ACORN's Grow A Farmer Learning Series presents Post Harvest Storage and Management with Allison Grant, Southfield Organics - November 4th, 8pm (AST)

This webinar intends to highlight the basics of post-harvest storage and management; primary considerations and small-scale solutions; pros and cons of different methods and infrastructure. All necessary information for any organic grower.

Allison Grant and her partner Chuck operate Southfield Organics, a small-scale organic farm, marketing their products through farmers' market and a 40-shareholder CSA. Allison is an organic inspector, former President of ACORN's Board of Directors, member of the Organic Value Chain Roundtable and also provides brokerage service for organic farmers in Nova Scotia.

This session will be held on Tuesday, November 4th and is free for ACORN members (year-long individual memberships are $30 or $50 for a farm), otherwise it's $10. See here for full details, To register for the session, please email Lucia Stephen at lucia@acornorganic.org.

Brown Organic Poults For Sale: Ready to lay. $20.00 each. Contact Justine at TapRoot farms (902) 698 6180 or justine@taprootfarms.ca with Organic Poults in the subject line.

Farm For Sale: Beautiful country farm situated on 34 acres of rolling fields perfect for horses, family farm, or gardens. A short 45 minutes to Halifax, 20 minutes to Windsor. This 150 year old family farm includes a charming 3 bedroom home with many key updates, 3 storey garage/workshop (built 1980) and a traditional barn. The property boasts two brooks, waterfalls and pond, open fields and some woodland. New drilled well, septic tank, furnace, windows, siding, upgraded wiring and decks. Call 902.791.0433. Email: alicia.cooper@tradewindsrealty.com.

Property For Sale: Wonderful potential as a hobby farm, with two large, well-kept, upgraded out-buildings, and a new lower-level apartment which is ideal for a rental unit, in-law suite, or bright home office/studio. This spacious, very well-insulated, easy-to-heat, well-built, 2-storey home is gorgeous and filled with many special features. It sits on seven+ south facing acres at the base of the North Mountain in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. The beautifully groomed grounds offer privacy from the road and a lovely view of the valley, yet you are only 3 minutes from Berwick, the highway, and amenities. The bright and generous size of the rooms is a common theme throughout. The entire home has been recently renovated to include energy-efficient windows, high-quality wood and/or cushion flooring throughout, fresh paint, built-in oak cabinetry, brand new bathrooms, and a second closet in the stunning master bedroom. Two-car garage and large 2-storey barn have both undergone many recent upgrades. Barn is suitable for livestock, studio space, retail shop, woodworking, etc. There is also a large outdoor kennel attached to the garage. Grounds feature 2 greenhouses, permanent raised-bed gardens, many perennial berry bushes and herbs, mature landscaping, large rhododendrons, and well-kept, attractive lawns. This property was formerly certified organic. Details and photos here and MLS #55075964. Contact Richard Matheson at country@glinx.com.

For Sale: Supplies for starter greenhouse structures to commercial sizes. Snow load/wind load rated for Atlantic Canada. All equipment and hardware- 10,000 items plus. Poly sold by the linear foot- 4year rated, 6mil. Free quotes/consultations available. For more details, please contact Octa Greenhouse Sales Ltd. Paul/Elaine Bourque at 902-667-5940 or email octagh@eastlink.ca.

For Sale: (NEW) BioFogger. The BioFogger is an improved humidifier for Potato Storages that utilizes compressed air and water to inject Storox into Potato Plenums. More efficient than Spinners. Works with any air compressor that generates a minimum of 5 CFM. Automatically fills itself and injects the proper amount of Storox Broad Spectrum Bactericide/Fungicide solution. Call Organic Atlantic for more details - 506-328-8949.

