UVM Catamount Educational Farm Apple and Vegetable Sales begin August 31 at the UVM Horticulture  Research and Education Center, 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington, VT and will continue every Friday through at least November 9 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Weekly updates on apple varieties available will be found at our Facebook page.

Due to short staffing, we will not be hosting a weekly farm stand on-campus this year. Please watch the Facebook page and the usual email outlets for any one-off dates we’ll do as the season progresses.

The mission of Catamount Educational Farm is to model sustainable farming practices through a working vegetable and fruit farm that provides educational and research opportunities for the UVM community. Students are integral in carrying out all activities of the farm, and this experiential learning environment provides them with real and diverse sustainable farm management skills. The farm contributes to the local food system of the university by marketing the student-grown produce back to the UVM community through a campus farm stand, CSA shares and a wholesale account with University Dining Services. All revenue from produce sales supports the farm so that it may serve academic and research programs on sustainable crop production.

Directions to the farm from campus:

The HRC is located behind GE Healthcare (former IDX) and the Heritage car dealerships off Shelburne Road in South Burlington. From Campus Follow Spear Street South to Swift Street, take a right at the light and follow Swift St to the end. Turn left on US Route 7 and travel 1.5 miles south. Turn left at the traffic light onto IDX Drive. Travel .3 miles on IDX Drive and turn left onto the Horticultural Research Center access road.

Feel free to spread widely across campus
[cid:image007.jpg@01D327FC.EB039A00]2017 UVM Catamount Educational Farm On-Campus Farm Stand Thursday, September 14. 2:00-5:00 PM
UVM Davis Center Green (Between Davis & the Library)

Join us at our mobile farm stand on September 14 to see what we’ve been up to all summer at Catamount Farm!
The farm stand will be fully stocked with the produce of the season, including our vegetables as well as our always in-demand apples. We’ll also be pressing cider on-site! [P1010380] [P1030504]
Representatives from UVM Farmer Training Program, the UVM Catamount Farm Summer Undergraduate Curriculum, and the UVM Apple and Grape Program will be available to answer questions. Alternate farm stands that are running for the 2017 season include:

* the 50+ year-old Friday Farm Stand which runs at the farm from 10:00 am-4:00 pm every Friday through mid-November(65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington, a short four miles south of campus)

* the Burlington Old North End Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 3:00-6:00 PM through October.
The mission of Catamount Educational Farm is to model sustainable farming practices through a working vegetable and fruit farm that provides educational and research opportunities for the UVM community. Students are integral in carrying out all activities of the farm, and this experiential learning environment provides them with real and diverse sustainable farm management skills. The farm also contributes to the local food system of the university by marketing the student-grown produce back to the UVM community through a campus farm stand, CSA shares, and wholesale accounts with University Dining Services.

http://www.uvm.edu/~hortfarm/

UVM Catamount Educational Farm Apple and Vegetable Sales begin September 1 at the UVM Horticulture Research and Education Center, 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington, VT and will continue every Friday through at least November 3 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. An on-campus farm stand with vegetables and a limited selection of apples is open every Thursday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM between Bailey-Howe library and the Davis Center through mid-October. Available apple varieties and vegetables will change each week as the ripening season commences. Weekly updates on apple varieties available will be found at our Facebook page.

The mission of Catamount Educational Farm is to model sustainable farming practices through a working vegetable and fruit farm that provides educational and research opportunities for the UVM community. Students are integral in carrying out all activities of the farm, and this experiential learning environment provides them with real and diverse sustainable farm management skills. The farm contributes to the local food system of the university by marketing the student-grown produce back to the UVM community through a campus farm stand, CSA shares and a wholesale account with University Dining Services. All revenue from produce sales supports the farm so that it may serve academic and research programs on sustainable crop production.

Directions to the farm from campus:

The HRC is located behind GE Healthcare (former IDX) and the Heritage car dealerships off Shelburne Road in South Burlington. From Campus Follow Spear Street South to Swift Street, take a right at the light and follow Swift St to the end. Turn left on US Route 7 and travel 1.5 miles south. Turn left at the traffic light onto IDX Drive. Travel .3 miles on IDX Drive and turn left onto the Horticultural Research Center access road.

