Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

?? 30 William Dow Scholars from across the Carolinas attended CFSA’s annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference because of supporters like you. The William Dow Scholarship Fund carries out the legacy of organic farming pioneer and educator Bill Dow, providing scholarships to Black, Indigenous, and Farmers of Color and beginning farmers to attend the Sustainable Agriculture Conference and receive a full year of CFSA membership benefits. By bringing together farmers to learn and connect, the William Dow Scholarship is among the many ways CFSA strives to advance farmer education in the Carolinas. ?? When farmers thrive, the food system thrives. ?? As we look ahead to 2025, we hope you'll join our farmer education efforts by donating to the William Dow Scholarship Fund. Your support today grows opportunity for beginning and BIPOC farmers and ensures their access to high-quality educational programming throughout the year. ?? https://lnkd.in/gmvHuWWx

We can never say it enough: thank you, farmers. ?? As we enter the season of gathering, giving, and gratitude, we're feeling extra appreciative for the dedicated, vibrant community of food, fiber, and flower farmers across North Carolina and South Carolina we're lucky enough to work alongside. Today, November 14th, is the first annual North Carolina Farmers Appreciation Day. ???? This day of recognition, hosted by NC Grange, NCDA&CS, and the NC Farm Bureau, serves as an apt reminder of the dedication and impact of farmers in the Carolinas and beyond, who sow social, environmental, and economic vitality in their communities and in the local food landscape of our region. CFSA's 3000+ members, partners, and supporters continually inspire our ongoing work to provide on-farm technical assistance, emergency relief, coalition-building, practical education, and food systems strategy and policy leadership to farmers and food systems advocates across the Carolinas -- we're proud to be part of the movement for sustainable, fair food and farming. ?? Advance CFSA's farmer support efforts: https://lnkd.in/gmvHuWWx #sustainableagriculture #organic #regenerativeorganicagriculture #cfsa #carolinafarmers #ncfarmersappreciationday #mountainstosea #buylocal #farmerappreciation #ncagriculture #scagriculture #ncfarmbureau

Another Sustainable Agriculture Conference is on the books! ?????? This year's conference, held November 2nd-4th in Durham North Carolina, featured over 80 practical workshops, an expansive trade show, an exclusive film screening, eight on-farm intensive workshops at farms across the NC Triangle, local food tastings, and connection-building opportunities aplenty -- all curated with the rich, diverse food systems landscape of the Carolinas in mind. We convened with over 800 of our community's farmers, foodies, educators, activists, and community leaders to build solidarity, learn, and chart the path forward for local, sustainable food and agriculture -- thanks to all involved for being part of our movement. ?? ?? See you next November for our 40th anniversary Sustainable Agriculture Conference!

Thinking globally, acting locally -- from the Carolinas to Cambodia! ???? Please join us in congratulating CFSA Soil Conservationist Kim for teaching an impactful multi-day workshop on post-harvest food handling for agriculture students, researchers, and nonprofit professionals at the Agricultural Technology Park of Mondulkiri, Cambodia! ???? Kim was recruited for this innovating education effort by the University of Tennessee's Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture. With their support, she traveled to Cambodia in August as an ALOFT Farmer-to-Farmer USAID Southeast Asia Program volunteer, and spent 16 days teaching, touring farms and research facilities, and building new connections. During her workshops, Kim discussed principles of post-harvest vegetable technology, with a focus on crops local to Mondulkiri and best practices to harvest, grade, store, and transport those crops for the best quality and value. ???? Hands-on harvesting and Coolbot assembly demonstrations were particular student highlights! ??? CFSA is grateful for this opportunity to support the sustainable agriculture movement at an international level -- what a powerful way to put into practice the motto, "local is global." From Kim: "The students and NGO’s were the BEST. They were a young and talented group. They were engaged, asked questions, and expanded on answers. They were eager to learn and eager to share. I have stated, and sincerely mean it, that we learned as much from them. I will be sharing their techniques with our farmers in the States. I encourage my peers and ag educators to look for these opportunities abroad. I always find it rewarding to teach and to be taught. This trip was so refreshing for me as an educator. The smallest things make big differences, and I saw that play out over the last 16 days." More about the program: https://lnkd.in/eqK9zznA #localisglobal #sustainableagriculture #thinkglobalactlocal #thinkglobal #thinkgloballyactlocally #cfsa #reallifesolutions #growglobal #usaid #ALOFTF2F UT Institute of Agriculture USAID Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

CFSA's Policy team has been hard at work this month advocating for state Helene relief funding packages to include critical allocations for agriculture, food, and farmer recovery. Recently, Community Mobilizer Shy and NC Policy Specialist Alesia took to the halls of the NC General Assembly to talk to legislators and share the importance of CFSA's FarmsSHARE program and other alternative food distribution networks to disaster recovery and long-term resilience. In times of crisis, we see firsthand the strength, necessity, and impact of local food systems for both farmers and communities, and CFSA will continue to advocate for disaster relief and programmatic funding that recognizes that impact. Learn about our policy work: https://lnkd.in/eduyjn_m See our Helene recovery resource page: https://lnkd.in/euPkSN-V

