Vimeo Account and New Movies

We recently started a Vimeo account to post our growing collection of videos.

Our friend and video production professional, Joel Wolpert, recently made a video for us to promote Farmers Markets.

The video is called "Trying Something New", and it is a beautiful promotion of farmers and farmers markets. The link is provided below. Enjoy.

Trying Something New from WesMonTy RC&D on Vimeo.

Landowner Assistance Public Meetings Announced

Landowner Assistance Public Meetings Announced

MORGANTOWN, WV, November 30, 2010—The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with local, state, and federal government agencies, is planning a series of public meetings concerning the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the USDA Organic Initiative. These meetings will showcase assistance and activities provided by local, state, and federal government agencies available to landowners.

CSP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing or adopting enhancements to their current systems while improving, maintaining, and managing existing practices on agricultural land and non-industrial private forest land. Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship.

NRCS program specialists will be available to provide information, answer questions, and sign-up applicants. Please plan to attend one of the following meetings to find out what you can do to help improve environmental quality on your land. The participating agencies have a variety of programs—for agricultural producers, urban landowners, or just concerned citizens.

Date	Location	Time
December 7, 2010	John Marshall High School 1300 Wheeling Avenue Glen Dale, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
December 9, 2010	Jacksons Mill 160 WVU Jacksons Mill Weston, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
December 13, 2010	USDA Service Center 201 Scott Avenue Morgantown, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
December 14, 2010	USDA Service Center/US Forest Service 241 Mercer Springs Road Princeton, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
December 15, 2010	Philip Barbour High School 99 Horseshoe Drive Philippi, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
December 17, 2010	Lincoln County Public Library 7999 Lynn Avenue Hamlin, WV	6:00 – 8:00 P.M.

The 2008 Farm Bill provides Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with authority to provide organic growers an opportunity to compete for funds through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative. The program is directed to growers certified as organic according to the National Organic Program (NOP) and those transitioning to organic production.

For additional information about West Virginia landowner assistance public meetings, please contact Charlotte Elliott-Friend, Assistant State Conservationist–Civil Rights/Outreach, at 304-284-4247, or Charlotte.Elliott-Friend@wv.usda.gov, or contact your local NRCS office.

USDA-NRCS: Philippi Field Office USDA-NRCS: Elkins Field Office

(304) 457-4516 x 3 (304) 636-6703 x 3

-end-

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations and/or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) associated with this meeting should contact Charlotte Elliott-Friend at 304-284-4247 at least one weeks prior to the meeting with his/her specific request.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202-720-6382 (TDD).

Winter Market

This past weekend was the Winter Market at the Community Garden Market in Downtown Philippi. Order forms were handed out several weeks ago, and customers were to pre-order baked goods from several different vendors. Pick up and payment was this past Friday and Saturday. The choices ranged from breads (banana-nut, Zucchini, Cinnamon Swirl, and others), to pies, cookies and fudge!

Orders ready for pick up!

There were additional baked goods available for sale as well.

Delicious Baked Goods for sale!

And not only were there lots of delicious baked goods for sale, but there was a lot of produce available as well.

The items available were: Baby spinach, purple-topped turnips, Horseradish root, carrots, apples, potatoes, garlic, butternut squash, Popcorn, Honey, Pumpkin and Eggs.

Locally produced honey and popcorn!

There was lots of produce available as well!

Popcorn on the cob, purple topped turnips and butternut squash!

Farm to School Delivery

Turnips awaiting delivery

WesMonTy is proud to announce that the first farm to school delivery in Barbour County took place December 9th at 7am. 30 pounds of white turnips and turnip greens were delivered to Philippi Middle School for use in their Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program. By delivering these turnips to the school and offering them to children as snacks we will begin the process of providing the schools with fresh, local produce. We will also be fulfilling the vision of Senator Tom Harkin who believed that children will eat fruits and vegetables if given the opportunity. Senator Harkin's vision was instrumental in placing a fresh fruit and vegetable program in the 2002 farm bill.

These Turnips were grown by Mark Hollen, a local producer who uses organic practices. The turnips are sure to be liked by the children with their mild flavor and fun size. Mark's 2 year old granddaughter loves to eat them and even calls them apples! They are sure to be a hit with the school children!

Organic Opportunities for Small Scale Producers

On December 8th at 1pm, the Tygart Valley Growers Association will be discussing the EQIP Organic Initiative.

The meeting will be held at the WesMonTy Office in Philippi. We are located in the USDA service center which is located next to the WVU extension office for Barbour County. For more information and directions please contact:

wesmontyrcd@gmail.com

Here is the Release:

Organic Initiative Funding Announced

MORGANTOWN, WV, November 5, 2010—The 2008 Farm Bill provides NRCS with authority to provide organic growers an opportunity to compete for funds through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The program is directed to growers certified as organic according to the National Organic Program (NOP) and those transitioning to organic production.

The primary focus of the program is to support the implementation of practices which help growers meet the provisions of the statute and the NOP Act. Successful applicants will be required to develop an Organic System Plan before installation of conservation practices to help achieve organic production and certification. Growers already certified as organic are eligible for financial assistance to install practices after they submit their existing plan.

Landowners must submit their applications to their local USDA Service Center by February 25, 2011 to be considered for funding this year.

Please follow these links for more information:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/organic/index.html

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/management/org_farm.html

Definitely check out:

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/management/org_farm_1.html

Assuming that the wife of RC&D Coordinator, Jason Teets, is not giving birth, he will be on hand to assist with the NRCS Organic initiative organic process.

The Philippi Healthy Families Initiative hosts cooking demonstrations in Philippi that are targeted towards families. They recently hosted one on the 29th, and WesMonTy was able to attend.

These great workshops are funded though the DHHR Healthy Lifestyles office which received a grant through the CDC. Philippi is allowed the funding because it is a Mainstreet Community. Davis Memorial Hospital also supports this project through funding of equipment and providing expertise of their clinical nutritionist a RD/CDE.

They market the program through the local elementary school by handing out a flyer to each student. The child accompanied by one parent must register ahead of time in order to participate. This week there were around 12 families present.

This week the menu was:

Vegetarian Chili with Hominy option

Vegetarian Chili with winter squash option

Corny Corn Bread

Secret Chocolate cake (made with beets)

The Onion, Garlic and Beets used this week were produced locally.