Best wishes this holiday season from Pure Catskills !

from gift giving to fresh-cut Christmas trees, our region is filled with local products to add to your celebration. We are thankful for our lo-

cal bounty and your ongoing support!

what’s inside: • Winter workshops and conferences • Photos from the field • Funding opportunity for business education • Market signs to share your farm story

www.purecatskills.com

33195 State Hwy. 10 , Wal ton , New York 13856

NoNprof i t orgUS poStage pa idWaltoN NYperm i t No . 250

Events are sponsored through the Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign, an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council. The WAC is funded by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal, foundation and private sources. The WAC is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Meat Processing and Food Safety Certificate ProgramJanuary 4 to 29, 2010 - SUNY-Cobleskill

This intensive, hands-on training program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills students require to enter employment in the meat processing industry. Stu-dents will be skilled in sanitation, food safety, slaughter, meat cutting and processing. Training in the accuracy of cutting, knife handling, portion control, merchandis-ing and the utilization of all products. Hands-on work with animal slaughter, primal fabrication, retail cutting, value added products, wrapping and storage of finished product. Safety, sanitation including USDA HACCP, customer relations from custom cutting to product pick up and invoicing will be part of this program. Fee of $2,995 includes textbook, hard hat, frock, 5-inch boning knife, 12-inch butcher knife and safety cutting glove. For details, www.cobleskill.edu/conferences/meatpro.asp#.

Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing ConferenceCornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County (CCEDC)January 14, 2010 - SUNY-Delhi

This annual conference features the latest research and its application in three concurrent sessions: Dairy, Live-stock Processing, and Renewable Energy on the Farm. Speakers include farmers, university professors and others. For more information and to register, contact Kim Holden, at (607) 865-7090 or email kmh19@cornell.edu. Registration fee (includes lunch of local foods): CCEDC, Pure Catskills members and WAC participants - $15, non-member participants - $20. Co-sponsored by CCEDC, NYC DEP and the Watershed Agricultural Council.

Organic Farming and Gardening Conference: “Circles of Caring”Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York January 22 to 24, 2009Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, NY

Join us for more than 80 workshops, 3 keynote speakers, organic trade show, entertainment, and local organic meals. Information about registration, sponsorships, and trade show is available online at www.nofany.org. Co-sponsored by Watershed Agricultural Council.

Second Annual Winter Green-up Grass-fed Conference Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany CountyJanuary 29 and 30, 2010 - Century House, Latham, NY

This year’s conference will be expanded to allow for more time to interact with the speakers, the vendors, and each other. All the food served will be locally grown and raised this year. Speakers will include Dr. Allen Williams, Terry Gompert, Troy Bishopp, Mark DeBoo, and Ken Jaffe. For more information, www.ansci.cornell.edu/beef/events.html.

72-hour Permaculture WorkshopFebruary through June, 2010Panther Rock Farm, Livingston Manor, NY

The course covers sustainable living systems for a wide variety of landscapes and climates, with special empha-sis on temperate zones. Includes the application of per-maculture principles to food production, home design, construction, energy conservation and generation, and alternative economic structures and legal strategies sup-porting permaculture. Group meets on a weekly basis. Cost of program is $875. For more information, visit www.hancockpermaculture.org or contact Andrew Phil-lips at greenman124@yahoo.com or Maria Grimaldi at pantherrock@hughes.net.

Managing for SuccessWednesday, March 24 and 31, 2010Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County34570 State Highway 10, Hamden, NY

Managing for Success participants will learn what it takes to be successful managers. The program will focus on the foundational functions of planning and man-agement. Learn how to “take control” of your farming operation by creating a mission, goals, and SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reward-ing and Timed). Presenters will be Lee Telega, Pro-Dairy Specialists, and CCEDC Educators Paul Cerosaletti, Dale Dewing, Mariane Kiraly and John Thurgood. For more information and to register, contact Judy Morse, CCEDC at (607) 865-6531 or email jam49@cornell.edu. Registration fee (lunch included): $5 Co sponsored by CCEDC, NYC DEP and the Watershed Agricultural Council.