For Sale: Neptune's Harvest (Ecocert-approved) Organic Fish Fertilizers - Amazing harvest for everything that grows! Contact a distributor near you: Prince Edward Island - HOME GROWN FAMILY FARM, Kensington 902-432-0026; Newfoundland - THE GREENHOUSE AND GARDEN STORE, Little Rapids 709-634-5757; Nova Scotia - COCHRANE FAMILY FARM, Upper Stewiacke 902-671-2378; New Brunswick - BUNKER HILL FARM, Rusagonis 506-357-3959; KREDL’S CORNER MARKET, Hampton 506-832-1966.

For Sale: Potted, native trees and shrubs; birch, oak, maple, ash, sumac, pine, fir, spruce, hemlock, larch, serviceberry, blueberry, elderberry, and wild rose: Prices, availability, sizes, at www.heliotreenursery.wordpress.com; Inquiries - 423-5000 (Ron) or ronscott@ns.sympatico.ca.

Wanted: Field Farms Marketing Ltd. has competitive prices for your Food & Feed grade crops: Wheat, Soybeans, Spelt, Buckwheat and others. We pick up farm gate & payment terms are 10 business days. Please contact nate@ffmltd.ca or call 519-882-2976. References available.

For Sale: BCS Sales & Service: McGinleys Yard & Garden Equipment Inc. stocks a large volume of BCS equipment and parts. We also offer experienced service technicians and a fully equipped repair shop. Please call or email for information or quotes (902-897-0699 and mcginleys@eastlink.ca) or visit our showroom and shop at 184 Arthur Street, Truro, NS.

For Sale: Organic Farm Compost and Marine Compost, organic Seed Starter mix and soils from Cardwell Farms Compost Products Inc. Available in bulk, totes and small bags. Delivery is available. Please call Jenn at 1-888-533-4078 or email jenn@cardwellcompost.com or visit www.cardwellcompost.com, Approved for Certified Organic Production by ACO.

For Sale: 1 metric tonne totes - Irish moss seaweed, finely ground for ease of spreading, apply as a soil amendment and micronutrient source, to grow healthier plants. $400.00 per tote. Also 1/2 ton totes $200.00. Contact Joe at 902-865-8961.

For Sale: Atlantic Topsoil & Compost has seafood waste compost made with softwood bark and peat moss. Qualifies for use in certified organic agriculture. N - 2.16; P - 1; K - .22; pH 7.9; Calcium 7.49. Certified Organic by Ecocert. Contact Gilles Dallaire, 506-743-3029, dallaireg@me.com, 1267 McNairn Rd, Kent County, Ste-Marie-de-Kent NB E4S 1X2

For Sale: Frozen certified organic strawberries and fresh or frozen certified organic cranberries 902-357-2359 or email kcheverie1304@gmail.com.

For Sale: Organic Spring Rye Seed. Contact 902-357-2359 or email kcheverie1304@gmail.com.

For Sale: Organic Barley, Oats and Wheat. Certified by ACO. Contact Murray at (506) 756-8261.

For Sale: Bulk Worm Castings from Growing Green Earthworm Castings. Contact us for pricing, either by phone at 902-663-2557/cell 902-749-7022 or by email at growinggreen@bellaliant.ca. For those who want smaller sizes please see our website or a store near you!

For Sale: Certified organic wheat, good protein, low vomatoxin, up to 70T available. Contact Phil at 902-218-0539 (PEI).

For Sale: Organic Buckwheat and Soybean Seed. Certified by OCIA. Telephone Maurice Girouard 506-856-0172 or e-mail: mgirouar@nbnet.nb.ca.

3. Upcoming Events

November 4 ACORN/Grow A Farmer Webinar: Post Harvest Storage and Management with Allison Grant, Southfield Organics. Time: 8pm-9pm (AST). Webinar/conference call. $10 or free for ACORN members. Register by calling 1-866-322-2676 or email lucia@acornorganic.org.

November 5 & 6 Planning For The Future of Agriculture with Elaine Froese. November 5th - Student Session and November 6th - Industry Sessions. Gain expertise in succession planning, communication skills, and problem solving techniques to support our industry. Register today! See full details here.