University of Vermont Apple and Grape Program Open House
UVM Horticulture Research & Education Center
65 Green Mountain Dr, South Burlington, VT 05403

Friday, August 25. 2:00-4:00 PM

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Join Dr. Terence Bradshaw and his colleagues for an open house highlighting research, teaching, and outreach projects of the UVM Apple and Grape Team. This self-guided tour will include chances to see organic apple evaluation, winegrape cultivar assessment, high density tall spindle apple plantings, and unique cider apple production systems. In addition, other partners at Catamount Educational Farm will be available to highlight vegetable crop teaching and research programs.

No RSVP is required, this will be an informal tour useful to commercial growers; fruit and vegetable enthusiasts; UVM faculty, staff, and students; and anyone else interested in sustainable food production in Vermont. Any questions should be referred to Terence Bradshaw, tbradsha@uvm.edu.

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Rhododendron Work Day with Collection Curator and Master Gardener Beth Gutwin Sat July 22, 9am to Noon
Free, Qualifies as Master Gardener Education Hours
Join Beth in caring for our cherished collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. She will discuss maintenance, pruning, pest management and provide guidance as we work on the collection. Please bring gloves, pruning tools. Register online: https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/

Drawing Sunflowers with Jane Neroni
Sat Aug 19, 1pm to 4pm
Location: ON CAMPUS: Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Room 100, Burlington VT
Jane will teach you to draw and paint the sunflower. Sunflowers are a member of the composite family and are not just one flower, but thousands of tiny flowers which make up the head.
Join us as we study the many ways to draw and paint this wonderful plant in pencil, pen, watercolor and colored pencils. Class limit is 12. All materials will be supplied.
$85.00

To register-
Pay online: https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/
Pay by check: Make your check out to FHF. Mail to FHF, PO Box 64788, Burlington, VT 05406-4788

This weekend, stop by to see the flowering crabapples, they are terrific. If you have not had a tractor ride in a while, this is your chance!

Bloomtime Open House

Join us at the UVM Horticulture Center and greet spring with a tour of our flowering lilacs, crabapples, magnolias and azaleas.
Our 21st annual festival is family friendly and will feature hayride tours, face painting, plant sales by the UVM Greenhouses and Chittenden County Chapter of the Master Gardeners. Don’t miss this annual event! Join us–rain or shine! FREE

Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Place: 65 Green Mountain Drive, So Burlington VT

Hosted by the Friends of the Horticulture Center, a non-profit, educational outreach, community organization. Visit us on the web to learn more: https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/

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Anne Marie Resnik
Volunteer Board Member
Friends of the Horticulture Farm
Never miss an event! Friend us on Facebook

Hello Friends,

Yes, lots of snow. Do we care? No! Join us at the Hort Farm for our yearly pruning workshop with crabapple curator Mark Biercevicz. Location: UVM Horticulture Center, 65 Green Mountain Dr, So Burlington VT Register Online at: https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/

Crabapple Pruning
Sat March 25, 9am-1pm
Test your pruning skills on the Hort. Farm’s Crabapple Collection with Curator Mark Biercevicz as he gives you basic instruction. Bring pruners, gloves, loppers. Some tools provided. Q and A about growing and pruning apple trees for yourself and wildlife, and an intro to heirloom varieties. FREE for everyone. Qualifies for Master Gardener Volunteer Hours

Below are other upcoming workshops for April, see the web site for a full listing. https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/

Pruners Workshop
Sat April 8 9am-Noon
Jeff Young, a long-time park maintenance expert, will explain the techniques of pruning shrubs and small trees, and how to keep these plants healthy and under control for a long life in your garden landscape. Members FREE Non-members $10 Qualifies for Master Gardener Education Hours

Gardening with Grasses
Wed April 12 6-8:00pm
Silvia Jope, owner of Old World Garden Design and landscape designer with Gardener’s Supply will talk about using ornamental grasses in home landscapes. Come learn about her favorite varieties, why they work, how to use them successfully in combination with shrubs and perennials, and how to extend the season with fall color. Members FREE Non-members $10 Qualifies for Master Gardener Education Hours

Spring Collections Workday
Sat April 15 9am-Noon
It’s time to wake up our gardens and get them ready for our fabulous Bloom-Time Festival and Open House in May. Help us with the spring cleanup of our fabulous collections while gaining garden tips from our curators. Bring your gloves, pruning shears and a trowel. FREE

Common and New Pests and Diseases in Gardens and Landscapes
Sat April 22 9am-Noon
UVM plant pathologist Ann Hazelrigg will review some of the common insect and disease problems in Vermont’s last growing season. She will also update you on recent disease and insect arrivals to the area and what may be showing up on Vermont doorsteps soon. Members FREE Non-members $10 Qualifies for Master Gardener Education Hours

