Upcoming events
On Farm Workshops
The VVBGA and UVM Extension host monthly on-farm workshops from May through October. Workshops are free and geared to commercial growers.
No registration is required, just show up! If severe weather is predicted, an event may be cancelled, and a notice will be sent to the VVBGA listserv.
Tuesday August 25. 4:00-6:30
REDUCED TILLAGE, INSECT SCOUTING, AND NRCS PRACTICES ON A SMALL-SCALE DIVERSIFIED VEGETABLE AND CUT FLOWER FARM
Stone’s Throw Farmstead,120 Wilmouth Hill Rd, Shrewsbury, VT 05738
Jess Purks and Connor Self grow a 1/2 acre of certified organic vegetables and flowers at a human-powered scale, with minimal tillage. They sell their products through two farmers’ markets, a farmstand and wholesale accounts. Since starting their farm in 2022, they utilized resources such as the NOFA Journey Farmer program and NRCS funding to help build their business. Please join us as we tour the farm to learn about their flower and vegetable production practices. During the tour, we will explore NRCS practices implemented on the farm such as high tunnels, low tunnels, reduced tillage, and pest management. We will end the tour with a hands-on activity guided by UVM and Xerces scientists to scout for insects on the farm.
Please park on the roadside to leave the parking spots near the farm stand for customers and attendees with limited mobility. This event is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, One Hive Foundation, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets. Please contact Julie Callahan with any questions. julie.callahan@uvm.edu 518-944-7149
Wednesday October 21, 3:00-5:30
STORAGE CROPS, SOIL HEALTH, MARKETING, AND AN ELECTRIC TRACTOR
High Meadows Farm, 742 Westminster West Road, Putney, VT 05346
Howard Prussack has been farming at this location since 1979. He grows a dozen acres of certified organic vegetables in the field and has 30,000 sq. ft. of high tunnels. Sales are at Brattleboro farmers' market and wholesale to coops and garden centers throughout New England, delivered by the farm's trucks and through one distributor. The focus is on a few major crops: potted herbs, garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and winter squash. Howard also grows some celery, ginger, and tumeric in tunnels. Cover crops, rotations, and various ground covers are used intensively. We'll discuss marketing, tour the fields and tunnels, talk cover crops, and see the wash/pack/storage located in a refurbished barn. Howard will demonstrate his Tilmor Super-E electric cultivating tractor and describe its performance this past season.
To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in these programs, please email julie.callahan@uvm.edu at least 3 weeks prior to the event so we may assist you.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. Any reference to commercial products, trade names, or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended.
Webinars
Each winter, the VVBGA and UVM Extension collaborate to offer a weekly webinar series from February through April, featuring a variety of topics with farmers and agricultural specialists as speakers. There is no charge to attend but you must register to obtain the Zoom link.
The list of 2026 webinars with links to the slide presentations and recordings can be viewed here.
All past webinars have been recorded and closed captioned. They are located on the VVBGA YouTube channel. You can also listen to the audio portion of past webinars on our Spotify channel or Apple podcasts.
For information and slides for all past VVBGA/UVM Extension workshops and webinars please visit the UVM Extension website.
Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Newsletter
UVM Extension publishes a free monthly newsletter year-round featuring grower updates from the field, upcoming educational opportunities, and more. The back issues of the newsletter can be found here. Contact Vern Grubinger to be added to the newsletter email list.