Episodes
-
Plastic Mulches in Vegetable Production: Sources, Alternatives, Pros and Cons | Winter 2026 Webinar
This webinar includes an overview of petroleum-based plastic mulch, bioplastics terminology, the differences between bio-based, compostable, and soil-biodegradable materials, label interpretation, performance comparisons, and non-plastic alternatives. Speakers: Byron Garcia, Biomimicry…
more -
Soil Health Bang for Your Buck | Winter 2026 Webinar
Improving soil health doesn’t need to be expensive or laborious. This webinar focuses on organic, soil building practices that make economic and efficient sense for soil health improvements. Come prepared to share your experiences and methods that support long term soil fertility and reduced...
-
Learning from High Tunnel Enterprise Budgets | Winter 2026 Webinar
Enterprise budgets are a tool to help understand all the costs and returns associated with an individual crop. That data can inform decisions aimed at improving profitability. Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension vegetable and berry specialist will show examples of "fillable" tunnel enterprise budget...
-
Diversifying Herb Enterprises for Economic Return beyond the “Bunch” | Winter 2026 Webinar
Culinary and medicinal herbs can be sold in many ways - not just in bunches. Join experienced herb growers and VVBGA members Julia Etter of Nomad Farm in Bellow Falls, Vermont and Sarah Shaw of Hillside Botanicals in Randolph, Vermont to learn about opportunities for adding value - through…
more -
Crimp, Rip, or Strip: Innovative Tillage for Soil Health | Winter 2026 Webinar
Farmers share methods for reduced tillage and cover cropping in diversified vegetable systems. Speakers: Mike Snow, Snow Organic Ag and Executive Director, Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, Post Mills, VT; Kaity Mazza, Paul Mazza’s Fruits and Vegetables, Essex VT; Noah and Sophie...
-
CAPS-Plus Produce Safety Audits & Traceability for Wholesale Markets
Designed by farmers for farmers, CommunityAccreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS) is voluntary program of the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association (VVBGA), coordinated by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension. The on-line CAPS platform helps growers establishmeaningful,...
-
CAPS Audits for 2026 - What’s New?
CAPS+ / CAPS+LGS has new auditors and a few improvements-come learn everything you need to know for CAPS Audit success in 2026! Panel presentation by Hans Estrin (CAPS Coordinator), Emily Reiss (CAPS Audit Coordinator), Pablo Eliot (CAPS Auditor), Sarah Mcllvennie (VAAFM CAPS Audit Advisor)
-
What's that spot? Organic Tunnel Management of PM & Other Foliar diseases | Winter 2026 Webinar
Join experts and farmers to learn the basics ofpest and disease scouting in tunnels, organic prevention tools, cultural management, and spray options. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Speakers: Ann Hazelrigg, UVM Diagnostic Plant Lab, Christa Alexander,...
-
Understanding Wholesale Distribution Options and Costs | Winter 2026 Webinar
Discerning the pros and cons of wholesale opportunities and costs can be difficult. Farm advisors Rose Wilson and Annie Harlow share tools to assess wholesale distribution costs. This webinar is supported by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RSFI)....
-
What's the Buzz About? Promoting Pollinator Health on Vegetable Farms | Winter 2026 Webinar
Farmers share their organic management practices that promote pollinator habitat, improve soil health, and provide other farm benefits.Speakers: Chuck Wooster, Sunrise Farm; Ryan Fitzbeauchamp, Evening Song Farm.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water...
-
Essentials of Safe, Easy, Low-cost Produce Handling with Hans Estrin
Are you a smaller-scaler "limited resource" grower aiming to build and/or improve your production systems for the coming season? If so, check out the CAPS webinar. Practical, photo-rich overview, Including: • Overview of design goals and elements of 14 “Critical Control Points” from field to...
-
High Tunnel Innovations: Farmer Lightening Round | Winter 2026 Webinar
High tunnel innovations: farmer lightening round. Farmers find the best solutions to vexing problems! This webinar is an opportunity to learn key tips for efficient, ergonomic, affordable improvements for high tunnel growing. Speakers: Danielle Allen, Root 5 Farm, Fairlee; Georgia McDougall,...
