Uncategorized – Center for Environmental Farming Systems

2025 CEFS Apprentices

Marcello Cappellazzi — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:43:03 +0000

Congratulations to the Recent Graduates of Our Registered Agriculture Apprenticeships!

We’re celebrating the hard work and dedication of recent graduates from CEFS’ Registered Agricultural Apprenticeships and we are also welcoming new applicants for the 2026 growing season!

CEFS apprenticeship graduates worked on farms for two seasons, helping sustainably grow food for their communities. They gained hands-on agriculture skills on farms learning with and from experienced farmers. These graduates have already become integral members of North Carolina’s farming community, contributing fresh food to their local food systems.

Two of our graduating apprentices and their farmer mentors were supported by funding from the Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (SE TOPP). This USDA program supports transitioning and organic producers with mentorship and resources. Adam Smith mentored James Clark in the CEFS apprenticeship. Adam was in turn mentored in the SE TOPP farmer-to-farmer mentorship program as he began the process of transitioning his family’s operation, Tenacious Agrarians, to be certified organic. Juliann Moore worked two seasons as an apprentice on Clem’s Organic Garden, a certified organic operation in Western North Carolina. Both James and Juliann were trained in production techniques and record keeping required for organic certification during their apprenticeship. SE TOPP’s investments in the apprenticeship reflects the importance of farmers as mentors in professionalizing new farmers committed to organic production practices. As apprentice James explains, “This experience here definitely fits into the career of farming, because it gives you hands-on experience and that’s probably the best you can get.”

Farmer mentors are the heart of apprenticeship-based training. They don’t just teach new growers how to farm—they model how to think, adapt, and access critical resources on a working landscape. Their guidance shapes the next generation of skilled farm managers, while their own operations benefit from hosting apprentices who bring enthusiasm, commitment, and a deep interest in sustainable agriculture. James’ farmer mentor, Adam, reinforced the value of on-farm mentorship programs, noting that the program supports and invests in NC producers as critical trainers of the next generation of farmers. SE TOPP funding plays a vital role in supporting farmer mentors and expanding the production of certified organic produce across our state.

Participants are being recruited for the SE TOPP Farmer-to-Farmer mentorship program. Farmer mentors and mentees are both compensated for their participation. More information about the program can be found here.

If you’re interested in becoming a farm mentor, please visit our website to learn more and apply. Applications are now open for both farmer mentors and apprentices for the 2026 CEFS Registered Apprenticeship growing season.

Apply to be a CEFS Farm Host here. Apply to be a CEFS Apprentice here

Meet the 2025 CEFS Apprenticeship Graduates

James Clark was mentored by Adam Smith at Tenacious Agrarians Farm.

Claire Dubois was mentored by Ed Graves at Tiny Bridge Farm.

Juliann Moore was mentored by Clem Swift at Clem’s Organic Garden.

Lee Stephenson was mentored by James Hartman at Secret Garden Bees.

WNC Strong Youth Service Corps Celebration

Janie Hynson — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:59:11 +0000

On November 8, 2025, we celebrated the amazing work and growth of our WNCStrong Youth Service Corps participants!

We launched the WNCStrong Youth Service Corps to help western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene while preparing the next generation of leaders. High school students from Buncombe, Mitchell, and Yancey counties gained hands-on experience in agriculture through paid internships. They’ve helped to restore storm-impacted farms, strengthen local food systems, and build resilience in their communities.

Learn more in this NC State CALS News article or by watching this video.

The WNCStrong Youth Service Corps is a project of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and is funded by a grant from the USDA NIFA and a generous contribution from the North Carolina Alliance for Health.

Visit the WNCStrong website to learn more.

Need Hay? NC Extension Offers New Online Hay Listing Service

Janie Hynson — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:54:38 +0000

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, NC Choices has collaborated with Extension livestock and forage partners to develop NC Hay Finder, a new website to help connect farmers needing hay with those who have hay to sell. Read more below…

NC State Extension, with the generous financial support of NC Farm Bureau and NC Cattlemen’s, has launched a new tool for connecting those needing hay with those who have hay to sell. The newly launched website, nchayfinder.com, allows you to search for hay by your zip code. You can then sort by distance, type of hay, or price. If you have hay for sale, you can create a listing by creating an account.