Rustic Cedar Workshop
Sat April 29 8am-2pm
Brian Gluck of Rustic Cedar in the Northeast Kingdom returns to teach this popular hands-on workshop, helping participants build a tall obelisk for garden use. Brian will supply all materials; you bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saw, cordless drill, work gloves, and a bag lunch. All materials included in course fee. Class limit is 16. Prepayment required by 4/20. $80

https://www.friendsofthehortfarm.org/

UVM’s Farmer Training Program is a six-month, hands-on program for aspiring farmers and food-systems advocates that provides experiential, skills-based education in sustainable farming. Students will get a unique and comprehensive education by running all aspects of the 10-acre Catamount Educational Farm, learning from expert farmers and educators in the classroom, and alongside successful, inspiring farmers in the Burlington area.

Graduates will gain:

* A Certificate in Sustainable Farming from UVM
* Experience in organic crop production, from seed to market * A deeper understanding of small-scale farm management
* Entrepreneurial skills to start a farm business
* A network of incredible people to provide support and guidance

Why is this program important?
Now more than ever we need to sow seeds of resistance. Climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, and food access – are all issues at the forefront of our society. We must combat these socio-economic and environmental problems however we can. Growing local food is one significant way. Small, diversified farms that employ sustainable practices can improve soil, water and air quality, sequester carbon and increase biodiversity. The Farmer Training Program provides you the skills to manage a diversified farm and be that change our planet so desperately needs. Planting those seeds of resistance is the first step to localizing your community’s food system and healing the earth.

“They tried to bury us. They did not know we were seeds.” – Greek poet Dinos Christianopoluos

APPLY NOW!
(application deadline: April 1)

S’ra DeSantis and Rachel Stievater
Co-Directors of the Farmer Training Program

“It’s not a bachelors, masters or doctorate, but this certificate means more to me than any achievement or degree in my life. I am a man transformed because of the Farmer Training Program. I have discovered my passion, my purpose and even more who I am. And I owe it to those six months.” – Taylor Jespersen, FTP graduate 2016

http://www.uvm.edu/~hortfarm/?Page=shares.html

It’s that time of year again…UVM’s Catamount Farm is now selling shares for its 2017 CSA. It may be cold and snowy outside, but we are thinking about the upcoming growing season. It will be here before we know it, and now is the time to sign up for the Cat Farm CSA!
Shares are set up a little differently this year. There are still Full and Half Share options, but for 2017 there are 3 options for what portion of the season you wish to receive produce: Summer, Fall, and Late Fall (going from mid-June through early December).

* Summer (10 weeks: mid-June through late August): Full–$335, Half–$195

* Fall (8 weeks: late August through mid-October): Full–$270, Half–$160

* Late Fall (8 weeks: mid-October through early December): Full–$270, Half–$160

* Entire Season (26 weeks: mid-June through early December): Full–$875, Half–$515 (Sign up for the entire season and receive a 10% discount.)

We will also be offering Apple Shares again this year! New for 2017-there will be 2 size options! Read more details on the farm’s website. This is a great way to experience the many varieties of apples grown at the farm!
New this season – Flower Shares!! Enjoy beautifully designed bouquets on a weekly or bi-weekly basis throughout the summer. See the farm’s website for more details. Catamount Farm provides the pick-up options of:

* on-farm pick-up at the Horticulture Research and Education Center in South Burlington OR

* a convenient on-campus drop-off of boxed shares:

o 322, 460, or 466 South Prospect St. (CDE buildings)

o Jeffords

o Waterman

o 284 East Ave. (Physical Plant Department)

A separate email will be sent after registration to choose a pick-up location. If choosing on-farm pick-up, you will have the option of picking up a pre-boxed share or boxing your own.

Please click here for more details about the CSA, click here to register online, or email Rachel at rstievat@uvm.edu with any questions. For UVM employees, we are offering payroll deduction as a payment option again this year. You will see this option when you go through payment with RegOnline.
Catamount Farm exists as a partnership between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Continuing & Distance Education to provide a model fruit and vegetable farm at the UVM Horticultural Research and Education Center to support teaching, research, and outreach activities. Your support of the farm through purchase of a CSA share helps ensure that these opportunities are available to students, researchers, and the greater UVM community. Thank you!

Best,
Rachel Stievater and the Catamount Farm Team