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News & Resources

News

Policy

May 2023 Policy Updates

Update on Federal Organic Research Bills:   Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) in the House…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 25, 2023
Classifieds

Organic Farm for Sale

Prince George County, Va 7 acres with modern barn, high tunnel, deer fencing And established…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 24, 2023
VABF News

VABF is hiring an Operations Manager

Virginia Association for Biological Farming Operations Manager Part-time @ 20 hours per week $30 -…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 24, 2023
Book Reviews

Compact Farms: 15 Proven Plans for Market Farms on 5 Acres or Less,

Compact Farms: 15 Proven Plans for Market Farms on 5 Acres or Less, Josh Volk,…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 23, 2023
Garden Tips

May Vegetable Gardening Tips

By Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and the author of The Timber Press Guide to…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 23, 2023
Grants and Scholarships

USDA Funding Available April 2023 updates

Local Agriculture Markets Program Funding Available Apply by May 2   On February 14, the…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminApril 27, 2023
Policy

April Policy Updates

Thank you !! Thank you to all who signed the Farmers’ Climate Letter to Congress…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminApril 27, 2023
Book Reviews

Plant Science for Gardeners: Essentials for Growing Better Plants

Plant Science for Gardeners: Essentials for Growing Better Plants, Robert Pavlis, New Society Publishers, June…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminApril 25, 2023
Garden Tips

2023 April Vegetable Gardening Tips

Ira Wallace Southern Exposure Seed Exchange ,Author of The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminApril 25, 2023
Policy

March 2023 Policy Updates

Take Action!   Agriculture Resilience Act to be Introduced March 28 Let’s get our whole…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Policy

ARA Section by Section

VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Policy

Changes in the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023 compared to ARA 2021

Changes in the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023 compared to ARA 2021   Title I…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Book Reviews

The Two-Wheel Tractor Handbook, Small-Scale Equipment and Innovative Techniques for Boosting Productivity

Book Review: The Two-Wheel Tractor Handbook, Small-Scale Equipment and Innovative Techniques for Boosting Productivity, Zach…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Garden Tips

2023 March Vegetable Gardening Tips

Finish transplanting raspberries and blackberries this month if you didn’t do this task in the…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Grants and Scholarships

2023 Braiding Seeds Fellowship

Applications for the 2023 Braiding Seeds Fellowship are now open! The application deadline is May…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 6, 2023
Surveys and Action Items

National Cover Crop Survey

Farmers: Share Your Thoughts on Cover Crops in the National Cover Crop Survey!   Farmers…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 6, 2023
Classifieds

Recruiting Herb Farmers

Since 2017, the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub in Duffield, VA has been helping producers process…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminFebruary 23, 2023
VABF News

SE Seed Video Series

In 2021 The Utopian Seed Project and Communal Studios received a grant from Southern SARE…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminFebruary 23, 2023
VABF News

They Call Her the Godmother of Southern Seeds for a Reason

They Call Her the Godmother of Southern Seeds for a Reason The New York Times published a…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminFebruary 23, 2023
Surveys and Action Items

NCAT Survey

We are writing to ask for your feedback on the resources and impacts of the ATTRA program,…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminFebruary 23, 2023
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News & Resources

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admin@vabf.org

P.O. Box 4, Woolwine, VA 24185
434-299-8007
501(c)(3) EIN 541417875

VABF’s mission is to educate about, advocate for, and promote organic and biological farming and gardening.

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vabfarming

Our mission is to educate about, advocate for, and promote organic & biological farming & gardening. 501(c)(3)

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
VABF is hiring an Operations Manager! Apply by Jun VABF is hiring an Operations Manager! Apply by June 16th, 2023.

· Part-time @ 20 hours per week
· $30 – $40/hr commensurate with experience
· 100% remote, with occasional travel to attend meetings
· Reports to Board of Directors

VABF is the principal statewide organization for promoting local, sustainable agriculture through education, networking, and education. VABF is a small, grassroots membership organization comprised of farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and researchers.
This position guides the organization and staff in delivering measurable, cost-effective results that advance its mission and strategic objectives and brings oversight, processes, and systems to support healthy and thoughtful organizational growth, accountability, financial sustainability, and productivity. The Operations Manager is responsible for general support, strategic planning and evaluation, governance, development and fundraising, and finance and budgeting.

