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Search Visit us on Facebook UPDATES Transcripts, Audio Recordings, Powerpoint Slides from the 2009 Conference HERE The 2009-2010 Tilth Producers Directory is in Print and On-line. Read the latest about the Buy Organic Campaign 2009 Farm Walks Information HERE Transition to Organic Ag: Rodale On-line Course Farm Walk Video: Seed Saving at Nash's Farm Now On-line: Audio from the 2008 Conference 2009 Flood Information Van Asselt Elementary School in the Seattle School District, received $29,248.42 to purchase Washington grown fruits and vegetables. Read More>> Interesting Commentary: Small farms are the most productive on earth. Members: you can add, edit and delete your own Tilth Placement Service apprentice and intern listings HERE Sign up to Receive Email Messages from Tilth Producers NEW! Tilth Producers In The News In Print and On-Line NOW: The 2007-2008 Tilth Producers Directory Searchable On-line More Info>> Complete Directory in PDF Format (8.91MB) We are very pleased host the Tilth Producers Internet Audio Archive of Selected Conference Keynote Speeches and Workshops. Try it!! You may also subscribe to our Audio Podcast Tilth Producers Free Classified Ads GO THERE! A Bit of History: 1982 Publication "The Future is Abundant" Now On-line Click HERE Order Audio & Video from T30 Join Tilth Producers **  Make a Donation to Tilth Producers

2010 Farm Walks For the seventh year, Tilth Producers of Washington and Washington State University's Small Farms Team is offering a series of educational Farm Walks for growers. Farm Walks bring growers and agricultural specialists together to learn on working farms across Washington. Farm Walks are a joint program of Tilth Producers of Washington and WSU Small Farms Team. The Farm Walk Program is sponsored in part by Farm Aid and Here is a listing of the Farm Walks that occurred in 2009 along with informative booklets about each one. (The booklets are in Adobe PDF format. Some of these booklets may require the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click HERE to download the latest free Adobe Acrobat Reader version.) A PDF version of the 2010 Farm Walks Schedule is available HERE Monday April 26 – Black Sheep Creamery, Chehalis www.blacksheepcreamery.com Sheep Dairy, Farm Emergency Plans and Agencies - 12:30pm-4pm Paid pre-registration required Brad and Meg Gregory milk 70 ewes and make hand crafted sheep cheese on their farm in Adna. They raise several milking breeds, mostly East Freisian, Rideau-Arcott, and Lacuane. The Gregorys pasture their animals as much as the weather permits. The sheep eat a small amount of grain in the milking parlor but do not receive hormones or routine antibiotics. When Adna experienced severe flooding in December 2007, Brad and Meg lost 75% of their flock and had major damage to their farm. Come hear what they have learned from this harrowing experience. They will discuss developing an emergency livestock evacuation plan and working with emergency disaster agencies. Paid pre-registration is required for this farm walk and will be limited to 60 registrants, first- come, first-served. Black Sheep Creamery Farm Booklet Monday, May 10th – Hedlin Family Farm, La Conner     www.sustainablenorthwest.org/stories/hedlin-family-farm Row Crop Production, High Tunnel and Greenhouse Cropping, Succession Planning - 12:30pm-4pm    Tour Hedlin Family Farms' 50-acre organic fresh market garden with Farmer Dave and the next generation. See trellised tomatoes ripening in the heated greenhouses and high tunnels, along with eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, basil and a diverse bounty of high tunnel and outdoor row crops. Highlights will include discussion of crop and farm succession planning, greenhouse insect and disease control, high tunnel structure management and crop variety selections. Learn how this farm is adapting to the changing economic and agricultural climate and increasing demand for local and organic produce through a diversified marketing strategy. Organic Hedlin Farms Booklet Monday, May 24 – Lazy R Ranch, Cheney http://lazyrbeef.com/ Planned Grazing & Holistic Management of Cattle - 12:30pm-4pm Maurice