2007-2009 Past Events

This is an archive of our 2007 and earlier past events and workshops.

November 9th, 2009

CEFS and Burt’s Bees are thrilled to welcome Will Allen as the 2009 Sustainable Agriculture Lecturer. Allen is the founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc., and is the recipient of a 2008 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “Genius” award.

Additional Sponsors

Visionary

  • Sysco Corporation
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Bon Appetit Management Company

Sustaining

  • Lantern Restaurant
  • Goldsboro Wayne County Travel and Tourism Department
  • Red Hat

Steward

  • The Umstead Hotel
  • The Conservation Fund
  • Southern Region SARE
  • N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Zely & Ritz Restaurant
  • InSight Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation
  • NCSU Cooperative Extension

Guardian

  • Counter Culture Coffee
  • Rare Earth Farm
  • Cabarrus County
  • The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
  • Brian Bulla and Carol Kline

Cultivator

  • Curtis Consulting
  • Piedmont Conservation Council

Interested in becoming a CEFS sponsor?
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for these events. Please contact Nancy Creamer at nancy_creamer@ncsu.edu or (919) 515-9447.

In the world of urban “food deserts”—areas with limited access to fresh, affordable foods—convenience stores, fast-food chains and liquor stores reign supreme. The two-acre Growing Power farm in downtown Milwaukee is truly an oasis. In the early 1990s, Allen envisioned a farm using low-input, sustainable practices and staffed by area teens who needed a place to work. Through the years, this community partnership has grown to include the young, the elderly, farmers, producers and other professionals ranging from USDA personnel to urban planners. Today, Growing Power raises 159 varieties of food, including fruits, vegetables, animal forages, goats, ducks, bees, turkeys and—in an aquaponic system designed and built by Allen—tilapia and Great Lakes perch.

Click on the links below to learn more about Will Allen:

Don’t miss these two unique conversations. Visit our Friends of CEFS Web page or call (919) 513-3924 for information on reserved lecture seating.

Schedule of Events for Monday, November 9, 2009

Urban Community Lecture: “Big Change in Small Spaces: Growing Food Security, Food Justice and Future Leaders”
10:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Wayne School of Engineering at Goldsboro High School (Auditorium)
700 N. Herman St., Goldsboro, NC  27530

This event is free and open to the public.
Sustainable Agriculture Reception
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center
1210 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC  27606

As an expression of our gratitude, Friends of CEFS members who have joined at the Guardian Level and higher will receive an invitation (for the member plus one guest) to attend a special reception honoring Will Allen. The Sustainable Agriculture Lecture will be held immediately following the reception (see below for lecture details). The reception will be catered by Chef Sarig Agasi of Zely & Ritz. CEFS is very appreciative of our Reception Supporter: NC A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program.
Sustainable Agriculture Lecture: “Steps to Successful Urban Farming”
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
McKimmon Center
1101 Gorman St., Raleigh, NC 27606

This event is free and open to the public, but open seating will be limited. Reserved seating is available to Friends of CEFS members. To learn how to reserve seating, please visit the Friends of CEFS Web page.

Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.

June 1st, 2009

Join Piedmont cooks and farmers for an evening of food, live music and fun activities for the entire family! In a unique collaboration, the regions most acclaimed cooks will pair with Piedmont farmers to prepare a picnic-style feast that celebrates our local foods and the people who grow and make them. The picnic will feature farm food representing the bounty and diversity of our region, including the season’s first field-ripened tomatoes, head-to-tail heritage pork, a shrimp boil, grass-fed beef, a tasting tent filled with handmade craft food, including farmstead cheese, pickles, preserves, breads and cured meat; all-local snow cones, spit-roasted lamb, grilled pizzas made from Triangle-grown wheat and produce grown in the field next door, and the season’s last strawberries. Tickets may be purchased online at www.farmtoforknc.com or by calling (919) 755-3804. All proceeds will help grow new farms and farmers across North Carolina.

