Organic Growers School, NC

The 14th Annual Organic Growers School information and registration documents are now available online at www.organicgrowersschool.org . This 2-day workshop is held every March on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC, about 30 minutes from Asheville. This year's course is March 10 and 11th.

Though some of the workshops focus on mountain and foothill growing conditions, the majority of the information applies to all NC growers.

Some of this year's offerings include:

• Organic Beekeeping
• Harnessing Solar Energy
• Basic Drip Irrigation
• Creating a Permaculture Urban Homestead
• Landscaping for Water Quality Protection
• Propagation by Seeds/Cuttings/Division
• Sustainable Garden Planning & Design

and much more, including a children's program! _______________________________

Some interesting articles from recent issues of BusinessWeek magazine with a focus on agriculture, especially livestock production. On Dec 11 they published "What Entrepreneurs Need to Know: Direct-to-Consumer Farming Takes Off"
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/dec2006/sb20061211_181013.htmAnd on Dec 20 they published "Whole Foods and the Celebrity Farmer"
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/dec2006/db20061220_027274.htm
The article below is about the National Animal Identification System.
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/dec2006/sb20061219_549584.htm

Regards, Jackie Hough at Raft Swamp Farm, Raeford, NC