For livestock production, forage is the primary source of feed and nutrition. Simply, forages are the plant material that animals eat, whether the animal harvests it themselves through grazing or it is harvested mechanically (hay, sileage, baleage) by the farmer. Feed is the most expensive cost of a livestock enterprise. Farms that can extend their grazing season through management (rotational grazing, improved pastures, etc.) can help reduce this cost. Even with the best management practices, there is still a need for feeding stored forages (hay, baleage, silage).

In 2023, 119 million tons of dry hay was produced nationally. Based on the 2022 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina harvested over 1.2 million tons of dry hay. Many variables affect the quality of hay. These include, but are not limited to: the species of hay (fescue, orchardgrass, alfalfa, etc.), stage of maturity of the plant at harvest, amount of weeds in the forage, and how the hay is stored. There are visual inspections that you can make to help assess the quality of the hay. However, the best way to assess the hay is to have the forage analyzed.

Your forage analysis results are only as good as the sample you submit. Be sure to collect a representative sample of the hay you want analyzed and keep the sample clean from contaminants. Sample each unique lot of hay, or hay from the same field and same cutting. If possible, use a core sampler to obtain your sample from various bales from the lot. Always sample from the end of square bales or the round side of a round bale. It is best to remove the outer half inch of the bale before sampling to help limit contamination. Mix the samples in a clean plastic bucket. Typically, a gallon-size portion is needed.

You can send your sample to the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Feed & Forage Laboratory or you can choose a commercial lab for testing. For more information about the NC Hay Finder website or how to collect a forage sample, contact your local livestock agent.

Download this one-pager about NC Hay Finder.

CEFS Events Associate

Janie Hynson — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:30:27 +0000

Applicants must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is seeking a detail-oriented and service-driven professional to support daily operations, with a focus on event management and administrative coordination. This position is part of the CEFS administrative team and reports to the administrative lead.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide day-to-day technical and customer service support to CEFS program staff
Support planning, coordination, and evaluation of events and public meetings, including those for the Farm to Early Care team
Communicate program policies and procedures clearly and accurately to clients and stakeholders
Track and maintain records and accounts to support reporting requirements for events
Request, organize, and submit business paperwork related to assigned events, ensuring timely follow-up
Assist with general administrative functions and contribute to the smooth operation of the CEFS administrative team
Troubleshoot and resolve routine issues related to event coordination and client communications

Job Location: Raleigh, NC

APPLY NOW

Farm to ECE 2025 Garden Interns

Marcello Cappellazzi — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:44:43 +0000

For the past ten years, Wake County Partnership for Children (WCPC) has been a dedicated leader in connecting local food and nutrition education through its impactful Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) initiative. Since launching the program a decade ago, WCPC has worked tirelessly to build a stronger, healthier foundation for our youngest residents, integrating local produce, gardening, and hands-on learning into countless child care centers across the county.

This summer, WCPC’s commitment to innovation was brilliantly demonstrated through their Farm to ECE Garden Internship Program. A team of energetic summer garden interns was hired to lead the way, managing on-site gardens, facilitating classroom taste tests, and running fun, educational activities at many participating child care centers. These interns were the essential boots-on-the-ground support, transforming small plots into vibrant, hands-on learning laboratories where children could pick, wash, and eat fresh food. Without the dedication, passion, and daily presence of these interns, the day-to-day work of maintaining gardens and consistently integrating local food education would simply not be as successful as it is today in Wake County. WCPC celebrates the interns for their vital role in driving this ten-year success story forward, ensuring more children are connected to where their food comes from.

Key accomplishments include:

Working with Wake County Smart Start–affiliated childcare centers and family child care homes to support garden installation, maintenance, and garden-based learning
Planting and caring for garden beds filled with seasonal vegetables, herbs, and pollinator-friendly flowers
Assisting with interactive garden activities, helping children explore nature through touch, observation, and inquiry
Creating child-friendly educational signage and sensory materials to promote hands-on learning
Providing nutritional support by offering cooking demonstrations and developing healthy, garden-inspired recipes for children, staff, and families
Supporting community engagement, including preparing for site visits and developing materials that showcase garden learning
Documenting growth and progress through photos, journals, and activity reflections

The interns demonstrated creativity, leadership, and dedication throughout their work. Their contributions enriched the learning experiences of children, supported the health and well-being of families, and strengthened the foundation for long-term outdoor and nutrition education across Wake County.

National Leaders Visit NC to See Farm to ECE in Action

Marcello Cappellazzi — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:58:55 +0000

Earlier this month, representatives from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, along with partners working in early childhood education (ECE), community gardening, and local food systems in Detroit, Michigan, visited North Carolina to learn more about successful Farm to ECE initiatives that integrate local food purchasing.