More information at VABF dot ORG

#remotejobs #operationsmanager #jobswithpurpose #supportsmallfarms #virginiafarms
Six new faces on the Board of Directors! In our Six new faces on the Board of Directors! 

In our recent newsletter, Adam Taylor, our new President, shared a bit about himself and introduced our newest board members: 

"Hello all VABF members, supporters, and big fans. My Name is Adam Taylor, and I was recently elected as your new president of the VABF Board of Directors. As for a little about myself, I live in Craig County, Virginia on a small 33-acre homestead. Along with my wife Eliza and son Luke, we operate Singing Spring Farm, a holistic managed system of diary and meat goats, wool sheep, pastured chickens, annual vegetables, and a large variety of fruit and medicinal producing perennials.

...As mentioned, we do have a lot of new faces on the board of directors, and I hope you all will welcome them. We have Becky Szarzynski with Mountain Glen Farm, Justin Wilson with First Citizens Bank, Mark Davis with Real Roots Food Systems, Renee Foster with Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture, and Hannah Varnell with Well Farm. Each of these new members are leaders within their own fields, and continue to represent biological farming sectors throughout the state. Again, we are excited for our new team, and look forward to what we can accomplish for you in the coming months."

@singingspringfarm 
@realrootsfoodsystems 
@wellfarmvets 
@mountainglenfarm
🌱🌻🌿🌾 Farmer Action Alerts! 🌱🌻🌿🌾

* * * * * * *

The Next Farm Bill must be a Climate Bill! 🌱 Add your Name to this Letter to Congress 🌾 Deadline extended to this Friday, April 14 🌿

Read and sign this letter now to tell Congress: the next farm bill must be a climate bill. The next farm bill is being written now, and we need it to address climate change. Farmers need resources like funding, research, and risk management to implement climate-friendly farming practices. The Agriculture Resilience Act asks Congress to implement these solutions in the next farm bill. 

Sign on to show your support now: bit.ly/araletter 

* * * * * * *

American Farmland Trust is looking for a Virginia “soil health successful” farmer to feature in a soil health case study who:
🌾 Grows corn, soybeans, hay, and/or small grains
🌱 Has adopted practices such as reduced tillage, no-till, cover crops, nutrient management, or diversified crop rotation for soil health
 🌞 Has implemented practice(s) for 4-15 years
🌿 Has economic success stories to attribute to their soil health practices with data to validate
🌎 Is willing to provide field operation data reflecting before and after adopting the soil health practice(s)

*$1000 stipend will be given to farmer*

For more information or to apply, please email Lia Raz, Case Study Agronomist, American Farmland Trust at lraz@farmland.org

To apply, complete this form: bit.ly/3JHoXfC

* * * * * * * 

Local Agriculture Markets Program Funding Available Apply by May 2
 
On February 14, the USDA announced some $133 million in funding for Local Agriculture Markets Program (LAMP) projects, including Farmers Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program, and Regional Food Systems Partnerships. 

See the NSAC blog on LAMP for details including how to apply: sustainableagriculture.net

* * * * * * *
Just a few of the great events happening in the ne Just a few of the great events happening in the next month in and around Virginia for farmers and farm-supporters!

Roanoke Foodshed Network's March Farm Tour will be held at @gladeroadgrowing on March 27th. After the tour, they'll be a farmer's social at Rising Silo Brewery.

From March 28th-30th there will be a 3 day educational conference centered around building capacity and community with agritourism, trails, and main streets. 

On April 5th and 6th, join Dr. Allen Williams for two Field Days to learn about cover cropping and regenerative grazing. 

The National Organic Standards Board will be holding their Spring Meeting in DC from April 25th to 27th. Written comments and requests to make oral comments are due by April 5th. Online comment webinars will be held April 18th and 20th. 

#VABF #biologicalfarming #organicfarming #virginiafarming
Did you know? Members & Non-Members alike can sign Did you know? Members & Non-Members alike can sign up for the VABF Newsletter! 

We share important updates and great opportunities that matter to the biological farming community. 

The latest issue includes:

- A form letter to say "No" to mandatory tagging! (Mandatory electronic animal ID will instead unreasonably burdens farmers and ranchers, while giving corporate multinational meatpackers yet another market advantage.)

- A day by day rundown of the upcoming (Free!) virtual Soil Regen Summit 

- Details on the Braiding Seeds Fellowship with @soulfirefarm @braidingseedsfellowship 

- Links to send in your application for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) - deadline to apply is March 17, 2023!

