Summary:
Visit successful farm operations in Eastern and Central Virginia, including a stop at VSU’s annual field day.
Description
The Small Farm Bus Tour, highlighting farms with sustainable and innovative agricultural practices, is returning after a four-year hiatus.
The tour starts at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31st and ends 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 1st at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore campus. Registration includes bus transportation to farm sites, educational packets, lunch (on day one) and a one night hotel accommodation on Wednesday, August 31.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Select Tour Stops
Recipient of the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 2021 Small Farm Outreach Program Volunteer of the Year, Bees Knees Farm & Creamery has been operating for five years and offers diversified sustainable meat (pork, chicken, turkey and goat), along with cheese and goat milk from the 20-acre farm. Tour participants can gain information on its diversified marketing strategy, including on-farm sales, farmers markets, online sales with drop-off points, food hubs and agritourism.
Riverside Produce Farm and Muscadines
Described by VCE agents as “one of the most productive and immaculate farms in the region,” Riverside Produce Farm and Muscadines is a contender for the organization’s 2022 Farmer of the Year. The 40-acre farm wholesales their produce (melons, heirloom tomatoes and adding muscadine grapes next fall) to stores and food hubs.
Once a corn and soybean “big tractor” farmer on many acres, the third generation owner of Slade Farms has converted his operation to two acres of organic produce and heirloom seed plots, specializing in sweet potato slips and elephant garlic. The farm motto is “Responsible Farming with Profitable Results.” Keeping old varieties alive to preserve for future generations is his passion.
VSU College of Agriculture’s Annual Field Day
This free event will showcase the many ways VSU’s agricultural researchers, Extension specialists and professors support Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries, the commonwealth’s number one private economic driver, with an annual economic impact of more than $91 billion.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:
If you require special accommodations to attend these events, please call 410-621-5450 two weeks in advance.
CONTACTS:
Berran Rogers | Small Farm Program Coordinator | UMES Extension | blrogers@umes.edu | 410-621-5450, Ext 106.
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University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, gender, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or national origin.Move content downDelete module
