Thursday, July 23, 2-3 pm ET

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Join us for a virtual tour and interactive discussion with the staff at the Berea College Farm in Berea, Kentucky.

We'll walk through their greenhouse, high tunnels, field production, packing shed, and coolers to view their full organic horticulture operation, including diverse vegetables, culinary herbs, blueberries, and ornamental plants.

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Both in recorded video and live for your questions, Farm Horticulture Manager Janet Meyer will share details on seeding and transplanting, bed design and formation, high tunnel management, irrigation, amendments and fertility, harvest, washing, and storage, record-keeping and planning, and food / staff safety protocols.

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This virtual event is offered FREE for all producers, in collaboration with Grow Appalachia and the USDA. Pre-registration is required at the link below.

August 6, 2-3pm ET

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Join Bryce Baumann as he walks us through operations on his Lazy Eight Stock Farm, in Paint Lick, Ky.  We'll see prerecorded video footage from his 420-acre, certified organic, diverse vegetable production and broaden the context in a live conversation with Bryce and your questions.

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The Lazy Eight tour will include:

• CSA share assembly in the Lazy Eight pack house,

• organic seed-starting and transplanting in the heated floor greenhouse, 

• field tours with organic production techniques of brassicas, tomatoes, salad greens, and trellised beans,

• solar energy production and associated funding assistance.

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This virtual event is offered FREE for all producers, in collaboration with Grow Appalachia and the USDA. Pre-registration is required at the link below.

April 9, 2020

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Bryan Brady, UK Food Connection, provided food safety considerations and regulations; Aleta Botts, KCARD, offered updates on agribusiness funding and expectations; and OAK member farmers Maggie Dungan and Robin Verson shared their market adaptations and strategies for resilience in these tumultuous times.

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Read the summary and access links in Notes and Resources

May 20, 2020

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We heard from Clint Quarles, KDA Staff Attorney, and Jonathan Shepherd, UK Farm Management Specialist, on essential steps Kentucky farmers should consider for minimizing risks during a period of crisis. 

Here are recommendations referenced by our speakers (links included in Notes and Resources):

• Check in on your farmer peers; check in on your own mental health needs.

• Thinking of increasing direct to consumer sales?  Call your insurance provider and talk with them about your market changes, as your current policy(ies) may have exclusions or need updates to protect you from risks

• Employee safety and protections: candid conversations, sick policy, updating records, Workers Compensation?

• Whole Farm safety audits – find risks and fix them.  Manuals? Employee expectations?

• Consider catching up on tax paperwork, LEANing your farm practices

• Legal Structures for your farm business: Most significant benefit is owners’ personal assets are protected from business’ liabilities.

• Essential for every farmer to understand full cost of production – and budgeting accordingly.

• You are not alone.  Many resources in place from UK, KCARD, Small Business Administration, and USDA.

Read the summary and access links in Notes and Resources.