Conversation Between Backyard Permaculture and gardengirl72

Here's the link. http://blip.tv/file/3073158
Best, Patti

Hello Patty

Quite a while back you did a video on setting up a propagation rack with a tank that captured the run off water then a pump that recycled the water through the rack again. Can you give me the link to that video?

Ron

Hello Patti

I gather from your posts that at your farmstand and when you sell at farmers markets, you sell started plants. I want to do likewise in my local market, but I don't know of sources to buy nursery style planting pots, such as the 6 packs that veggies frequently come in, or larger (very cheep) 1, 2 or 3" pots for little bit larger plants.

Know any sources you can recommend?

Ron

Hey Patti

I was wanting to start a new Forum where events can be announced, but I am not sure about how to do it.

Valerie McCaffrey is the president of the Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture organization (http://bajaaz.org/index.php), and in her weekly email newsletter promoting local Farmer's markets, she also added the following announcement which may interest members who live in the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Colorado, and more).

Anyway, it seems very much in harmony with this website.

Ron


2009 New Mexico Organic Farming Conference


The premier organic farming conference in the Southwest, New Mexico ’s Organic Farming Conference, is generally held in Albuquerque but this year will be offered in Las Cruces on February 27 & 28.



The conference covers organic crop and livestock production as well as marketing and business management. Twenty four hands-on sessions explore fruit, vegetable, beef and goat, seed, hay and forage production as well as soil fertility in drylands, managing insect pests, farm water harvesting, weed management and alternative energy for farms and ranches. Demonstrations will include season extension choices, a new design for a chicken tractor, keeping bees without chemicals, pruning and grafting, drip irrigation and microsprayers and appropriate tools for small scale farms.



Marketing and business sessions include Did I Make Money This Year? Business Basics for Farmers and Ranchers, Moving into Value-Added: Understanding the Regulations, How to Get Certified Organic, Financial Planning for Farmers and Ranchers and a panel with three local organic buyers.



This is a great opportunities to hear and ask questions of actual farmers and ranchers including Nancy Coonridge who has been raising organic goats in the wilds outside of Pie Town and making great goat cheese, a 1200 acre farmers who produces hay, pasture, forage and small grains, a husband and wife who will discuss proven vegetable varieties and the equipment they use on Mimbres Farms/No Cattle Company, the southwest’s leading chemical-free beekeeper, two grass-fed beef ranchers, the Chiapas Farm in Albuquerque that grew over 300 varieties of garlic last year, an organic cotton, alfalfa and chile grower, Arid Crop Seed Cache and Gordon Tooley of Tooley’s Trees who gives the best grafting and pruning session I’ve ever heard. You know you are at the right conference with a session entitled “Deer, Gophers and Javelinas: Nuturing Biodiversity without Sacrificing Your Crops.”



For more information about the conference contact Le Adams at 505-473-1004 or ladams@cybermesa.com. The conference site is Hotel Encanto, 705 Telshor Boulevard in Las Cruces which will also provide lodging (866-383-0443.) Request a printed catalog with mail-in registration or register on line at www.farmtotablenm.org.



The $100 cost for the two day conference is a real bargain as it includes two continental breakfasts and a sumptuous local foods lunch buffet on Saturday as well as a free post conference farm tour. On Sunday, March 1 at 10 a.m. Sally Harper, the 2008 New Mexico Organic Farmers of the Year, will guide you around her Del Valle Pecan Orchard in Mesilla and answer questions about organic pecan production and marketing.



This conference is for both new and experienced farmers and ranchers, backyard growers as well as those interested in supporting local agriculture. It is a collaborative effort of Farm to Table, New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission, New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension.