Upcoming Events

DEC 20 -APR 18: CLARKE COUNTY WINTER FARMERS' MARKET
The Clarke County Winter Farmers’ Market will be open once again for its second winter season. Vendors this year consist of bakers with artisan breads, cakes, cookies, scones, local growers using produce for frozen dinners, soups, prepared meals, meat producers like pork, chicken, lamb & beef, local dairy & local artisans like jams, jellies, fresh salsa and lots more. New for this season: local wines! We are also excited about having locally made gourmet soups prepared by Christine Illich who is also a seasoned instructor at L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda, Md. The Clarke County Farmers’ Market is located in the beautiful foothills of the Shenandoah Valley in Berryville, VA off of Church Street next to Dollar General in the town parking lot. Dates are: Dec. 20, Jan 17, Feb 14, Mar 21 and Apr 18. For more information, contact Sandra Stickovitch at 540-771-0225 or visit the market website.

JAN 31: GROWERS WORKSHOP
The Center for Rural Culture is holding its Fourth Annual Growers Workshop on Saturday, January 31st at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Goochland County. This is a one day workshop that will have both a beginners and an advanced track for vendors who wish to grow produce and provide value-added products for market. Space is limited to 75. There will be panel discussions on CSAs and wholesale marketing opportunities as well as a lecture on business skills/management for more advanced growers. To pre-register, visit the Center for Rural Culture website.

FEB 13-APR 5 : PERMACULTURE COURSE
This Spring, The Blue Ridge Permaculture Network will be offering The Permaculture Design Course: Sustainability Strategies for the Blue Ridge. The course lays the foundation for understanding and working with natural systems to design sustainable environments that produce food, shelter, and energy. The 72 hour certificate course covers themes such as: ecological systems understanding, organic food production, natural soil improvement, watershed restoration, water conservation and management, edible forest gardening, native medicinal plants, natural habitat restoration, healthy buildings and human settlements, and much more. The course will be held over five weekends Feb. 13-15, Feb. 28-Mar. 1, Mar. 14-15, Mar. 27-29, and April 4-5, 2009. The cost for the course is a sliding scale of if registered on or before January 15, 2009 is $895-$1200 and after January 15 is $995-$1200. For more information visit The Blue Ridge Permaculture website or email Terry Lilley.

FEB 14 & 28: APPLE TREE PRUNING WORKSHOP
Join Vintage Virginia Apples in North Garden, VA to learn how careful pruning ensures a more bountiful harvest. Find out how much to prune, where to make the pruning cuts, and when it should be done. The workshop fee is $25.00 and a box lunch available for $10.00. For more information or to register, please email Vintage Virginia Apples, visit their website or call 434-297-2326.

FEB 14 & 28: APPLE GRAFTING WORKSHOP
Vintage Virginia Apples in North Garden, VA will be hosting a workshop on grafting apples. Since apples do not reproduce true from seed, propagation depends on grafting the desired variety onto a reliable rootstock. Rootstock will be available for this workshop, and experts will guide you in the fine art of grafting. The workshop cost is $25.00 and a box lunch available for $10. For more information or to register, please email Vintage Virginia Apples, visit their website or call 434-297-2326.

FEB 21: PLANNING & PLANTING THE HOME ORCHARD
Learn how to plan and cultivate your own apple orchard at this workshop sponsored by Vintage Virginia Apples in North Garden, VA. Guest speakers include Rich Marini and Tom Burford. This workshop will focus on planning, managing and cultivating the home orchard, and will include a tour of Rural Ridge Orchards. The workshop fee is $85. For more information or to register, please email Vintage Virginia Apples, visit their website or call 434-297-2326.

APR 18 : APPLE CIDER MAKER'S FORUM
Terry Maloney of West County Cider will be the keynote speaker at this workshop sponsored by Vintage Virginia Apples in North Garden, VA. Learn about the art and science of making fresh cider and participate in a demonstration and discussion of preparing, blending, and pressing apples for cider. Participants will enjoy a lively roundtable discussion of cidermaking and taste samples from the mill. French cidres and other ciders from the United States will be featured. Workshop Cost: $85.00 For more information or to register, please email Vintage Virginia Apples, visit their website or call 434-297-2326.