Participating producers to date include:

  • 18 Seaboard
  • 3CUPS
  • Acme Food & Beverage
  • Ayrshire Farm
  • Bluebird Meadows
  • Brinkley Farms
  • Cane Creek Farm
  • Carolina Crossroads
  • Castlemaine Farm
  • Celebrity Goat Dairy
  • Chapel Hill Creamery
  • Contrarian Farm
  • Coon Rock Farm
  • Counter Culture Coffee
  • David Auerbach
  • Durham Inner-city
  • Gardeners at SEEDS
  • Dutch Buffalo Farm
  • Eco Farm
  • Elaine’s on Franklin
  • Elysian Fields Farm
  • Farmer’s Daughter
  • Fickle Creek Farm
  • Foster’s Market
  • Four Leaf Farm
  • Four Square
  • Fowl Attitude Farm
  • Fred Thompson
  • Fullsteam Brewery
  • Glasshalfull
  • Harland’s Creek Farm
  • Haw River Wine Man
  • Herons
  • Irregardless Café
  • Jujube
  • Lantern
  • Lil’ Farm
  • Lucky 32
  • Maple Spring Gardens
  • Neal’s Deli
  • Panciuto
  • Panzanella
  • Peregrine Farm
  • Perry-winkle Farm
  • Piedmont Biofarm
  • Piedmont
  • Plant @ Breeze Farmers
  • Poole’s Diner
  • Sage & Swift
  • Southport Seafood
  • The Barbecue Joint
  • The Weathervane
  • Timberwood Organics
  • Tiny Farm
  • Toast
  • Triple B Farms
  • Watts Grocery
  • Wild Hare Farm
  • Zely & Ritz
April 18th, 2009

CEFS Spring Farm Festival
Goldsboro, NC
9:00 a.m. – noon

Free event!

A great FAMILY EVENT with lots of kid activities. Please join us at the CEFS Small Farm Unit as we celebrate sustainable agriculture and local food and farming in North Carolina. The Festival will include educational booths and activities, workshops, tours, kids activities a farmers market, local food and live music all day.

Exhibits – Learn about organic and sustainable farming, home gardening, small farm equipment, healthy eating, and more through exhibits hosted by extension offices, university faculty and staff, non-profit organizations and other agricultural organizations in North Carolina.

Kids’ Activities – Children of all ages will enjoy hands-on agricultural activities including games, crafts, and much more!

Workshops – Local experts will offer demonstrations on topics of interest to farmers and home gardeners.

Live Music – Enjoy live music while you visit the educational booths or simply enjoy a walking tour of the farm.

Farmers’ Market – Purchase farm fresh products from local farms at the Festival Farmer’s Market.

Farm Tours – Tours of the CEFS farm will be offered throughout the day. Tour stops include the pasture-based dairy and beef facilities, swine hoop houses, and cropping system research areas.

Interested in becoming a vendor at the 2009 CEFS Spring Farm Festival? Please visit our Educational Exhibitor and Application pages!

September 16th, 2008

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is pleased to bring Judy Wicks of the famed White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia to talk about “Local Living Economies: Green, Fair & Fun.”
N.C. Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC

Directions to NC Museum of History

This lecture will be FREE TO THE PUBLIC, although there is limited seating for this intimate discussion. Reserved seating is available for Friends of CEFS. Please visit our Membership Benefits page to learn more about getting your RESERVED SEATING and becoming a Friend of CEFS.

For more information on this event, email cefs_info@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-3924.

Presenting:

  • Burt’s Bees

Reception:

  • The Compass Group
August 25th, 2008

CEFS in Goldsboro, NC
9:00 – 4:30 (8:30AM Registration)

Sustainable Local Food Systems promote entrepreneurial activities by local farms, markets, and supporting businesses and provide citizens access to fresh and healthy foods. This workshop will provide the nuts and bolts of developing local food systems including:

Making the Case for Sustainable Local Food Systems…
Keynote address by Kamyar Enshayan
Director, University of Northern Iowa
Center for Energy and Environmental Education

The Basics: What does a community based food system look like and how can it bring economic development to your community?

