Two NOFA Events in January

Advanced Soils Course-There is still space available!

Please find the brochure for the 2010 Digging Deep: An Advanced Soils Course for Vegetable Growers online at: http://www.nofavt.org/annual-events/digging-deep

The course will be held in 3 sessions: January 5th, January 19th, and February 9th at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont.

Please feel free to call the NOFA Vermont office with any questions:802-434-4122.

NOFA Vermont's5th Annual Direct Marketing Conference January 9th

Vermont Law School

South Royalton, VT

Vermont farmers who sell their products directly to their local communities through farmers' markets, farm stands, and CSA (community supported agriculture) farms, along with farmers' market managers, will gather for a day of workshops and networking on Saturday, January 9th at the Vermont Law School in South Royalton.

The 5th Annual Direct Marketing Conference brings together farmers and market experts to help build stronger marketing opportunities and serve the thriving Vermont market for local food. The conference will feature 18 workshops on a variety of marketing and market development topics including Marketing Raw Milk, Marketing Materials that Work, and Bringing the Benefits of CSA to the Workplace. The conference will also host the annual meeting of the Vermont Farmers' Market Association as well as hold a statewide CSA Network meeting.

NOFA Vermont strengthens direct markets in Vermont by running a farmers' market mini-grant program, promoting direct markets statewide, providing technical assistance, collecting annual economic data, and serving as the umbrella organization for the Vermont Farmers' Market Association.

More information about the conference is available online at www.nofavt.org. Registration is by pre-registration through January 4. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Registration fees are$30 for NOFA Vermont members and $35 for non-members. A lunch made with local ingredients and refreshments are included with the conference fee.

Junior Iron Chef

CALLING ALL JR. IRON CHEFS

Burlington School Food Project and Vermont FEED host the 3rd annual Jr. Iron Chef VT

Are you a middle school or high school student looking to show your skills in the kitchen?

Applications are now being accepted for the 3rd annual Jr. Iron Chef VT. Jr. Iron Chef VT is hosted by the Burlington School Food Project and Vermont FEED as a statewide culinary competition that gives students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience preparing nutritious, farm-fresh foods. This experience will encourage students to make healthy eating choices and understand more about nutrition, local agriculture, the culinary arts and school food systems.

In this competition, teams of middle and high school students are invited to create delicious dishes using seasonal, local ingredients. Recipes should be replicable by school foodservice and will have a chance to be featured in school meals. Three awards will be given in each age group: Best in Show, Most Creative, and Greatest Number/Best Use of Local Ingredients.

Jr. Iron Chef VT will be held at the Champlain Valley Expo on Saturday, March 27th, 2010 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Team slots are limited and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis.

All proceeds from the event will support statewide Farm-to-School initiatives led by Vermont FEED and the Burlington School Food Project.

Applications are now available at www.jrironchefvt.org.
For more information or to sponsor the event contact: info@jrironchefvt.org.

-- Libby McDonald
Vermont FEED
PO BOX 697
Richmond, VT 05477
(802) 434-4122
www.vtfeed.org