately, many other farms seem to be shutting down operations. Next, Chris will review the farm topography, which helps explain how Brown Boar farm is maximizing the hilly and forested layout to the farm’s advantage. Chris’s expanding knowledge of what heritage breeds require to thrive has helped him fi t the natural features of the farm to the natural instincts of the animals. For more information: Jenn Colby, (802) 656-0858 or jcolby@uvm.edu, downloadable flyer with directions at www.uvm.edu/pasture, or NOFA-VT, (802) 434-4122, info@nofavt.org, www.nofavt.org.

July 24, Newport Center, VT
Organic Dairy Grazing at the Cross Road Dairy. This workshop will cover a variety of topics including grazing management, livestock nutrition, paddock design, management strategies, animal health, soil quality, fi nancial planning and other topics of interest. Pasture walk led by Sarah Boutin with discussion facilitated by Willie Gibson on organic livestock management, healthcare, fl y control, record keeping, grazing, forage quality and more. For more information contact: NOFA-VT, (802) 434-4122, info@nofavt.org, www.nofavt.org

July 24, Shelburne, MA
Raising and Marketing Grass-Fed Meat. In addition to title topic, will include pasture management, organic transition and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems, and summer and winter grazing. 10 am to 1 pm. Bring your own lunch. For more information, contact Winton Pitcoff, winton@nofamass.org, (413) 634-5728, www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/index.php.

July 24, South Royalton, VT
Food, Fuel and the Future of Farming: A Conference on Sustainable Agriculture,
featuring keynote speaker Anna Lappé, author of Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet. Panels on Industrial Animal Agriculture, Farm Policy: Factory Fields, Hunger, and the Environment; Agriculture’s Relationship to Climate Change--Biofuels, Livestock, and Efficiency'; Sustainable Agriculture in Vermont--Creating a Working Model. a.m. - 5 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public; please register online for one or both days. For more information, contact Jane D'Antonio at 802-831-1217 or jdantonio@vermontlaw.edu.

July 25, South Woodbury, VT
Wild Edibles Workshop: Eating Wild Where We Live. What's to eat in July in the wilds? Join us for wild edible identification, harvest and preparation. 1-4 pm. $40. ($10 non-refundable deposit.) Wisdom of the Herbs School, South Woodbury, Vermont. Call Annie McCleary, 802-456-8122 to register.

July 26, Shelburne, VT
Green Mountain Draft Horse Field Day. Come watch demonstrations of traditional farming methods presented by the Green Mountain Draft Horse Association at Shelburne Farms. Horses bred for strength and power will be harnessed to plowing, mowing, and reaping machines used on Vermont farms. Enjoy a hay ride too! Free with admission to Shelburne Farms. Starts at 11 am. (802) 985-8686 or http://www.shelburnefarms.org

August 7, Location TBD
From the Ground Up: Workshop for Beginning Farmers. Beth Holtzman, 802-223-2389x15 or wagn@uvm.edu.

August 8, Amherst, MA
Fruits of Our Labor, the 34th Annual NOFA Summer Conference. Keynote addresses by Dr. Arden Anderson and Mark McAfee. www.nofamass.org.

August 13, 2008
Water and Wire: A Beginning Farmer Workshop on Infrastructure for Livestock Operations. For more information: Beth Holtzman, 802-223-2389x15 or wagn@uvm.edu.

August, Various Locations
Small Ruminant Parasite, FAMACHA and Lamb Grading Classes. Chet Parsons, UVM Livestock Specialist, is planning on holding Parasite and FAMACHA classes on Aug 15 at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT, Aug 22 at Windham Foundation in Grafton, VT and Aug 29 at the Cope Farm in Bath, NH. Attendee numbers will be limited. Also he plans to have a live lamb grading at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT on Aug 20 and at Ed Jackson's in McIndoe Falls, VT on Aug 27, 2008. Contact Chet Parsons, chester.parsons@uvm.edu, 802-524-6501 X212.