Please see this important meeting announcement for Western North Carolina farmers! #WNCStrong #NCAgriculture #ncwx #HeleneReliefEfforts #Helene2024

How can it be that the 39th CFSA?Sustainable Agriculture Conference?is already?next weekend?! Our team has been preparing for months – and for the last 38 years! – for this year’s event, and we are so proud of what we’ve put together: a vibrant, community-focused experience cultivated for the Carolinas and sure to inspire and connect. Whether you're a new or seasoned farmer, working in food systems, or want to better advocate for climate-smart, resilient, organic agriculture, this is the best opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in the Carolinas. If you’re not already on our attendee list, join the 700+ food and farming folks who are by registering today! https://lnkd.in/dvQZDCJm

Get your tickets for the annual 39th Sustainable Agriculture Conference organized by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association! Nov 2-4 I'll be joining Brittany A. as we explore how to reuse food waste through feeding animals and composting at the farm level. These are a couple of strategies to build up community resiliency in hard times like right now when communities can be completely changed and destroyed in a matter of days. Managing our excess food better, feeding animals what we can, and composting the rest with other organic waste, will help us sustain the nutrients and protein growth and create amendments to improve our soils to grow more food. Hope you can join us! REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eFGQuRjr

The 2?? week countdown is on to CFSA’s Sustainable Agriculture Conference, happening November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in Durham, North Carolina – and it’s not too late to register! Take advantage of Fall Special prices and save up to $75 by buying your ticket in advance instead of onsite. ????? Tickets are available for the full weekend experience, plus Saturday-only passes, Sunday-only passes, the Saturday film screening, and Monday on-farm intensive workshops. REGISTER: https://lnkd.in/e7nWkXdR Join CFSA’s community of farmers, food systems changemakers, and community leaders from across the Carolinas for a weekend of learning and networking focused on advancing sustainable agriculture and local food systems. ?? Conference attendees will enjoy access to a rich selection of inspiring, practical workshops led by farmers, leaders, and educators from organizations like RAFI, the Bionutrient Institute, the Land Loss Prevention Project, the SC Department of Agriculture, the Rodale Institute, the NC Farmers’ Market Network, Juneberry Ridge, the Utopian Seed Project, TendWell Farm, NC A&T State University, Advancing Eco Agriculture, The Conservation Fund, and dozens more! ?? Plus, you won’t want to miss the seed and plant exchange, packed trade show, customized bookstore, food + farming policy lecture, film screening, networking reception, or any of the other activities and “in-between” connection-building moments that are so integral to the conference experience. Hope to see you ??! #sac2024 #cultivatedforthecarolinas #sustainableagriculture #durhamevents #organic #regenerativeorganicagriculture #sustainableagconference

CFSA is pleased to be hosting a screening of the acclaimed documentary Farming While Black from Kontent Films on Saturday, November 2nd, in conjunction with our Sustainable Agriculture Conference. ?? The screening and accompanying panel discussion are open to both conference attendees and the general public -- please share this special event widely with your networks! ?? About The Film: Farming While Black is an award-winning, feature-length documentary film that examines the historical plight of Black farmers in the United States and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership of land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots. It's a film that highlights lived stories of Black agrarianism- a social movement and pedagogy rooted in the pride, liberation, and sense of belonging that accompanies land ownership as a Black farmer in America. The film chronicles Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm and two other Black farmers’ efforts to regain their agricultural heritage. Collectively, their work has a significant impact, as each is a leader in sustainable agriculture and food justice movements. Farming While Black captures the deep connections that Black communities have to the land which have persevered through generations of trauma and erasure of our histories, practices, and beliefs. Farming while Black is an act of resistance to the legacies of slavery, sharecropping, and continued oppression that have taken every possible means to polarize Black communities from the very land that supports life. ??? About The Panel: Following the screening, three farmers join?Farming While Black's co-producer for a panel discussion on reclamation and empowerment through land stewardship. Panelists:? - Lynn Waymer, Farming While Black Co-Producer at Kontent Films - Delphine Sellars, Catawba Trail Farm, Durham NC? - Kendrick Ransome, Golden Organic Farm, Pinetops NC - Ashley Walker, So Herban Homestead, Yemassee SC ??? Event Details:? - Saturday, November 2nd, 6:15pm - Durham Convention Center, Durham, North Carolina - Agenda: - 6:15-7:30pm: Film Screening - 7:30-8:15pm: Panel Discussion - Light, locally-sourced desserts to be served For more info and to buy tickets: https://lnkd.in/e7nWkXdR #sustainableagriculture?#durhamevents?#regenerativeorganicagriculture?#FarmingWhileBlack?#kontentfilms?#farmingwhileblackfilm?#sac2024?#cultivatedforthecarolinas