There’s one month left to apply for grant money for the Specialty Crop projects as part of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant Funds. Whew–that says it all.
Agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations, and producer groups that strive to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops within the state are eligible to submit grant proposals for $25,000. Individual producers are not eligible, but can partner with groups and organizations and participate that way.
Specialty crops are divided into numerous categories including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops These are different from so-called standard commodities such as corn, wheat, and soybeans.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) will give priority to projects in numerous categories including increasing the consumption of specialty crops and improving the nutritional benefit knowledge for children and adults. Commissioner Todd Haymore believes that the funding should be an encouragement to “put good ideas to work to improve Virginia agriculture.” Applications are available on the website.
So find your partners and put on the creative headdress, as the deadline is Wednesday, July 1.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
FAUQUIER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FARM PROGRAM
This is a new program and we need your help. The food we grow at the 15 acre farm will be for our Community Food Banks. We need volunteers to help with the planting, farming, harvesting and distribution of the produce.
We all know about the unstable economy we must abide to these days. So many of our citizens are out of work or taking jobs that do not make the ends meet. This is what we are all about, HELPING YOUR FELLOW MAN. Giving back to the county we love and call our home.
Just a few of the programs that Fauquier Community Action Committee supports are; Preschool programs which include Head Start, Bright Stars and Daycare. Emergency Services such as Energy Share, The Fauquier Community Food Bank, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Emergency Home Repair.
So please, help us by volunteering, donating tools and materials, and yes we do accept cash. The Community Farm needs all of our giving citizens to get out and get your hands dirty, clothes dirty and shoes dirty! We do have water so you can clean up.
Contacts: Tom 540-347-7000 x 102 (Main Office) tbenjamin@cwcap.org
Mathew Robinson 540-270-2508 (Farm Manager) mrobinson@cwcap.org
FAUQUIER COMMUNITY FARM HOURS OF OPERATION
8634 MEETZE ROAD 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
WARRENTON, VA. MONDAY thru SATURDAY
IF COMING FROM WARRENTON, THE FARM IS RIGHT PAST AMERI GAS
LOOK FOR OUR SIGN WHICH IS ON THE RIGHT
Fauquier Community Action Committee
FCAC shopping list for 2009
The following is a list of equipment and supplies we hope to have donated in 2009
Items
Small tractor for farm
A front end loader for the tractor
PTO driven 48” rotor tiller
PTO driven finish mower
Utility wagon for farm
PTO driven grinder for compost
Manure spreader
Farm Tools−shovels, rakes, etc.
Vegetable seeds
Vegetable and fruit plants
Compost and Manure
10,000 gallon collapsible water tank
5,000 feet of drip irrigation pipe
20’ X 40’ concrete pad for compost
1500 Watt solar system
Solar water pump
48’ solar green house
Public mulching toilet
20 Tons of gravel for farm
Trailers for chicken houses
One hundred chickens
Fencing for chicken’s
Used Bobcat
Used Dump truck
Used pickup truck
Walk – In freezer
Walk – In refrigerator
A 5000 gallon fish tank
A server for the main office
20 computers for the main office
Please Contact
Tom Benjamin @ 540-347-7000 X 102
tbenjamin@cwcap.org
Or
Mathew Robinson 540-270-2508
mrobinson@cwcap.org