FARM DAY EVENT
at
The Cliffs Organic Farm

BE AN ORGANIC FARMER FOR A DAY!

Saturday, June 13 - 8 am to 3:30 pm.

COST: $25 per adult and $15 per child (8 to 14 years old) with farm lunch included.

REGISTER by completing the FORM below

Please bring your own gloves, hat, water bottle, sun-screen, wear working clothes and you may bring a change of clothes if you wish.

THE CLIFFS ORGANIC FARM

The Cliffs Organic Farm is an integral part of The Cliffs Communities’ commitment to Living Wellness. The 10-acre USDA certified organic farm features 155 different varieties of vegetables, fruits, and culinary herbs. We specialize in heirloom varieties using sustainable, organic production practices. We also have a medicinal and culinary herb garden highlighting 50 specialty herbs. Our produce is used at La Bastide in Traveler’s Rest and at Clubhouse restaurants in The Cliffs Communities. It is also sold directly to residents of The Cliffs Communities through Clubhouse Gourmet Markets, and to the public at the Market at Keowee Towne (starting the first week in May).

EVENT ITINERARY

8:00 AM – Meet for car pooling (location TBA) to the Cliffs Organic Farm

9:00 AM- Arrive at the Cliffs Organic Farm. Meet and Greet farm manager and staff Craig Weiner (farm manager) gives a brief tour of the farm; presents the day schedule and divides participants into groups for hands-on farming activities

10:00 AM - Hands-on farming activities: Weeding 101; Compost 101; (building or turning compost pile); Sowing fall vegetables in flats (spinach, broccoli, greens, etc.) Harvesting and storing produce (squash, tomato, okra, eggplant, cucumber, and peppers)

1:00 PM– Lunch is served. La Bastide chefs will prepare a superb picnic lunch with fresh organic produce from the farm.

2:30 PM– Informal talk – Farm manager talks about an interesting topic of his choice. People have a chance to ask questions about the farming

3:30 PM – Participants return to Greenville

Event participants are encouraged to participate in carpooling to THE CLIFFS ORGANIC FARM located in Marietta (+/- 25 miles from Greenville). Participants beware that GOFO does not have insurance for carpooling and assumes no liability for it. Carpooling, ride sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants who assume the risks associated with traveling together. In order to register for this event participants are asked you to sign the liability waiver and make payment prior to the event day. Payment should be mailed to GOFO PO Box 4801, Greenville SC 29608 by June 10, 2009.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

I understand that during my participation in the GOFO field trip, I may be exposed to a variety of hazards and risks, foreseen or unforeseen, which are inherent in this field trip and can not be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the event. These inherent risks include, but are not limited to, the dangers of serious personal injury, property damage, and death (Injuries and Damages) from exposure to the hazards of travel and GOFO has not tried to contradict or minimize my understanding of these risks. I know that Injuries and Damages can occur by natural causes or activities of other persons, animals, and event participants, either as a result of negligence or because of other reasons. I appreciate that I may have to exercise extra care for my own person and for the others around me in the face of such hazards. To the fullest extent allowed by law, I agree to WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY GOFO Health and Education Inc, its officers and directors, Bio-Way Farm and its owners from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by negligence of participants of this activity.

Bio-Way farm owners and Viviane Trama

Bring your own gloves, hat, water bottle, sun-screen, and swimming suit/towel.

REGISTER BY FILLING OUT FORM BELOW

Bio-Way Farm is a 120-acre conservation based farm that evolves on permaculture design principles in Laurens County. Our family started the farm by planting 2000 asparagus crowns in 2004. In addition to asparagus, we grow many varieties of seasonal produce and fruit, nut and berry crops. We sell to area restaurants, natural food market (Garner’s), and next year direct through a CSA and the farmer’s market. We are looking forward to more fruit and berry planting, expanding the experimental edible forest garden, establishing a native plant nursery, and seeding saving. Bio-Way Farm strives to preserve biodiversity by stewarding its 100 acres of rich hardwood forest. We are active in exotic plant control and reintroduction of native plants, which helps to restore habitats.

Chris Sermons, Organic Farmer

FARM WORKDAY ITINERARY

9:00 - Meet at Garner's Natural Cafe parking lot for car pooling

10:00 - Arrive at the farm. Meet and Greet Bio Way Farm owners

Chris Sermons (farmer) will present the day schedule and divide the participants into groups for the hands-on field activities

10:15 - Hands-on field activities: Weeding 101; Compost 101; (building or turning compost pile); Sowing fall vegetables in flats (spinach, broccoli, greens, etc.) Harvesting and storing produce (squash, tomato, okra, eggplant, cucumber, and peppers)

11:45 - Farm walk tour (fish pond and woods)

12:15 - Permaculture 101. Chris Sermons will teach the principles of permaculture and how it creates a sustainable environment. Everyone needs to eat and drink, and it is the issue of food production where permaculture had its origin. It started with the belief that for people to feed themselves sustainably they need to move away from reliance on industrialised agriculture. Where industrial farms use fossil fuel (gasoline, diesel, natural gas) driven technology specialising in each farm producing high yields of a single crop, permaculture stresses the value of low inputs into the land and diversity in terms of what is grown. The model for this was an abundance of small scale market and home gardens for food production with food miles being a primary issue.

1:00 - Farm lunch (organic, in season produce and home cooked)

Menu: Fried fish from farm pond (bream; catfish; bass; crappie); vegetable salads; vegetable casseroles; home baked breads; blueberry desert; natural beverages and water

2:30 - Goodbyes

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in carpooling to BIO WAY FARM located in Ware Shoals (+/- 35 miles from Greenville). Volunteers need to be aware that GOFO does not have insurance for carpooling and assumes no liability for it. Carpooling, ride sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants who assume the risks associated with the travel. In order to register for this event volunteers are asked you to sign the liability waiver and make payment prior to the event day.

Click HERE to see photo gallery of Bio Way Farm day.