Conducting Food Assessments: Involving community and youth

Developing New Markets: Institutional and Retail Market Challenges and Opportunities • Farm-to-School connections • Buy local campaigns

Farmer Training Programs: Farm Incubator Program Models • Teaming up with Community Colleges • Breeze Farm Example • Experience of an Incubated Farmer

Community Engagement: Youth • Faith-based communities • Health Professionals • Food Justice Considerations

Business and Infrastructure: Scaling up • New business opportunities • Transitioning farmer opportunities • Food waste

Food Policy: Food policy councils • Policy idea brainstorm about the upcoming “Building Local Food Economies Summit”

NC County and Region Based Initiatives: Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Project • Triangle Food Commons • Wayne County Local Food Initiative • Cabarrus County Local Food Initiative

November 7th, 2007

CEFS Author Series Announces: John Ikerd

John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, Columbia

On Wednesday, November 7 (at 9 am in Williams Hall) author John Ikerd will give a seminar as part of the CEFS Author Series. John was raised on a small dairy farm in southwest Missouri and received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri . He worked in private industry for a time and spent thirty years in various professorial positions at North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia , and University of Missouri before retiring in early 2000. Since retiring, he spends most of his time writing and speaking on issues relate to the sustainability of agriculture.

More information about John and selected writings are available at http://johnikerd.com.

November 2nd, 2007http://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/

Traditional Breeds, Modern Skills
Sharing 30 Years of Breed Conservation
November 2 – 4, 2007

Come join ALBC in a celebration of 30 successful years conserving livestock genetic diversity. Programs will include hands-on workshops on husbandry, management, and selection of rare breeds at local farms, as well as seminars on rare breed products production, processing, marketing, and breeding strategies at the Civic Center. There will be time allotted for members to network and share their experiences, successes, and hopes. Plus, Friday and Saturday night will feature special meals with opportunities to taste rare breeds. So, join us for some Southern Hospitality – after all, we only turn 30 once! For more information, please visit: http://albc-usa.org/

July 12th, 2007

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) are pleased to announce “Fueling the Farm: Managing Energy Risks, Reducing Energy Costs, and Exploring Alternative Energy Sources.” This day-long workshop will take place July 12 at Cherry Research Farm, a 2,000-acre research, extension, and education facility near Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Besides offering an overview of current and future energy use in agriculture, the workshop will show producers how to evaluate their energy saving options and how to finance and build renewable energy projects. Participants will tour energy-saving projects at Cherry Farm, and breakout sessions will cover several forms of renewable energy, as well as state and federal grant and loan opportunities. Hands-on demonstrations will be emphasized. Participants will have the opportunity to help build a small-scale biodiesel reactor, from parts that can be purchased for around $300.

June 1st, 2007

The average 400 calorie breakfast consumes 2800 calories of fossil fuel energy.

Why do our food choices matter?

Eat Local Triangle is a month-long calendar of events this June 2007. Join us in raising awareness about the connection between local foods and farms to flavor, health, local economy, workers’ rights, environment and land preservation. Eat Local Triangle includes the participation of over 60 restaurants and events such as the Smart Start Family Fest, The Abundance Foundation’s All-local Community Dinner, and Hillsborough Hog Day, a whole pasture-raised hog tasting.

eatlocaltriangle.org

May 23rd, 2007

E. Carroll Joyner Visitors Center, NC State University
1210 Varsity Drive (at Western Blvd.), Raleigh, N.C.
5:00 p.m.

Join Carlo Petrini at a private reception to support CEFS. CEFS develops and promotes food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond through research, education, outreach, and marketing innovations.

May 23rd, 2007

Carlo Petrini, founder of the International Slow Food Movement, was the featured speaker of the CEFS Inaugural Sustainable Agriculture Lecture. Petrini spoke on the Slow Food philosophy of good, clean and fair food: that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

The lecture took place at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at the NCSU McKimmon Center with over 850 people in attendance.

To read more about Petrini’s visit to the Triangle, please visit:

For more information on Carlo Petrini and Slow Food, please visit the Slow Food website or view his biography.

Event sponsored in part by: The Compass Group, Burt’s Bees & Whole Foods Market.

May 22nd, 2007

Chapel Hill Creamery
615 Chapel Hill Creamery Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This family-friendly evening pairs the regions most acclaimed chefs with Piedmont farmers. Featured foods include barbecued heritage pigs, deviled eggs from pastured chickens, local produce, an old-fashioned Southern dessert table, live bluegrass, and a chance to visit with the wheyfed pigs while they have their supper.

Brought to you by Slow Food Triangle, NC Choices, and SEEDS, proceeds will be used to plant heirloom Southern apple trees at Lakewood & Burton Elementary Schools in Durham.