November 6 Activating Change Together for Community Food Security Invites You to a Celebration of Community-University Research (a participatory research report on community food security in Nova Scotia). This report is the result of the dedication and passion of hundreds of individuals to community-based, participatory research to build community food security in Nova Scotia and beyond. Join us for a celebration and report launch on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 10:30 am. Details are here and we encourage RSVPs to foodsecurity@msvu.ca by November 4th.

November 7 & 8 Extended Learning will be offering the Nova Scotia Tractor Safety Course for Class 8 drivers in partnership with VanOoostrum Farm Equipment, in Port Williams NS on November 7 and 8, 2014. This course is designed to increase awareness and test competency of 14-16 years old tractor operators with regards to safe operation and use of farm tractors and implements. Participants must have a valid Nova Scotia Class 8 driver's license and have driving experience. When the course has been successfully completed participants will receive a wallet card that enables them to operator a tractor with an attached implement on Nova Scotia Roads. Please note that the wallet card is valid for a farm tractor and trailer, if the combined weight of the vehicle combination weighs 14 000 kg or less. For full details, see here.

November 7-9 ECOSGN "Seed Connections” Conference 2014 will be head at MacDonald Campus of McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. Building on the incredible success of their 2012 conference, The Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers’ Network (ECOSGN) is partnering with The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security and Seeds of Diversity Canada this year to host their second major ecological seed conference for Eastern Canada. This is a fully bilingual event bringing together farmers, seed-savers, seed companies, community gardeners, researchers, and experts on organic seed production to share knowledge, skills, and experience over a packed, 3-day agenda! Whether you are a beginner gardener or an expert seed producer, if you are interested in ecological seed in eastern Canada – this is the conference to attend! See here for more details!

November 9Transition Cocagne and Slow Food Cocagne Acadie are happy to invite you to the following workshop - Canning safely with a pressure cooker (bilingual) with Bernadette Goguen, Verger Marcel Goguen. This workshop will look at how to use a pressure canner safely for canning different food. We’ll talk about the equipment used and considerations for different foods to ensure that the food is safe. We’ll
demonstrate the techniques by canning some food that participants will be able to bring home. Time & Location: 1-4pm, Centre culturelle Kent Sud, 5 boul Irving,
Bouctouche, NB. RSVP- the number of participants is limited so first come , first serve. Please register by email: transitioncocagne@gmail.com. The cost is $15 per person and $12 for Slow Food Cocagne Acadie and Transition Cocagne members. This includes recipes that participants will bring home.

November 9 Transition Cocagne et Slow Food Cocagne Acadie organisent l’atelier suivant la mise en bouteille sécuritaire avec une marmitte à pression (pressure cooker ou presto) (atelier bilingue) avec Bernadette Goguen de la ferme Marcel Goguen. Cet atelier va apprendre au participants comment utiliser une marmite à pression en toute sécurité pour la mise en conserve des aliments. Nous parlerons de l'équipement utilisé pour la mise en conserve et les considérations pour différents aliments afin de s'assurer que la nourriture est sécuritaire à consommer. Il y aura une démonstration de mise en conserve et les participants pourront ramener des bouteilles de produits à la maison. Date et lieu : dimanche 9 novembre , 2014, 13h-16h au Centre culturelle Kent Sud, 5 boul Irving, Bouctouche, NB. RSVP- le nombre de participants est limité alors premier venu, premier servi. Il faut s’inscrire par courriel au transitioncocagne@gmail.com. Le coût est de 15$ par participant et 12$ pour les membres de Slow Food Cocagne Acadie et Transition Cocagne. Le paiement sera pris à la porte.

November 12-16 Devour Food Film Festival in Wolfville, NS. For full details, see here.

November 12-14 The 2014 ACORN Conference and Trade Show will be hosted at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and is sure to be event not-to-be missed! See here for full details!

