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This event is put on by Dutchess County Bounty here in the Hudson Valley.  If you're in the area, it's worth attending.  Cheryl Rogowski is quite inspiring - the first farmer to win a MacArthur Genius Fellowship. Dutchess County Bounty Speed Networking Event Join fellow farmers, food producers, chefs, caterers and food buyers at this […]

Read about Organic Valley's "Gen-O"  program and ideals here, and download their Winter 2010 Gen-O Rising newsletter. They're seeking contributors!

some nice green career training videos to be found her, including this one about Algae. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q40s7Pm-Nw&feature=player_embedded] The Green Guardians is a green career clearinghouse for people wanting to develop green community service skills such as energy efficiency, recycling, composting, tree planting, green building technology, urban agriculture, eco-literacy education, and other important career skills. We believe […]

for all you urban cyclists out there, the yike bike! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X813eTuZJkc&feature=player_embedded]

these days, we can't get enough of all of these oh so fabulous mapping interfaces. now the USDA has stepped up to the plate and created the Food Environmental Atlas, which identifies crucial food environment factors—such as store/restaurant proximity, food prices, food and nutrition assistance programs, and community characteristics—and shows how they interact to influence food choices […]

we love this interactive atlas of the New Western Range, which locates innovative ranchers, farmers, scientists, agency personnel, individuals and organizations are creating a new vision for the Western Range. brought to you by The Quivira Coalition.

You can now get bicycling directions on google maps! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN5_NBSu7Lw&feature=player_embedded]

Our vernal equinox hoggett event is sponsored by this terrific organization.We thank animal welfare approved for their support of this event, making it affordable for beginning farmers -- but also for their mission: helping farmers improve conditions for their animals. On their website, you can read profiles of animal welfare approved farmers, and find out […]

We just heard about this terrific organization in Oregon - a good model, and helpful for all of us. Thanks to Sarah Sullivan, who clued us in. Check them out @ friendsoffamilyfarmers.org The average age of farmers in Oregon is 57 years old. Without a plan to get new farmers onto the land, with access […]

this just in from the good folks at SARE: Got a great idea?  Need a grant or loan to get a jumpstart?  Check out Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities, a guide to federal programs that provide financial and technical support for sustainable agriculture. Download the publication for free at http://www.sare.org/publications/ruralplaces.htm.

the Cornell small farms program has a brand new guide for beginning farmers.  This + the greenhorns guide makes quite a duo.

all positions have been filled for now, but this is an amazing program - one to keep your eyes on. It's a project of the Quivera Coalition. Conservation and Ranching Leadership and Youth (CARLY) CARLY: There are few challenges more important at this moment in time than encouraging the next generation of leaders in conservation […]

a stellar opportunity from our friends at alemany farm in San Francisco. For the second year in a row, Friends of Alemany Farm will be offering an Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. The 11-month course takes participants through the seasons, covering key garden and orchard tasks that occur in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Apprentices will learn […]

IMPACT A series of stories about films making change How do social issue documentary films do more than just raise awareness? Are you a documentary filmmaker looking for the formula to take your film to the next level? IMPACT is a new series of videos created by Working Films and The Fledgling Fund focused on […]

On Feb. 5, USDA released the 2010 Request for Applications (RFA) to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Competitive Grant program. The Application deadline is April 6, 2010 The RFA is available at: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/bfrdp.html More program information is available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/beginningfarmerandrancher.cfm

The Women's Agricultural Network of Vermont (which is a terrific resource in general) is teaching a course on using social marketing.   "Using Facebook as a Marketing Tool for Farm Businesses." It's the 24th of Feb and 24th of March. Online. These two on-line sessions are designed for farm business owners and employees who are not […]

Decades ago, Dan or Dandy Doodles were one of the country-cured meats delivered to folks throughout rural Southside Virginia. A Dan Doodle (or Tom Thumb) is a unique, hickory-smoked sausage in a natural casing sourced from the lower intestine of the pig, that is still sold today, mostly in rural areas. S. Wallace Edwards & […]

here are some wisconsin folks fermenting some seriously scrumptious sauerkraut + kim chi. Powerkraut is a small family business located in Southwestern Wisconsin committed to hand producing delicious, nourishing cultured food and fermented drinks for children, teen, and adults. We use only high quality sea salt and the least amount necessary to insure a stable culturing process. Powerkraut is a safe […]

here's to agrarianism in higher education. The Program in Agrarian Studies at Yale is an experimental, interdisciplinary effort to reshape how a new generation of scholars understands rural life and society. Our basic goal is to infuse categories of social science research in danger of becoming purely statistical and abstract with the fresh air of […]

from our friends at Sterling College. Craftsbury Common, VT—Independent colleges and universities, already under financial strain due to diminished endowments, are now facing calls from politicians and pundits to cost less and graduate students faster, in three years instead of four.

