Virginia Association Farming: The Seed Farmer Guide

A close-up of a colorful vegetable pizza with tomatoes and herbs.

Recipes

Recipe: Ripe Summer Tomato and Herb Pie

The hot days of summer are here and though itâ€™s difficult to work through the…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 19, 2018

People shopping at an outdoor fruit stand.

Garden Tips

July Gardening Tips

We are really enjoying our early garden fresh tomatoes and cucumbers while looking forward to…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 19, 2018

A plate of broccoli arranged like a pie chart symbolizing a sustainable diet.

Book Reviews

Book Review: Grow a Sustainable Diet: Planning and Growing to Feed Ourselves and the Earth

Cindy Conner, New Society Publishers 2014. Â This month's book review brings another good book by…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 19, 2018

A person pouring red wine into a glass at a table.

Policy

2018 Farm Bill: Update and Next Steps

On June 28, the Senate passed its version of the 2018 Farm Bill on a…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 19, 2018

Book cover titled 'Apple Grower' about organic orcharding.

Policy

Farm Bill Update Late June, 2018

Farm Bill Action, continued: Virginia’s Senators, their Agricultural Legislative Staff, and phone numbers are:…

VABF AdminJune 26, 2018

Recipes

Recipe: Herb-Crusted Pastured Chicken

If you canâ€™t find local pasture-raised poultry at your farmerâ€™s market in June then you…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018

Powdery mildew on squash plant leaves with yellow flowers.

Garden Tips

Garden Tips For June: Mulching and Sowing Successions

Early in JuneÂ mulch tomatoes, peppers, okra, squash, cucumbers and asparagus if it hasn't already…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018

Book cover of "The Tao of Vegetable Gardening" by Carol Deppe with vegetables in the background.

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Tao of Vegetable Gardening: Cultivating Tomatoes, Greens, Peas, Beans, Squash, Joy and Serenity

An independent and iconoclastic gardener, Carol introduces each chapter with a passage from her own…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018

A woman with glasses speaking outdoors against a blue sky.

Policy

House Farm Bill Defeated

On May 18, 30 Republican Representatives joined 183 Democrats to defeat HR 2, the Agriculture…

Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018

VABF News

WANTED! Yes, you!

We have two existing board positions recently vacated and would like to fill them asap. …

Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018

Fresh green and red lettuce leaves growing closely together.

Garden Tips

Garden Tips For May: Weeding, Thinning and Sowing

When May comes around itâ€™s time to start weeding and thinning. Thin your beets and…

Mark Schonbeck MarkMay 16, 2018

Illustration of green peppers with gardening tips for the Southeast region.

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast

By Ira WallaceÂ January 2014, 200 pages, $19.95. ISBN-13: 978-1-60469-371-3 This book is valuable firstly to…

Mark Schonbeck MarkMay 15, 2018

A fresh salad with strawberries, almonds, and cheese on greens.

Recipes

Recipe: Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Asparagus

The first signs of spring bring cravings for fresh greens and salads. From chickweed to…

Mark Schonbeck MarkMay 15, 2018

A cheesy vegetable omelette with bread on the side.

Recipes

Recipe: Spring Frittata with Morels, Asparagus and Spring Greens

Our calendars say we are four weeks into spring but we had snow flurries April…

Mark Schonbeck MarkApril 17, 2018

Freshly harvested carrots from Richmond Farm Tour with a hand holding them.

Policy

Agricultural Policy: Farm Bill Action Updates, Soil Health Webinar, SARE Grant Applications, 2018 Appropriations Bill

Farm Bill Action As congress returns from its two week Easter Recess, the 2018 Farm…

Mark Schonbeck MarkApril 16, 2018

Freshly harvested orange and purple carrots laid on soil with green tops.

Garden Tips

Garden Tips For April: Succession Planting, Seeds to Start, Ordering Sweet Potatoes & More

Early in April is a good time to harden off your cabbages, broccoli and other…

Mark Schonbeck MarkApril 16, 2018

Book Reviews

Book Review: Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers

by Lisa KiviristÂ New Society Publishers, 2016, ISBN 978-0-86571-805-0. $24.95 Although women are not a minority,…

Mark Schonbeck MarkApril 16, 2018

Black and white diagram of plant root cells and structures.

Articles and Research

Caring for the Soil as a Living System

VABF AdminMarch 31, 2018

Cover of The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook featuring colorful tomatoes and a greenhouse.

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook

by Andrew MefferdÂ Organic Vegetable Production Using Protected Culture. Chelsea Green March 2017, $34.95 ISBN 978-1-60358-637-5…

Mark Schonbeck MarkMarch 15, 2018

A green grassy path between two rows of dried crops.

Articles and Research

Cover Cropping: On-farm Solar-powered Soil Building

VABF AdminMarch 15, 2018

News & Resources

Recipe: Ripe Summer Tomato and Herb Pie

July Gardening Tips

Book Review: Grow a Sustainable Diet: Planning and Growing to Feed Ourselves and the Earth

2018 Farm Bill: Update and Next Steps

Farm Bill Update Late June, 2018

Recipe: Herb-Crusted Pastured Chicken

Garden Tips For June: Mulching and Sowing Successions

Book Review: The Tao of Vegetable Gardening: Cultivating Tomatoes, Greens, Peas, Beans, Squash, Joy and Serenity

House Farm Bill Defeated

WANTED! Yes, you!

Garden Tips For May: Weeding, Thinning and Sowing

Book Review: The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast

Recipe: Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Asparagus

Recipe: Spring Frittata with Morels, Asparagus and Spring Greens

Agricultural Policy: Farm Bill Action Updates, Soil Health Webinar, SARE Grant Applications, 2018 Appropriations Bill

Garden Tips For April: Succession Planting, Seeds to Start, Ordering Sweet Potatoes & More

Book Review: Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers

Caring for the Soil as a Living System

Book Review: The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook

Cover Cropping: On-farm Solar-powered Soil Building

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