November 12 Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia & ACORN have teamed up to provide a Special Workshop Series on Marketing at the 2014 ACORN Conference & Trade Show! See here for more details!

November 12 ACORN's Grow A Farmer Program hosts "Farm Interns and Volunteers: The Implications of Unpaid Farm Internships/Apprenticeships" Discussion with Dr. Charles Levkoe and Alison Scott Butler at the 2014 ACORN Conference. Time: 2:30-3:30pm, Atlantic Room, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. Please R.S.V.P. to Lucia Stephen at lucia@acornorganic.org.

November 12 ACORN is pleased to host its 15th Conference Kick Off event at the Halifax Brewery Courtyard, home to the Historic Halifax Brewery Market! Celebrate the abundance that Nova Scotia has to offer in quality organic food and drink! This social event will bring together local farmers, gardeners, foodies, and all sorts of organic advocates together for a evening affair, featuring light appetizers provided by Local Source Market and a selection of beverages, featuring Picaroons, Propeller Brewery, Big Spruce Brewery, L'Acadie Vineyards and Just Us! Coffee! Location: 1496 Lower Water St., Halifax, NS. Time: 7pm-10:30pm. Cost: $15 (or free to those with full ACORN Conference passes). Join the Facebook event here. For all inquiries, please contact lucia@acornorganic.org.

November 12 Public Talk with Vandana Shiva - "The Politics of Food" - Ondaatje Hall, Dalhousie University, 6135, University Ave. Suggested donation - $20 (waged); $10 (unwaged). All funds will support Navdanya's Garden of Hope.

November 13 Grow A Farmer Meet & Greet - 4:30-5:30pm at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel @ the 2014 ACORN Conference. This session provides a meeting opportunity for experienced organic farmers, farm-workers, apprentices and aspiring growers to connect, access helpful resources and discuss what agricultural apprenticeships, mentorships and land opportunities are available within the region. If you are new to organic farming, or have farmed for years and have valuable knowledge to pass along, don't miss this gathering, showcasing a dynamic group representing the future generation of Maritime organic agriculture! For further details contact Lucia Stephen at lucia@acornorganic.org.

November 13-16 Food Secure Canada's 8th National Assembly, titled "Waves of Change: Sustainable Food for All! Hosted by Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC); the Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN), with support from the NS Food Security Network. Join us for 3 days of plenaries, workshops, meetings and more with food leaders, thinkers and doers from coast to coast to coast. See here for full details and register today!

November 14 10am-2pm Seedy Friday at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. The food you grow is as local as it gets, so why should your seeds come from away? Pick-up locally-grown heirloom, open-pollinated and traditional seeds from Maritime growers. Dozens of varieties will be available. To book a free table at the “Seedy Friday” (it’s a great promotion opportunity) please contact Steph at 506-536-2867 or seed@acornorganic.org.

November 14 The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition & ACORN have teamed up to provide our Special Community Food Skills Workshop Series at the 2014 ACORN Conference & Trade Show for just $30! See here for more details and join the Facebook event here.

November 19Adapt PEI and the PEI Farm Centre host a Food and Agriculture Entrepreneurship Forum from 12pm-4pm. The intent of the event is to promote collaboration and share information on programs and
opportunities that encourage business development on Prince Edward Island. A line-up of guest speakers and Island agri-entrepreneurs will aim to provide information to help ensure success for
new and expanding business ventures. The event is free. However, since space is limited, participants are encouraged to pre-register by contacting ADAPT PEI (902-368-2005) or the Farm Centre (902-892-3419) or email:
phil@peiadapt.com.

November 19-21 The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is pleased to be working with Farm Management Canada to host the 2014 Agricultural Excellence Conference, taking place November 19-21, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Fort Garry Hotel. Board members/CAHRC affiliates/members of the LMI and/or NAOF Advisory Group are eligible to attend this Conference at the reduced rate of $450. For those with LMI and/or NAOF meetings on November 18 in Winnipeg, the timing of the conference has been aligned to accommodate your greater travel convenience. To register or for more information click here.

