Carter Family Farms

10/01/2022

… That sucks

09/30/2022

Congratulations to my farm neighbor in Louisa Thomas Brice for their century farm recognition

Congratulations to the newest Virginia Century Farms, a program that recognizes farms that have stayed in the same family for more than a century.

- Rockfish Farm - Carl L. Freed, Jr.
- Cedar Lane Farm - East End - Virginia Grohs-Worman
- T & K Farm - Thomas Brice, Jr. and Derrick Brice, and Sugarplum Acres - Harvey and Sharon Perkins, Robert Perkins, John Daniel Perkins, Timothy and April Braun
- Isaacs Heritage Farm - John Kermit Isaacs, and Smyth Hayes Valley Farms - David and Christina Hayes

http://ow.ly/Be5y50KY9G5

09/28/2022

It was such an honor and a rather humbling experience to inspire and work with chefs at UVA Dining, Runk Dining Hall, Aramark, 4P Foods and several local farmers (9 black farms) to honor our cousin and Grande Dame of southern cooking, Ms. Edna Lewis, at the University of Virginia for an Edna Lewis Farm to Table dinner last week. She was one of the early pioneers of farm to table dining, and would have been delighted to know so much of the produce was sourced from local black farmers in communities she would have been quite familiar with. Several of the recipes came directly from ‘Aunt’ Edna’s cookbooks…. (I had grits and I didn’t have to add sugar thanks to Chef Thomas and crew)
Chef Thomas made sure I was not left out, and provided a plant based, delightfully delicious 5 course meal, to match the standard 5 course meal. (Five courses is a lot of food).
Thanks to Slade Farm's 43560 Farmer D’s Farm, Real Roots Food systems, Fitrah Farms Vanguard Ranch Natural Gourmet , Purple Mountain Organics 4P Foods Goldman Farms
This is the genesis of some much larger opportunities and partnerships.

09/22/2022

09/21/2022

Our last Garden Lab of the season is September 30th, led by . You don't want to miss this one!!

09/15/2022

The Virginia Farmers Market Trail app is now available in the Apple App Store!

Download it today to start planning your next local foodie road trip.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virginia-farmers-market-trail/id1641937670

09/13/2022

Fall Field Day at Brackett's Farm near Louisa, Va on October 5th from 1:30-7pm!

Talks about adaptive grazing management, farming economics, herd health and more! There will also be a Pasture Walk with the experts and dinner by The BBQ Exchange! This is a free event but registration is required!

Please register for the event at https://vaforages.org/fall-field-day-bracketts-farms/

09/11/2022

Are you a young farmer? Together with Central Virginia Young Farmers we're presenting a seed saving workshop on September 18th from 1 to 4 pm.

Come out and join us for a hands-on informative seed saving workshop. We have the capacity for 30 young farmers to attend. Please RSVP with [email protected] for additional details.

There will be transportation to and from SESE. We ask that if you are driving please take action to carpool. Parking space is limited. Hope to see you there!

09/07/2022

Youth Conservation Leadership Institute applications are NOW OPEN! This is a great opportunity for self-starter, passionate high school students to explore a conservation topic and volunteer in their local community. Learn more and apply by visiting vaswcd.org/ycli Deadline to apply is September 30, 2022.

09/07/2022

Photos from Virginia Cooperative Extension - Campbell County's post

09/02/2022

Calling All Small Farm and Homestead Families come join us on September 27th for an informational. We want to hear about what type of programs you would like to see.

08/31/2022

Photos from Foodshed Capital's post

08/30/2022

Photos from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services's post

08/30/2022

Timeline photos

Get these September training opportunities on your calendar! We're offering training for processors to learn hazard analysis principles and demonstrate compliance with good sanitary practices.

