Business Support

Where: Skogley Turf Research Center, 30 Thirty Acre Pond Rd, Kingston, RI 02881
Date: Mon Aug 10, 5pm – 7pm

We will meet at the Skogley building classroom at 5pm.

Agenda (Tentative)
1. Introductions
2. Most Common Pest and Integrated Pest Management in the URI Agronomy Vegetable Garden. Pest Walk at the URI Vegetable Garden. Lisa, Keiddy, David, and Jack
3. Role of pollinators in vegetable production. Fiona and Steve Alm (tentative)
4. Questions

The Skogle building classroom is located inside the white building on the left of Plains Rd, Room 100. It is the same classroom where we met for the winter workshop.

Instructors:
• Lisa Tewskbury, Entomologist, Director of the Biocontrol Laboratory
• Keiddy Urrea-Morawicki, Plant Pathologist, Director URI Plant Diagnostic Laboratory

If you advise land managers and are ready to learn about silvopasture, then this training is for you! Silvopasture is the intentional integration of forages, trees, and livestock, which can help increase the productivity and health of both farm and forest systems.

The increasing interest in agroforestry among land managers has produced a growing need for technical assistance. Join us and learn about the principles, design considerations, benefits, and potential challenges associated with silvopasture.

Course Highlights:

Discover the essentials of designing and implementing silvopasture for various livestock, including the practice of feeding animals woody perennials.

Learn how this approach can safeguard and enhance ecosystem function while improving animal welfare, forage quality, and overall productivity.

Discuss current practice standards, amendments needed, as well as the existing barriers and opportunities for funding.

This workshop is organized by the following organizations:

Interlace Commons, a nonprofit focused on education and research, with a goal of expanding agroforestry throughout the Northeastern United States.

Ocean Hour Farm is a center for education, scientific research, and a demonstration of regenerative agricultural practices, highlighting the critical connection between land and ocean health. Ocean Hour Farm provides a living example of sustainable agriculture and land stewardship – an integrated system where plants, animals, and people sequester carbon, clean stormwater, build soil and produce food and fiber for the community.

Tuesday, August 18 • 2 PM – 5 PM

Overview
Get ready to dig into the future of farming!

Discover the power of regenerative agriculture with an exclusive, two-stop guided tour of AG Innovation and the Norman Bird Sanctuary.

Whether you’re a backyard gardener, a seasoned farmer, a conservation advocate, or just curious about where your food comes from, this collaborative tour connects you directly with the local professionals who are exploring these green practices on a daily basis.

This experience includes:

– Stop 1: AG Innovation

– Stop 2: Norman Bird Sanctuary

Explore how regenerative practices improve soil health, support biodiversity, enhance wildlife habitat, and build more resilient landscapes and food systems.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

Where: Luckyfoot Ranch, 1337 Gilbert Stuart Rd, Saunderstown RI 02874
Date: Thurs Aug 20 4pm-6pm

Be one of the lucky ones to see the magic happen at Luckyfoot Ranch! Farmer Matt will show us around and answer questions on growing following sustainable, organic practices, feeding a community, managing a staff and more.

This workshop is co sponsored by TOPP as part of NOFA RI’s technical education and community-building grant.

A potluck will follow the farm tour.
If you’re able, please bring something to share and your own plate/cutlery.
This event is free!

Are you a service provider in the agriculture, conservation, or forestry sectors looking to learn how to design and implement alley cropping? Now is your chance! Alley cropping involves intentionally integrating trees with crops, where agricultural or horticultural plants are grown in the alleys between rows of trees. This agroforestry practice offers numerous benefits, including diversified farm income, increased crop production efficiency, and enhanced ecosystem functions. Join us for a day-long workshop to learn how to effectively plan and implement this valuable practice.

Goals:

Understand the principles and benefits of alley cropping, including economic, agronomic, and ecological outcomes.

Learn to assess site suitability.

Learn a design framework for alley cropping, including layouts, tree spacing, alley width, and species compatibility.

Explore species selection for trees, shrubs, and companion crops suited to regional conditions.

Learn best practices for implementing and managing tree-crop interactions, including weed control, pruning, and fertility management.

Identify funding, cost-share, and technical assistance programs available for agroforestry adoption.

This workship is organized by the following organizations:

Interlace Commons, a nonprofit focused on education and research, with a goal of expanding agroforestry throughout the Northeastern United States.

Ocean Hour Farm is a center for education, scientific research, and a demonstration of regenerative agricultural practices, highlighting the critical connection between land and ocean health. Ocean Hour Farm provides a living example of sustainable agriculture and land stewardship – an integrated system where plants, animals, and people sequester carbon, clean stormwater, build soil and produce food and fiber for the community.

Sunday, September 27 • 3 PM – 5 PM

Overview
Join us for a fun day exploring local farms and getting all the tips you need to start your own garden!

Join Us for the Roots Farm Tour and Information Session!

Come explore Roots Family Farm — a certified organic, diversified vegetable farm growing year-round on under 1.5 acres in Tiverton, RI. Using no-till, intensive methods and six moveable high tunnels, we maximize every inch of our market garden while keeping soil health at the center of everything we do.

During the tour, learn how partnering with USDA/NRCS can support your own land care goals. Representatives from the Eastern RI Conservation District, NRCS-RI, and NOFA/RI will be on hand to share resources and answer questions.

Agricultural Resource Guide
A Collection of Resources for Rhode Island Farmers & Ranchers
Prepared by the Center for Mediation & Collaboration RI
Funded through the USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Grant
in partnership with the RI Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture

Get Started! A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers is a new multi-agency publication that provides information on assistance and targeted opportunities available to minority, women, veteran, beginning and limited resource producers

So You Want to Start a Farm?
Interested in Starting a Farm?
Want to Expand the One You Have?
We often get calls at the Farm Bureau office from people looking for land to farm, or interested in turning their property into a farm. Sometimes they are interested in a new farm venture. This led me to create a quick handout to email those callers, and I named it, “So You Want to Start a Farm?”