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Explore how today's small-scale farmers are building on the strong foundation of traditional farming knowledge and practices with modern production technology, farm business management and marketing.
The Celebration of Small-scale Farming takes place on Monday, July 30 at the Pictou-North Colchester Exhibition Grounds, 38 Arena Drive, Pictou. Directions
This year, the Celebration of Small-Scale Farming is brought to you by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, AgraPoint, Rural Delivery and the Pictou Rural Development Agency.
Registration fee: $20/person (special rate for students and farm apprentices/interns of $15/person), $40/family (children under 12 free) --
Registration includes $5 in coupons ($10 for families) for use with the local food vendors selling food on site. Food will be provided by:
Financial Sponsors:
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
Rural Delivery
THINKFARM
AgraPoint
ACTIVITIES:
Children's Activities
There will be activities for children in tents set on the main grounds. Play in the corn box and milk the model Jersey cow. See the miniature horse. Visit the Craft Tent for activities scheduled periodically throughout the day. Or go to Dirt Camp to learn about soil and how it helps plants grow.
We are unable to provide childcare. You are responsible for your children at all times.
Workshop Descriptions
Bioaccumulators – the Power of Comfrey
Brian Ives –
Farmasea Cooperative Ltd., Heatherton: Permaculturalists have long known the
power of comfrey as a plant with an ability to cycle nutrients within the soil
profile. Brian Ives will highlight the benefits and uses of comfrey, whether using it as a plant extract tea, a mulch, or a feedstock for your compost. It's as close to a free lunch as you can get.
Dispelling Myths around Growing Garlic in Nova Scotia
Justin Smith – Lansdowne Horse Logging Farm, Lansdowne: Do I need to cut my scapes? When is the latest I could plant? How do I know when to harvest? Garlic is quickly being recognized as valuable crop in a market gardener's rotation, but growing great garlic is not as easy as it seems. Going from great to crop failure is all too common. Justin
Smith will share his recipe for success in garlic from crop rotation to curing. Find out what really works.
Sheep Flock Health – the Basics from Fleece to Hooves
Rhonda McCarron – Brook Ridge Farm, Antigonish: Whether it's wool, lamb, or
milk - sheep health starts with nutrition. Rhonda McCarron will guide you through the basics of feeding, grazing management, and supplementation to ensure your flock will have a healthy immune system. When disease and parasites do attack, find
out the best ways of treatment and prevention of reoccurrence.
The Mechanics of Composting for the Small Farm
Terry Boyle –
Forever Green Organic Farm, Afton: Most farmers acknowledge compost as "black gold" – a valuable soil amendment
that invigorates the soil to feed the plants. Despite the value of compost, most farmers do not make it well. Terry Boyle will demystify compost by sharing the necessary ingredients to make it and will also help identify and troubleshoot common problems in the composting process.
Marketing Meat
Danny McDonald – Little Dan-D Farms, Salt Springs: Good pasture, good breeds, and great management is the recipe for great beef which should sell itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Danny MacDonald will share his success and his challenges in marketing a higher value product to price-conscious consumers.
Handy Tools for Small Scale Vegetable Production
David Greenberg – Abundant Acres, Centre Burlington: The three most important factors to the success of small farms are labour, labour, and labour. David Greenberg brings years of experience and dozens of visits with farmers all across the northeast to share some of the handiest tools to make farming more profitable and more enjoyable.
Appropriate Fencing and the Importance of Water in Livestock
Blair Battist – Lochview Farm, Lyons Brook: Good fences make good neighbours, plain and simple. Furthermore, milk, meat, and fibre do not come grass alone, livestock need a regular source of clean water to grow. Blair Battist will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various fencing options
(barbed-wire, page-wire, high-tensile electric) as well as highlight the importance of a good, clean, ample water supply.
Freedom 55 Farming
Wayne Edgar (Edgar Swainson Farm,Tatamagouche), Brian Ives (Farmasea
Cooperative Ltd., Heatherton) and Brenda Rose (Rose Cottage Farm, Cape George): Thinking about farming as a second career? For many, there is life after work... it's called the good life. Farmers Wayne Edgar, Brian Ives, and Brenda Rose will share their strategies and handy tips on what has saved their farms and saved their backs.
Matching Production Levels with Marketing Channels
Cammie Harbottle (Waldegrave Farm, Tatamagouche), Justin Smith (Lansdowne Horse Logging Farm, Lansdowne), and Isabelle Rochas (Lafrayere Gardens, Antigonish): Farmers' markets, CSA's, roadside stands, u-picks, wholesale... what works for you? Farmers Cammie Harbottle, Justin Smith, and Isabelle Rochas share their experiences and decisions behind why they market the way they market.
Interactive Stations
During the lunch break, enjoy delicious local food and wander around to our interactive sessions. Ask questions and watch short demonstrations of practical skills.
Sheep Foot Trimming and Sheep Shearing
Trevor Richardson: Are you really going to shear your own sheep?
Someone to shear your sheep is often one of the hardest challenges in raising sheep. Trevor Richardson will showcase sheep shearing and help you understand what the key points are before trying this at home. Trevor will also demonstrate the importance of proper hoof care through trimming.
Wheel Hoeing, Scything, Broadforking, BCS walk-behind tractor, Plastic Mulching/Raised Bed
Various farmers and participants will get a chance to get the feel of these handy farm devices.
Forage Clinic
Growing good pasture, hay or silage is a science and an art – one that the health of your cattle, sheep and goats depends on. Bring in a sample of your first cut hay or silage or some of what's growing in your pasture. Bill Thomas, AgraPoint forage specialist, will give you a professional opinion on its quality and advice on how to improve. Hay and silage samples should be a few pounds worth of randomly selected material. For pasture samples, cut to about 1" from the ground about 1 m2 worth of material from a representative section of the field the night before, place it in a sealed plastic bag and store it in your refrigerator. Or cut it in the morning before you leave.
Soil Clinic
Everything in agriculture depends on the soil. Bring soil samples, photos or descriptions of the problem to Amy Sangster, AgraPoint Soil specialist, and she'll help you find some solutions. Amy will also hand out her soil health scorecard and describe how to use it.
Advertise Your Business or Farm Organization at the Celebration of Small-Scale Farming
Now in its third year, the Celebration of Small-Scale Farming is attracting more than 200 aspiring, new and experienced farmers from across Nova Scotia. These new farmers are interested in sustainability, self-sufficiency, and affordable, practical farm inputs and equipment. Our farmer-led workshops teach practical skills.
We can help you promote your business or organization at this year's Celebration of Small-Scale Farming. A limited number of trade show booths are available onsite. We can also include your flyer or brochure in our registration kits.
Trade show booth fee - $50
Literature distribution fee - $50
For more information, contact Becky Sooksom at sooksord@gov.ns.ca
To register, download the registration form here.
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