Graduate Student Grant Applications for FY2012

Now being accepted by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program

GRIFFIN, GA – The Southern SARE program has released a "Call for Proposal for Graduate Student Grants" for FY2012. Graduate Student Grants are one of the few sustainable agricultural research funding opportunities open to Master's and PhD students at accredited institutions in the Southern region. Proposal Deadline: June 4th, 2012  read more...

Happening in May:

"Taking the Next Step" Marketing Workshop

Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center

Registration Deadline: April 26, 2012

Stillwater, OK – The "next step" workshop set for May 10, 2012, is hostest by the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at OSU Stillwater. This workshop will provide information and insight to move small businesses forward in the areas of retail grocery stores, food service/restaurant industry and gourmet/specialty foods. The FAPC has recruited experienced industry executives to share their experiences about the food supply system to aid in the success of FAPC Basic Training Graduates. Deadline for registration is April 26, 2012. The registration fee is $100. For more information, please call (405) 744-6277 or email karenl.smith@okstate.edu. You may also register online and view the full agenda at www.fapc.biz/marketingworkshop .

MCN FFPC

MFSI Office - 3 p.m.

Salsa Garden

Wetumka Indian Community Center

May 3rd. 6:30 pm at Wetumka Indian Community Center.  MFSI to work with elders to make a Salsa garden growing tomatoes and bell peppers for porch garden.  Contact:  Chairperson Jennie Lillard at Wetumka ICC, 918-814-1656.

Okmulgee Farmers' Market Opens for the Season

Okmulgee Square

May 4th 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Okmulgee Farmer’s Market Grand Opening will be May 4, on the square in Okmulgee. If you would like to participate as a vendor, please contact Brenda Brewer, Okmulgee Main Street, Inc.  (918) 758-1015.

Oklahoma City Policy Council Meeting

OSU-OKC Campus

May 8th - 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at OSU-OKC Campus
 

Natural Resource Day

Deep Fork NWR at Cussetah Bottoms

May 10 - all day  -  MFSI will participate and work with Okmulgee County Conservation District at Natural Resource Day at Deep Fork NWR at Cussetah Bottoms.  Theme:  Connecting Youth With Nature Through Learning Outdoor Skills.  MFSI to do a segment on "foraging and natural harvesting."  Stephanie Berryhill will be lead on this and all staff will participate with her.  NRCS Contact:  Rhnea Stoy, 918-756-8111.

Adult Diabetes Camp

St. Crispins, Seminole, Ok 

May 16th - gardening techniques and traditional foods

Free Compost Class

MFSI Office

Wetumka Indian Community Center, Salsa Gardening Training, 6:00 pm, Thursday, May 3, 2012

by H. June Marshall, Community Coordinator

MFSI staff Stephanie Berryhill and June Marshall traveled to Wetumka Indian Community Center to share gardening tips on growing tomatoes and peppers. Some of the gardeners were experienced gardeners and they shared tips. Stephanie and June taught what they have been learning about horticulture from their involvement in the Kerr Center Beginning Farmer and Rancher program. Marshall explained the program will be opening in the fall for anyone interested in becoming a part of the program either in the horticulture or livestock tracks.

Horticulture is the cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery; the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants and/or the science and art of cultivating such plants. Marshall explained basic steps in growing tomatoes. Tomatoes (Beef Steak) and bell pepper (Big Bertha) plants were given out. Berryhill demonstrated how to seed plants, explained when to plant the seedlings, soil composition, various containers to use, and the importance of following directions on seed packets.

Participants seeded tomato and pepper seeds in small paper pots. To maximize use of seeds, plant only one or two seeds in every seedling pot thereby having additional plants and you will not have to thin seedlings. Plant seedlings when they have about four to six leaves. They can be set into larger containers or directly into the ground. Tomatoes like the warm soil and should be planted after the last frost. Check out Stephen Martinson’s web site for additional tips on growing tomatoes.

http://www.easytomatogrowingtips.com
The Big Bertha (hybrid) is an improved variety to produce fruits more abundantly and more resistant to disease. This is the largest variety bell pepper available, producing heavy yields of sweet peppers that are 7" long and 4" wide that turn from green to red when mature. Seventy-two days to maturity.

MFSI would like to thank Jennie Lillard for getting the training set up and also to the following who came out and shared their gardening experiences: Anna Lowe, Susan Ellis, Jean Noon, Mary Jones, Amanda Martinez, Wilma Coachman, Shirley Berryhill, Irene McQueen, Darlene Morgan, Dolores Chavez, and Lu Coachman. Most of the attendees asked to be put on the mailing list to receive MFSI monthly newsletter. Contact Sue White, MFSI, at 918-756-5915 to be added to the mailing list.
The gardeners expressed interests in the following: Berries, cut flowers, herbs, fruit orchard, honey, commercial vegetable farming, grapes, eggs, and market garden.

MFSI is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, located at 100 East 7th Street, Suite 101, Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447.
 

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