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3wyrOl9

08/30/2022

Tonight at 8:00 pm EST, join Virginia Home Grown for a Facebook live event exploring Specialty Crops. Visit Common Wealth Seed Growers and meet a farmer working to breed vegetable varieties to thrive in our region. Then learn about traditional African Crops and the contributions of Black farmers to American food and culture at Carter Family Farms. Comment with your questions and our experts will answer during the live show! Link to the FB live event: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaHomeGrown/posts/pfbid0D6MMQc3CiQFBjUFcAqE7RExAo1De2A2JG5ofwtNHeGuogpqhJXx9pSqvr7T5dcfYl

08/26/2022

Horizon Farm Credit recently announced their second annual Farmers on the Rise program, awarding up to ten $10,000 prizes to young, beginning, small, minority, and/or veteran farmers in their footprint.

This award program was created to honor ten outstanding farm owner-operators within the diverse agricultural community looking to expand their existing agricultural business. Those selected to receive an award will be recognized based on their efforts in agriculture, financial character, leadership, community involvement, and environmental stewardship.The contest is open to applicants that identify with at least one of the following categories:

• between 18 and 35years of age
• minority operator
• veteran operator
• operate a small farm with annual gross ag income less than $250,000
•or a beginning farmer with at least two years of farming experience, but no more than 10 years.

This program is open to all farmers. You do not need to be a Farm Credit customer to apply, but must reside in HorizonFarm Credit’s footprint which includes 100 counties in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The deadline to submit an entry is September 30, 2022. For more eligibility requirements and to apply, visit www.farmersontherise.com: https://www.horizonfc.com/rise

08/25/2022

Timeline photos

Are you a veteran? Join us for Field to Field to learn from more than 20 organizations about resources that are available to you.

🇺🇸 September 20, 2022

🇺🇸 10 a.m.

🇺🇸 Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm (1525 Mills Lane, Frankfort, KY)

🇺🇸 No registration required, but register ahead of time to get a free ribeye sandwich for lunch: https://bit.ly/kysuveterans

08/25/2022

Thanks Virginia Home Grown

08/23/2022

The is a healthy traditional eating model based on the common threads and foodways of African American ancestors. The overall pattern is a plant-based and heavily features vegetables, fruits, tubers, and grains. Yet the African Heritage Diet also recognizes the distinct flavors and traditions of four major regions of the African Diaspora–West and Central Africa, the American South, the Carribean, and South America. Learn more with our new A Taste of African e-course at Oldways.Thinkific.com! A Taste of African Heritage

08/23/2022

08/22/2022

We're a little over 6 weeks out from the estimated first frost dates for Virginians in the coolest parts of the state!

60 days still still plenty of time to plant quick-maturing and frost tolerant veggies, such as beets, broccoli, cilantro, kale, mustard greens, and radishes!

For more info on what to plant: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-331/426-331.html

Image text: first frost dates
Zone 6a
First Fall Frost
10/5 - 10/15

Zone 6b
First Fall Frost
10/5 - 10/15

Zone 7a
First Fall Frost
10/15-10/25

Zone 7b
First Fall Frost
10/25 - 11/5

Zone 8a
First Fall Frost
11/5 - 11/25

08/19/2022

Do you know high school students with an interest in conservation of natural resources? This is the opportunity you've been waiting for! Check out the Youth Conservation Leadership Institute. Application deadline is Septermber 30.
https://vaswcd.org/ycli

08/18/2022

Farmer D from Culpeper Va providing elephant garlic doe the community we serve.

New Local Vegetable!!

We have Elephant Garlic in Stock from Farmer D!

Come by and grab some today.

08/17/2022

Timeline photos

Join us at our Western Kentucky Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference to hear from organizations such as the USDA, NRCS, KCARD, KDA, Kentucky State University, and more.