Robinette, a third generation rancher in southwest Spokane County and certified Holistic Management Educator, has employed the principles of Holistic Management on his ranch since 1996. This system balances the needs of the animal, the producer and the environment. The goal is to match the nutritional requirements of animals to the forage availability of the land, which means calving in late spring and early summer. Using a process called planned grazing, animals are put at the right place, at the right time. Planned grazing systems can be very complex, but with twelve years of practice, it has become natural at Lazy R Ranch. Come learn about rotational, planned grazing and how to evaluate and optimize your pasture resources for this sustainable approach. Maurice will also discuss his experience direct marketing beef. Lazy R Farm Walk Booklet 16102 S Wood Road, Cheney  99004 Monday, June 7 – Tonnemaker Hill Farm, Royal City http://tonnemaker.com Orchard Diversification and Organic Transition, Fresh Market Vegetables - 12:30pm-4pm A multi-generational business, the Tonnemaker family is committed to producing the tastiest, most healthful organic fruits and vegetables possible, to building the soil and caring for all aspects of the farm environment, and to serving local communities of consumers. Brothers Kurt and Kole Tonnemaker began working on the farm when it was their grandparents’ homestead and have transitioned it from conventional tree fruit production to organic fruits and vegetables. Learn about organic management techniques for growing a diverse variety of heirloom tomatoes, the most flavorful varieties of melons, as well as apples, cherries, and stone fruits. Direct marketing strategies, from an on-farm store to farmers markets in Western and Eastern Washington, will also be discussed.  Organic Tonnemaker Farm Booklet 9098 Dodson Road S, Royal City 99357 Wednesday, June 16 – WSU Field Day and Organic Farm, Pullman www.css.wsu.edu/organicfarm Wheat Variety Trials & Organic Diversified CSA Farm - 9am-3pm Farm Walk is free; pre-registration required for lunch Research plots at WSU’s Boyd’s Farm site have been certified organic since 2006, following the standard three-year transition, and are now in year five as certified organic. View cropping systems research plots with alfalfa, wheat, triticale, winter peas, and their associated weed and fertility management. Discuss conservation tillage implements and practices used in organic dryland weed management, current research on mycorrhizae, soil microbiology, and the integration of goat grazing for managing bindweed and other weeds in an organic system. An optional $5.00 lunch and one hour tour of the WSU organic CSA farm at Tukey Orchard will follow.  Pre-register by Friday, June 11 to order a lunch (food provided by the Moscow Co-op); pay when you arrive. Organic WSU Field Day Farm Walk Booklet WSU Pullman Organic Farm Monday, July 26 – WSU Field Day and Organic Farm, Puyallup www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt On-Farm Mock GAP Certification Process - 12:30pm - 4pm Farm Walk is free What is a GAPs audit and do I want one? What are the differences and similarities between Organic Certification and GAP certification? Join WSDA GAP auditor Chuck Dragoo on a “mock audit” at the WSU Puyallup Organic Farm, as well as WSU soil scientists Craig Cogger and Andy Bary and WSU food safety specialist Karen Killinger. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) offers a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audit to fruit and vegetable producers, leading to the USDA GAP certification. This voluntary program verifies that operating procedures are in place to minimize risk for microbial product contamination. The audit covers manure management, harvest, worker sanitation, packing house operation, storage, transportation, traceback, and other food safety topics. A successful GAPs audit can open new markets for producers as institutional buyers are starting to require them. Come see how an audit works and ask questions of a WSDA GAPs inspector. More info: www.agr.wa.gov/Inspection/FVInspection/GAPGHP.aspx.   