Free public tour series features Ohio’s organic and sustainable farms

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has announced its 2012 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series, featuring free public tours of sustainable and organic farms.

Consumers interested in local foods, farmers and market gardeners wanting to learn more and network with other farmers, aspiring and beginning farmers, and anyone interested in learning more about the production and marketing techniques of sustainable farmers, are encouraged to attend.

“Farmers are opening their gates this summer to show consumers how sustainably produced food is grown and marketed,” said Michelle Gregg, OEFFA’s Sustainable Agriculture Educator.

Thirteen tours and workshops are being sponsored by OEFFA and will be held between June and September.

These tours feature: organic berry production; high tunnels and hoop houses; commercial composting; permaculture; natural goat health; raw milk cheesemaking; specialty grain production; produce auctions; institutional sourcing; Ohio farm history; fiber production; specialty crop production, and farmers using a wide range of direct-to-consumer marketing strategies, including farmers’ markets, restaurants, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.

OEFFA’s events:

— June 10: Berry trellis systems and high tunnels tour and potluck— Brickel Creek Organic Farm; Jamestown, Ohio; (Greene Co.)

— June 24: OEFFA Athens Chapter compost tour — The Compost Exchange; Athens, Ohio; (Athens Co.)

— July 20: Garden tour and permaculture lecture with Peter Bane — Shaker Heights, Ohio; (Cuyahoga Co.)

— July 21- July 22: Advanced urban permaculture workshop with Peter Bane — Cleveland, Ohio; (Cuyahoga Co.)

— July 28: Natural goat health and raw milk cheesemaking tour — Blue Rock Station, Philo, Ohio; (Muskingum Co.)

— July 29: Garlic and hoop house season extension tour — Jandy’s Farm, Bellefontaine, Ohio; (Logan Co.)

— Aug. 4: Grain Growers Chapter specialty grain workshop and potluck — Gregg Organics, Bellville, Ohio; (Richland Co.)

— Sept. 14: Produce auctions and the local food web tour — Owl Creek Produce Auction, Fredericktown, Ohio; (Morrow Co.)

— Sept. 14: Institutional sourcing of local food tour — Kenyon College, AVI Foodsystems, Gambier, Ohio; (Knox Co.)

— Sept. 16: Sustainable living on an Ohio century farm tour — Carriage House Farm, North Bend, Ohio; (Hamilton Co.)

— Sept. 16: 2012 OEFFA Stewardship Award winner tour — Peach Mountain Organics, Spring Valley, Ohio; (Greene Co.)

— Sept. 23: Ohio farm history tour and potluck — Stone Garden Farm and Village, Richfield, Ohio; (Summit Co.)

— Sept. 27: Alpaca fiber production tour — Alpaca Spring Valley Farm, Minerva, Ohio; (Stark Co.)

In total, the series features 22 farms and food businesses, two university research centers and colleges, and five educational workshops.

For additional information and a complete list of all farm tours, including dates, times, farm descriptions, directions, and maps, go to www.oeffa.us/oeffa/pdfs/farmtour2012.pdf.