Explore every episode of the podcast Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association

See a short demonstration of how to set up your farm’s PYO listing, and what it looks like to potential customers. Q&A about using the platform. Hosted by Julie Callahan, UVM Extension.

UVM’s pest and disease specialists will host a session with strategies to help you avoid unwelcome problems this coming season. Margaret Skinner and Cheryl Frank from the UVM Entomology Lab will discuss how to prepare for high tunnel pests. Ann Hazelrigg from the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic will discuss early season diseases. Vic Izzo, senior lecturer in UVM’s Department of Plant and Soil Science will share strategies to avoid Colorado potato beetle this season.

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Sam Oschwald Tilton from Glacial Drift Enterprises in Minneapolis, MN will share principles of mechanical cultivation (Sam has been featured on the Thriving Farmer Podcast and has extensive experience with cultivation on all scales). Justin Rich from Burnt Rock Farm in Huntington will also join to share mechanical cultivation strategies and his favorite tools. Bring your own experience, ideas, and innovations to join this discussion!

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Wenjing Guan from Purdue University will talk about high tunnel cucumbers. She will discuss fertility, spacing, pruning, and a little about grafting. Andy Jones, Intervale Community Farm, Burlington and Christa Alexander, Jericho Settlers Farm, Jericho, will provide an overview of their high tunnel cucumber production practices. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Are you a VVBGA grower in the process of building your farm’s production systems and markets?

Are you trying to make the most of what you have, and apply your planning and development muscle where it counts?

If so, don’t miss this grower-focused webinar on building production efficiency and market integrity through the lens of produce safety planning.

Successful growers from VT and NH will share photos, and reflect back on planning for and building their own systems and markets. In addition, support program specialist Hans Estrin (VVBGA CAPS, UVM Extension) and Mary Choate, (Jumpstart Program, UNH Extension) will share photos of market-building essentials in action on other VT and NH farms.

What is on your mind as the new season begins? Join Vern Grubinger, Hans Estrin, Ann Hazelrigg, Laura Johnson, Becky Maden, Andy Chamberlin and fellow growers for a chance to ask questions and share ideas as the 2024 season kicks off.

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

What does a hamburger have in common with pollinator support? Come find out when you attend this webinar where we will also learn what a pollinator support plan is, take a tour of the pollinator support plan tool on the VVBGA website, and address questions about using the tool and creating a plan. Hosted by Laura Johnson

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Kyle Doda owns 1000 Stone Farm, a 4-season certified organic homestead farm in Brookfield VT. In this webinar, Kyle will share his experience with establishing and caring for pollinator and beneficial insect plantings on the farm. UVM entomologist Dr. Cheryl Frank Sullivan has been involved in beneficial insect-plant interaction research for many years. Dr. Sullivan will share information about beneficial insect habitat plantings and what insects these plantings can attract. This program qualifies for 1.0 Vermont pesticide recertification credit. If you wish to receive credit, please bring your Pesticide Applicator ID number. Hosted by Laura Johnson. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Considering a wash/pack upgrade? Hear what two different growers recently learned while making these upgrades for their business. Ryan and Genica of Naked Acre Farm & Homefront Gardens built a garage style building in phases as their budget and bandwidth allowed. James Donegan of Trillium Hill Farm built a wash/pack on the second floor of an old bank barn, with a fully waterproof flooring system. This webinar will explain how these projects got started, where they are at now, and what’s next. Hosted by Andy Chamberlin of UVM Extension and the Ag Engineering program. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Join highly experienced grower Jack Manix of Walker Farm in Dummerston to hear about tips and recommendations for success with bedding plant production. Jack will discuss flat fillers, heated benches, efficient heaters, alarms, and the economics of growing bedding plants. Hosted by Vern Grubinger of UVM Extension.

See additional photos from Walker Farm, or listen to more of Jack's store on The Farmer's Share Podcast. https://thefarmersshare.com/2023/07/24/visiting-walker-farm-with-jack-manix-ep10/

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Planning for a smooth and efficient greenhouse season. Julie Rubaud of Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg will share practices and lessons learned from her many years as a greenhouse seedling grower around production planning and scheduling for a highly diverse mix of plant species.

Chris Callahan of UVM Extension will host, and talk about planning for tunnel start-up and safety.

Why create an employee handbook for your farm? Do you struggle to find and retain good employees on your farm? Would you like to improve the morale and efficiency of your farm crew? Are you interested in improving or creating your own employee handbook to support these improvements? A panel of experienced farmers will describe how and why their employee handbooks have helped, and then we will explore handbook resources, and introduce the upcoming handbook writing workshop series. Featuring farmers Hank Bissell, Lewis Creek Farm, Starksboro; Lisa MacDougall, Mighty Food Farm, Shaftsbury, and Silas Doyle-Burr, Last Resort Farm, Monkton. Hosted by Hans Estrin. Use the farm labor dashboard resources: https://www.uvm.edu/aglabor/dashboard/welcome Become a member, or learn more about the VVBGA at https://vvbga.org

Commercial growers and plant sellers discuss ideas around defining plants as “native” and “pollinator friendly.” We will talk about how to ensure transparency for pollinator safe products for our customers and how to know if varieties you source are not only visually attractive to pollinators, but also provide essential pollinator food resources, pollen and nectar.