" Why aren't there tax breaks for landowners leasing to beginning farmers!?" brought a sensible reply from India Burnett Farmer, program director of the Rutland Area Farm & Food Link: "I was just researching a tax scheme in Nebraska similar to the one you propose..."What about a tax-break for landowners leasing to beginning farmers?"  You […]

we've met so many lovely people over the internetz! I've been a squeeky wheel about young farmers rights at all the relevant agencies, and I even joined the farm bureau to go talk to the geezers. But the reception has been so warm and generous. One of the folks reaching out lives in the Adirondacks […]

I was recently given some of this as a present - look how glorious... Chateau de Brouay Calvados

Some more good gear for the list - Pointer Brand. High Back, Low Back and Carpenter Overalls, Carpenter Jeans, Blue Jeans, Coveralls, Hunting Clothes, Denim Jackets, Shorts and Shortalls for Adults and Children. All made in the USA, since 1913.

because I"m a beginning farmer + rancher-- and I need them to represent my interests. New York Farm Bureau: Young Farmers & Ranchers Program

Many of you have probably used it to search for jobs or internships, and the site is about to go under.  www.idealist.org.   Here is their appeal: You know how sometimes in life you go through a bad moment, and when your friends hear about it later, they say, "Why didn't you say something? Why didn't […]

“Growing New Farmers” Internship and Incubator Program in Delaware County, NY Farm Catskills now accepting applications for 2010 The Catskills is a farm-friendly region, with growing local and regional buyers, farmers markets, and opportunities for new farm businesses.

http://www.backyardrevolution.com/ are there others we should know about? we are looking for more witches in the Boston area for our JP bike elderflower syrup event. please email us witches!  [email protected] The Backyard Revolution is a family-oriented celebration of our region’s cultural and agricultural heritage.

Rebecca Gerendasy of Cooking up a Story just sent us this great video, produced for SARE, that speaks to farmers who have (or are considering building) a greenhouse. Here's her note: Steven Schwen, or Earthen Path Organic Farm, in Lake City, MN, designed a thermal banking greenhouse, and through the help of a SARE grant, […]

Just heard about this awesome buffalo connection while at super star six point brewery in brooklyn with rooftop rockstar annie novak. talk about logistics of bravery-- those are some badass sanitation ninjas. and that Sweet Action beer...Lordy me. Here's the scoop on Tall Grass Bison: Our electronic brochure will explain more about our buffalo meat, […]

Strong Tree Coffee. In Hudson, NY. These are the folks who keep us caffeinated at Greenhorns Headquarters with fair trade, organic and biodynamic coffee beans.  They also package a special Greenhorns Blend, which we just got a new shipment of.  Now we can start sending out all those Greenhorns Holiday Packages.  Which you can still […]

As part of the USDA "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" effort to create new economic opportunities by better connecting consumers with local producers, FSIS will host two Web outreach seminars this January on mobile slaughter units. Mobile slaughter units are self contained slaughter facilities that can travel from site to site. Typically, the units […]

We grew Spotted Trout Lettuce last summer on our little farm, and saved the seeds - now you can buy them from our friends at Hudson Valley Seed Library. Celebrate the Greenhorns! Library Pack : Grown by Smithereen Farm Eligible for Membership Deal $2.75 / $2.25 for members These seeds came from Smithereen Farm, home […]

many thanks to Kimberly Hart for this piece. take action, greenhorns! Grassroots push for Student Loan forgiveness could remove barrier to new entry farmers I recently contacted my U.S. elected officials to propose that farming become one of the areas of employment eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. I’m hoping that many young, beginning and […]

Rare animal breeders in many countries are supported in this critical work by private foundations. As you are probably well aware the results of careless or greedy breeding is a degeneration in the quality of the livestock. Some breeds ( like holsteins) take over the markeplace as their milk production is maximized.  With sperm shipments, […]

For all you techie geeks who want to streamline. our friend natsuko recommends running Mac operating system on this little MSI WIND computer.

Food first recommends these charities. thanks to Anna Lappe for spreading the word Partners in Health Founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, this nonprofit health delivery program has served Haiti's poor since 1987. To donate for earthquake relief, go to https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&subsource=homepage In an urgent email from Port-au-Prince, Louise Ivers, Partners in Health clinical director in Haiti, […]

just a shout out to the network that is home to our greenhorns radio show (every thursday!) No matter where you are, you can listen online to lots of great programs.  including: Cutting the Curd with Anne Saxelby If there is one thing Anne Saxelby knows, its cheese. Cutting the Curd, heard every other Sunday […]

this is an exciting coalition: Greetings MYCF! This is an exciting time and there's a lot going on, so here's our first newsletter to present all of the information to you in a concise package. Coming out the the retreat, there's been a whirlwind of activity and there's a lot more on the horizon. Read […]

we've gotten a few tips on gear suggestions for our greenhorns gear list - if you have more, send them to [email protected]! In the meantime, here are a few more suggestions: Womanswork Gloves - pawling, ny Ibex Woolens - woodstock, vt Wiggy's - grand junction, co