The Watauga office of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) are collaborating to present a class series for farmers wanting to begin or transition to commercial-scale organic production (certified organic, CNG, or uncertified/using organic methods, etc.) of vegetable and fruit crops.
This class is geared toward growers who are or will soon be set up for commercial scale production (0.5 acre of ready-to-cultivate production or more), and wish to begin or expand local produce sales. Topics covered will include soils & fertility, disease identification & control, insect identification & control, weed management, post-harvest handling, certification & record-keeping, and marketing to retail & wholesale buyers.
Classes will meet during the winter and early spring of 2024 on Wednesdays (with two Thursday sessions on 1/18 & 2/15) from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center at 252 Poplar Grove Rd in Boone. Each class session will raffle-off books and digital media on organic agriculture, weed management, disease identification, and organic pest control to participating growers who attend.
Schedule:- January 17 - Soils & Fertility in Organic Systems (Part 1 - Soil Testing & Crop Fertilizer Budgeting)
- January 18 - Soils & Fertility in Organic Systems (Part 2 - Composting & Other Soil-Building Strategies, co-taught by Kevin Gamble of Wildcat Composting)
- January 24 - Weed Management in Organic Systems
- January 31 - Planning Crop & Cover Crop Rotations for optimal weed & disease management
- February 7 - Disease Management in Organic Systems (co-taught by Chris Thies of Opossum Bottom Farm)
- February 15 - OMRI-listed Insect & Disease Management Materials in Detail
- February 21 - Integrated (Insect) Pest Management in Organic Systems (co-taught by Anthea van Geloven of ATG Farm)
- February 28 - Crop Specific Examples for Organic Management - Brassica & Allium
- March 6 - Crop Specific Examples for Organic Management - Apples & Blueberries
For more information, call the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Watauga County Center at (8280 264-3061 or email Richard Boylan at richard_boylan@ncsu.edu
