New Project

Years ago, I tried canning tomatoes from my garden and it turned out OK but I never really got into it because I didn't have a reliable supply of fruit to make it worth my time.

I decided to try it again when we had a few extra cases of Tasti-Lee tomatoes left over from the Tomato Festival this year. I didn't do anything fancy with the recipe- its just crushed tomatoes (simmered all night in the crock pot) which I use often through the year- but I went out and bought new canning jars and lids (not as easy a task as one mind think- BTW, they have a decent selection in Publix, SCC). My 'canning pot' is just a standard stock pot so I was only able to fit 5 in there and I didn't buy a rack despite dire warnings of breakage. I boiled the jars with my tomatoes for the prescribed 40 minutes then my jars came out of the bath. I set them on the stove, with air space between for cooling, and waited just seconds to hear the first pop! The lid had sealed. Then... pop, pop, pop, pop! All sealed- mission accomplished! Ahhhh.... now it's time (oops past time) to go to work...:o)

Sun City Center Fresh Market

This Sunday, May 22 - 2011 10am - 2pm
Kings Point and Sun City Center; America's premier retirement community will host their very own Open Air- Fresh Market Event sponsored by Minto Development and presented by Tampa Bay Markets!
Address to Google: The physical address is 1900 Clubhouse Dr. Sun City Center FL 33573 . From I-75 you take exit 240A, east on SR 674/Sun City Center Blvd., turn right onto Kings Blvd (gatehouse), turn right onto Clubhouse Dr.
About the Market Day:
The Sun City Fresh Market at Kings Point will support our mission and cater to another community that is looking to buy fresh and local products. The Market will be located in a grassy event space provided by Kings Point Country Club. This Market Day will feature a minimum of 50+ Vendors selling only fresh, local, homemade, handcrafted and eco-friendly products.
55 Vendors -- Highlights Include:
Old Classic Tunes & Live Broadcast by WDUV www.wduv.com, Live Elvis Impersonator, Ethnic & Unique Ready to Eat Food Court, Gourmet Take Home Foods, Hydroponic & Conventional Produce, Exotic Plants, Herbs, Orchids, Gourmet Cheese, Fresh Baked Breads and Baked Goods, Pasta, Honey, Art, Handmade Jewlery, Candles and more!
Open to the public. Shaded seating and bathrooms on site. Bring your the family and dogs! See you there!

Urban Agriculture

Via TomorrowMatters listserv:

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
University of South Florida

Urban and Community Design Program, School of Architecture & Community Design, College of The Arts
&
Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions
Present
Urban Agriculture: Imperatives, opportunities and challenges at the neighborhood scale

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

10:00 am - Noon

USF's Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions

CGS Building, Room 131

USF Tampa
Pamela Jo Hatley, J.D.

Rick Martinez, Executive Director, Sweetwater Organic Community Farm

Jim Kovaleski, Urban Homesteader and Itinerant Farmer

Presentations and a panel discussion will address the following questions:
. What is urban agriculture? What does it include? What are the approaches?
. When is food production enhanced or hindered by neighborhood design, land use or zoning regulations?
. How much food can be produced in an urban neighborhood? What is the role of permaculture and other innovative approaches to food production?
. Why should neighborhood design and planning efforts consider community gardens, farmers markets and community supported agriculture (CSAs) within the context of social, economic and ecological sustainability?
Organization in conjunction with ARC5931.002: Sustainable Neighborhood Development
-- FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC --
For more information, contact: Shawn Landry at landry@arch.usf.edu

Annie’s Project

From UF/IFAS (and don't forget to read her story at http://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/anniesproject/history.shtml) :

Annie’s Project


Risk Management Education for Farm Women

Facilitators: Christa Kirby, Manatee County Extension Interim Director and Livestock Agent
Samantha Kennedy, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Crystal Snodgrass, Vegetable Agent
Sponsor: Manatee County Extension Service
University of Florida Extension/IFAS
Manatee County (941) 722-4524
Location: Manatee County Extension Service
1303 17th Street W
Palmetto, FL 34221

When: Weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings from 6-9pm.
Sessions will begin on February 15 and end on March 22.

Website: For registration and more information, visit the Annie’s Project UF/IFAS website at: http://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/anniesproject/index.shtml .

Session topics include:

• Computer Record Keeping
• Developing a Business Plan
• Developing a Vision, Mission & Goals
• Farm succession/Estate Planning
• Insurance
• Interpersonal Skills
• Interpreting Financial Statements
• Marketing
• Women & Money

Registration: $35.00 per person registration fee– Includes materials and a catered meal for the first session. Make checks payable to Manatee County Friends of Extension. This program is limited to 20 attendees

 Mail:

Manatee County Extension Service
Attn: Jennifer Glassburn
1303 17th Street W
Palmetto, FL 34221
Fax: (941) 721-6608 Attn: Jennifer Glassburn
E-mail: jeglass@ufl.edu

Backyard Gardening Workshop 10/10/10

This just in...

