February 1, 2008
Contact: Rosalind Cook, CCE Jefferson County, 315-788-8450
Organic Poultry Producer to Speak at February 27 Workshop
After one year as a NOFA-certified
poultry and egg producer, Holly Sakowich is increasing from two breeds
to five, and from 50 to 150 chickens at her Theresa, NY, farm. Sakowich
will share her experiences as a start-up farm enterprise owner at the
February 27, 1-4 pm �Going Organic in the North Country� workshop at
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County in Watertown, NY.
Sakowich will talk about start-up costs; the feeding, housing and
healthcare of her chickens; and the unique challenges and opportunities
of organic production. Sakowich says, �We have reclaimed land that had
not been used for thirty years and began our small family farming
enterprise in 2007. Our markets have quickly expanded so we are
increasing our size to meet the demand for organic poultry, hay, and
produce.�
Workshop co-organizer Rosalind Cook of Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Jefferson County, says, �This workshop allows interested farmers to get
the information directly from farmers who have transitioned to organic
agriculture and can talk about the successes and challenges they have
faced. They will share their experience with the financial rewards or
expectations they started with for offering an organic product in
Northern New York at a time when we hear nationally that consumer demand
is increasing.�
Certified organic growers Dani Baker and David Belding of Cross Island
Farms, Wellesley Island; Dick DeGraff of Grindstone Organics, Pulaski;
and New York State Organic Agriculture Specialist and past Northeast
Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of New York director Sarah Johnston
are also on the agenda for the February 27 workshop in Watertown. Call
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County: 315-788-8450 for more
information.
Similar free workshops organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension with
support from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are
set for 6-9 pm February 25 in Westport at Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Essex County (518-962-4810), and 6-9 pm February 26 at North Country
Community College in Malone (CCE Franklin County: 518-483-7403). # # #