Organic This farm walk event is a project of the WSDA Farm-to-School Program, with funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Grant. Driving Directions: Puyallup Research & Extension Center From Eastern Washington: Take I-90 West across Snoqualmie Pass. Exit four miles past North Bend on Exit 25, WA-18 (Auburn-Tacoma). Take WA-18 past Auburn and exit on WA-167 South. Take the Puyallup exit that turns into WA-512 West (Puyallup-Olympia). Exit onto Pioneer Way, turn left (west) on Pioneer Way and go through Puyallup two miles to the WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center on the left. (Just past the Fruitland Ave intersection.) From the North: Take I-5 South to exit 135 to WA-167 North (28th St). This exit will put you onto Bay Street that goes back under the freeway and connects to River Road. Get in the right lane. Turn right onto Pioneer Way East at the intersection where the road splits. Continue on Pioneer Way East. This curves around and comes to the intersection at Canyon Road and Pioneer Way E. Here, Pioneer Way East turns into Pioneer Avenue East. Continue on Pioneer Avenue East to the next light. This is the intersection of Pioneer Way, 72nd, and Woodland Ave. Turn left at this intersection. Immediately get in the righthand lane. The WSU entrance is just past the old gray and crimson colored Victorian house on the right. From the South: Take I-5 north to exit 127 (Puyallup-Mt. Rainier) onto Hwy 512 East. Take the 4th Puyallup exit (Pioneer Way). Turn left on Pioneer Way heading west. Go 2 miles through Puyallup (from Meridian go through 3 stop lights). There is a sign with Washington State University Research & Extension Center on the left just past Fruitland Ave. Alternate route using Highway 512: Take the Canyon Road-Summit exit. Turn left at the light onto Canyon Road heading north. Go north to 72nd St. E. Turn right at the light. Stay in the righthand lane, and go down the hill. Continue about a ¼ mile. The WSU entrance is just past the old Victorian house on the right. Monday, September 6 – Manuel Mendoza Orchard, Quincy http://www.tilthproducers.org/ManuelMendozaOrchard.pdf Apple and Cherry Orchard, Latino Landowner Challenges and Opportunities - 12:30-4:00pm Manuel has made the transition from farm worker to farm owner, having worked 25 years as orchard foreman before being given the opportunity to purchase the orchard. Manuel now operates a 60-acre organic apple and cherry orchard.  Varieties of apples include Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Fuji and Rome, and he also has a young cherry orchard that was planted in 2007. Manuel sells his produce through warehouses. He will discuss the process of marketing tree fruit and working with various warehouses. Attendees will walk the orchard and observe his weed and pest management practices. We also talk about transitioning ownership of an organic orchard and how to keep certification in order during the process.  This will be a bilingual farm walk. Organic Driving Directions: 6631 Road T NW, Qunicy, WA 98848   Coming from Seattle: Take I-90 E toward Vantage Spokane Take Exit 149 for State Route 281 S toward Quincy/ Wenatchee Turn Left at WA-281 N Turn Left at Rd 7 NW Turn Left at Rd T NW   Coming from Lower Yakima Valley: Head North on Hanford rd/ 241 N Turn right at WA-24 E Turn Left to stay on 24 E Continue onto WA-243 N Turn left at WA – 26 W Slight right onto I-90 E toward Spokane Take exit 149 for State Rout 281 S toward Quincy/ Wenatchee Turn left at WA-281 N Turn left at Rd 7 NW Turn left at Rd T NW  Monday, September 27 – Filaree Farm, Omak www.filareefarm.com Biodiversity, Cooperative Marketing Model, Seed Saving - 12:30pm-4pm Filaree Farm, nationally renowned for its garlic, has an extensive heirloom fruit orchard and an acre of row crops that are sold in farmers markets and through the Okanogan Producers’ Marketing Association Cooperative in Wenatchee, Puget Sound and Spokane. Come tour the farm in Okanogan and learn how they are integrating plant growth characteristics and animal products into their cultivation practices. Founding farmer, Watershine, is transitioning the orchard and row crops to new farmers through an innovative model. Mariah Cornwoman, owner and operator of Heart of the Highlands Farm and Forest