BULK ORDER: 7 Springs Farm Supply
We are a cooperative purchasing partner for 7 Springs Farm Supply, which has OMRI products for farmers. We are the only one in TN. We place bulk orders for groups of farmers twice per year. The next deadline is February 28 2024. 7 Springs gives us incredible shipping rates for these group orders.
Prepping the Farm for the War of the Winds
It is that time of year when the winds are at war. The cold north wind and the warm south winds collide and wreak havoc, producing thunderstorms and tornadoes. The prudent farmer must prepare to reduce casualties on the farm.
Edible Nashville CSA Guide
Be in the Edible Nashville CSA Guide, in their March/April issue. It's a super affordable, only $350. For participating CSAs, we need logo and 25 words on the CSA (website, contents, locations, etc.) CSA includes meats, produce, flowers, seafood, and more.
UKY Organic Grains Survey
We invite you to participate in a survey about the current state of and future prospects for organic grain agriculture in Kentucky and the surrounding region. The goal of the survey is to learn about the potential, interest, and barriers to organic grain production.
2023 year in review
A look at our organization’s greatest achievements in 2023
TN Local Food awarded CFMT Jumpstart Grant
TN Local Food has been awarded a $4,000 JumpStart Grant from Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee!
What I Learned From My Visit To Peaceful Farm
Upon arriving, I sat in my rental truck for a few moments to gather my notebook and put a few items back in place. This was my first work trip as part of my new role as product manager at Farmers Friend. I was a little nervous, but not too much. This was a high profile farm and I had read both of the author’s books.
PUBLICATION: Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm
For decades, urban farms and community gardens have helped meet demand for fresh and local produce. Urban farming creatively utilizes limited space, conserves land and transforms vacant lots or buildings into productive greenspaces.
VIDEO: Greens Harvesting Innovations
Harvesting salad greens can be a slow and labor-intensive process. With recent innovations highlighted in this new, three-minute video from ATTRA, small farms can greatly increase the speed and efficiency of their harvests.
Blueberry: Respect Both Kinds of Roots
Growers need to understand that they are really growing two organisms: the blueberry plant and its mycorrhizae. Growers, then, must provide regular and abundant water as well as maintain conditions favorable to the mutualistic fungal mycorrhizae.
BOOK: Love for the Land: Lessons from Farmers Who Persist in Place
Brooks Lamb, the Land Protection & Access Specialist at American Farmland Trust, a native Tennessean, and friend of Tennessee Local Food-- recently authored and released a new book, Love for the Land: Lessons from Farmers Who Persist in Place, a book that reviewers have called “excellent,” “hopeful,” and “more necessary than ever.”
2023 Conference Reflections
Reflections on our 2023 TN Local Food Summit from Board President, Brenda Butka
APPLY: Sales and Marketing Manager at Caney Fork Farm
The Sales and Marketing Manager (SMM) at Caney Form Farms leads the department with two direct reports, one full-time sales associate and one (currently part-time) Communications Associate. The SMM leads weekly L10 meetings for each department and the Farm Director is a part of those teams.
Terra Firma: A Six-Session Course to Build Your Farm Business on Solid Ground
We are excited to introduce a new business-intensive course under the River Friendly Farms umbrella: “Terra Firma: A Six-Session Course to Build Your Farm Business on Solid Ground.”
APPLY: OFRF Farmer-Led Trials program
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is offering a new Farmer-Led Trials program to provide farmers with funding and technical assistance to investigate and learn about solutions to their most pressing production challenges.
LEARN: Getting Started with Agrisolar Tutorial
NCAT's AgriSolar Clearinghouse project has released a new, self-guided tutorial titled "How to Get Started with Agrisolar." This tutorial will help you step through the initial decisions involved in starting an agrisolar project. The first few slides provide a background on agrisolar, and the remaining slides allow users to choose their own path into agrisolar.
HIRING: Appalachia Regional Food Business Center Manager
The Manager position will handle inquiries and work with applicants for sub awards and services provided under the ARFBC program from applicants and participants located in Rural Action’s coverage area. This may involve referring such requests and inquiries to other appropriate agencies as needed, to provide a more complete set of services.
APPLY: EQIP for Cheatham Co.
Cheatham County Farmers and Landowners: EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) on the NRCS (USDA). Sign up deadline is November 17, 2023. There are numerous cost-share opportunities through this program for Livestock producers, Fruit and Vegetable Growers, and Forest landowners. For more information, contact our local NRCS office
UPCOMING: Cattle Hot Topics
Come learn more about herd health and antibiotic regulation at this year’s cattle hot topics. This year’s speaker is Dr. Lew Strickland, UT State Veterinarian. Dinner will be provided for those in person. You are welcome to join the Zoom event as well.
UPCOMING: Grant Writing Basics for Farmers
On Tuesday, October 17th and Thursday, October 19th, UW-Madison Division of Extension will host webinars to introduce farmers and agricultural professionals to grant opportunities in agriculture. Both webinars will start at 11:30 a.m. and run one hour, with an additional half-hour at the end for questions.