Top 10 Reasons to Be a Pure Catskills Member

With just days to go to "Get in the Guide," we took a page from late night television to inspire you to renew your membership to Pure Catskills. The deadline to sign up is fast approaching -- April 20.  So, riffing on Dave Letterman's take, here are the Top 10 reasons why you should be a Pure Catskills member:

10) The New Member Goody Bag: Or call it the Insider's Schwag Bag, the Pure Catskills Welcome Kit includes promotional materials highlighting the advantages of buying local. Point of purchase materials include a Pure Catskills member sign, bumper stickers, oak tags for pricing and hang tags. (Kits to be distributed in May and June.)

9) Cheerleader Pom-Poms: Not quite, but upon request, we will send you an Event Promotion Kit to highlight Pure Catskills to your event. We'll send you rack cards, a Pure Catskills banner, giveaway items, and other "stuff" to liven the festivities.

8) A Reason to Boast: Don't be bashful with shameless self-promotion -- a 50-word description about your business -- over 250 others are proud to be in the Guide to Catskills Products, too!

7) Bragging Rights x2: Expand that shameless self-promotion with more details online within the PureCatskills.com searchable web directory.

6) We Are the World, um, the Catskills: When you use the Pure Catskills logo to enhance your marketing efforts (like the Member web badge at left), you'll get the recognition you deserve through brand unity!

5) Your Personal Cheering Section: Our staff is out there rah-rah-sis-boom-bah-ing your products and businesses, and providing promotional support through events, print media, advertising, social media and other targeted campaigns, like Fresh From the Catskills.

4) Online Shopping Portal: Need an online shopping cart? Use ours! Sell your products through the web-based shopping portal, Pure Catskills Marketplace, and move your retail products to consumer markets easily online.

3) One Voice: Pure Catskills members with similar businesses are featured within the printed Guide in specialty sections for Beef, Botanicals, CSAs, Farm Accommodations, Farm & Food Organizations, Restaurants & Lodging, Farm & Food Radio Programs, and Activities & Tourism.

2) The Choir: Spin-offs sing in other forms like the Pure Catskills Holiday Gift Guide, county-specific Farmers' Markets rack cards, and articles in the Catskill Mountain Region Guide.

1) Your Marketing Hub: Use the PureCatskills.com website to promote your business, sure, but you can also use our events calendar to get the word out on your business's events, workshops and activities. We'll even give you a plug on the Pure Catskills Facebook Page. We're here to help you move your marketing efforts in the right direction. Need help? Just ask.

    Need more reasons to be a Pure Catskills member?  Register online by April 20 or contact Tia Blaber at ColorPage (the Guide publisher) at (845) 331-7581 x10.

    One more reason...Tell your own story: Each year we include images of our landscapes, farms and other businesses on the pages of the Guide. We know you've been out there taking some great shots! Whether in the field, barn or cafe, atop a tractor or at market, your photo could be part of the 2013-14 Guide. Send your high-resolution, original photo to Pure Catskills. If selected for publication, the photographer and location will be credited.

Sharing the Love Through CSA

Pete Kavakos Jr. drives CSA shares

In the April 2013 Catskill Mountain Region Guide (page 8), 15 Pure Catskill members offering CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, are featured in "This Ain't Your Grandma's CSA."

We also updated the Pure Catskills CSA rack card for 2013. Below are regional members offering their neighbors the investment opportunity in local farming and a unique community connection with their farms. Payment structures, product offerings, pick up times all differ. Find the one that suits your palate and dive in. Most CSAs begin "sharing the love" in May.

Kavakos checking greens under cover

Berry Brook Farm at Stony Creek Farm
Burnett Farms
Channery Hill Farm
Gorzynski Ornery Farm
Heather Ridge Farm
Hilltop Hanover Farm
Mountain Del Farm
Neversink Farm
Root n' Roost Farm
Rusty Plough Farm / Rondout Valley Organics
Stoneledge Farm

Straight Out of the Ground
Susquehanna Valley CSA Project/Blue Sky Farm
Thanksgiving Farm
Willow Wisp Organic Farm

Pollinator-ready Cosmos at RPF

If you aren't listed but want to be, contact Tara Collins. Pure Catskills will further promote the article, rack card and member farms in an upcoming  press release, as well as on BuyPureCatskills.com.

