Local farms provide a number of economic, environmental, and cultural benefits to Wake County. They play a major role in protecting water quality in the area. New opportunities are emerging for farms to sell food and services in the local marketplace, yet agricultural operations require a stable land base to innovate and make new investments. As an awardee of an Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF) grant, Wake County is now positioned to be proactive in its support of farming, forestry, and land conservation by developing a plan to coordinate future efforts to sustain local agriculture. The completion of this plan will also increase the ranking score and lower cost-share requirements for future applications to the ADFPTF.

The steps of an effective planning process that will be used to develop the Wake County Farmland Protection and Local Food Enhancement Plan are:

• Gather data and solicit community input to create a unique and specific farmland protection and local food enhancement plan;
• Advise Wake County political and business leaders on land use planning an economic development policy initiatives that can help support the success of local farms and the enhancement of the local food system;
• Develop specific milestones and target dates for implementing the plan’s recommendations, thus assuring accountability and successful outcomes.

This plan will be developed by a collaboration of four professionals with a diversity of experience in North Carolina land use and famring issues. Mike Ortosky, of Soil and Environmental Consultants, is a Registered Landscape Architect and Licensed Soil Scientist. Tony Kleese, of Earthwise Company, has twenty years of experience in developing a sustianable food system for the Carolinas.  Andres Branan, JD, is the Executive Directorof the North Carolina Farm Transition Network, helping families keep their farms in agriculture as they pass to the next generation. Gerry Cohn, former Southeast Director for American Farmland Trust, has helped Durham, Alamance, and Buncombe Counties create and implement local agricultural development and farmland protection plans.

YOUR INPUT:

The most important piece of the creation of this plan will be interviews with key stakeholders and feedback from the public. We are interested in hearing your ideas of what Wake County could do to strengthen connections between farmers and local marketing opportunities. If you are a farmer, we’d like to know what you need to be successful on your farm and barriers you face as you seek to develop new enterprises. Please contact us with your idas, thoughts, and feedback. Contact Tony Kleese at 919-622-5897 or email wakefarmplan (at) gmail (dot) com.

Insects can play a critical role in a healthy, productive farm. If you are interested in learning about cost share opportunities for establishing a habitat on your farm, click on the ‘Contact Us’ link and fill out the form and we’ll be happy to contact you with more information.

Presentation: Designing, Developing and Living in Cohousing
Friday, November 6, 2009
5:30 - 6:30 pm - Reception and Book Signing
7:00 - 9:00 pm - Presentation by Charles & Kathryn
$15 in advance/$20 at the door (scroll down to use paypal to register)

Unity Church of the Triangle (directions)
118 S Person St ~ Raleigh, NC 27601

2-Day Intensive Workshop: Getting it Built
Saturday, November 7 & Sunday, November 8
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. both days
$300 per person/$450 per couple (includes Friday Night Presentation)
(scroll down to use paypal to register)  

McKimmon Center for Extension & Continuing Education
1101 Gorman St ~ Raleigh, NC 27695

Creating a Path from Dream to Reality. 
Join us for the 2-day intensive workshop to learn about: 

Members:
- organizing your group
-working together efficiently
-Effectively making decisions
-Building and growing your community
-Defining your role, the groups role, the role of professionals  

Development: 
-Finding a building site (if necessary)
-Designing a community
-Working through the city approval process
-Hiring and managing construction professionals
 -Incorporating maximum sustainability practices

Technical:
-Financial realities
-Financing options
-Ownership structures
-Your project. Keep it on track and on budget 

It’s time to register! Simply use the Paypal form below to register for the Friday Night Presentation ($15 per person) or the 2-Day Intensive Workshop which includes the Friday night presentation ($300 per person/$450 per couple). If you have questions about registration or would like more information, please call 919.270.6528.

    

Registration

Friday Night Presentation $15.00 2 Day Workshop (Individual) $300.00 2 Day Workshop (Couple) $450.00

  

Earthwise has recently occupied new office space in downtown Wake Forest, North Carolina in the historic Victorian Square Building on White Street. Earthwise is one of the newest businesses in the small but growing town just north of Raleigh, North Carolina.