Speakers: Sarah Salatino, Spencer Hardy.

Hosted by Laura Johnson.

Learn more or join the VVBGA!

https://vvbga.org

Casey Steinberg from Old Friends Farm in MA will share some of their favorite tools for efficiency. Jon Cohen from Deep Meadow Farm will share his self-built Colorado potato bug beater. Diane Abruzzini and Christa Alexander from Jericho Settlers Farm will describe a high tunnel gantry system they co-developed. Trevor Hardy from Brookdale Fruit Farm will discuss stone buriers and direct seeders thru plastic. Hosted by Andy Chamberlin who will also share photos of new equipment.

Farmers share evolving practices for winter production, including varieties, planting dates, and cultural practices. Speakers: Christa Alexander (Jericho Settlers Farm), Andy Jones (Intervale Community Farm), Sayer Palmer (Open Woods Farm, NH), James Donegan (Trillium Hill Farm). January 10th, 2023

Join UVM Extension pollinator support specialist Laura Johnson, Koppert’s Inside Sales Representative Anne-Marie Coleman, and Christa Alexander from Jericho Settlers Farm to discuss bumble bee use in high tunnels for crop pollination, including colony biology, optimizing pollinator use from single/multi boxes. March 22nd, 2023 These webinars are supported by UVM Extension and the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, with additional funding from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Market, and Northeast SARE (project LNE22-445)

This week features Brussels sprouts and other brassicas, garlic, potatoes, and delicata squash with farmers:

00:00 Welcome 

01:09 Andy Jones (Intervale Community Farm) - Brussel Sprouts 

13:49 Patrick Sullivan (Ananda Gardens) - Brassicas 

25:25 Seth Storrs (Mink Meadow Farm) - Potatoes 

33:59 Jake Kornfeld (The farm at VYCC) - Squash & Popcorn 

43:12 Rachel Stievater (UVM Catamount Farm) - Garlic  

These webinars are supported by UVM Extension, the VVBGA, VAAFM, and Northeast SARE (subaward number LNE22-445.)

Join UVM Extension Agricultural Engineer Chris Callahan and UVM Extension Vegetable, Nutrient Management Specialist, and high tunnel grower, Becky Maden to discuss high tunnel ventilation, including structural orientation, structural design, passive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, best practices for disease management, and NRCS funding available to support implementation.   

These webinars are supported by UVM Extension and the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, with additional funding from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Market, and Northeast SARE (project LNE22-445).

Growers describe techniques used to grow a specific crop in less than 10 minutes. Learn tips and tricks from each other! This week features baby lettuce, arugula, edible flowers, cut flowers, onions, and leeks with farmers:    

00:00 Ryan Fitzbeauchamp (Evening Song Farm) 

08:26 Ryan Demarest (Naked Acre Farm) 

15:21 Genica Breitenbeck (Home Front Gardens)

22:55 Jessie Witscher (Understory Farm) 

30:19 Jon Cohen (Deep Meadow Farm) 

39:23 Q&A  

Recorded on February 15th, 2023  

These webinars are supported by UVM Extension, the VVBGA, VAAFM, and Northeast SARE (subaward number LNE22-445.)

Join UVM entomologist Cheryl Sullivan and UNH entomologist Anna Wallingford to learn about high tunnel pests and how to manage for them. We’ll discuss aphids, cutworms, and other foes of your crops.

These webinars are supported by UVM Extension, the VVBGA, VAAFM, and Northeast SARE (subaward number LNE22-445.)

Join Spencer Hardy from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Co-Owner of The Farm Upstream and UVM Extension pollinator support specialist Laura Johnson. Learn to ID some of the common pollinators responsible for marketable fruit set on your farm and how to support them. We’ll also discuss basics of common flowering field crop pollination, timing of flower and fruit development, crop-specific pollinators, pollen characteristics, and differences among crops benefiting from animal pollinators.  

These webinars are supported by UVM Extension, the VVBGA, VAAFM, and Northeast SARE (subaward number LNE22-445.)

This grower round table with hosts Ben Waterman of Waterman Orchards in Johnson, Vermont, and Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension.   

Ben will kick off the conversation with a brief overview of his approach to pruning, mulching and fertilization and what he's learned about these practices over the years. Ben and his family grow 5 acres of blueberries, with 20+ varieties. Sales are a mix of PYO, wholesale and farmers markets. The farm is not yet certified organic but uses only organic practices. It was established in 2007. Growers are invited to share their experiences and ask questions of the group.  Become a member or donate at https://vvbga.org

This Webinar builds on the recent 15-min presentation “Managing Our Farm Crew for Optimal Performance” from  Don Zasada, Caretaker Farm, Williamstown, MA.