🗓️ September 1

🕒 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

📍Cherokee State Historic Park

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3cwrKLL

08/15/2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces historic funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will bolster the new steps that NRCS is taking to improve opportunities for nutrient management. https://bit.ly/3wtN9MP

08/11/2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $5 million in the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program. This grant program supports the development of mitigation banks for use by agricultural producers seeking to maintain eligibility for USDA programs. Funds are available to Tribes, state and local government entities, nonprofits and other organizations.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting proposals from eligible entities through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 10, 2022. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Piibxq

08/10/2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $15 million in innovative projects for climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture and addressing invasive species. Applications are being accepted now through October 11, 2022.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SEV6Ig

08/10/2022

Photos from Allegheny Mountain Institute's post

08/09/2022

Step 9 of the Legacy Planning process: Revisit Your Plan on a Regular Basis and Adapt as Your Land, Assets, and Family Change.

We all know that our lives can change in many ways. Children get married, have children of their own, we lose people unexpectedly, buy more land (sell some land), inherit money...which means our legacy plans need to be periodically updated to reflect these changes.

Your legacy plan is a living document. Make it a habit to check it every 5 years or so and update it when necessary.

You can learn more and register here for our upcoming 4-part Legacy Panning Webinar series: https://ext.vt.edu/natural.../legacy-planning/training.html

08/09/2022

Timeline photos

08/08/2022

Save the Date – Saturday, October 8th!
Our 5th annual Fall Festival is in just two months!
An afternoon of fun, games, and food — free for the whole family!
More information soon to come!

08/08/2022

08/08/2022

Timeline photos

The farmers have spoken, and they are ready to make this the season they get their books dialed in!

🌶 Our first session on “Bookkeeping 101” filled up in just 48 hours! Join the waitlist at tinyurl.com/WaitlistSession1 - you know some folks are going to drop off and you might just be able to make it :)

🌶 “Session 2: Financial Analysis for Small Farmers” has ONLY 5 SPOTS LEFT!

The deets: For those of you who’ve got a system for organizing your financials but are wondering how to make sense of all the data - this session is for you. We’ll discuss Profit and Loss (P&L) statements, balance sheets, how to interpret them and why they matter, and cash flow concepts. We’ll also address red flags in a P&L, how to identify them in the first place, and how to strategize solutions.

⏰ Don’t snooze - get registered now at https://tinyurl.com/BKSession2!

08/08/2022

Youth Conservation Leadership Institute applications are NOW OPEN! This is a great opportunity for self-starter, passionate high school students to explore a conservation topic and volunteer in their local community. Learn more and apply by visiting vaswcd.org/ycli Deadline to apply is September 30, 2022.

08/05/2022

A week from tomorrow, join us at this FREE family-friendly farm tour and event in Unionville VA to learn about growing and marketing ethnic crops. A Taste of Africa will be there too - featuring African crops and recipes to help you market your produce. Plus: representatives from the USDA, NRCS and FSA; a banjo making workshop; and fun activities for kids like a moon bounce and face painting and more!

REGISTER TODAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ethnic-crop-production-and-marketing-tickets-379724846237

Carter Farms is a century farm in Orange Virginia. Carter Farms focuses on growing and educating on African ethnic crops, their growing practices, uses and markets.

Africulture is a nonprofit that highlights, explores, teaches, and enhances the principles, practices, plants and people of African descent that have contributed to agriculture.

08/05/2022

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom connects children to agriculture.

08/03/2022

So, take a break—before you break!

07/26/2022

Want to learn more about perennial crops and practices in agroforestry? Register for this FREE online course offered by Savanna Institute! Click link below to register!
https://www.savannainstitute.org/product/perennial-crops-and-practices/

07/25/2022

👋Participants will be eligible to receive an 💲 800 stipend that can supplement travel costs including mileage, hotel, and meals as well as any registration and credit fees.

Explore “The World Under Your Feet” with the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Maryland, University of Maryland University of Maryland Turf Farm and USDA Agricultural Research Service staff August 8-10, 2022 and learn how to connect your students with scientific and environmental concepts as well as career opportunities based on the world of turf management. 🌱⛳️
For more information, www.maefonline.com

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy Priority Area, award #2021-67037-34161/project accession no. 1025595