Circle back each month for a featured article in our monthly column, Fresh From the Catskills. Thanks to Nadia Maczaj at Rusty Plough Farm and Deb Kavakos at Stoneledge Farm for sharing their photos.

Have a comment about your favorite CSA? Did we miss one? Share your comments and CSA resources below.

A chicken's work is never done at R\PF

Guest Post: A Look at the 2013 Farm to Market Connection - State of the Foodshed Address

Guest blogger Sally Fairbairn is a retired dairy farmer, board member of the Watershed Agricultural Council and chairwoman of the Council's Watershed Agricultural Program. Here, she shares her perspective on the keynote "State of the Foodshed Address" at the 4th Annual Farm to Market Connection held on March 24, 2013 in Liberty. A video of this keynote address will be available in the coming weeks.

Keynote speakers Jennifer Grossman and Rebecca Morgan tag-teamed to bring a message of facts and figures mixed with optimism and urgency in this year’s State of the Foodshed Address at the 4th Annual Farm to Market Connection. Before 120 or so conference attendees, Jennifer explained that our present broken food system is a result of Federal farm policy that encouraged monocultures of commodity production. That system has provided cheap food for decades but with unintended consequences that are only now beginning to be recognized. Recent drought nationwide has shown how vulnerable we are to climate change. Type II diabetes, once found almost exclusively among the middle-aged adults, is now more and more common among elementary school children.  We are losing farmers and farmland at a pace that endanger our food supply. Overall, our food system is due for a major overhaul.

So why the optimism? One reason -- the recognition that something must change -- is gaining traction.  Rebecca reported on several examples - who is farming, where the farming is happening, what foods are being produced, how the food is grown and distributed, all facets of food production are showing change. Diversification and innovation are the buzz words to restore a healthy food system for producers and consumers.

Jennifer Grossman and Rebecca Morgan

The opportunity for farmers is probably unparalleled: in New York City, there is an estimated $1 billion worth of unmet demand for locally grown food. That is ONE BILLION DOLLARS – not a misprint. For the Catskill region that is one heck of a market in our backyard, and we are determined to figure out how to gain our share of it.

The development of farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture has served to help farmers find markets for locally grown food, but now we need to get past those smaller opportunities to get into NYC markets. One next step on the way to those markets is the Food Hub – where farmers collectively aggregate products to fulfill larger orders and/or deliver more efficiently.

Jennifer noted that just 4% of the produce that goes through the Hunts Point distribution facility comes from New York State farms despite the fact that we are among the Top 5 states in production of several commodities including cabbage, pears, wine, milk, yogurt, sour cream, maple products and apples. OK, not all those products would go through Hunts Point, but finding innovative ways to access that City market outlet could help some of our larger farms. And did you know the second largest food purchaser in the country is the New York City school system? Capturing event a percent of these markets would make a significant impact on Catskills farmers, economies and communities.

Rebecca continued to outline how we get there – to the school system, to Hunts Point, to the restaurants and shops that feed a population hungry for locally, sustainably grown food. We are increasing the infrastructure of food processing. Our land is still comparatively reasonably priced and available to farmers. Innovative incubators like the Glynwood Center and CADE research ideas and help determine what works. Groups like Catskills CRAFT help young farmers learn the skills necessary. Renewed interest in historically important crops like hops mark resurgence in grain production. Regional artisanal value-added dairy products are making a name for themselves.

Why bother? For one thing, cheap food is often bad food. Poverty impacts people’s health and it is not just an urban problem. Local people also need reasonably priced, good food. We can grow it here and have it available for a decent price. Agriculture helps underpin the local economy. There are tax benefits to having farmland not be developed and to having farms. Also the dollars earned by smaller farms producing locally grown food  stay within  a community helping to support the local economy before being sent out of the area by way of large corporations.  Jennifer is looking for a change not just in food systems but a change in economic systems to benefit local producers.

We are NYC’s Watershed and are officially recognized as part of its Foodshed. Progress is continually being made to help farmers profit from their proximity to this mega market.  Together, Jennifer and Rebecca brought us realism and optimism to start our day at the Farm to Market Connection.

Farm to Market Connection photo courtesy of Veccvideography.com

Sharing the Local Food Message Through Technology

Art of Listening: pamorama.net

Technology is transforming local economies and markets around the world by helping people communicate, connect and transact. Online technology is making it easier for both producers and consumers to share their stories and connect. 

