ONGOING

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers workshops on a wide variety of topics. Check their calendar.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program now offers an online continuing education program for agricultural educators. http://sare.org/coreinfo/ceprogram.htm

eOrganic now offers regular webinars on organic production. Visit http://www.extension.org/article/25242 to register for new workshop topics or access archived webinars. Featuring topics such as: Using NRCS Conservation Practices to Transition to Organic, Planning for Flexibility in Crop Rotations, and Planning Your Organic Farm for Profit.

Tuesdays throughout the summer. Birmingham, AL. Community Farm Table at Little Savannah Restaurant. Enjoy a family-style meal with local farmers. Check out the menus and farmers at www.littlesavannah.com/uploads/farmtable.pdf.

AUGUST

August 5. Selma, AL. USDA-NRCS Outreach Meeting. 6 pm. Join your neighbors and USDA-NRCS in exploring the New Farm Bill.  There will be a discussion about the Environmental Quality Incentive (EQIP) and addressing resource needs and concerns that deal with vegetable production, pastureland, animals/grazing systems for cattle and goats, forest health and wildlife, community needs, and other concerns. This is an opportunity for community members to learn about the programs available, to get questions answered concerning our land and our community, and to get help in applying for programs that are available. For more information, contact: Tenn Tom Community Development Inc., Rugenia Gulley, Outreach Contractor at 334-289-4645.

August 9-11. Tuskegee, AL. Master Goat Producer's Certification Training Program. Caprine Research & Education Unit. The Master Goat Producer's Certification Program is a comprehensive training program which offers classes on herd health, marketing, nutrition and pasture management, bio-security, bioterrorism awareness, quality assurance, disaster preparedness, reproductive management and much, much more. The program will include hands-on training in hoof trimming, assessing body condition scores, artificial insemination, judging livestock, FAMACHA and microscopic fecal examinations, pasture management and more. For registration and further information visit http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Byo0fBSnPCfjMmUzZGZhNGQtZWQyYS00ZTZmLTlkZWItYmM0MjJiYjE4ZDA2&hl=en

August 11. Huntsville, AL. Regional Food Policy Council Planning Meeting. 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Contact nafoodpol@gmail.com or 256-520-2400 for more information.

August 14. Birmingham, AL. Women-In-Agriculture & Youth Development Conference, Theme: “Feed the Body and the Mind”. 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Hopewell Community Life Center, 4817 Jefferson Ave. SW, Building #2, Birmingham, Alabama 35221. Sponsored by the Small Farm Research Center (AAMU) in collaboration with Alabama Women In Agriculture, Inc., Hopewell Women In Agriculture, Project Hopewell Inc., and People Helping People, Inc. The one-day conference will focus on youth and women involved in agriculture, business development and entrepreneurship. Our target audience is women and their families, and especially young women and men ranging from 8-18 years of age. There is no registration fee, the event is free. However, everyone must register to attend. To register or learn more about the workshop contact (256) 372-4970 or echaverest@aamu.edu.

August 18-20. Mobile, AL. Agricultural Risk Management & Business Development Training Workshop. Field tour, Wednesday, 2 pm - ?. Workshop on Thursday & Friday, 9:00a.m.-4p.m. Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070 Schillinger Rd., N.,Mobile, AL 36608-5298. The Small Farm Research Center (AAMU) in collaboration with Alabama Cooperative Extension System will cover topics including government programs, business planning, e-commerce (internet marketing), financial management/record keeping, hands-on value-added agriculture, and alternative enterprise production. Please note: Scholarships (includes hotel accommodation, transportation, and meals) are also available, for those that qualify. Please ask. Limited space is available. To register or learn more about the workshop contact (256) 372-4970 or echaverest@aamu.edu.

August 19. Birmingham, AL. Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. Doors open at 5:30. $10-25. The Harbert Center, 2019 4th Avenue North. The Alabama Rivers Alliance and Alabama Environmental Council are hosting the largest environmental film festival in North America and it's a lot more exciting that just old-fashioned "nature" videos. The goal of Wild & Scenic is to showcase the Earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet, and the work that individuals and communities are doing to protect their environment. This year we've got films about school kids who are changing the world, young activists fighting for social and environmental justice, the adventures of a conservation photography team, how to save the save the planet one bite at a time, and more. For tickets and more details visit www.alabamarivers.org or call 877-862-5260.

August 20. Chattanooga, TN. Potlikker Film Festival. Featuring blazing-hot and icebox-cold fried chicken by Daniel Lindley of St. John's restaurant.  And whole hog bbq pork tacos – using hogs from Sequatchie Cove Farm and Riverview Farms – from Drew Robinson of Jim 'N Nick's. And lots more bites and drinks from local talent. With smart and short food films by the SFA's own Joe York.  And music by Chattanooga's own Gerle Haggard. Sponsored by the Southern Foodways Alliance. 5-8 pm. Warehouse Row.

August 19-21.  Birmingham and Epes, AL. Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund’s Federation of Southern Cooperatives 43rd Anniversary Celebration. U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield and Mrs. Carolyn Mugar, Co-Chairpersons. More information at 404.765.0991or fsc@federation.coop.

August 19: Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner Honoring Ms. Alice Walker. Alice Walker has written extensively on issues of race and gender, and is most famous for the critically acclaimed novel The Color Purple for which she won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

August 20: Rural Training and Cooperative Development Center - Epes, AL. Workshops, USDA Panel Discussions, Ag/coop tours, Fish fry, live auction w/ live entertainment!

August 21: Annual Meeting: Prayer Breakfast, key address speakers, business meeting.

August 28. Huntsville, AL. Green U Festival. Huntsville Botanical Gardens. A one-day family-friendly festival for the environment! Reserve a display space by August 6. More information at http://www.greenualabama.com.

August 31. Huntsville, AL. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread: A Hunger and Food Security Workshop. Sponsored by the Alabama Poverty Project and Interfaith Mission Service. Details to be announced.

BEYOND

October 16-19. New Orleans, LA. 14th Annual Community Food Security conference. www.foodsecurity.org

December 3-4. Selma, AL. Alabama Food and Farm Forum. Bringing together leaders from across the state to envision a new food system for Alabama. Stay tuned for details.

December 5-7. Tuskegee, AL. 2010 Professional Agriculture Workers Conference: Empowering Underserved Farmers and Rural Communities by Changing Legislation, USDA Eligibility Requirements, and Program Delivery. More information at www.pawc.info.