Upcoming Food, Farm and Garden Events!

With Spring finally here, there are many exciting food, farm and gardening events coming up!

Community Garden Plot Sign Ups

Saturday, March 27th
Get a Community Garden Plot at the Willow Creek Community Garden, Madras
10AM
Willow Creek Garden
NE 10th and B st. Madras
Questions? Contact:
Beth Ann Beamer 460-4023 bbeamer@mvhd.org
Annie Ayres 390-0487 aayres@mvhd.org

Saturday, April 17th
Prineville Community Garden Plot Sign-Up
9am-11am
Prineville Presbyterian Church
1771 N. Madras Highway

Please come and enjoy garden preparation day and

reserve your plot. Small plots are $30 and large plots

$40 for the season. Your fee covers water and soil amendments.

Our garden is organic and some seeds and starts will also be

available for free.

We are in our 6th year and our orchard had fruit last year. We have 40 plots, good water, a secure deer fence, and have worked hard this spring to remove the gophers. The garden is organic and the soil has been well amended.

First come, first served.

No plots may be reserved prior to April 17^th.

If you have questions, please call Kim Kambak (541) 771 1923.

Classes, Workshops, and Events

TOMORROW (Wednesday, March 31st)
Vegetable Gardening in Central Oregon
Bend Public Library
FREE
5:30-7:30pm
Want to lower your grocery bills? Growing your own vegetables is fun and economical way to help during these tough financial times. Learn how to grow your own healthy produce from Cindy Jeffers in an informative session

Saturday, April 10th
Edible Landscapes
10am-Noon
CHS Garden Center, NW Depot Rd. Madras
Edible Landscapes will focus, on fruit trees. Scott Duggan will teach about soil preparation, selection of trees for Central Oregon and how to protect trees for disease and insects.Bring a coat to take a short outdoor tour and learn about pruning techniques as well. Bring a pair of pruners and give it a try.
To register, call 541-383-7270.

Saturday, April 10th
Composting and Organic Gardening Made Easy
Bend Public Library
FREE
1:00-2:30pm

Tuesday, April 13th
Community Food Systems Gathering
Ascension School & Conference Center
1104 Church St.
Cove, Oregon
10am-3pm
A gathering of groups and coalitions working to improve community food systems throughout Oregon
For more information contact Sharon Thornberry, Oregon Food Bank sthornberry@oregonfoodbank.org

Saturday, April 14-17th
The Small Farmer's Journal Horsedrawn Auction and Swap Meet
Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Madras
Free Admission; Charge for Fairgrounds Parking
More info and schedule here.

Saturday, April 24th
OSU Master Gardener Spring Gardening Fair and Garden Market
8am-4:30pm
Redmond Fairgrounds
$10 per class (pre-registration); $15 per class on event day
Special General Session: Gail Langellotto-Rhodaback speaks on Genetically Modified Foods
Classes Offered On: Vegetable Gardening, Food Preservation, Raising Chickens, Hardy Perennials, Using Conifers in C.O., Growing Apples, Hobby Greenhouse
More info here.

COCC Community Ed Home and Garden Courses
More info here.

Saturday, June 5th
Local Food Network Website Launch
Environmental Center, Bend
Noon-5pm
For more info email sarahlee.lawrence@gmail.com


Call For Volunteers!

Fields Farm intern, Jeremy Fox has set up a series of farm tours throughout the month of May for local elementary and middle schoolers.

The goals of these trips is to expose kids to who farmers are and where food comes from, as well as have a fun time meeting goats and chickens and greenhouses.

If you're interested in volunteering to give guided tours of the farm for a morning or two contact Jeremy at: zorndylan@hotmail.com

No experience necessary, just an interest is teaching kids about food!


WIC (Women Infants and Children) Fruit & Vegetable Voucher Trainings for Producers

Starting 2010, farmers who sell their fruits and vegetables directly to consumers at farm stands or at farmers’ markets may sign up to participate in the existing Farm Direct Nutrition Program (FDNP) and/or a NEW program called the WIC Fruit & Veggie Voucher Program.

The Fruit & Veggie Vouchers will not replace the seasonal Farm Direct Nutrition Program Checks that some WIC families and seniors already receive, but will provide an additional benefit for WIC families.

The WIC Fruit & Veggie Voucher Program will operate year-round, thus providing farmers with an opportunity to generate additional income. Potential WIC Fruit & Veggie Voucher sales, including those from WIC-authorized grocery stores and farm-direct venues have been estimated at $8.6 million per year for the state of Oregon.

All farmers who want to accept the new WIC Fruit & Veggie Vouchers need to attend a 75-minute “face-to-face” Training Session as part of the authorization process, since the requirements for this program are different from the FDNP Program.

To encourage farmer participation in this new program and to facilitate the authorization process, a WIC Fruit & Veggie Training Session has been scheduled in your area:

Thursday, April 29th
MADRAS
3:30-5pm
Jefferson Co. Health Department

Friday, April 30th
PRINEVILLE
Noon-1:15
OSU Extension Service Office
502 SE Lynn Blvd, Prineville, OR

Saturday, May 1st
BEND
9am-11am
St. Charles Hospital
Training Room "E"
Training room E is located between the volunteer desk and the former health and care store near the front entrance.

For more information contact Kelly Streit at eatsmart@onnutritionstreit.com