-
Go With the Flow: Improving High Tunnel Ventilation | Winter 2026 Webinar
Go with the flow: improving high tunnel ventilation.This webinar provides practical principles, tips, guidance, and tools to help improve ventilation and air circulation in high tunnels, both from an expert and farmer perspective. This webinar is supported by the Transition to OrganicPartnership...
-
Neonicotinoid Pesticide Restrictions | Winter 2025 Webinar
The Vermont legislature enacted Act 182 in 2024, titled “An Act Relating to the Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides.” The Act aims to regulate the sale and use of neonicotinoid treated seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides within Vermont to protect pollinator populations and promote sustainable...
-
Brassica Pests and Diseases | Winter 2025 Webinar
Learn about research-based strategies to manage Alternaria, flea beetles, cabbage aphids and more. Speakers: Susan Scheufele, UMass Extension, Becky Sideman, UNH, and Ethan Grunberg, Cornell University Cooperative Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont…
more -
What to Know About Worker Protection Standards & Worker Housing Fire Safety | Winter 2025 Webinar
WPS are intended to protect employees and others from exposure to pesticides. All farms that apply pesticides are required to follow the WPS. There have been changes to the WPS. This webinar explains what you need to do to be in compliance and how you can get assistance. Speaker: David Huber,...
-
Inter-seeding Cover Crops and Living Mulches | Winter 2025 Webinar
Living mulches can provide many soil health benefits and reduce erosion. Learn innovative strategies and how these practices impact yield. Speakers: Lincoln Fishman, Momentum Ag; Ash Loehr, Hurricane Flats, South Royalton; Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support...
-
Moving Water Away From Fields and Tunnels | Winter 2025 Webinar
What strategies are effective for mitigating excess water during wet years? There are a range of techniques to help your crops stay drier and more productive, ranging from field layout to subsurface drainage. Speaker: Joshua Faulkner, UVM Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from…
more -
Hang onto your soil! Reduced Tillage At Scale | Winter 2025 Webinar
This webinar explores the spectrum of reduced tillage practices at all scales, covering equipment and methods that can improve soil health and save labor. Speakers: Julie Fine, American Farmland Trust; Natalie Lounsbury, University of New Hampshire.All webinars are free, thanks to support from…
more -
What’s New in Colorado Potato Beetle Control? | Winter 2025 Webinar
Growers and researchers are always inventing and refining methods of managing this very persistent pest. Explore mechanical bug beaters, data on delayed planting, and updates on spray efficacy. Speakers: Vic Izzo, UVM; Jon Cohen, Deep Meadow Farm, Ascutney; Goran Johanson Goranson Farm, Dresden,...
-
Planning Cover Crop Sequences for Pollinators and Growers | Winter 2025 Webinar
Growers will share cover crops mixes and sequences designed for pollinator habitat and soil health benefits. Speakers: Jake Kornfeld, (The Farm at VYCC, Richmond); Spencer Hardy, (The Farm Upstream, Jericho); Colin O’Brien (Common Roots Farm, S. Burlington); Laura Johnson, UVM Extension. Cover...
-
What’s New for Strawberry Growers? | Winter 2025 Webinar
Growers will discuss planting style, comparing production costs, varieties, and pest and disease management. Speakers: David Marchant (Riverberry Farm); Kevin O’Dwyer (Langwater Farm, North Easton, Massachusetts).All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water...
-
Best Practices for Managing Diseases & Pests in Organic Onions | Winter 2025 Webinar
This webinar will focus on organic management of multiple onion diseases (bacterial bulb rot, bacterial leaf blight, downy mildew, Stemphylium leaf blight) and thrips. Speakers: Christy Hoepting (Cornell Cooperative Extension) and Ann Hazelrigg (UVM).How to Diagnose Onion Bacterial Bulb...
-
Understanding the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) | Winter 2025 Webinar
Did you know that basic NAP coverage is free to underserved farmers? That's beginning farmers, low-income farmers, people of Color, women and veterans. You can also buy up the coverage. Learn how the program works, and how to get the most out of it if you ever need it. Speakers: Julie Jacque…
more -
Tips for Improving High Tunnel Tomato Yields | Winter 2025 Webinar
Have you ever wondered what an average yield for tunnel tomatoes is? Are you curious to know what other growers do for spacing, pruning, fertility, pest management, etc.? We'll share production benchmarks and simple things that could improve high tunnel yields. This webinar is supported by the...
