• By Mary Jac Brennan
• Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

North Carolina Farm School Summit to be held October 11, 2016

The NCFS Summit is October 11th, from 8:30am-4:00pm at the Guilford County Extension Center in Greensboro. The summit is open anyone interested in starting a farm or already growing a farm. This year we have some excellent speakers and break-out sessions. Our keynote speaker is Alex Hitt owner of Peregrine Farm. Alex and his wife Betsy have been farming in Alamance County for 35 years. They farm full time growing vegetables and cut flowers on four acres of land. Peregrine farm sells their products at the Carrboro Farmers Market and Weaver Street Market, several restaurants in the Durham, Chapel Hill area and through their CSA. Alex is passionate about growing new farmers and giving small farms a voice.

You can learn more about Alex and Peregrine Farm at www.peregrinefarm.net. The horticulture breakout sessions will have experts on growing fruit trees, small fruits and cut flowers. The regulation breakout will have sessions on Good Agricultural Practices and Food Safety, Organic Certification, Animal Welfare Approved and other labeling programs, and value added products for your fruit or vegetable operation. In the livestock breakout sessions Dr. Miguel Castillo will talk on rotational grazing and pasture management. We will also have speakers on marketing your meat or livestock animal, as well as small ruminant health. One of my favorite parts of the Summit is the panel of NC Farm School graduates that will also speak about their farm experience and where their businesses are headed.

There will be vendors at the summit too, with all your farming needs. Registration is $25/person, and forms are available at www.ncfarmschool.com. The summit is great way to meet other new and beginning farmers and learn about different farm business endeavors.