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027: Vern Grubinger on Finding Solutions that Work on Your Farm

8/13/2015

2 Comments

 
img_farmer to farmer podcast_guest_vern grubinger
University of Vermont Extension Professor Vern Grubinger does not fit the conventional extension agent mode. For twenty-five years, Vern has worked to develop a co-learning community among the professional vegetable- and berry-growers of Vermont. In this episode, we talk about the challenges facing Vermont vegetable farmers, from soil fertility basics and phytophthora to human resources, food safety certification, and costs of production – and about how a healthy food system, from marketing to education, is all about relationships.

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Vermont Compost: Founded by organic crop growing professionals committed to meeting the need for high-quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production.

Audible: Discover the world of audio-books, and absorb yourself in the latest in business management texts, farming essays, or just a dramatic retelling of the Star Wars saga. Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day free trial at audibletrial.com/farmertofarmer.

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Sustainable Vegetable Production from Startup to Market is filled with great basic information about what you need to know to get started in vegetable farming. I read this when I had been in business for several years.  Vern co-authored Food, Farms, and Community: Exploring Food Systems with Lisa Chase.

Vern also authored With an Ear to the Ground: Essays on Sustainable Agriculture, essays that he originally as part of a public radio series.

You can sign up for Vern’s amazing Vermont Vegetable and Berry Newsletter, and read back issues, at http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/newsletter/welcomemain.htm - this is the newsletter Vern publishes to share news from growers in Vermont with other growers.

Vegetable Insect Management: With Emphasis on the Midwest is a practical guide to integrated pest management (IPM) that Vern recommends for its specific information about pest scouting techniques.

Vern talked about the Vermont Community Accreditation for Produce Safety program  as a way to proactively manage customer expectations for food safety verification.

Vern also sent along a link to a list of slideshows that he’s given recently. http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/GrubingerSlideShows.html

The 1938 USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, Soils and Men, is available as a free download here. http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND50000140/PDF

Vern recently read Civic Agriculture: Reconnecting Farm, Food, and Community by Tom Lyson, about the history of the transformation of the food system and the re-localization of the food production system.
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2 Comments
Melissa link
9/14/2015 11:04:46 am

You mention in this episode growing cover crops between rows and that since Elliot Coleman you havent know any who do this. I know you did an episode with Bob Cannard a little while back, I worked on his farm for over 2 years and he had been doing this for 40 years. We broadcast or drill cover crops between almost all crops at some point. I've tried to apply the same methods farming here in the southeast but the environment has made It very difficult. I am considering using plastic next year for weed control and would love If you could have as a guest the farmer his guest talked about using the rye in between plastic. Sounds like he would be a very informative interview.

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Chris Blanchard
9/16/2015 08:46:06 am

Marissa, I will work on that! I'm not surprised that you are being more challenged with the technique in the southeast.

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