Event Details

Date

January 18, 2018

Time

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location

Saratoga Hilton & Gardening Conference
Broadway 1 and Pleasant Valley Farm
Saratoga Springs, NY

Host

NOFA-NY

NOFA-NY 2018 Winter Conference


Growing, Washing and Packing High Tunnel Winter Greens: Doing It and Doing It Well

January 18, 2018

Growing, Washing and Packing High Tunnel Winter Greens: Doing It and Doing It Well

NOFA-NY 2018 Winter Conference: Pre-Conference Event
This event promises to help growers bring their winter greens production to the next level -- both in the high tunnel and in the packshed. There will be an emphasis on best management practices in the high tunnel, especially practices which support long term soil health and fertility. In the packshed, processing efficiency and food safety will both be stressed.

The day will begin at 9:00 am in conference room Broadway 1, with workshops on issues and opportunities in winter high tunnel production and best practices for postharvest handling, including food safety concerns.

Upon completion of the workshops at 10:30 am, everyone will board a bus and travel to Paul and Sandy Arnold's Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, NY for a farm tour and farmer-led discussions in the high tunnel and packshed. A farm to table lunch, with a vegetarian option, will be served at the farm. After lunch, the tours and discussions will continue and then everyone will come together for a Q&A session with hot cider and light snacks. The bus will leave the farm at about 3:15 pm and should be back at the hotel by 4:00 pm. 

Presenters: Chris Callahan, Robert Hadad and Judson Reid
Hosts: Paul, Sandy & Kim Arnold, Pleasant Valley Farm

You must be pre-registered to attend this event.

Visit NOFA-NY's Winter Conference website for more information and to register.






Upcoming Events

Companion Planting in the Food Garden--with Mushrooms!

November 12, 2025
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brooklyn, NY

Companion planting (or intercropping) is an ancient method of increasing yields and maximizing growing space. Learn how to diversify your garden harvest while enjoying the mutual benefits of intercropping with mushrooms, such as improving soil health and water retention. Plan next spring's garden with guidance from Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez on growing three different types of mushrooms, from site selection to harvest. Take home a native plant to try!

NYC Mushroom Summit

December 5, 2025
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
New York, NY

The NYC Mushroom Summit, hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program, will convene a regional network of mushroom farmers and educators from indoor, outdoor, and community production systems; restaurateurs, food creatives and chefs; and extension, government and industry representatives. This diverse group will work together to determine grower research and marketing needs, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and community building initiatives. Group conversations and presentations will be structured around value added products, frontiers in mycology research, and peer-to-peer learning.

Pruning & Fruit Tree Health 101

December 13, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Cambria Heights, NY

Join us at Cambria Heights Community Garden for a free, hands-on workshop with CCE Harvest NY Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman. Participants will learn about basic tree maintenance and pruning techniques. Proper winter care helps trees conserve energy, prevent damage from cold weather, and prepare for growth in the spring.  

Announcements

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.