ciftTOLEDO, Ohio – Growing fruits and vegetables in Ohio is common across the state, but what about during the harsh winter months? Yes, it is possible, and potentially very profitable through some unique techniques mastered by second-generation American organic farmer Clara Coleman.
Coleman will speak on season-extension techniques such as using movable greenhouses, lowtunnels, cold-frames and quickhoops, Thursday, Apr. 30, 2015 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Toledo Botanical Garden (Crosby Conference Center).
Workshop highlights include:
• Learn how to produce more food year-round.
• Discussion on how methods are possible with little (or no) energy use.
• Gain a huge advantage in a competitive marketplace for customers’ desire of locally raised
quality fruits and vegetables.
• An opportunity to tour mobile structure with Clara Coleman.
• Updates on local activities.
Urban growers, specialty crop producers, community/home gardeners, young farmers, established small-scale farmers, chefs, grocery produce buyers, local food consumers, and fans of Eliot Coleman’s books will all benefit from attending.
Coleman also serves as a four-season farm specialist and video blog host for a greenhouse in New Hampshire. In 2008, she created Divide Creek Farm – an organic, intensively-managed two-acre four-season vegetable farm which was located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and successfully operated for three years. Coleman produced year-round vegetable crops under harsh winter conditions. She is the daughter of renowned farming pioneer Eliot Coleman.
This free event is sponsored by the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), Toledo Botanical Garden, and supported by the Ohio Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant. The Toledo Botanical Garden is located at 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43615. To reserve a seat for the event, guests are encouraged to reserve a seat in advance by contacting rsvp@ciftinnovation.org or 419-535-6000, ext. 140.
About the Center for Innovative Food Technology
The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) is a developer and provider of technical innovations and solutions for the food processing, agribusiness and agricultural sectors of the economy in our region, our state and beyond. These innovations and solutions are developed in order to enhance the economic performance of the food processing and agricultural sectors. More information is available at www.ciftinnovation.org.