Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:Ana Cabral, Flats Mentor Farm
978.815.2199, 508.904.7647, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
[EDITORS NOTE: Photos of the 2008 Beginning Farmer training are available at www.flatsmentorfarm.org or by contacting Ana Cabral at the address above.]
 
Beginning Farmer Production & Marketing Training
Friday, July 31 – Saturday, August 1, 2009
Flats Mentor Farm
Route 117
Lancaster, Massachusetts
 
Lancaster’s Flats Mentor Farm is where many of Massachusetts’ newest farmers go to learn a lot – and to offer a lot – as part of a series of programs being showcased FRIDAY and SATURDAY, JULY 31-AUGUST 1 at the 6th Annual Beginning Farmer Production & Marketing Training. The progam begins at 8 a.m.
 
The Flats Mentor farmers, many of them Hmong people from Laos, have been farming the 70 acres since 1985 with help from UMass Amherst and UMass Extension, the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture and Heifer International, as well as from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services (CSREES) program.
 
Who should attend?
 
Farmers, gardeners, state and local officials involved or interested in agriculture, nutritionists and health educators, and organizations working with immigrants.
 
What are the highlights?
 
•    Hands-on trainings by UMass Extension educators and FMF farmers in areas such as hoop house construction and vermicomposting;
•    Farmer led tours of Asian crops at FMF;
•    Cultural lunch on Friday on the field;
•    Cultural Sharing dinner with Hmong, Portuguese and African cultures;
•    Wholesale and Farmers Market visits in the Boston area;
 
A full agenda can be found at http://www.flatsmentorfarm.org/Agenda_only.pdf .
 
How can I register?
 
Register at http://www.flatsmentorfarm.org/2009%20July%20Event%20Reg%20form%20FINAL.pdf  .
 
The program is free and open to the public.
 
Registrations are also being accepted for Friday evening’s Cultural Sharing dinner at the Hudson Portuguese Club at $30 per person; and for Saturday’s Lunch and farmers’ market tour at $20 per person.
 
 
Are accommodations available?
 
A block of 30 rooms has been secured at the Holiday Inn Express on Rt. 62 in Hudson. Call them at 978-562-1001. The room rate is $84.99+ tax per night. The block will be for the nights of July 30th and July 31st. When booking your room please besure to mention that you are part of the “Flats Mentor Farm” group.
 
How do I get there?
Flats Mentor Farm is located on Seven Bridge Rd Lancaster MA 01523 (RT 117).
From North:
RT 2 East to RT 190 S exit 33 – go 2.6 mi. Take RT 117 east, exit 7 to Leominster/Lancaster; Continue 4.5 miles to the Farm on left

From South:
Take 495 North to exit 27 to Bolton/Stow bear right onto RT 117 West ramp to Bolton, continue 4 miles on RT 117 farm is on right .2 miles after the RT 110 and RT 117 intersection.
From East:
RT 2 West to RT 70 Lancaster to RT 117 take left onto RT 117 east, Farm is on left 1.2 miles