Farm Field Day
Join us for a day of learning, sharing, and celebrating sustainable farming practices with expert presentations, hands-on activities, and local food and vendor showcases.
September 21st
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
This event is free and open to all, but registration is required as spots are limited.
New Roots Community Farm (NRCF) is a vibrant three-acre production demonstration farm where we grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, and small fruits. Our annual Field Day offers a unique opportunity for participants to connect with agricultural experts and explore topics in small-scale crop production. Throughout the day, attendees can join a series of workshops and learn about programs that support farmers in our region. Lunch will be provided. This event is ideal for aspiring or current farmers, hobbyists, and homesteaders.
Day of Schedule
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Welcome Presentation + Logistics
Led By: NRCF Program Manager, Kristi Buckley -
Concurrent Workshops:
Cover Crops, Led By: NRCF Executive Director, Susanna Wheeler
Pasture Management, Led By: John Johnson, WVSU Extension
Plant Disease Identification and Management, Led By: Dr. Rahman Mafuz
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Lunch + Mingle
Lunch will be provided to participants. We encourage folks to mingle and engage with peers and vendors at this time as well.
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Appalachian Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC) Business Builder Subawards & Technical Assistance Offerings
Led By: NRCF Program Director, Valerie Slone and Paul Freedman from Rual Action -
Biochar Uses and Production Demo
Led By: Dr. Amir Hass -
Successful Fall and Winter Production Planning Strategies
Led By: Tommye Rafes of T.L. Fruits and Vegetables, LLC
Course Descriptions:
Cover Crops
with Susanna Wheeler
New Roots Community Farm's Director, Susanna Wheeler, will review the benefits of using cover crops and challenges of incorporating them into vegetable production systems. She will cover crop selection along with equipment needed for establishment, management, and termination. Finally, she will review observations from this year's trial on three termination methods for winter rye and vetch and their impact on weed suppression in several varieties of winter squash.
Appalachian Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC) Business Builder Subawards & Technical Assistance Offerings
with Valerie Slone and Paul Freedman
Hear from NRCF Director Valerie Sone and ARFBC Partners about the launch of the Business Builder Awards and Technical Assistance available to food and farm businesses in the region. In this brief talk, you'll learn how to access these resources to grow your small food or farm business!
Pasture Management
with John David Johnson
During this workshop, participants will learn to identify common pasture species of grasses, legumes, forages, and other noxious weeds that can harm livestock. Finally, John will demonstrate how to conduct forage calculations, providing producers with insight into the available forages to estimate an appropriate stocking rate for healthy pastures and animals.
Biochar Uses and Production Demo
with Dr. Amir Hass
Biochar has the potential to be a sustainable amendment for increasing soil health and fertility in agricultural soils. Professor Amir will demonstrate the small-scale production of biochar utilizing a homemade kiln. Participants will observe the substrate quenching after learning about the uses and application of biochar on small farms and forestlands.
Plant Disease Identification and Managment
with Dr. Rahman Mafuz
Dr. Rahman will lead a plant disease identification workshop. He will discuss processes for disease diagnosis and how to utilize resources from the WVU Plant Diagnostic Center for growers. During the field walk he will discuss best practices for disease detection and strategies to reduce introduction and proliferation of plant disease utilizing environmentally friendly pest management techniques.
Successful Fall & Winter Production Planning
with Tommye Rafes
Join Tommye Rafes of T.L. Fruits and Vegetables in a workshop centered around successful production planning for the fall and winter in WV.
Participants will learn how to extend their growing season through protected cultivation methods and the nuances and challenges of successful winter production planning and growing. Tommye will review how to calculate planting dates for fall and winter crops, successful and marketable crops for fall and winter growing, and review pest and disease pressure in the winter environment.
PRESENTER INFORMATION
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Susanna Wheeler
Susanna Wheeler serves as the Executive Director of New Roots Community Farm and has led the development of the farm's infrastructure, production system, and processes since 2019. She has over 12 years of experience working on and managing farming operations. She has been the Student Manager of WVU Organic Research farm, conducted the first variety trials of hemp in WV, and worked on a diversity of private farms across the US. She is a WVU Alumni and has a Master of Agriculture.
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John David Johnson
John David Johnson is the West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Agriculture Specialist. Before taking this position, he worked as a WVU Agriculture Agent for 11 years. He was born and raised in a farming community in South Georgia and raised cattle plus commodity crops such as cotton, peanuts, and corn. He then went on to Oklahoma State University and Mississippi State University to obtain degrees in agriculture science. He has spent the latest chapters of his life working to help producers in agriculture in West Virginia.
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Dr. Rahman Mafuz
Dr. Rahman Mafuz is a plant pathologist and Extension specialist at West Virginia University; Rahman assists West Virginia communities by performing pest diagnostics at the WVU Plant Diagnostic Clinic and sending recommendations to clientele for effective pest management. Early diagnosis of pest problems remains at the cornerstone of his adaptive and applied research program at WVU, which seeks to address disease problems primarily in vegetables and fruits.
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Valerie Slone
Valerie Slone is the NRCF Program Director. She is incredibly curious about food. Over the past ten years, Valerie has participated in West Virginia's local food system in many capacities: farmer, gardener, server, student, researcher, and guest at the dinner table. She believes that everyone deserves to eat good food.
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Dr. Amir Hass
Dr. Amir Hass is an Associate Research Professor at West Virginia State University Extension in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. His research interests include soil and water quality, mine reclamation, and biochar use and applications. He focuses his efforts on developing best practices for mitigating adverse impacts and restoring ecosystem services.
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Tommye Rafes
Tommye Rafes is the owner of T. L. Fruits and Vegetables LLC. Since 2011, Tommye has presented at numerous farm conferences around West Virginia and oversees the Let’s Grow Together Demonstration Garden in Lewisburg, WV, provides farm tours and grows for several program markets. T. L. Fruits and Vegetables produces over 35 different fruits and vegetables sold through our local farm markets, onsite sales, and through a year-round CSA program. They currently have five high tunnels where they grow produce year-round with additional acreage under production. In 2016, their farm was awarded the Greenbrier County Conservation Farm award.
WE look forward to seeing you here!
This event is made possible with support from The Just Transition Fund, American Water, and USDA’S National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginner Farmer Rancher Development Program