4. Featured Speakers at the 2014 ACORN Conference

As you well know, the 2014 ACORN Conference and Trade Show is coming up soon (November 12-14th, 2014 - Halifax, NS)! Register at the event, and confirm your participation for three days of workshops, gatherings, and celebration of local organic food and farming! In the meantime, check out some of the many fantastic guest-speakers we will have in attendance:

Harry Stoddart, Rare Breeds Canada

Harry Stoddart is a 6th generation farmer in Ontario. He farms 560 certified organic acres in the Kawartha Lakes region within the shadow of the Greater Toronto Area with his wife Silvia and their 5 children. Harry’s farming career started with buying his parents conventional confinement hog farm. Following the hog market crash in ’98, Harry started the transition to organic production as a desperation strategy to save the family farm. Harry and Silvia have used almost every marketing structure available to organic producers: wholesale grain sales; package grain sales to millers, restaurants; farmer’s markets; vegetable sales to restaurants, meat sales to restaurants and institutions; founded a vegetable co-op; sold to a multi-farm vegetable CSA; sold through their own Meat CSA; and conventional commodity production.

Harry is a popular speaker in the sustainable agriculture community, currently a faculty member in the Sustainable Agriculture program at Fleming College in Lindsay Ontario, and author of Real Dirt: An Ex-Industrial Farmer’s Guide to Sustainable Eating.

Workshop(s) at 2014 ACORN Conference:
▪ Poultry - Colourful Chickens, Odd Ducks and Flying Turkeys;
▪ Cattle Breeds for the Grass-Fed Farm;
▪ Rare breeds: Moving From a Hobby to a Business;
▪ Organic Sheep: From Lambing to Shearing w/ Lorna McMaster & Harry Stoddart;
See here for more details.

Roberto Gueli and Anke Kungl, Conscious Catering

Roberto Gueli is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist passionately teaching about quality food and farming practices at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. Together with his partner Anke Kungl they run Conscious Catering, a company on a mission to serve a diversity of whole foods with a strong emphasis on local and organic ingredients. This dynamic duo also host workshops and cooking classes with an aim to make healthy meal preparation accessible, affordable and delicious. Both Anke and Roberto have a tremendous appreciation for seasonal foods as medicine and especially enjoy experimenting with ferments and wild edibles.

Workshop(s) at 2014 ACORN Conference:
Fall Foods for Winter Well-Being: Preserves as Medicine;
Holistic Health on the Farm (for Farmers!)
See here for full details.

Many thanks to Canadian School of Natural Nutrition for their sponsorship of our Community Food Skills Sessions at the 2014 ACORN Conference!

Dr. Bob Bors, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Bob Bors has been a Professor in the Plant Sci. Dept. at the University of Saskatchewan since 1999. He teaches classes on Fruit Science, Plant Propagation, Greenhouse Management and Introduction to Horticulture. His research involves breeding hardy fruits for northern areas with emphasis on crops that can be mechanically harvested and need little or no pesticides. His program has 40 acres of fruit and a 93 year history of developing varieties for Northern Canada and is the coldest location in North America for a major fruit breeding program. He runs a Prairie Fruit Genebank and regular writes articles for his website www.fruit.usask.ca. Dr. Bob Bors' participation in our conference has been generously sponsored by PEI Phytocultures!

Workshop(s) at 2014 ACORN Conference:
Part 1: Fruits with Organic Potential for the Maritimes * Part 2 Fruits with Organic potential for the Maritimes: Haskap Part 3 Fruits with Organic potential for the Maritimes: Sour Cherry w/
* Part 4 Fruits with Organic potential for the Maritimes: Saskatoon Berry w/ Dr. Bob Bors
See here for full details.