Upcoming Winter Webinars

If we're stuck inside, we might as well make good use of the time and learn something new, right?  The calendar is cranking back up with all kinds of events while we wait for Spring to arrive.  Here's a list of the upcoming webinars and events that I just added to the Events Calendar.  There's the usual local seed and plant exchanges, and so me great freebie classes offered through the library.  And some really good online webinar series as well. 

Lots of good stuff here, people! Here are just a few:

Weekly Webinar Series on Small Farms

The Small Farm Webinar Series is a weekly educational series for the small farm community and provides practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois. This series of online events is aimed at providing small farm producers with a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve profitability and sustainability.

Webinars air live each Thursday at 1:00 – 2:30 pm and include a question and answer session. If you cannot attend, a link to the recorded webinars will be available to view at your convenience for all those who register.

Date Topic

Jan. 15, 2015 – No-till culture for Peppers & Tomatoes

Jan. 22, 2015 – Growing Hops for Market

Jan. 29, 2015 – Potato Production

Feb. 5, 2015 – Sweet Corn Production

Feb. 12, 2015 – Perennial Crops for Small Farms

Feb. 19, 2015 – Understanding Insecticides

Feb. 26, 2015 – Blueberry Production

Mar. 5, 2015 – Hydroponics

Mar. 12, 2015 – Effective Farmers Market Displays

Mar. 19, 2015 – Veggie Compass Record-Keeping Software

Mar. 26, 2015 – Variety Selection & Rootstocks for Establishing Apple Orchards

To register for each webinar, log onto http://go.illinois.edu/2015winterwebinars.  For any question contact Miki White, University of Illinois Extension, Small Farms/Local Foods Program Coordinator at 309-342-5108.


Free Webinar to Feature Urban Farmers Discussing Strategies for Managing Risk 

 

Urban farmers face many risks in producing safe and affordable food.  Some of the risks are common to all types of farming; however, many are unique to the urban setting, including zoning regulations, access to water, and managing contaminated soils.  While many cities in the U.S. are working to address some of the needs of urban farmers, profitability remains a challenge.

A free January 15 webinar, “Managing Risks on an Urban Farm,” will focus on the risk management strategies of two urban farms and how they have overcome several of the barriers facing urban farmers today. The webinar is being presented by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and NCAT's ATTRA program and is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), 2012-68006-30177.

 

Title: Managing Risks on an Urban Farm

Cost:  Free

Date: January 15, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. Central Standard Time

To Register:  Go online at https://attra.ncat.org/managing_risks/