BY DAVID SIBRAY FOR WV EXPLORER

Technology is providing a boost for farming and agritourism in the northern New River Gorge Region, thanks to a partnership between a central-Appalachian agricultural collective and a community farm initiative near Fayetteville, West Virginia.

Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective will host a community dinner and launch party at Arrowhead Bike Farm near Fayetteville on March 6 to celebrate the launch of the new Fayetteville Online Farmers Market, which will be based at New Roots Community Farm.

According to Kelsey Abad, a spokesman for Turnrow, the online market will serve local farmers as well as local consumers…

Read the full story on the WV Explorer site »

FROM THE NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION

In 2017, the National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) surveyed more than 3,500 young farmers and ranchers across the country and found that land access was their number one challenge, regardless of geography or whether they had grown up on a farm.

Those surveyed reported that they struggled to identify land to buy or rent that was affordable on a farming income, that had the appropriate resources for their operations, and that had housing opportunities. Of the respondents who cited land access as a challenge, 28 percent felt insecure, worrying that they could soon lose their land.

Most farmers require access to credit when buying farmland, or even when starting a business on leased land. However, credit is hard to secure with a nascent business. This “chicken-and-egg conundrum” is especially challenging for the 75 percent of young farmers who are also first-generation farmers working to construct their businesses from the ground up.

In order to address the challenge, the Young Farmers partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create the Finding Farmland Course and Calculator, which are available in both English and Spanish.

Head to the Young Farmers website to read more about + access the tools »

Congratulations to the team at Grow Ohio Valley in Wheeling, WV on this major achievement!

Here are the official details on this exciting new venture directly from the team at Grow Ohio Valley:

The Public Market will host a Grand Opening Celebration on Oct. 19. The market, a project of Wheeling-based non-profit Grow Ohio Valley, will offer local food from over 40 area vendors, along with natural and health food items. Additionally, the Public Market will feature a deli offering seasonal and healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and grab & go items.

The Grand Opening Celebration will combine with Grow OV’s popular Harvest Festival. The event will feature a full lineup of live music and unique local food offerings, in addition to the mainstays of Harvest Festival – pumpkin decorating, face painting, scavenger hunts, and more (further details are forthcoming). The Grand Opening Harvest Festival, taking place 12 – 7 pm will span 14^th Street at the corner of Main St. across from the Public Market.

Oct. 19 coincides with the first home game for the Wheeling Nailers at the WesBanco arena. The Nailers will host additional festivities in conjunction with the Public Market. In addition, the Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary is sponsoring a 5K race on Oct. 19 at Heritage Port, featuring volunteers dressed as zombies and encouraging runners to wear costumes. There will be a mini-monster dash at 8:30 a.m., and the race begins at 9 a.m. 

Grow OV hired Dean Sparks to lead the Public Market initiative as the Store Manger. Sparks, who relocated to Wheeling from rural Vermont, has made a career launching food co-ops and local and natural food retail stores. The Public Market will be his fourth store start-up.

The Public Market, opening in the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Center on Main Street, has a dual mission of growing opportunities for local farmers while creating a space for community health, for all.

“We’re thrilled to open our doors to the downtown community to share the local harvest bounty. We’re expecting the Public Market to grow into a community meeting place where the public can learn, share and experience the health and economic benefits of supporting our local farm shed,” said Sparks.

Prior to launch, Grow OV is offering Early Bird Memberships for $5 off, costing $30 until the market opens on Oct. 19.

Members’ support will provide crucial contributions to bring the market to life by funding final construction costs, including electrical upgrades and basic plumbing to support the refrigerator display equipment and kitchen. GrowOV has already raised almost 90% of project costs, and the membership campaign will help to fund the remainder.

“Community support for the Public Market helps us to keep our costs low, so we can give back as much as possible to the local farmers we support,” said GrowOV Co-founder Danny Swan. “Your contributions will help us to create a space for community health that is accessible to all people in the Ohio Valley.”   

In addition to Annual Memberships, the Public Market is offering Lifetime and Founding Memberships to those interested in making larger contributions. Lifetime members receive annual member benefits for life, as well as an invitation to a sneak-peak store preview event, a limited edition art print designed by local artist Logan Schmitt, and free hot coffee for one year – in exchange for a one-time contribution of $250. Founding Members who contribute $1,000 or more will be acknowledged with their names featured in the market space, will receive a Founding Member limited edition art print and an invitation to a Founding Members sneak-peak market preview event. Founding Members will also receive free hot coffee for one year after the market opens.

All are welcome at the Public Market. Memberships will not be required to shop.

For more information about Public Market memberships, or other questions, contact publicmarket@growov.org or call 304.233.4769.

BY TRAVIS CRUM FOR HERALD DISPATCH

Logan Nelson began selling chicken eggs collected from his family’s farm to people calling on the phone or messaging through Facebook. Word of mouth spread, and that evolved into selling eggs on the side of the roadway.

Today, egg production has further increased into supplying a local bakery and holding a table at the Pullman Square Farmers Market in Huntington, called Logan’s Coopacabana.

However, Nelson’s success wouldn’t be remarkable for just anyone…

Read the full story on the Herald Dispatch site »

BY GROVER GRAFTON FOR THE BRIDGEPORT FARMERS MARKET BLOG

Hello, my name is Grover Grafton and I’m, “The Plant Kid”; or so my neighbors say. I’m 16 years old and love everything pertaining to plants; whether it be growing them, eating them, and even teaching about them. You might be asking yourself how does a 16 year old develop such a passion for the art of growing plants? It all started at the ripe age of 9 with my grandmother’s amazing porch garden…

Read Grover’s story on the Bridgeport Farmers Market blog »

BY NICK SIBILLA FOR FORBES

When it comes to starting a homemade food business, West Virginia is almost heaven.

Under a new law signed on Monday by Gov. Jim Justice, West Virginia will significantly ease restrictions on “cottage food” producers, who can sell cookies, jams, dried herbs, and other shelf-stable, homemade food, without a permit or the need to rent commercial kitchen space. Currently on the books in 49 states (with New Jersey the lone holdout), cottage food laws are designed to promote entrepreneurship and transform home kitchens into low-cost business incubators; one recent survey found that the median startup capital for a cottage food business was a mere $500.

But in West Virginia, red tape prevented home bakers from earning serious dough…

Read the full story on the Forbes site »