- Information on the upcoming (Free!) virtual Virginia Farmers Market Food Safety Summit (Make sure you are up-to-date on the state’s regulations!)

- And more! 

Visit V A B F . O R G to sign up! 

#vabf #virginiaagriculture #biologicalfarming
The Braiding Seeds Fellowship is a project of Soul The Braiding Seeds Fellowship is a project of Soul Fire Farm @soulfirefarm in collaboration with Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and is contributed to by several incredible BIPOC led organizations.

The fellowship is an 18 month long program open to beginning BIPOC farmers from the northeast and southeast of the US. The program provides 10 selected cohort members with $50,000 stipends, 1:1 mentorship and coaching, professional development, business acumen, and community building opportunities. Additionally, mini grants of $2500 will be awarded to 12 runners-up! 

For more information and the application please check out the Braiding Seeds Fellowship page on Soul Fire Farm website: soulfirefarm.org/braiding-seeds-fellowship

Learn more:
@braidingseedsfellowship #braidingseedsfellowship
We'd like to hear from you! Have you learned about We'd like to hear from you! Have you learned about soil health from one of our programs or our conference? Fill out the Producer Soil Health Survey at bit.ly/soil-survey23 

Not only will your input be a valuable contribution to our efforts to promote soil health-building principles, as an added bonus you could win a free ticket to our next Conference! 🌱

Also, check out more great soil resources from The Virginia Soil Health Coalition @4thesoilva including their podcast series and more ways to show your support #4thesoil! 

Note: If you completed this survey in-person at the conference and would like to be entered into the drawing please email Mary Sketch Bryant at msketch2@vt.edu
Did you join us for the 2023 Virginia Biological F Did you join us for the 2023 Virginia Biological Farming Conference? 
We'd love to hear from you! 

~ Conference evaluation form l*nk in our b*o ~

& If you attended any of the Soil Health Track sessions, we ask that you complete our survey to help gather data for the National Fish and Wildlife grant project, Building Soil Health in Virginia. 

(Filling out the Producer Soil Health Survey will give you the option to be entered into a drawing for a free registration to the 2024 VABF conference!) 

Producer Soil Health Survey: bit.ly/soil-survey23
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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

6 days ago

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
VABF is hiring an Operations Manager! Apply by June 16th, 2023.· Part-time @ 20 hours per week· $30 – $40/hr commensurate with experience· 100% remote, with occasional travel to attend meetings· Reports to Board of DirectorsVABF is the principal statewide organization for promoting local, sustainable agriculture through education, networking, and education. VABF is a small, grassroots membership organization comprised of farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and researchers.This position guides the organization and staff in delivering measurable, cost-effective results that advance its mission and strategic objectives and brings oversight, processes, and systems to support healthy and thoughtful organizational growth, accountability, financial sustainability, and productivity. The Operations Manager is responsible for general support, strategic planning and evaluation, governance, development and fundraising, and finance and budgeting. ... See MoreSee Less

VABF is hiring an Operations Manager - Virginia Association for Biological Farming

vabf.org

Virginia Association for Biological Farming Operations Manager Part-time @ 20 hours per week $30 – $40/hr commensurate with experience 100% remote, with occasional travel to attend meetings Reports ...
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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

4 weeks ago

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Six new faces on the Board of Directors!In our recent newsletter, Adam Taylor, our new President, shared a bit about himself and introduced our newest board members:"Hello all VABF members, supporters, and big fans. My Name is Adam Taylor, and I was recently elected as your new president of the VABF Board of Directors. As for a little about myself, I live in Craig County, Virginia on a small 33-acre homestead. Along with my wife Eliza and son Luke, we operate Singing Spring Farm, a holistic managed system of diary and meat goats, wool sheep, pastured chickens, annual vegetables, and a large variety of fruit and medicinal producing perennials....As mentioned, we do have a lot of new faces on the board of directors, and I hope you all will welcome them. We have Becky Szarzynski with Mountain Glen Farm, Justin Wilson with First Citizens Bank, Mark Davis with Real Roots Food Systems, Renee Foster with Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture, and Hannah Varnell with Well Farm. Each of these new members are leaders within their own fields, and continue to represent biological farming sectors throughout the state. Again, we are excited for our new team, and look forward to what we can accomplish for you in the coming months."Singing Spring FarmWellfarm VetsMountain Glen Farm ... See MoreSee Less

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© 2023 Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

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