Organized by Shironda Brown and Dr. Dara Bloom of the Farm to Early Care and Education initiative at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), the multi-day tour highlighted community-based strategies for improving young children’s access to healthy, local food.

The site visit highlighted innovative local food purchasing models for Farm to ECE that were developed and piloted jointly with community partners through the Farm to ECE initiative’s USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Program grant. Participants were able to visit Royall Head Start in Goldsboro, NC and their central kitchen (WAGES, Community Action Center), which also prepares meals for seniors. They then followed the supply chain to visit the food hub that they purchased from as part of the project, Working Landscapes in Warren County, which sells chopped produce. The next day they visited A Safe Place Child Care Center in Raleigh to visit their Cross Link location which houses the kitchen used to cook and prepare all local produce and food for the three Safe Place sites daily. Next we visited Bambino’s Play School in Cary, NC, which currently purchases local food from the food hub Farmer FoodShare. The group then visited Farmer FoodShare to learn about their Farm to ECE program, in addition to their other local food programming. This innovative local food purchasing model, supported by Wake County government, combines orders from child care programs in order to increase the volume they order and get wholesale prices, while allowing programs to place individual orders. Along the way, facilitators from Wayne and Wake County Cooperative Extension (Michelle Estrada and Trevor Hyde) and the Wayne and Wake County Smart Start Partnership for Children (Trinisia Carlton, Lynn Policastro, and Tamiko McCullough) explained their roles in supporting and maintaining these purchasing systems, including how they provide hands-on support to food-based learning and gardening, and mentor interns who also provide on-the-ground support.

This visit served as both a celebration of progress and an opportunity to explore future collaboration, ensuring that young children across North Carolina benefit from vibrant, local food systems.

Lunchtime Discovery Series: Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems in NC

Janie Hynson — Wed, 28 May 2025 21:33:25 +0000

Climate change, food insecurity, and environmental concerns are complex agricultural and food systems challenges impacting farmers and communities globally and here in North Carolina. These sustainability challenges require multidisciplinary and new approaches across our whole food system from the farm gate to plate.

Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, CEFS Director based at North Carolina State University and W.K. Kellogg Endowed Distinguished Chair in Sustainable Community-Based Food Systems, explored this topic as the May 28, 2025 speaker for a Lunchtime Discovery Series hosted by the N.C. DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.

Watch the presentation to learn about the agroecology and sustainable food and agricultural systems research, education, and extension programs through CEFS, opportunities to engage with CEFS, and career path opportunities in agroecology.

Watch the Presentation

Temporary CEFS Event Associate

Janie Hynson — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:12:34 +0000

Applicants must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application.

Position Description:

CEFS is hiring an Event Associate. This position will provide technical day-to day customer service and support of the operations of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in particular, providing event management support services to program staff. In addition this position will stay up –to-date on program policies and procedures to effectively communicate them to clients, will problem solve as needed, and will maintain accounts and records to support event reporting needs. Finally, this position will play an important role in the administration team of CEFS and will operate under the direction and supervision of the administrative lead of the organization. Among other events, this position will work with the Farm to Early Care team to plan, operate and evaluate all events and public meetings. This position will request, organize, submit and provide follow up as needed for all business paperwork for assigned events and the Farm to Early Care team.

Job Location: Raleigh, NC

APPLY NOW

CEFS Shines at the 2025 N.C. Cooperative Extension Conference

CEFS — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:41:06 +0000

Many faculty and staff affiliated with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) participated in the 2025 North Carolina Cooperative Extension Conference, held January 6-8 in Greensboro, NC.

CEFS’ work is inextricably connected with N.C. Cooperative Extension. CEFS initiatives exchange information with Extension Agents, including trainings, research, state-level support and networking, and technical support, and also help to connect community groups with state-level resources and networks. CEFS Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility based at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, NC provides a site for Extension outreach and field research demonstrations. The conference served as a dynamic platform for CEFS staff and affiliated faculty to share their cutting-edge work in sustainable agriculture, local food systems, and community engagement.

Awards

Jessica Mrugala, Extension Associate and Local Foods Coordinator for Empowering Mountain Food Systems, and Chumper Walker, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Extension Director, were recognized during the conference for their exceptional leadership with two Regional Team Awards – the Jones Award and the NCCE Foundation Search for Excellence Awards in Extension.