-
Refining Greenhouse Production for Healthy Transplants & Retail Sales | Winter 2025 Webinar
Growers share strategies for growing healthy, profitable certified organic plant starts, including crop selection, fertility, watering, and work efficiencies. This webinar is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Speakers: Jack Manix (Walker Farm, Dummerston), Andrew Knafel...
-
Tour of The New VVBGA Pick-Your-Own Marketing Platform
See a short demonstration of how to set up your farm’s PYO listing, and what it looks like to potential customers. Q&A about using the platform. Hosted by Julie Callahan, UVM Extension.
-
Gearing up for a season of disease and insect pest management on your farm | Winter 2024 Webinar
UVM’s pest and disease specialists will host a session with strategies to help you avoid unwelcome problems this coming season. Margaret Skinner and Cheryl Frank from the UVM Entomology Lab will discuss how to prepare for high tunnel pests. Ann Hazelrigg from the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic will...
-
Cultivation Equipment and Strategies | Winter 2024 Webinar
Sam Oschwald Tilton from Glacial Drift Enterprises in Minneapolis, MN will share principles of mechanical cultivation (Sam has been featured on the Thriving Farmer Podcast and has extensive experience with cultivation on all scales). Justin Rich from Burnt Rock Farm in Huntington will also join…
more -
High Tunnel Cucumbers | Winter 2024 Webinar
Wenjing Guan from Purdue University will talk about high tunnel cucumbers. She will discuss fertility, spacing, pruning, and a little about grafting. Andy Jones, Intervale Community Farm, Burlington and Christa Alexander, Jericho Settlers Farm, Jericho, will provide an overview of their high…
more -
VVBGA CAPS Growers Reflect on Building their Market Integrity
Are you a VVBGA grower in the process of building your farm’s production systems and markets? Are you trying to make the most of what you have, and apply your planning and development muscle where it counts? If so, don’t miss this grower-focused webinar on building production efficiency and…
more -
Production Q & A | Winter 2024 Webinar
What is on your mind as the new season begins? Join Vern Grubinger, Hans Estrin, Ann Hazelrigg, Laura Johnson, Becky Maden, Andy Chamberlin and fellow growers for a chance to ask questions and share ideas as the 2024 season kicks off. Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry...
-
A Tour of the Pollinator Support Plan Tool
What does a hamburger have in common with pollinator support? Come find out when you attend this webinar where we will also learn what a pollinator support plan is, take a tour of the pollinator support plan tool on the VVBGA website, and address questions about using the tool and creating a…
more -
Habitat Plantings to Attract Insect Pollinators & Insects That Attack Pests
Kyle Doda owns 1000 Stone Farm, a 4-season certified organic homestead farm in Brookfield VT. In this webinar, Kyle will share his experience with establishing and caring for pollinator and beneficial insect plantings on the farm. UVM entomologist Dr. Cheryl Frank Sullivan has been involved in...
-
Wash/Pack Case Studies from Naked Acre Farm and Trillium Hill Farm | Winter 2024 Webinar
Considering a wash/pack upgrade? Hear what two different growers recently learned while making these upgrades for their business. Ryan and Genica of Naked Acre Farm & Homefront Gardens built a garage style building in phases as their budget and bandwidth allowed. James Donegan of Trillium Hill…
more -
Greenhouses Part 2: Growing Bedding Plants for Early Season Sales
Join highly experienced grower Jack Manix of Walker Farm in Dummerston to hear about tips and recommendations for success with bedding plant production. Jack will discuss flat fillers, heated benches, efficient heaters, alarms, and the economics of growing bedding plants. Hosted by Vern Grubinger...
-
Greenhouses, Part 1: Greenhouse Start-up
Planning for a smooth and efficient greenhouse season. Julie Rubaud of Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg will share practices and lessons learned from her many years as a greenhouse seedling grower around production planning and scheduling for a highly diverse mix of plant species. Chris Callahan of...
-
Growers Rap on Employee Handbooks | Winter 2024 Webinar
Why create an employee handbook for your farm? Do you struggle to find and retain good employees on your farm? Would you like to improve the morale and efficiency of your farm crew? Are you interested in improving or creating your own employee handbook to support these improvements? A panel of...