This Thursday, VVBGA’s president, Lisa MacDougall, from Mighty Food Farm, will describe her own “Mindful Employee Management” approach, including key lessons learn as well as practical strategies and practices to help YOU to cultivate your own more “crankin” and resilient farm crew.

There will be time for discussion, sharing, and Q&A.   UVM Extension host, Hans Estrin, will provide topic framing, and follow-up logistic/support resources.

It’s the time of year to enjoy the jump on spring you get by farming in a high tunnel! Join fellow farmers for a lunch time discussion and idea sharing about high tunnel tomato growing. Some topics we discuss: 

• Bed prep and amendments 

• Irrigation strategies 

• Ideas about spacing, pruning, horticultural management 

• Varietal differences 

• Fertigation—when, how much, observed plant response 

• Things you want to try/ improve upon/ do in future

This session will open with information from Judy Rosovsky, Vermont State Entomologist, about the spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper that is spreading throughout the Northeast. It is both a public nuisance and an agricultural pest. She’ll give an update on its movement northward, and an overview of its biology and host plants. We will then learn about jumping worms, another emergent agricultural pest. Dr. Josef Gorres is a national expert on this pest, and he will discuss their ecology, show you how to ID them and then review some management and slow-the-spread techniques. 

To donate to the VVBGA or become a member visit: https://vvbga.org

Pollinator habitat plantings – what growers are doing, NRCS funding- Dan Pratt, Astarte Farm and Tom Akin and Toby Alexander, NRCS-Vermont.   The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers robust opportunities to support farm conservation efforts while also considering the financial sustainability of farm enterprises. You may already be familiar with NRCS programs that offer farm support for soil health, pest management, and cover cropping. But did you know that the NRCS also administers programs that enhance pollinator habitat on your farm? Whether you have worked with the NRCS in the past or not, come learn about how the NRCS can help you augment on-farm pollinator habitat and how you can apply to be considered for pollinator support opportunities.  

For over 20 years, Dan Pratt has been farming the 6.6 acres of land that is today known as Astarte Farm in Handley, MA. In 2014, Astarte Farm began transitioning to become one of the first 100 percent no-till commercial farms in the area, and since then, has continued to explore what it means to "grow sustainably". This sustainable growth evolved to include pollinator habitat. After managing farm owned honey bees for pollination services, and struggling to keep up with the tasks required for keeping healthy colonies, Dan decided to shift efforts towards supporting wild pollinators and other beneficial insects in his diverse fruit and vegetable operation. Habitat installation was made possible by a combination of hard work by the farm and supportive programs and professionals, such as those offered by the NRCS. Come learn from Dan in this webinar about how a commercial farm has engaged with the NRCS pollinator support programs to establish pollinator habitat enhancement installation on the farm while also considering other farm priorities.

Dr. Lynn Adler is a professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Her work is centered on understanding the power of flowers in pollinator health and the role of flowers in pollinator-disease interactions. She was recently awarded a Northeast SARE research grant to test the potential for cut flower pollen to improve bumble bee health and has engaged in research focused on the medicinal value of sunflower pollen against bee pathogens. Join us in this webinar session to learn about sunflowers and other cut flowers on farms and their influence on pollinator health.  

Karen Trubitt owns True Love Farm with her husband Steven in Shaftsbury, VT. They run a cut flower and diversified vegetable operation on about 3.5 acres. True Love Farm mindfully considers pollinator health in a multitude of ways in their landscape, such as though their mowing practices, flower crop rotations, and chosen floral varieties that can provide food resources to pollinators while maintaining commercial sale viability. Karen will share her farm’s approach to bee-kind approaches in this webinar event.  

Learn more, donate or become a member at https://vvbga.org

Economic value of wild pollinators to blueberry farms: research and grower perspectives with Rachel Gray, Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm and Dr. Taylor Ricketts, UVM.   Rachel Gray is co-owner to Owl’s Head Blueberry farm in Richmond, VT. She manages 3000 blueberry bushes on 5 acres with her family. In this webinar, Rachel will share her experience as a blueberry farmer, the financial considerations of deciding whether to purchase managed bees, and how important pollination is from their business’ perspective.  

Dr. Taylor Ricketts is Gund Professor and Director of the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Of his many expertise, he has a lot to share about pollination and pollinators in agriculture. In this webinar, Dr. Ricketts will be discussing the economic value of wild pollinators to Vermont blueberry farms based on his on-farm research in the state.  Donate or become a member at https://vvbga.org

Leanne Porter, Farm First and Valerie Woodhouse, Honey Field Farm.   For over 10 years, Farm First has been Vermont's resource for farmers and their families managing stress, offering referrals and short-term counseling. In this session, presenters will discuss the unique stressors of farming, and the resources available to strengthen resiliency, including the new Farmer Peer Network. Participants will learn about the Farm First information and services, the development of a peer network for Vermont farmers, information on becoming a Peer, and our virtual session for farmers to be held on February 10.  Learn more at https://farmfirst.orgVermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association https://vvbga.org