Jessica Mrugala, Extension Associate and Local Foods Coordinator for Empowering Mountain Food Systems, and Chumper Walker, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Extension Director, were recognized during the conference for their exceptional leadership with two Regional Team Awards – the Jones Award and the NCCE Foundation Search for Excellence Awards in Extension. Mrugala and Walker have been instrumental in advancing food sovereignty efforts for the EBCI. Their work has brought over $11 million in federal and regional funding, supporting community-driven food production, nutrition education, and the creation of vital infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art meat processing facility. Their efforts, especially in fostering food sovereignty and sustainable farming practices, have helped to transform the food landscape in Cherokee communities. Their leadership has been foundational in increasing the local production of traditional Cherokee foods, preserving foodways, and empowering community food systems.

Conference Presentations

Additionally, CEFS-affiliated experts led multiple workshops across several key topics, reflecting their deep commitment to the future of farming and food systems in North Carolina. Presenters included Mark Blevins, Dara Bloom, Shironda Brown, Miguel Castillo, Mallory Choudoir, Angel Cruz, Hannah Dankbar, Biswanath Dari, Liz Driscoll, Remi Ham, John Lyttle, Trequan McGee, Matt Poore, Noah Ranells, Chris Reberg-Horton, Robyn Stout, and Alex Woodley. Topics covered by CEFS-affiliated presenters included: local food programs, artificial intelligence in agriculture, farm to early care and education, carbon markets, drought management, resources for new farmers, the future of small farms, the N.C. Extension Master Food Volunteer Program, soil health, cover crops, food security, youth in agriculture, and using data for farming decisions.

At the heart of CEFS’ presence at the conference was a shared commitment to supporting sustainable farming practices and community-based food systems. In partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension, CEFS continues to ensure that North Carolina remains a leader in sustainable agriculture and community engagement, paving the way for a more resilient food future.

Cuidando a la comunidad: Greensboro Mutual Aid inaugura su 2.ª Nevera de la Libertad en el mercado gratuito local

CEFS — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:35:50 +0000

To read this article in English, please click here.

Escrito por Starletta Watson

La acción comunitaria en Greensboro, Carolina del Norte, ha estado plenamente activa en el vecindario East White Oak para hacer frente a su actual crisis de acceso a los alimentos. El 24 de febrero de 2024 Greensboro Mutual Aid (GMA) inauguró su segunda Nevera de la libertad y organizó su Mercado realmente gratuito en el Centro Comunitario East White Oak (EWOCC). La Nevera de la libertad se instaló en un lado del edificio de EWOCC dentro de un contenedor con estantes destinados a productos perecederos, pintado con colores vibrantes y cálidos, como un faro de apoyo y bondad para la comunidad.

GMA es un grupo comunitario dedicado a conectar a la gente para compartir recursos en toda la ciudad con el fin de apoyar iniciativas de vivienda y de necesidades esenciales. Desde su aparición en 2020 durante la pandemia, GMA ha utilizado recursos compartidos o de ayuda mutua para la comunidad a través de plataformas digitales y sociales de recaudación de fondos, ha organizado protestas, reuniones comunitarias y eventos, ha creado mercados gratuitos y un sinfín de otros proyectos de apoyo para personas con necesidades. Este aliado comunitario del Comité sobre Equidad Racial en el Sistema Alimentario (CORE, por sus siglas en inglés) ha colaborado con varios organizadores comunitarios de Greensboro en los proyectos de la Nevera de la libertad, entre ellos la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace y EWOCC.

Fue muy gratificante ver cómo GMA incorporaba la celebración de la segunda Nevera de la libertad a otra iniciativa comunitaria, el Mercado realmente gratuito. Durante todos sus mercados gratuitos, piden a los miembros de la comunidad que traigan cosas como ropa y artículos para el hogar que no necesiten y que se lleven las cosas que sí necesitan. El espacio en EWOCC, también conocido como La Gran Casa Verde, se llenó de artículos para el hogar, ropa, libros, juguetes, suministros médicos, pequeños electrodomésticos, artículos de limpieza y mucho más, entre otras cosas, con la alegría de la comunidad.

