Late Fall 2001

Tribute to all WAgN Staff, Advisors, Volunteers-Past & Present

As WAgN embarks on the next phase of development, it seems appropriate to thank all those individuals who have given so much of themselves to the nurturing and growth of the Women's Ag Network throughout the past 6 years. First, to all the staff who have been part of this team over the years-thank you. Without your dedication and hard work, not to mention the sacrificed evenings and weekends, this program could not have grown as it has. To the Advisors, thank you for your commitment and unfailing support of our mission and, most of all, for your honesty which has challenged us to get better at we do. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the volunteers who gave time as instructors, who helped us staff many exhibits, and who donated product-time is a most precious resource and you never let us down. I am forever grateful to each of you. Whatever WAgN's future holds, the successes will always be a tribute to your hard work as the founding Mothers and Fathers of the Women's Agricultural Network. To all the members of the WAgN team, my deepest appreciation and best wishes for Peace in your life and brighter New Year for us all.

Our Contact Information Has Changed!

If you have tried to reach us by phone in the past few weeks, you probably had some difficulty, as our old numbers (656-3276 and 656-5724) are no longer in use. To reach us now, please call the UVM Extension office in Berlin at (802) 223-2389. Our website and email address are still the same, however: www.uvm.edu/~wagn, and wagn@zoo.uvm.edu. Thank you for your patience as we move through this new transition!

2nd Annual Women in Agriculture Conference · Saturday, November 3, 2001

Taking Charge, Growing Change !

Beginning Farmers of NH, along with Vermont WAgN and Maine WAgN, will be hosting the Northern New England Women in Agriculture Conference on Saturday, November 3rd, 2001, in Jackson, NH. This will be a one-day conference and the planning committee is currently looking for suggestions for both workshop topics and speakers. Do you have an idea for an interesting topic for a panel discussion? Are there people you would like to see speaking to each other on an issue related to women and agriculture? Brainstorm with each other, access your vision and imagination, inventory your skills and your resources and tell us: What can the conference do for you and what can you do for the conference? Please email, call or write Jennifer Mayo, Beginning Farmers of NH, with your suggestions, ideas and comments at bf@cyberportal.net; (603) 527-2093; or 719 N. Main St., Rm. 220, Laconia, NH, 03246.

WAgN Discussion Groups: The Meetings Live On!

When the discussion groups began meeting several years ago, the mission was two-fold: to help WAgN get a pulse on the farming community in order to best meet need and demand, while at the same time, providing an opportunity for farmers to come together, share experiences and learn from each other. We hope we have achieved this. And while WAgN can no longer facilitate the discussion groups to the extent we have in the past, we feel confident all the groups have garnered the experience and tools to continue meeting without our guidance.

To help you get started, Beverly has scheduled meetings for the next three months, which you will find below. We are strongly encouraging each group, at their next couple of meetings, to decide on dates and topics for the months of January, February, March and April. If you are having difficulty coming up with a topic, look back upon old newsletters (there is an archive on our website) to get some ideas. Potlucks, guest speakers, farm/garden tours, and specific activities, such as felt making, can certainly be a nice addition to a meeting.

Once your meetings are set for those months, please contact Mary with the date, location, time and topic and she will make sure to include them in the newsletter, which will continue to come out quarterly. This will be very important, as it will be sure to keep others up-to-date. In order to facilitate this transition, and make the continuation of the discussion groups as successful as possible, Beverly has agreed to be available to provide support or answer any questions you might have. You can contact her at (802) 253-4353 or bbhishop@together.net.

Good luck, and keep those discussion groups alive!

WAgN Members Spearhead Living Memorial for September 11 Victims

John Muir said, "every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." Phyllis Austin and Sabrina Joy Milbury have been inspired by the verse to plant a living memorial to all those who lost their lives or were injured in the September 11 attacks. Money has been raised to purchase 6,000 daffodil bulbs which will be planted at the Vermont Welcome Center on I-91 in Brattleboro. Each Spring, they will bloom, a message of hope and remembrance. To find out how you can contribute, please contact Sabrina at (802) 863-3530.

Holiday Party and Marketplace!

The Women's Small Business Program and other non-profits in the Mercy Connections Collaboration for a day of celebration and holiday gift shopping on Wednesday, December 5, from noon until 7pm. Come learn more about Mercy Connections - an educational organization dedicated to empowering men and women to develop their spiritualities, their curiosities, their skills and their resources, while finishing up your gift shopping with local business owners who will be showcasing and selling their products. There is no cost to attend, and refreshments will be available. The event will be held at the WSBP, Delehanty Hall, Trinity College, Burlington. For more information, please call WSBP at (802) 846-7338.

Upcoming Workshop Helps Farm Families Learn How to Transfer the Farm

Farm families will have the opportunity to learn about transferring the farm in a day-long worksop, Thursday, November 1, at the Dog Team Tavern in Middlebury. Participants will discover what it takes to plan for the future of the farm and its next generation. They will learn about the elements of a successful estate plan to minimize taxes; options that exist if there are no heirs to take over the farm; and methods to transfer the farm including leasing, sale, gift, and forming a business relationship like a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation. The workshop is scheduled from 9am until 3:30pm. Registration is $35 per farm or family. A buffet lunch is available for an additional $7 and includes the Dog Team's infamous sticky buns. For more information, please contact Deb Heleba at Land Link Vermont, (802) 656-0233.

New Website Up and Running…

The Northeast Sheep and Goat Marketing Program is pleased to announce the establishment of its new website at www.sheepgoatmarketing.org. This website is designed to be a library of marketing information aimed to help Northeastern producers make informed decisions to improve the success of their enterprises. There's some great info here - check it out!

Ag-BusinessCourse Planned for thisWinter

In July, several ag- and business-service providers from New England attended a two-day training to become certified to teach NxLevel courses - a series of comprehensive business courses. As a result, the ag-based curriculum, Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, will be offered for the first time in Vermont beginning this January on the UVM Campus in Burlington. The 13-week program is aimed towards individuals who have started or are thinking about starting an ag-based endeavor. Topics addressed include resources, marketing, legal issues, finances, and management. In addition, participants will develop and craft a working business plan. The course begins Thursday, January 3, 2002 and will run for the next 13 consecutive Thursday's through March 28. Opportunities will be available for financial assistance. For more information, please contact Jackie Folsom at Vermont Farms! - (877) VT-FARMS or Jackie@vtfarms.org

SARE Grant Deadline Approaching

The Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education program (SARE) recently released the call for proposals for their grant programs available to Northeast Farmers the Farmer/Grower Grant Program and the Sustainable Farmer Education Grants.
• Farmer/Grower Grant Program: The goal of this program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable practices and explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. Any farmer in the Northeast SARE region may apply. You do not need to be farming full-time, but your operation should have an established crop or animal product that you sell on a regular basis. Non-profit farms may apply, but the primary activity of the farm must be to produce and sell food under the kinds of economic constraints that affect commercial growers. The deadline is December 3, 2001.

For more information on this grant program, or to receive an application, please visit the SARE website at www.sare.org; email to nesare@zoo.uvm.edu, or call the Northeast SARE office at (802) 656-4656.

WAgN
Women's Agricultural Network
617 Comstock Rd, Suite 5
Berlin, VT  05602
(802) 223-2389
or wagn@zoo.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.