On March 24, join us for a panel discussion on the latest technology for farmers both to use on the farm and to connect with their consumers. As this session introduces attendees to tools, techniques and trends to build an online presence, we'll post those resources here after the 4th Annual Farm to Market Connection. Tara Collins,  Communications Director at the Watershed Agricultural Council, moderates the expert panel including:

- Marjorie McCord, Marketing and Social Media Consultant
- Julia Reischel, Watershed Post
- Mel Weiss, Stone Barns Center, Virtual Grange

Remember, connecting with your audience revolves around content, authenticity and consistency. Share yourself with your consumers, supporters and members, be a thought leader and source of information, and keep the conversation going!

Farmer Resources
www.nebeginningfarmers.org (Northeast Beginner Farmers Project from Cornell Small Farms Program)
CatskillsCRAFT.org
CatskillsFarmLink.org
FarmHack.org
theGreenhorns.net
VirtualGrange.org

Digital-Content-Marketing-Wheel from socialstrand.com

Building a website
Weebly.com (free)  EXAMPLE:  CatskillsCRAFT.org

Building a Blog/website
Blogger.com (free)  EXAMPLE:  Pure Catskills
Wordpress.com (free) EXAMPLE: RosemaryFarm.org

Email newsletters
MailChimp.com (free)
ConstantContact.com (fee)

Social Media
Facebook.com (free)
Twitter.com (free)
Pinterest.com (free)

HootSuite.com (free)
Fotobabble.com 
Animoto.com  EXAMPLE:  Water & Land
YouTube.com  EXAMPLE: Introduction to Catskills FarmLink
Tiki-toki.com  EXAMPLE: Watershed Agricultural Council

Mobile Apps: (this can be its own future blog post)
Farmshedcny.com
HarvestToHand.com
MobileFarmApps.com
WeatherChannel.com
Evernote.com

Trainings & Other Resources:
Smartphones for Farmers April 5
Down & Dirty Marketing Plan (Green Otter Marketing)


Have a resource or tip to share? Share it below in the Comments Section.

Planning for Profits

It's that time of year when reflection and planning are on our minds. Consider attending this comprehensive planning workshop to kick your farm or food business into gear for 2013! 

Business Planning for Profits Workshops

What: A business planning workshop featuring Raymond Belanger of Fish Park Consulting, an expert in rural small business development. Ray will walk you through the steps to writing a business plan and provide you a template to get you started. For TLC loggers, the workshop is worth a full continuing education credit.

Who: Though tailored for farmers and loggers, the material will be applicable to any food or wood products business.

When: 4-9 PM on both Wednesday, Feb. 6th and Thursday, Feb. 7th (The same workshop will be held each evening, so you only need to attend one)

Where: The Delaware County eCenter in Delhi (6th) and the Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra (7th). If you need directions to either venue, please email Bridget Hanley.

How much: $20 per person; dinner is included.

How to register: Email Marilyn Wyman  of Columbia/Greene County CCE or call 518-622-9820, ext. 36.

Ground Up Winter Round-Up

photo credit: MeganRae. via photopin cc

There may not be much sprouting from the ground right now, but ideas, passion and inspiration can rise up with a just little nurturing. Over the next three months, feed your soul with new information, renewed friendships, and re-inspired projects by attending one of the regional conferences or workshops listed below. Each one offers knowledge in its own way, be it from technical experts, farmer experience, research trials, or tested innovative approaches. Many of these opportunities offer scholarships, ride and room shares, and volunteering exchanges, so you can get what you need at an affordable price.

Plant a knowledge nugget in your mind this winter. You'll be amazed at what takes root in your heart and blossoms early Spring.

JANUARY 18: 10th Annual Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference

SUNY-Delhi, Farrell Hall, NY
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 by January 14, includes local food lunch; $35 at the door
Who's it for? Farmers in dairy, livestock, grazing and vegetable farming
What to expect: two early-bird sessions (Understanding Risk Management or Pasture Renovation and Weed Control); 12 sessions in four tracks; keynote speaker Patrick Hooker of Empire State Development. Sponsored by CCE-Delaware and the Watershed Agricultural Council. Register online, mail in the print brochure, or call Kim Holden, (607) 865-7090, ext. 241.

