Category Archives: Uncategorized

Farmers Talk about the Local Food Economy

Sunday January 22, 2-5 pm
Kennedy Auditorium at Xavier University  

WHAT?  A conversation among farmers about how Cincinnati’s local food movement has affected their farming practices, bottom line, and hopes for the future.

WHY?  With the explosion of demand for local food, and the landslide of government and public sector interest in the food economy, we need to hear the clear voices of farmers.

WHO?  Current farmers (farm owners and employees of farms and organizations) who are actively and personally involved in food production; AND who serve the greater Cincinnati area via CSAs, Farmers’ Markets, on farm sales, wholesale supply, or restaurant/store supply are invited to the conversation.

HOW?  SWOEFFA’s core group has engaged Jeff Stec, a group process facilitator, to lead the conversation.  As a grower for a local cafe and member of the Enright Ridge CSA, Jeff has an understanding of the importance of local food production.  He will lead a process that makes it easy for all voices to be heard and included.  Select leaders of the local food movement will also be invited to listen and learn with the intention of developing better collaborations with producers.

RSVP:  If you would like to attend, please reply to swoeffa@gmail.com by January 20, with your name and the name of the farm you are associated with.  Please forward the invitation to other farmers you feel will appreciate participating in the conversation.

Farmers’ Stories about the Local Food Movement

(a meeting of the minds about the “state of the plate”) On January 22, all farmers in the south west region of Ohio are invited to attend this discussion. How are we really doing, from the farmers’ perspective? More information will be available in the coming weeks about this event. Contact swoeffa@gmail.com with questions or to rsvp.

Jeff Poppen Discussion on Biodynamic Agriculture

An Afternoon with Renowned Biodynamic Farmer Jeff Poppen
A down-to-earth discussion of the Agriculture Lectures by Rudolph Steiner.  Deepen your understanding of the core principles of Biodynamic agriculture and their practical application to organic farming and market gardening.  Topics will range from looking at the farm as a self-sustaining organism, soil biology and tilth, and the use of biodynamic preparations.
Jeff Poppen’s enthusiasm for local food production and distribution stems from his 40 years of farming.  His self-sufficient, biodynamic 300 acre Long Hungry Creek Farm in Red Boiling Springs – with five acres of vegetables for market, experimental orchards, extensive herb and flower beds, grains, hay, cattle, and a fruit tree nursery – is the largest and oldest organic farm in Tennessee.  Jeff is also a noted author and presenter on organic and biodynamic farming.
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2015
Time: 1 – 4 pm (Doors open at 12:30pm)
Location: IMAGO Earth Center
700 Enright Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45205
Cost:  $20 Payable by cash or check at the door
Program is open to the public, however seating is limited – please register early
Please make checks are payable to: Homeadow LLC
Please mail payments to:
Karen Egan
Homeadow Song Farm
5038 Gray Rd.
Cincinnati, OH  45232
For more additional information please contact:
Karen Egan

Jeff Poppen Workshop March 8

Merging Modern Methods & Old-Time Wisdom of Gardening & Farming
A Workshop with Jeff Poppen

Saturday, March 8, 2014  10am – 4:30pm

North Presbyterian Church
4222 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45223

Jeff Poppen’s enthusiasm for local food production and distribution stems from his 40 years of farming.  His self-sufficient, small certified biodynamic 300 acre Long Hungry Creek Farm in Red Boiling Springs – with five acres of vegetables for market, experimental orchards, extensive herb and flower beds, grains, hay, cattle, and a fruit tree nursery – is the largest and oldest organic farm in Tennessee.  Jeff is also a noted author and presenter on organic and biodynamic farming.

Jeff’s workshop will focus on building a dynamic biologically active soil encompassing topics ranging from minerals, soil biology and tilth, and the use of biodynamic preparations.

Workshop Fee:  $35
Lunch is available for an additional $10
Reservations are required by March 1, 2014

Please make checks are payable to: Homeadow LLC
Please mail payments to:

Karen Egan
Homeadow Song Farm
5038 Gray Rd.
Cincinnati, OH  45232

Evening Conversation
For workshop participants interested in knowing more about Jeff’s farming methods and biodynamic agriculture there will be an informal conversation beginning at 6pm at the North Presbyterian Church.

For dinner support the local economy. Many Northside restaurants are neighborhood businesses, several try to source local sustainable foods and most have vegetarian entrees.  A few are: Melt, Tacocracy, Sidewinter, Barrio Tequileria, Django Western Taco, Ruth’s Parkside Cafe, Ko-Sho…

For more information contact Karen Egan:    kareegan@gmail.com    513-312-2469

Sponsored by Homeadow Song Farm & Southwest Chapter (OEFFA)

Annual Business Meeting on December 8

All are invited to join us for a pot luck at Grailville on December 8 at 1 pm.  After eating and catching up with each other, we will discuss the past year, look ahead to next year, discuss bulk seed ordering and elect officers.  New folks are invited to see what our chapter is all about and contribute new ideas.  The address is 932 O’Bannonville Rd, Loveland, OH.  RSVPs are requested so we know about how many people are coming.  Bring a dish to share (support your local farmer if possible) plus tableware.  Email Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com

Slow Money–Local Loans for Local Foods

Sunday, October 27 will be the next networking event.  Join us at 3 pm at Peterloon in Indian Hill.  We invite all to attend.  Previous lenders and loan recipients are invited to share their experiences.  Several new presenters will be on hand to explain their operation and their need for additional resources.  If you are interested in keeping your investments LOCAL, please consider joining us!  See  www.localloansforlocalfoods.org for more information and to register.

Fall Programming

Grailville is hosting Farm to Fork II–Celebrating Women Farmers on September 29 from 5 until 8 and the price is $45.    Visit their website for more information  www.grailville.org

Ahead:

October 6  Apple Tasting at Hayfield Farm in Indian Hill 2-4 pm  $10 to support SWOEFFA, reservations required (limited space)

October 19 Slow Food Terra Madre Cob Oven Pizza Party at Gorman Heritage Farm 12-3 pm  $7 plus pizza topping.  Reservations required (limited space).

November 9  Turner Farm tour 1:30-3 pm “Cold Season Vegetable Production”  free, reservations not required

November 10 meeting at Peterloon with Steve Gordon speaking  on “Pigs, Pedigrees, and Porkopolis: Miami Valley Agriculture and the Rise of the Meat Packing Industry, 1825-1861”.  1 pm  $5 donation requested.  Reservations required.

Email swoeffa@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a spot

Local Loan for Local Foods summer meeting August 4

Local Loans for Local Foods invites you to attend a presentation by Carol Peppe Hewitt, co-founder of Slow Money North Carolina.   Carol is also the author of Financing Our Foodshed, Growing Local Food with Slow Money.  She will speak about how we can build resilience in our local foodshed in the Greater Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio region. The event will be held on Sunday August 4, 2013 from 5:00 until 7:30 P.M. at the Peterloon Estate, 8605 Hopewell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242.  RSVP is greatly appreciated.   For further information or to RSVP   http://localloansforlocalfoods.org/

Next Local Loans for Local Foods Gathering

Please join on March 17, from 2-5 pm at Peterloon for our next gathering.   Snacks will be provided (a $5 donation is requested).  RSVP by going to the new website www.localloansforlocalfoods.org

Interested in presenting at our gathering? The structure of this event will provide time for 4-6 enterprises to give 10-15 minute presentations to small groups of potential lenders.  If you would like to showcase your enterprise this way, please complete the Borrower Information Document and submit it to cincinnati@slowmoneyohio.org this week.