WELCH, WV – Over the next three months, a series of free workshops will be held at the Jack Caffrey Arts and Cultural Center, aiming to teach participants how to make money with their land and backyards.
On Saturday, March 7th, learn about tree tapping’s money making opportunities and the basics of tapping and production of maple syrup from 10 a.m. until noon. Following at 1 p.m., participants will experience hands-on tree tapping with local producer T&T Organics in Berwind, working with EDGE.
On Saturday, March 14th, green house production will be the focus. Learn about the revenue opportunities and support for getting your own greenhouse through the USDA NRCS program from 10 a.m. until noon. Returning to Berwind at 1 p.m., T&T Organics and EDGE will walk participants through greenhouse basics, high tunnels and small farm production.
On Saturday, March 28th, assessing land for chicken production will be discussed with Mercer County native Dr. Crystal Cook Marshall, SEEDH and Pockerchickory Farms, from 10 a.m. until Noon. Participants will also learn the basics of chicken meat production, local money making and production opportunities.
On Saturday, April 4th, meat goat production will be the workshop focus from 10 a.m. until Noon. Participants will learn about production opportunities with a live meat goat demonstration from SEEDH, Pockerchickory Farms and Dr. Crystal Cook Marshall.
On Tuesday, April 7th, Mark Lilly from Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, which works with coal miners to become beekeepers, will discuss the basics of beekeeping, revenue opportunities and how to become a sponsored beekeeper through their collective. The workshop will begin at 6 p.m. at the JCACC.
On Saturday, May 2nd, fixing poor soil to make land profitable will be discussed with Michigan-based cattle & sheep operator Ben Bartlett from 10 a.m. until noon. At 1 p.m., participants will visit a mountain site up close in Berwind to learn the signs to look for in growing your land’s soil and profit.
The final agriculture workshop will be held on Saturday, May 9th, featuring Ruby Daniels of Sprouting Farms in Greenbrier County. Daniels will teach about sales production opportunities for growing mountain herbs on your land, in high tunnels, or in the backyard.
To learn more about the upcoming workshops or to reserve a spot, please call (276) 596-4002 or email [email protected]