-
Sourcing and Selling Pollinator Plants on The Farm and in Your Nursery
Commercial growers and plant sellers discuss ideas around defining plants as “native” and “pollinator friendly.” We will talk about how to ensure transparency for pollinator safe products for our customers and how to know if varieties you source are not only visually attractive to pollinators…
more -
What new tool, equipment or device are you excited about this year? | Winter Webinar
Casey Steinberg from Old Friends Farm in MA will share some of their favorite tools for efficiency. Jon Cohen from Deep Meadow Farm will share his self-built Colorado potato bug beater. Diane Abruzzini and Christa Alexander from Jericho Settlers Farm will describe a high tunnel gantry system they...
-
Winter Tunnel Growing: Lessons Learned | Winter 2024 Webinar Series
Farmers share evolving practices for winter production, including varieties, planting dates, and cultural practices. Speakers: Christa Alexander (Jericho Settlers Farm), Andy Jones (Intervale Community Farm), Sayer Palmer (Open Woods Farm, NH), James Donegan (Trillium Hill Farm). January 10th, 2023
-
Commercial Bumble Bees in High Tunnels
Join UVM Extension pollinator support specialist Laura Johnson, Koppert’s Inside Sales Representative Anne-Marie Coleman, and Christa Alexander from Jericho Settlers Farm to discuss bumble bee use in high tunnels for crop pollination, including colony biology, optimizing pollinator use from...
-
Crop by Crop Speed Share - Part 2
This week features Brussels sprouts and other brassicas, garlic, potatoes, and delicata squash with farmers: 00:00 Welcome 01:09 Andy Jones (Intervale Community Farm) - Brussel Sprouts 13:49 Patrick Sullivan (Ananda Gardens) - Brassicas 25:25 Seth Storrs (Mink Meadow Farm) - Potatoes 33:59 Jake...
-
High Tunnel Ventilation
Join UVM Extension Agricultural Engineer Chris Callahan and UVM Extension Vegetable, Nutrient Management Specialist, and high tunnel grower, Becky Maden to discuss high tunnel ventilation, including structural orientation, structural design, passive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, best...
-
Crop by Crop Speed Share - Part 1
Growers describe techniques used to grow a specific crop in less than 10 minutes. Learn tips and tricks from each other! This week features baby lettuce, arugula, edible flowers, cut flowers, onions, and leeks with farmers: 00:00 Ryan Fitzbeauchamp (Evening Song Farm) 08:26 Ryan Demarest (Naked...
-
High Tunnel Pests Old and New
Join UVM entomologist Cheryl Sullivan and UNH entomologist Anna Wallingford to learn about high tunnel pests and how to manage for them. We’ll discuss aphids, cutworms, and other foes of your crops. These webinars are supported by UVM Extension, the VVBGA, VAAFM, and Northeast SARE (subaward…
more -
Diversified Farm Crop Pollination and the Common Pollinators
Join Spencer Hardy from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Co-Owner of The Farm Upstream and UVM Extension pollinator support specialist Laura Johnson. Learn to ID some of the common pollinators responsible for marketable fruit set on your farm and how to support them. We’ll also discuss…
more -
Getting Ready for the 2022 Blueberry Season
This grower round table with hosts Ben Waterman of Waterman Orchards in Johnson, Vermont, and Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension. Ben will kick off the conversation with a brief overview of his approach to pruning, mulching and fertilization and what he's learned about these practices over the years....
-
How to build a better farm crew for 2022?
This Webinar builds on the recent 15-min presentation “Managing Our Farm Crew for Optimal Performance” from Don Zasada, Caretaker Farm, Williamstown, MA. This Thursday, VVBGA’s president, Lisa MacDougall, from Mighty Food Farm, will describe her own “Mindful Employee Management” approach…
more -
High Tunnel Tomato Roundtable
It’s the time of year to enjoy the jump on spring you get by farming in a high tunnel! Join fellow farmers for a lunch time discussion and idea sharing about high tunnel tomato growing. Some topics we discuss: • Bed prep and amendments • Irrigation strategies • Ideas about spacing, pruning,...
About this show
The Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association (VVBGA) Shares their webinars in audio form so you can easily listen while in the field or high tunnel!
Hosted by
UVM Extension
Categories