Sustainable Agriculture Updates

The Scoop on Sustainable Ag:

Farm Business Class will be held this Fall:
NxLevel for Alternative Agriculture - Charleston
Date: August 25 to November 3, 2011
Time: 6:00p - 9:00p, Thursdays
Location: Clemson Extension
259 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
Price: $195 ($145 if you register two weeks in advance)
Register HERE

BizBuilderSC is partnering with Clemson University's Institute for Economic and Community Development and Lowcountry Local First to conduct a NxLevel Alternative Agriculture course. The course is aimed at those entrepreneurs who have started or are thinking about starting an agricultural or food based venture.

The LLF Sustainable Agriculture program has created a Lowcountry Farmer's Group to provide a platform for the farming community to stay connected, receive updates, and post information. The Google Group is public but to participate you must complete the free registration process.

As part of LLF's efforts to educate the community on the importance of our local food economy, we have been involved in farm tours and school visits with a number of schools. Most recently, Nikki Seibert, the Director of Sustainable Agriculture at LLF, visited the Charleston School for Math and Sciences to talk to their 7th and 8th grade classes. During the visit the students learned about the status of farming in the U.S., the difference between corporate and family farmers, organic versus conventional, community supported agriculture, the location of farmers markets, and the importance of supporting the local economy.

The Growing New Farmers Incubator Program apprentices continue to work with the mentor farmers as well as visiting a number of local farms. Most recently, the full-time apprentices visited Jeremiah Goat Farm on John's Island. Pictures are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/SeibertN/JeremiahGoatFarmEtc