Growing Local Know-How: Growing for Local Markets Workshop September 20

Starting a farm can be overwhelming, and even established farmers can benefit from learning a new trick or two of the trade. 

Who wouldn’t like to spend a day with successful farmers, gleaning new insights about what works best?

An upcoming workshop called “Growing for Local Markets” offers just such a day, providing practical advice and hands-on demonstrations to help current, beginning, and potential farmers operate more effectively and profitably.

The workshop runs from 8 – 4:30 on Saturday, September 20, at the Connors State College campus in Warner.

The event is being sponsored by the college and the Kerr Center, as part of their new sustainable agriculture partnership. Connors students may attend for college credit.

First up at the workshop, a dynamic duo of northeast Oklahoma farmers will explain how they’ve fitted together all the pieces of a successful market farm.

In the afternoon, several other Oklahoma agriculture professionals will lead hands-on sessions on specialized topics.

Mike Appel and Emily Oakley make a living feeding local markets through small-scale, sustainable agriculture.  Accomplished educators as well, they will spend the morning sharing their strategy for staying both small and economically viable. 

“We will cover the history of our farm's development from the start-up phase, to leasing, to finally owning our own land,” says Oakley.

She and Appel will describe the nuts and bolts of market farming, both production and marketing, on their 5-acre, certified organic, two-person farm in Cherokee County.

Their topics include soil fertility; weed management; pests and diseases; greenhouse production; crops, varieties, and succession planting; irrigation; tools and equipment; marketing outlets; and record-keeping.

After lunch, Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program Administrator Chris Kirby will speak on marketing opportunities in Oklahoma schools.

In the afternoon, the audience will divide into four groups for focused, hands-on sessions on specific topics.  Topics will repeat, enabling each participant to attend two different sessions.

Session topics include growing transplants, hoop houses, cover crops, and drip irrigation.

Registration includes lunch and costs $45, due by September 15.  (Spouses and additional persons from the same farm or business register for $30 each.)  Register at www.kerrcenter.com or 918.647.9123.

Extension agents can receive continuing education credit for attending the workshop.
Connors students should register with Dr. Ron Ramming, 918.463.2931 ext. 6328 or
rronald@connorsstate.edu

The workshop will be held rain or shine; attendees should wear outdoor shoes.