…and a plum and an apple and — well, you get the idea. If you have fruit trees, you may be interested in attending this demonstration offered through the UNH Cooperative Extension.

Tree Fruit Pruning Demonstration

The UNH Cooperative Extension, Rockingham County, will be holding a tree fruit pruning demonstration on Thursday, February 22 at 9:30 am until noon time. Bill Lord, Tree Fruit Specialist will demonstrate how to prune apples, peaches, cherries and plums.

The pruning demonstration will be hosted by Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry. Dress for the weather. Directions to Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry: Exit 4 off Interstate 93, West on Route 102, four miles, turn right at Sunnycrest sign on the right. Drive one mile to farm at 59 High Range Road. Demonstration is free and open to the public. Registration not required. For more info call UNH Cooperative Extension at 679-5616

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension will be offering a Greenhouse Production Basics workshop on Wednesday, February 21.

Designed for novice growers, this daylong workshop will cover site selection, greenhouse construction, growing media, plant nutrition, budgeting, niche marketing and plant selection. The workshop will be held at the Massabesic Audubon Center in Auburn. A follow-up twilight meeting at a local greenhouse in March will cover insect and disease problems. Registration cost is $30 per person and advance registration is required before February 14. Space is limited. For registration information call Gail at 679-5616 at UNH Cooperative Extension, or you can download the registration form by visiting the Extension’s website.

On March 2, NOFA-NH’s Fifth Annual Winter Conference titled “Peas Lettuce Feed You” will take place at Winnisquam Regional High School in Tilton, NH, just 20 miles north of Concord. The conference features 28 workshops in 4 sessions, on food, farming, gardening, landscaping, sustainability and related topics, and will offer an potluck lunch, a Keynote, and a Market Fair showcasing local, organic and/or sustainable products, organizations, businesses, farms, and foods. All farmers, gardeners, food enthusiasts, landscapers, homesteaders and friends of the earth are welcome!

Early registration by February 20 saves $10: NOFA Members $35, non-members $45. After February 20 an additional $10 will be added to the registration fee. Potluck Lunch is free when you bring a dish to share! No time to cook? Then you may purchase a $10 ticket to the potluck.

This event and many others brought to our attention by the Office of Sustainability at UNH. Their online calendar is available here!

SFS participant Nada Hadad sends us news of an interesting workshop for any grower interested in exploring winemaking.

Growing Wine Grapes in NH as an Alternative Enterprise:
No Longer a Dream - Workshop

The UNH Cooperative Extension, along with the New Hampshire Winery Association and the NH Risk Management Education Group, is pleased to invite you to a February wine making workshop on Saturday, February 3.

The one-day program is designed for commercial producers who are looking to incorporate growing grapes and wine making as an alternative enterprise for their business. You will learn about choosing grape varieties, basics of establishing a vineyard, viticulture in Northern climates, and wine making.The workshop is held in conjunction with the NH Farm & Forest Expo, (Salon C) at the Radisson Hotel, 700 ELm Street, Manchester. Registration is required and is limited to 100 participants or first come, first serve basis. Pre-registration is $10 per person with online registration at http://www.events.unh.edu/register.shtml?event_id=2689 (before February 3rd) $15 at the door. For more information contact Extension Specialist Becky Grube at 862-3202 or Extension Educator Nada Haddad at 679-5616 or visit www.extension.unh.edu

Our first six months, truth be told, were anything but a slow start. The first few events were planned even before our application to Slow Food USA was complete! Between May and December, 2006, the Seacoast convivium offered:

• Table presentations at Carlo Petrini’s May 18, 2006 lecture at UNH, the Exeter Farmer’s Market, and the first Seacoast Local Festival
• Luncheon for Carlo Petrini, hosted at Strawbery Banke by John Forti and Susan Tuveson
• Heirloom apple tasting and table presentation at Strawbery Banke’s Garden Harvest Festival
• Heirloom apple tasting and table presentation at UNH’s Local Harvest Dinner
• 100-Mile Thanksgiving Potluck and discussion of agricultural issues and Thanksgiving traditions
• A New English Tea Party: Comparitive tea tasting and food pairing, tea information and history, fundraiser presented by White Heron Tea, Victory96 restaurant, Cacao Chocolates and Mizuna Catering
• Talk and discussion on Seacoast Eat Local and the August, 2006 Eat Local Challenge, by project promoter Sara Zoe Patterson
• Talk on the experience of member delegates to Terra Madre
• Monthly potluck dinners and discussions