JANUARY 25-26: The Winter Green-Up Grass-Fed Grazing Conference

The Century House, Latham, NY
Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $145 for both days
Who's it for? You grow grass, you raise meat on pasture, you gotta be here.
What to expect: 8 workshops, networking time, local foods banquet, and semen auction. Sponsored by CCE-Albany, NESARE, and GLCI. Mail in the print brochure, call Gale Kohhler (518) 765-3500 or visit www.ccealbany.com.

JANUARY 25-27: NOFA-NY 31st Annual Winter Conference "Resilience" 

Saratoga Hilton City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY

Friday through Sunday

Cost: Full conference $235 members (annual membership $40-125); reduced rates for single day entry

Who's it for? New and experienced farmers, producers and growers, gardeners and wannabes, advocates and the curious.

What to expect: 80+ workshops, socializing and networking, trade show, auction for agriculture, local foods meals. Can't stick around? Check out two free Friday sessions on food council policy forum and Introduction to organic certification. Sponsored by NOFA-NY, Pure Catskills among many others. Register online, mail in the print brochure, or call (518) 765-3500 or visit www.ccealbany.com.

FEBRUARY 6-9: PASA 22nd Annual Farming for the Future Conference
Penn Stater Conference Center, College Station, PA
Wednesday through Sunday
Cost: Depends on many variables, anywhere from $50-210 (become a member and save big)
Who's it for? farmers, processors, consumers, students, environmentalists and business and community leaders -- you eat? There's something here for you.
What to expect: Where do we start? This conference is the best of its kind in the East: workshops, banquet, movies, free legal advice, trade show, it's the over-the-top farming mecca.
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and MANY others. Visit the PASA Conference website, print off the brochure or register online.

FEBRUARY 5, 12, and 19: CCE Strategic Marketing Webinar Series

CCE-Delaware County, Hamden 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $30/farm (2 people) for the 3-session series

Who's it for? Designed specifically for meat/livestock producers, but content will benefit any farm

What to expect: Session broadcast live to the CCE office. Topics include how to identify a target market and focus the farm's marketing efforts.

Call Kim Holden, (607) 865-7090, ext. 241.

FEBRUARY 5 or 6: Business Planning for Profit

Delaware County eCenter, Delhi

Repeat on February 6 at the Agroforestry Center, Acra

Cost:$20

Who's it for? farm, food and wood business owners looking to improve their operations through better planning

What to expect: Business basics and a chance to finally get your ideas, goals and direction down on paper

To register, contact CCE Columbia/Greene Counties at (518) 622-9820.

FEBRUARY 12 & 26: Writing Successful Grant Proposals Workshop
Delaware County eCenter, Delhi  3 - 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $65 for both sessions. A notebook with resources and sample grant proposals is available for $30
Who's it for? Anyone who wants to apply for grants but has been too timid to give it a try.
What to expect: The workshop emphasizes writing compelling, concise and well-crafted grant proposals; developing a grant concept; finding funders; establishing goals and objectives; writing the narrative; making a budget; developing a work plan; and gathering support letters. Contact Kevin Hodne at (607) 434-8254.
 
FEBRUARY 9: Demystifying Woods and Wildlife Management

Agroforestry Resource Center, Acra, 1 - 4 p.m.

Cost: $5

Who's it for? Need a break from farming? Head for the woods.

What to expect: Video format walk through three seasons of specific projects  designed to enhance forested property. Learn about attracting more wildlife, pruning wild apple trees, tree planting, increasing the value of your trees along with an introduction to basic forestry concepts and terminology. To register, contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

FEBRUARY 10-12: It Takes a Region 2012: A Working Conference to Build Our Northeast Food System
Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs
Cost: $185
Who's it for? Movers and shakers looking to make it happen
What to expect: Roll up your sleeves and get to work on building a food system. Rescheduled from October 29-30, 2012. Sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. Register online, or call Betsy Johnson (617) 536-1711.

MARCH 24: Farm to Market Connection

CVI Building, Liberty 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $35

Who's it for? Farmers looking to expand their market base, connect with buyers

What to expect: Catskills food hub panel, 6 additional breakout sessions, technology gurus, networking time, renew your Pure Catskills membership

FMI:Sonia Janiszewski (607) 865-7090, ext. 217

Want to share what you learned? Let us know how you made out and we'll post your comments and observations in a conference wrap-up. Did we miss a winter workshop or conference? Post it here under Comments or share it with us on Facebook.