Aug. 15-17, Sept. 19-21 & 26-28; and Oct 3-5 & 10-12, Warren, VT
Three Shepherds Farm 2008 Cheesemaking Courses. Designed for those who have a serious interest in the world of cheese, from those who are pursuing cheesemaking either as a career or as a hobby, to those who love cheese and want to learn more about it in a beautiful location. The courses are unique in that they emphasize a hands-on approach with individual instruction. Over the three-days, we make 6 different cheeses using a variety of milks. We discuss and experience all aspects of cheesemaking including raw milk, fresh, soft, and hard cheeses, salting and brining of cheese, aging of cheeses, marketing and selling of cheese, cheese appreciation, pairing cheese and wine, and much more. To register, please call or e-mail. The class fee is $500.00 , a $150.00 non-refundable deposit will confirm your place, and class sizes are limited to 10 students, so spaces fill quickly. For information on accommodations in our area please visit www.madrivervalley.com for a list and description of local inns and B&Bs (make sure you mention that you are taking the cheese class, many places offer deals).  Tel: 802-496-3998 or http://www.threshepherdscheese.com

September 2, Truxton, NY
Organic Dairy and Field Corn Trial , 11am-3pm, Twin Oaks Dairy, LLC, 3175 State Rte 13, Truxton,NY (Cortland  Co.)  Together, Rick and Kathie Arnold and Bob Arnold run Twin Oaks Dairy, LLC and have been certified organic since 1998.  Their high level of management allows them to achieve an average of 20,000 lbs of milk/yr with 130 cows.  They grow 100% of their forage and about 50% of their grain needs on their combination of river bottom and side hill land.  You will learn about their successful organic system as well as a SARE research project the Arnolds are working on with CCE to reduce the cultivation needs of organic field corn by using narrow rows and planting cover crops between the rows.  This workshop is co-sponsored by the NY Organic Dairy Initiative and NOFA-NY.  $5 NOFA members, $10 non-members.

September 7, Ghent, NY
Farmscape Ecology Workshop , 3-6pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm, 327 County Rte 21C, Ghent, NY (Columbia Co.)  Join Claudia Knab-Vispo and Conrad Vispo of Hawthorne Valley Farm's Farmscape Ecology Program for a hands-on exploration of on-farm  natural history. The Farmscape Ecology Program explores the interaction of agriculture with native plant and animal species. The Program has been exploring on-farm diversity around Columbia County, doing whole-farm ecological mapping and more focused studies of ponds and floodplains. During this field day, you will learn how you might explore your own farm and will discuss how some of the resulting information might be incorporated into land-use decisions.  $5 NOFA members, $10 non-members.

September 19-21, Unity Maine
Common Ground Fair. MOFGA celebrates its 32nd Common Ground Country Fair on September 19, 20 & 21, 2008, in Unity, Maine. The Fair allows fairgoers to make connections with a rapidly expanding base of organic farms in the state of Maine. Hundreds of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrators, more than 1,000 volunteers, and roughly 50,000 fairgoers will gather to: share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time. For more info, see: http://mofga.org/TheFair/tabid/135/Default.aspx

September 19-21, Kempton, PA
PA Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival. A three-day festival about renewable energy, natural building construction, sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, forestry and healthy living practices in general. Featuring dynamic speakers, national exhibitors, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, vendors, live music and entertainment, children's activities, food and more.For more info, see: http://www.paenergyfest.com/

September 23-October 28, Berlin, VT
Growing Places: Exploring the Possibilities and Realities of An Agricultural Business. A course for people who thinking of starting or expanding a farm or other agriculturally related enterprise. Growing Places helps participants develop confidence and clarity regarding their business idea/plan, and a better understanding of the steps necessary to insure success. The course is organized into six different sessions, each addressing a different aspect of business development. In addition to WAgN staff, each session pulls in experts to lead the lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises that make up the course format. This session will meet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm in Berlin for six weeks beginning September 23. $125. Early registration (before August 29) is $100. A limited number of scholarships are also available. Registration materials available here. For more information, please email wagn@uvm.edu or call Beth at 802-223-2389.

September 26-28, 2008, Tunbridge, VT
Northeast Animal Power Field Days. Working animal and equipment demonstrations in field and forest settings (Friday), workshops xhibits, presentations, and networking sessions (Friday-Sunday), evening entertainment and an auction and swap/meet on Sunday. For more information visit: www.animalpowerfielddays.org www.animalpowerfielddays.org

October 4, 2008, Burlington, VT
Center for Rural Studies 30th Anniversary Symposium. A day of speakers, discussions and displays to celebrate three decades of Center for Rural Studies work. Livak Ballroom, Davis Student Center, UVM For more information, e-mail Jessica Hyman at jhyman@uvm.edu or visit http://crs.uvm.edu.

March 6-8, 2009, Essex Vermont
Vermont Flower Show. More details to come.

September 19-20, 2009, Springfield, IL
5th National Small Farm Conference. For additional information contact: Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant University of Illinois Extension e-mail:cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu or visit www.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm

WAgN
Women's Agricultural Network
617 Comstock Road, Suite 5
Berlin, VT  05602
(802) 223-2389 x13
866-860-1382 (tollfree)
or wagn@uvm.edu

University of Vermont Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, notional orgin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.