On 10/10/10, as part of the 350 Global Workday, people around the world are getting together to participate in activities that promote the reduction of CO2.


In Ruskin, people can be part of this event by coming to the Backyard Gardening Workshop on Shell Point Rd. at First St. SW (one block west of Hwy 41) and learning how to transform their lawns into sustainable vegetable gardens – composting & soil preparation, beneficial bugs, growing in different mediums, Florida-friendly and organic plant sales. Sunday, October 10 from 9am to 1pm. For further information contact anitajimenez@ymail.com.


350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide - measured in "parts per million" - in our atmosphere. 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. We are currently above 390ppm, and we are witnessing the results of higher CO2 levels manifested in record high temperatures around the globe, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and extreme weather.

350 is also a global grassroots movement that focuses on the barriers to climate solutions, working to implement real climate solutions in our communities and demonstrating the benefits of moving to a cleaner energy economy.

To learn more about the 10/10/10 Global Workday, go to www.350.org.

Farmer Training

I missed the Farmer Training last month (signed up but the day slipped by). I will be attending the next session (on my calendar this time):

When: September 16th at 5:30pm-7:30pm


Where: SouthShore Library at 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, Florida 33573

Who: The Center for Integrated Agriculture (http://farmertraining.org/events.html)

A dozen eggs doesn't make me a farmer but I can dream...

Home Canning Classes

I think I may sign up for these classes from the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension!

Upcoming Classes


Home Canning Classes - These free class will show complete processing procedures, use of equipment and answer questions. All classes are 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Register online through http://hillsboroughnutrition.ifas.ufl.edu/#Home_Canning_Classes:
Pressure Canning Vegetables:

Sept 29 - Details Registration

Oct 29 - Details Registration

Nov 6 - Details Registration


Making Jams and Pickles:

Oct 6 - Details Registration


Canning Jam and Fruit:

Nov 19 - Details Registration

Directions to Hillsborough Cooperative Extension

Beginning Farmer Training to Focus on Local Food Opportunities

** I'm going- are you?**

From HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
July 1, 2010
For more information, contact:

Sarah Crane, Agricultural Program Manager
Florida West Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council

Phone: (941) 961-7060
Beginning Farmer Training to Focus on Local Food Opportunities
What: FREE Agriculture Business Development Seminar for New, Beginning and Aspiring Farmers
When: Thursday, July 15, 6:00 p.m.
Where: SouthShore Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin

Hillsborough County's Agriculture Industry Development Program has partnered with the Florida West Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council to provide a free agricultural business development training seminar for new, beginning and aspiring farmers.

This seminar will focus on "Opportunities in Local Food" & "Selling Your Products Locally." Two farms, Heart of the Garden Farms and Brown's Grove, will share insights and expertise they have learned along the way.

Topics will include:
. Niche marketplaces
. Key factors to success
. Marketing language
. Product presentation
. Labeling your products and more!


To register, contact Sarah Crane, Agricultural Program Manager, Florida West Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council, at (941) 961-7060. For more information, visit http://www.farmertraining.org/.
The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program is a section of the Hillsborough County Economic Development Department. The purpose of the County's Agriculture Industry Development Program is to initiate and assist with efforts to create a business atmosphere that is conducive to the continuation and expansion of agricultural businesses within Hillsborough County for the benefit of all its residents.
In 2008, more than $800 million in agriculture products were sold from Hillsborough County, with almost 240,000 acres devoted to agriculture in the County. The top three agricultural products by sales were strawberries, ornamental plants and vegetables. For more information on Hillsborough County's agricultural industry, visit the County's Agricultural Industry Development Program online.
###

Locally grown...

Neat idea!
http://mymothersgarden.locallygrown.net

It works like this…..

This online market is meant to emulate many aspects of a traditional “booths and tables” farmers’ market. The customers are buying directly from the grower, at prices set by the grower. The grower describes what is available, supplies photos of the items, and sets the purchase price.

Agriculture Continues To Thrive In Hillsborough County

The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program and the County's Cooperative Extension Service have released the agriculture sales and acreage estimates for 2008.

According to the data, the 2008 sales estimate of Hillsborough County agriculture products is $803,104,025 with 239,288 acres devoted to agriculture. Hillsborough County produces the most tropical fish and strawberries of all counties in the state.The top commodities together generate 86 percent of the agricultural sales in the County, using only 16 percent of the total land area devoted to agriculture.

Read the entire article at:

http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/communications/news/releaseoutput.cfm?r_id=8352