Hats and mittens from Promisedland Farm

winter 2010 workshoPs‘tis the season to learn new tiPs and hints for next year’s growing! here’s a samPling of events featuring Pure Catskills memBers.

start a conversation with customers at the farmers’ market, by your farmstand or in your retail space with

these new market signs. A great way to share informa-tion at an unmanned farmstand, these signs outline the vitals or your business practices. In retail stores, visitors will be able to learn about the variety of farms and pro-ducers represented.

The signage measures 8.5” x 14” and is formatted on laminated, full color paper. We’ll be producing these signs over the coming winter months.

Please send details outlined below below along with a few high quality photographs from your farm.

Email to ccomer@nycwatershed.org or mail to Pure Catskills, 44 West Street, Walton, NY 13856.

Signage is offered free of charge to Pure Catskills members. Please limit order to three signs per farm.

eduCation sCholarshiPs now availaBle !

announcing a new opportunity for Pure Catskills members! Funding is available toward expenses to attend educa-tional events that will support the development of your business through a new marketing approach or the adop-

tion of a new production method. Educational events for which funding may be used include workshops, conferences or field days. An appropriate event will have an associated cost of $100 or more. A maximum of $350 is available to an individual farm. A total of $3,500 in funding is available for 2010.

Examples of eligible scholarship opportunities include:• AttendingatrainingtoobtainaNewYorkStateDepartmentofAgricultureandMarkets20Clicenseforthe production of a value-added product in a certified or commercial kitchen.• Visitingafarmoutsideoftheregiontoattendaworkshoponaninnovativegrazingsystemtoimprovethe quality of your grass-fed meat.• Travelingtoanationalconferenceonfoodsystemsdevelopmenttolearnaboutimprovinglocalfood connections with institutional buyers such as schools and hospitals.

Each applicant must provide specific details related to the educational opportunity and the product or production

method to be developed as a result of the awarded funding. Scholarship funding will be provided on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2010. Funding must be used within one year.

PureCatskillsmembersincludefarms,retailers,farmer’smarkets,restaurantsandfood-relatedorganizationssup-portinglocalfoodsystemswithinDelaware,Greene,Otsego,Schoharie,SullivanandUlsterCounties.

Formoredetailsandapplicationmaterials,visittheScholarshipsandGrantssectionofwww.purecatskills.com.

views from the f ield

market s igns helP share your farm’s story.

Over 100 community members attended a recent presentation by Small Mart Revolu-tion author Michael Shuman. Organized by Farm Catskills with support from Pure Catskills and other regional businesses, Mr. Shuman discussed the importance of local businesses to a receptive Delhi audience.

Nearly 50 farmers came out for the Beef Marketing Tour on December 4th. Three beef operations in Columbia County, NY shared insights on their experience in direct customer sales, farmers’ markets and livestock sales. Here, Phil Trowbridge of Trowbridge Angus (far right) speaks about his barnyard man-agement practices.

COLD SPRING FARM

4953 State Route 145 • Cobleskill, New York

Farming since 1985

We are Lauren and Lenny Prezorski and children Nate, Jake and Ally.

We grow super sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, garlic, melons. We specialize in fall ornamentals, pumpkins, gourds, mums, Indian corn, squash and more.

Available at: Our roadside stand on Route 145 in Lawyersville, numerous farm markets from Cobleskill to Oneonta and the Walton Big M Supermarket.

“We love growing things be it food or flowers. Our farm stand has become a focus of our small hamlet of Lawyersville. We are a local employer as well as a supplier of farm fresh produce.”

Phone: 518-234-4268 Email: lmp1358@hotmail.com Website: Pure Catskills Guide, Schoharie Farmer

Lawyersville

Member farmer of the Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign, an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council. The WAC is funded by

New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal, foundation and private sources. The

WAC is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Bus iness name: ________________________________________________________________________ Years farming : ________________________

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Items you produce : __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Locat ions at whi ch your products are ava i lab le : ________________________________________________________________________________

A quote or a thought about farming or your bus iness : ________________________________________________________

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