From Debbie Roos, Chatham Agriculture Extension Agent: Due to Demand We Added Another On-farm Ripe Pepper Production Workshop! Our October 29 workshop is just about full and we have had more inquiries so we decided to add a second workshop to accommodate demand. On-farm Pepper Production Workshop November 7, 2013: Ripe Peppers in the Market Garden – Methods and Varieties Over the past decade, grower Doug Jones of Piedmont Biofarm has used on-farm breeding techniques to develop high-performing, good-tasting sweet pepper varieties. His 120 breeding lines include the flavorful “Sweet Habanero” group of seasoning peppers. This year he’s conducting variety trials for Johnny’s Selected Seeds, looking at 40 varieties of sweet peppers and Anaheims. Doug would like to help local growers and gardeners overcome the challenges that have prevented peppers from fulfilling their potential as an important and profitable crop for NC market gardeners, and a significant “superfood” in the diet of local consumers, many of whom are not aware of how flavorful a ripe pepper can be. Some of those challenges include sourcing good genetics, finicky germination issues, providing good trellises, and extending the growing season of this long-lasting crop. Local growers and gardeners are invited to come to Doug’s farm to learn about (and taste!) his research results. He’ll also be recruiting participants to start a “collaborative, open-source, on-farm breeding network”. The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems have partnered to offer an on-farm pepper production workshop - Ripe Peppers in the Market Garden: Methods and Varieties - on Thursday, November 7 from 2:00-5:00 pm at Piedmont Biofarm in Pittsboro (we’ll start out at the Agriculture Building then move to the farm). Grower and educator Doug Jones will offer both an indoor workshop as well as a farm tour highlighting the 37 different varieties of peppers he is trialing this year. Participants will learn the “pros & cons” of including ripe sweet peppers as a significant crop on a small farm. Other topics covered will include indoor seed production, sustainable crop management, discussion and tour of the different variety and breeding lines, demonstration of season extension, varietal discussion, and a pepper tasting. Advance registration is required by October 30. The cost of the workshop is $10. Space is limited so please register early to reserve your spot. Registration details are available on Cooperative Extension’s Growing Small Farms website at go.ncsu.edu/gsf-workshops
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 00:02:30 +0000
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