Las Neveras de la libertad son neveras públicas y gratuitas mantenidas por GMA y la comunidad a la que sirven. Conceptos similares han ido apareciendo por todo el país con comunidades de distintos orígenes para ayudar a remediar las injusticias alimentarias, como por ejemplo la nevera gratuita de Southside Community Farm en Asheville y la Nevera comunitaria gratuita de Charlotte. Greensboro Mutual Aid se ha inspirado para la Nevera de la libertad en proyectos de organizaciones de distintas ciudades de EE UU. Esta es la segunda vez que GMA ha organizado una Nevera de la libertad. La primera (una colaboración en la que también participaron estudiantes de N.C. A&T) se instaló en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en la zona sur de Greensboro.

La EWO es conocida por su capacidad para organizarse y ser su propio líder, ya que el centro comunitario tiene su propia y rica historia de proveer para sí mismos. Antes de inaugurar la Nevera de la libertad, dos habitantes de la zona desde su infancia, Cathy Gant Hill y Alice Drake, que son miembros de la junta directiva de EWOCC, hablaron del pasado del centro cuando era una escuela en 1916. La escuela East White Oak abrió sus puertas específicamente para educar a los hijos de los trabajadores de Cone Mill del vecindario, y tras su funcionamiento durante 35 años como escuela, además de iglesia y YMCA, evolucionó hasta convertirse en el centro comunitario que conocemos hoy. Durante la década de 1950, una coalición de líderes comunitarios se unió para evitar que el concejo de la ciudad arrasara con “La Gran Casa Verde” reuniendo suficiente dinero a través de recaudaciones de fondos y venta de placas para comprar y operar las instalaciones como un centro comunitario.

EWO ha sido una comunidad históricamente marginada que carece de acceso alimentario desde que Winn-Dixie cerró en 2005, dejando a la comunidad entre dos supermercados fuera de su alcance. Otras comunidades de Greensboro similares a EWO que experimentan inseguridad alimentaria indican disparidades socioeconómicas que perpetúan los malos resultados en materia de salud. Una forma en que los vecindarios como EWO hacen frente a estas barreras sistémicas es colaborando con organizaciones como Greensboro Mutual Aid en iniciativas comunitarias para mejorar el apoyo y el acceso alimentario en el lado este de Greensboro. Pero éste no es el único lado de Greensboro que sufre la desigualdad en el acceso alimentario, ya que la primera Nevera de la libertad se encuentra justo al sur del centro de la ciudad, en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en el vecindario de Warnersville.

Este mapa de alimentos locales creado por la Fundación Wesley de UNCG muestra que GMA está combatiendo la disparidad del acceso alimentario en ese vecindario, al igual que EWO. Otros estudios de diversas instituciones muestran que Warnersville y EWO se ven inmersos en un efecto periférico. En esta situación, los minoristas del sector alimentario tienden a elegir sedes directamente adyacentes a carreteras concurridas y de fácil acceso. A menudo se extienden a lo largo de secciones censales y otros límites geográficos, lo que hace que el acceso alimentario adecuado quede fuera del alcance de vecindarios como Warnersville y EWO.

Al final del evento de inauguración, GMA pidió a los jóvenes del vecindario de EWO que cortaran la cinta inaugural de la Nevera de la libertad. Fue refrescante ver la participación de los jóvenes de la comunidad en la inauguración del Mercado realmente gratuito y la Nevera de la libertad. Algunos jóvenes trajeron productos no perecederos para ayudar a llenar las áreas de despensa del contenedor exterior de la nevera. La artista mural y directora de CORE, Bevelyn Ukah, rindió homenaje a un joven llamado Amuarin Niquae Watkins pintando un mural lleno de colores cálidos y vibrantes por todo el contenedor exterior de la nevera, incluido el dibujo de una mochila rebosante de naranjas. Un día, Watkins llevó naranjas al centro comunitario para compartirlas con los demás. Ukah declaró en su discurso: “Nadie le pidio que lo hiciera. Este fue un acto de amor y de bondad. Este acto ejemplificó perfectamente lo que significa ser una comunidad y lo que significa practicar amorosamente la ayuda mutua.” Desde los actos generosos que inspiraron este mural, ver a los jóvenes mantener secciones del Mercado realmente gratuito, hasta los que ayudaron a limpiar el centro comunitario tras la inauguración de la Nevera de la libertad, la ayuda mutua es un acto que se siente a través de múltiples generaciones. Estos momentos, llenos de generosidad mutua y cariño en los eventos organizados por GMA, ponen en perspectiva la urgencia del movimiento por la Justicia Alimentaria, concretamente que GMA y los miembros jóvenes de la comunidad están dispuestos a hacer el trabajo por la equidad en el acceso alimentario.