From CEFS at NCState – Center for Environmental Farming Systems:www.ncnewfarmers.org
www.ces.ncsu.edu

…

Through the Bringing New Farmers to the Table project, we have posted some new resources for folks working on establishing new incubator farms (here) as well as new resources for beginning farmers developed by our partners, including a web-based NC focused tool for developing a farm business plan and a workbook (under PLANNING FOR A NEW ENTERPRISE here ).

As a reminder, we also have developed (and recently updated) a New Farmer Toolbox Continue reading

Widow and son take over Willow Spring winery and vineyard

from the News and Obwerver – by Andrea Weigl     aweigl@newsobserver.com    February 1, 2014

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/01/3580278/widow-and-son-take-over-willow.html

When Joyce Adams’ husband died three years ago, she not only had to figure out how to run a Muscadine vineyard and winery, she also inherited her husband’s cause: to keep the family farm viable for future generations.

The land meant a lot to her husband, Johnny, whose full name was John Quincy Adams III. The 200 acres that he inherited in southeastern Wake County have been in the family since the 1700s; it was part of a land grant from the King of England, Adams said. Johnny was the seventh generation to live and work on the land. Continue reading

Dear Keeping the Farm Workshop Attendees,
The safety of our Wake County citizens comes first… Therefore the 2014
Keeping the Farm Workshop has been cancelled for tomorrow and rescheduled
for February 12th.

The workshop will be at the same time (Registration at 8:30), same place
(Wake County Commons Building), and on the same topics, on Wednesday,
February 12, 2014.

PLEASE let me know if you will be able to attend. (We still have to pay the
caterer. So an accurate count would be great.) We had 170 people registered
for tomorrow, so we really need to have a new count.
IF you did not previously register, you are still invited and may register
now. Please let us know by February 7th if you will be able to attend on
February 12th.

We don’t argue with the weather, or the weather Maker.

Thank you for working with us,
Dale Threatt-Taylor
Wake Soil and Water
Conservation District
919-250-1068

At the 47th Annual Wake SWCD Conservation Awards Celebration, Dr. David Lindbo was honored with the Envirothon Mentor of the Year award.

Here is an article from NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Perspectives magazine:

Lindbo honored for mentoring Wake County Envirothon Teams

Date posted: January 22, 2014

David Lindbo (left) is congratulated by Wake District Supervisor Marshall Harvey

N.C. State University’s Dr. David L. Lindbo, professor and Extension specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Soil Science, has been named 2013 Envirothon Mentor of the Year by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. The award was presented at the 48th Annual Conservation Awards Celebration hosted by the Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District. The event recognizes exemplary efforts by Wake County citizens in the realm of natural resource conservation, education and outreach.

Lindbo was honored for preparing Wake County middle- and high-school teams for the Envirothon — an academic competition that challenges young people’s knowledge in five areas: soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and current environmental issues.

Lindbo’s CALS research and Extension programs focus on non-agricultural land use and management of soils throughout North Carolina. For many years, he has conducted study sessions to help Envirothoners gain a thorough understanding and appreciation of soil science, while methodically covering the physical, biological and chemical properties of soil that Envirothon competitors are required to know.

As a natural resource professional, he’s been “willing to travel and meet with teams in person or by email or phone to help Envirothoners further understand the appropriate use, conservation and improvement of soils locally and globally,” said the Wake award announcement.

“Dr. Lindbo has been instrumental in helping our Wake County Envirothon teams achieve phenomenal success at the regional, state and national levels,” said Thomas Dean, chair of the Wake District Board of Supervisors. “Great football teams have great coaches. Successful Envirothon teams have dedicated mentors.”

2014 Careers In Conservation Scholarship
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS JANUARY 31ST, 2014

The North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation’s Scholarship Program was established to increase the number of qualified people committed to working in the field of natural resource management or other closely related fields that directly support the programs offered by local soil and water conservation districts in North Carolina. Scholarship recipients will be those who are currently pursuing or have firm plans to pursue a college course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management or other closely related fields.

Basic Criteria and Stipulations

• The Foundation plans to award merit based scholarships up to the individual scholarship amount of $5,000 per school year renewable at the discretion of the Scholarship Selection Committee. Subsequent funding awards are contingent upon the successful and timely academic progression carried out by the recipient.
• The recipient’s declared major should line up with the following courses of study; agronomy, agricultural engineering, animal science, forestry, natural resource conservation or management, plant science, soil science, water management, water quality or other closely related degree programs.
• To be eligible, the recipient must be a resident of North Carolina, attend a college in North Carolina and have achieved academic excellence in their high school or in their completed undergraduate studies. During the selection process, much consideration will be given to superior academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, honors and achievements obtained.
• Applicant eligibility will be influenced by the amount of any other scholarships previously awarded to the individual.
• Priority will be given to students who have advanced in their undergraduate studies to demonstrate a clear commitment to achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in a course of study consistent with skill sets needed for delivering programs offered through local soil and water conservation districts, associated state and federal agencies and the applicable private sector. Students who have completed at least 50% of their required college degree credit hours will receive additional consideration.
• Applicants currently enrolled in college are required to submit a current certified transcript of all college courses completed by the date of the application. Transcripts are to be mailed directly from the college to the Foundation office. Applications will not be reviewed until a transcript is received.
• Interviews will be held with qualifying applicants before a final decision is made by the Scholarship Selection Committee.
• Prior to awarding the scholarship, the recipient must be classified as a full-time college student. Funds will be deposited with the college’s financial aid office for payment of eligible expenses incurred.
• Current applications can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website www.ncsoilwater.org