Products in Tonasket, will offer a seed saving workshop at this Filaree Farm Walk. Topics will include variety selection, pollination, plant selection, processing, curing, storing and germination testing. Mariah direct markets herbal products and open pollinated garden seeds, and has many years of experience to share. Organic Driving Directions: 182 Conconully Highway, Okanogan 98840 Filaree Farm is 1.82 miles from downtown Okanogan. When entering Okanogan from the south on 2nd Avenue (main street) turn left on Pine Street. There is a stone clock on the corner. Pine Street winds around behind the Courthouse and becomes the Conconully Highway (aka Orchard Grade).  It is a steep and windy hill. When you reach the flat straight section the Filaree Farm driveway is about 1/4 mile further on the right hand side. Look for a red metal roofed warehouse on the right hand side. Filaree  Farm is surrounded by tall poplar trees. Monday, October 11 – Boistfort Valley Farm, Curtis www.boistfortvalleyfarm.com Low Input Season Extension, Organic Row Crop Production - 12:30pm-4pm Paid pre-registration required Learn about Mike and Heidi Peroni’s adventures with season extension at Boistfort Valley Farm. Observe their late fall, winter and overwintering crops in the ground, and stored crops that extend their sales season and keep their year-round CSA boxes stocked. We will discuss the realistic worth and costs of different types of season extension, appropriate crops and low cost ideas. Learn how Boistfort Valley Farms has adapted their growing and marketing practices to accommodate the soil management and farm planning that growing during the shoulder seasons requires. Bring your own experiences and we will continue to compile the season extension toolbox. Paid pre-registration is required for this farm walk and will be limited to 60 registrants, first- come, first-served. Organic Driving Directions: 426 Boistfort Road, Curtis 98538 From I-5, take Exit 77 for State Route 6 West toward Pe Ell/Raymond Follow State Route 6 West 8.9 mi Turn left onto Boistfort Road immediately after concrete bridge Boistfort Valley Farm will be on the right 1.3 mi We have two greenhouses on the road #426 Thursday, November 11 – Pre-Conference Farm Walk – Stay tuned for details. Tilth Producers Annual Conference, Fort Worden, Port Townsend, November 12-14, 2010  Tilth Home | WA Tilth Assoc. | Conference | Directory | Journal | Placement Service | Calendar | Action Alerts Legislative Update | Bulletin Board | Classifieds | Questions on Agriculture? | Photo Gallery | Links | Contact Us | Join Now Please report website problems to: webweaver@tilthproducers.org

Support WA Organic Ag- Today Please Support our Advertisers. Click on the images below to visit their websites. See Next Ad Farm Walk Logistics Paid pre-registration is recommended for all Farm Walks, and required for high-volume farms indicated. For information contact Tilth Producers: 206-442-7620 or nancy@tilthproducers.org. To pre-register, mail a check with your farm walk choice(s) to: Tilth Producers PO Box 85056 Seattle, WA 98145 Cost is $10 for Tilth Producers members; $15 for non-members; for student group rate, inquire at (206) 442-7620. Beverages are provided. VIDEO Please enjoy this video of the 2008 Farm Walk at Nash's Organic Farm in Sequim. Subject: Seed Saving! Do you have suggestions for Farm Walk locations and/or topics for the 2011 Farm Walk season? If so, contact:  Nancy Allen, (206) 442-7620, nancy@tilthproducers.org     Tilth Producers Membership is encouraged to help support the Farm Walk Program. ($45 farm/individual, $75 non-farm business or $30 low-income) Member benefits include a subscription to Tilth Producers Quarterly, a Directory of organic growers & resources, 2-person discounts for farm walks and the annual conference, free listing in Tilth Intern Placement Service, Directory and email news. Join now and pay the discounted rate for farm walks! WSU programs are available to all without discrimination. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in events may call WSU's Small Farms Program at (253) 445-4565. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee the availability of accommodation on site.