Posts Tagged: Initiative F Families and Communities

Agritourism Workshops

Agritourism courses are being offered in Camarillo to Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles County farmers and ranchers.  The courses are geared to provide useful information to those interested in developing agritourism or nature tourism on their properties.

This is an option more agriculture land owners are exploring to enhance revenue and share some of the agricultural lifestyle to others.

There will be hand-on activities and experts will advise on business planning, regulatory compliance, risk management, hospitality and marketing.  The course includes a copy of "Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California."

These courses are being offered by the County of Ventura UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County Farm Bureau, UC Small Farm Program, Oxnard Convention and Vistor's Bureau and others with support of the USDA.

Dates:  December 3, 2013, January 14, 2014 and February 11, 2014.
Time:    9:00 am - 3:00 pm (each session)
Location:     Center for Non-Profit Leadership
                   4001 Mission Oaks Blvd.
                   Camarillo, CA  93012
Cost:    $50 for the 3-session course
Contact:  Penny Leff, UC Small Farm Program, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779

REGISTER AT https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=11547.

For more information, see the flyer here.

Rose Hayden-Smith Named Bradford-Rominger Award Winner

Rose Hayden-Smith, UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension's youth development advisor and leader for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources strategic initiative in sustainable food systems, has been awarded the Bradford-Rominger award for 2013. 

The annual award is given to a recipient whose dedication to the field of agricultural sustainability best reflects the legacy of Charlie Rominger and Eric Bradford, academics known for their passionate comittment to agriculture.  Rose has consistently demostrated such passion and enthusiasm for her work in this area and we congratulate Rose on another well-deserved honor.

To read the UC ANR blog post about Rose's contribution and learn more about the award, please click here.

Volunteers for Youth Development Program Needed

The University of California Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center (UC HAREC) supports Ventura County agriculture through research and education efforts. Volunteers play a vital role in education outreach and are integral in achieving our mission. We are currently recruiting volunteers for our youth development programs. Join a dedicated group of individuals who share a passion for agriculture and enjoy working with youth of all ages.

Interested individuals may attend an informational meeting in the Small Barn at UC HAREC —Wednesday, January 16^th, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  or Thursday, January 17^th, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Center is located at 14292 W. Telegraph Rd. in Santa Paula (corner of Briggs Rd. and Telegraph Rd). Please use Briggs Rd. main entrance. Free parking available.

To reserve a spot call or email by January 15^th— 805-525-9293 ext. 206 or awfaris@ucanr.edu.  Walk-ins also welcome.

For more information about our youth development programs visit our website at: http://ucanr.edu/sites/hansenagcenter/Hansen_Agricultural_Center_Programs/

UCCE Advisor Visits White House Garden

UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension youth, family and community development advisor Rose Hayden-Smith toured the White House garden on October 19 as part of the White House Social Fall Garden Tour.  There she was able to explore Michelle Obama's kitchen garden and get a sighting of the President who waved to them as he strolled through the area with the family dog.

Rose leads a statewide initiative for sustainable food systems and has a passionate interest in promoting community and victory gardens.  It is no surprise that she won a Twitter contest prize invitation to the tour by expressing within the website's 140 character limit format why she wanted to visit the White House garden. 

This was Rose's second visit to the White House gardens.  After the tour, the group spent several hours with White House staff learning more about the administration's food and health initiatives.  The stay included touring urban garden projects in Washington D.C. with UC ANR advisor Rachel Surls from the UC Los Angeles extension office.

The social is a part of the Fall Garden Tours in October where invitees and members of the public can view the kitchen garden, Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden and South Lawn of the White House. 

For more information, please follow the links to view the brochure or check out the White House Blog. 

Create Holiday Gifts at the Master Gardener Workshop

Save the date... Saturday, November 10

The UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners want to show you how add your own personal touch to the holidays at their "Creating Holiday Gifts from Your Garden" workshop.  Learn how to make soaps, lotions, olive oil and other hands-on from the garden gifts.

The workshop will be held at the historic Hansen Agricultural Center in Santa Paula and the small registration fee includes presentations by UC Cooperative Extension advisors and experts and a continental breakfast.

This seasonal event is part of their Home-Garden workshop series where certified Master Gardeners and other experts share their gardening knowledge with the public.  

To register and learn more about this workshop check out this flyer.

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