Crop Planning for Vegetable Producers
This workshop provides a much-needed structure for figuring out how to make money on a market garden. It hones in on the core issues of farm success: which crops to grow, when to plant them, and in what quantities. Then it provides a logical, linear process for getting it all done, on time. It sets out 11 steps, including:
Decide how much money you need to make;
- Calculate how much of each veggie you have to sell to meet your financial goals;
- Decide where you will sell;
- Make field planting schedules to ensure you have the crops you need at the right time;
- Generate greenhouse/seedstarting schedules;
- Fill out a seed order;
- Make a field operations calendar;
- Analyze profitability and refine your plans for next year.
*Book/Workshop description by Lynn Byczynski, Growing for Market, August 2010
Date: November 15th, 2010
Location: Olds, AB
Time: 10am -5pm
Facilitator: Daniel Brisebois is one of the founding members of Tourne-Sol cooperative farm. He farms in Les Cèdres, Qc near Montreal. Tourne-Sol produces certified organic vegetables, flowers, seeds, seedlings and herbal teas on 12 acres. Tourne-Sol's produce is distributed mainly through a 250 share CSA and a farmers market. Daniel is President of the COG Board of Directors, and is also the co-author of COG’s Crop Planning for the Organic Vegetable Grower book.
Price: $60 + GST per person. Includes lunch, snacks and a copy of the Crop Planning for Vegetable Growers book ($22 value).
Selling local organic beef
Regional meetings across the province will discuss production and marketing details for selling organic beef into local markets. Topics will include cost of production, organic standards, marketing options, and opportunities for working together to get your beef to market. If you ever thought that of accesses local markets, but didn't now where to start, you won't want to miss these events.
Peace Country:
Tuesday November 16th from 11-4 at the Rycroft Agri-Plex. Contact Soames Smith at 780-765-2171 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
North Central:
Monday January 10th from 10-3 in Barrhead at the Provincial Building (Agriculture offices, 2nd floor, Provincial Building 6203-49st Barrhead Alberta T79 1A4). Contact Sam Godwin at 780-785-8023 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
South Central:
Location: Stettler Region. Date: TBA Contact Don Ruzicka for more information at 780-385-2474 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
South:
TBA- if you live in southern Alberta and are interested in having one of these meetings to your area, please contact Becky Lipton at 780-271-1116 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Transition to Organic Livestock Production
This one-day workshop is intended for livestock producers who are considering or are in the process of transitioning to organic production. You will learn about converting to organic, breed selection, nutrition, grazing management, health care alternatives and certification and record keeping.
Date: Friday January 16th
Location: Sangudo, Alberta
Time: 9:30-5
Facilitator: Dorothy Marshall
Dorothy farms with her family in east central Alberta, south east of Camrose. Their land is all down to forage, which is used for both pasture and hay. The farm has been certified organic for 9 years.
With over twenty years experience raising both conventional and organic livestock, Dorothy has a good appreciation of the challenges facing organic livestock producers. She has been involved in sheep and pork production for most of those years as well as milked a cow and raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, pheasants, and even finished some beef. All animals have been raised on pasture in season.
Dorothy has read extensively about organic livestock production and has taken the livestock course offered by OACC. She is also actively involved in the organic industry through her involvement with Organic Alberta and on several related boards. She loves to learn from the experience of other producers and is excited to have the opportunity to be able to lead this organic livestock transition course.
Price: $60 + GST per person. Includes lunch, snacks, and a copy of the Organic Livestock Handbook ($20 value).
Register: contact Becky Lipton at 780-271-1116 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
