BriarPatch sponsors local farmers at EcoFarm conference

I received this from the BriarPatch:

It’s the slow season for farming in Nevada County, and young farmers Andrew Meyers and Maisie Ganz are putting their off-season time to good use. Thanks to scholarships from BriarPatch Co-op, both recently attended the EcoFarm Conference in Pacific Grove.

Ganz, 27, came home from the conference full of enthusiasm, saying, “Besides an amazing wealth of information and thought, the biggest thing I got from the workshop was inspiration.”

A full time farmer for five years and a partner in Soil Sisters Farm of Nevada City, she said, “It was amazing to spend three days amongst hundreds of organic farmers and food activists — hearing their stories, their struggles, their reasons for working in this field — and it infused my return to Nevada County, my farm community, with an affirmation and appreciation for the work I get to do here.”

Meyers runs Four Frog Farm in Penn Valley, a 100% certified organic farm established in 2007. He also highly recommends the conference to other farmers.

Established in 1980 to bring food system stakeholders together for education, networking and celebration, EcoFarm is held annually at the Asilomar Conference Center. The event has grown to three and a half days of workshops, plenary sessions, and organic meals, and the full package, including housing and meals, costs $500 — a steep price tag for many small farmers.

BriarPatch, along with other Pacific Coast food co-ops, contributed to the conference’s New and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Scholarship Fund. BriarPatch has pledged to continue this support in 2012, as a Seed Sponsor for the fund, targeting funds to farmers from Nevada County.

BriarPatch Produce Manager David Benson attended the conference as well, to keep informed on the latest developments in sustainable farming.

Chris Maher, BriarPatch General Manager, explained that the cooperative grocery store strives to help build the local food system, saying, “The health and longevity of our community rests squarely on our ability to develop and support a local food system.

From providing and promoting locally grown produce here at the co-op to giving Nevada County Grown a $1000 Cooperative Community Fund grant in 2008, BriarPatch is committed to doing all we can to support the growth and success of local farms.”

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