This year’s “The Living Soil” Top Ten poster contest winners represent four elementary schools in Wake County.
The 5th graders’ challenge was to research the many kinds of organisms that live in the soil ecosystem and illustrate ways people can protect precious topsoil from erosion, compaction, and chemical contamination.

Over 1,125 5th graders entered the annual poster contest sponsored by Wake Soil & Water Conservation District and Novozymes Nature’s GREEN-RELEAF Composting. The top four poster winners won cash prizes of $100, $50, and $25 (two tied for 3rd Place), and were recognized at the 2013 Conservation Awards Celebration sponsored by Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District.

This spring the Top Ten winners will tour Novozymes Nature’s GREEN-RELEAF Composting facility to see compost being made on a large scale to be used as a soil conditioner by homes and businesses, and in compost socks that slow and filter stormwater runoff to reduce erosion.

Posters with the best balance of accurate science and original artwork won 10 Wake County students top honors
FARMINGTON WOODS Elementary in Cary

• Luke Boehling, art teacher Brandy Smith (2nd place)

GREEN HOPE Elementary in Cary

• Hill Brooks, teacher Michele Johnson (1st place)
• Colin Fleming, teacher Laura Zimmerman
• AnukshaRam Madhan, teacher Alice Nagy

HUNTER Elementary in Raleigh

• Jacob Patrick Ford, teacher Kara LaBella
• Phenix Pace, teacher Hezekiah Wardlow
• Caroline Sherer, teacher Carol Wooten
• Carmen Stevenson, teacher Carol Wooten (3rd place tie)

JONES DAIRY Elementary in Wake Forest

• Aiden Holczer, teacher Jason Booser (3rd place tie)
• Rikhil Fellner, teacher Cherry Jackson

On December 5th, at the NC Farm Bureau building, we toasted the recipients of the 48th Annual Wake Conservation Awards.

Thank you to the many attendees and special guests who took part, and special thanks to the sponsors.

Agricultural Economic Development Award
The Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina

The Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award
Wake County 10% Campaign

Conservation Poster Winners
Top Ten Students look for another post coming out soon with pictures!

Envirothon Mentor of the Year

Dr. David Lindbo

Big Sweep Excellence Award
City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation

Community Conservation Award
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

BC Raynor Friend of the District Award
AgCarolina Farm Credit

Conservation Farm Family of the Year
Patrick & Thurman R. Johnson

The 48th Annual Wake Conservation Awards was sponsored by:

• Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District
  
• John M. Alexander, Jr.
  
• Eastside Septic Cleaning Service
  
• Dr. B.C. Raynor Family Dentistry
  
• NC Farm BureauPinter Construction & Development Inc.
  
• Novozymes Nature’s GREEN-RELEAF Composting
  
• Gordon Smith

Thank you to our Sponsors

http://friendsofwakeswcd.wordpress.com/membership/

Dear Friends,

We hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving holiday with much for which to be thankful.

The Board of Directors is thankful for your support and thankful for the work of the District staff.

We have wonderful news to share which adds to our thankfulness. The National Association of Conservation Districts has awarded the Friends of Wake SWCD with the 2013 Friend of Conservation award.

The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the conservation of our nation’s natural resources. It will be presented at the NACD Annual Meeting in February and we hope to send both our founding chair, Robin Hammond, and our current chair, Grace Lawrence, to accept the award.

We wish you safe travels and wonderful time with family and friends this Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

the Board of Directors
Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District

Wake County Commissioners are working with community leaders to hold a series of public meetings known as The Listening Tour. The first stop on the tour will be at the Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro Road on Monday October 28,2013 from 6 – 8 p.m.

"The focus of The Listening Tour will be to share information and hear community feedback about Human Services programs and services. Comments are also welcome on other issues that may be of concern to Wake County residents."

Please consider attending as an individual or organization and voicing your concerns.

What: Big Sweep
Where: Crabtree Creek near Raleigh Boulevard
When: 9/11 9 AM-11:30 AM

In honor of the 9/11 Day of Service, the Wake Soil & Water Conservation District and NC DOT’s Adopt-A-Highway are cleaning up a section of Crabtree Creek.

Check it out on Facebook

You can find more information on the Big Sweep program in Wake County here: http://www.wakegov.com/swcd/involve/Pages/bigsweep.aspx

Wake County Big Sweep Clean Up on 09-11-2013.docx