_CALL FOR FOOD: BIODYNAMIC CONFERENCE IN HOTCHKISS MARCH 1-4
To all the Valley’s Organic Farmers and Gardeners,

This winter a very special biodynamic gathering will happen here in our valley.  We will be hosting The Fellowship of Preparation Makers’ 1012 Conference here in Hotchkiss, from March 1st – 4th.  Please save the dates!  We anticipate feeding 100 to 150 people for 3 days with locally grown food.  We would like to feature produce from your farm, and will create our menus around what you have available at that time. Which is why I am writing you to you today, on the cusp of the cross quarter between equinox and winter solstice, as we gather in the bounty of the season. We would like to ask each of you what you have left you could put away for our gathering in March?  We are willing to buy it from you now, and we are also willing to process anything you may have available that will not keep, to serve in March.  We are hoping root crops can be left in the ground, or that you may consider planting early spring greens in your hoop house with this gathering in mind. We can rent freezer space if need be, help can up or dry the rest of those tomatoes, apples, peppers, grapes, whatever!

Let us know what you have! Please call or write to Claire at:
527-6505, dclaire@tds.net

Happy Harvest,
North Fork Valley Biodynamic Community
Denise Claire Laverty


LAVENDER ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN COLORADO CRAFT FAIR DECEMBER 3RD
LAWC Christmas Craft Fair and Bake Sale - hosted by the Lavender Association of Western Colorado.  Saturday December 3rd at the Mesa County Fairgrounds - Community Bldg from 10am to 4pm.  Local lavender growers and artisans showcasing high quality lavender inspired gifts and treasures.  Demonstrations, chair massages and much more. Bake sale and silent auction benefits lavender research conducted by CSU Extension.

Thank you,

Kathy Kimbrough
Garden Scentsations - Garden Design and Coaching Services
President, LAWC
jkknkak@bresnan.net
www.gardenscentsations.blogspot.com
970-255-1312 or  970-216-0643


REMINDER: VOGA HOLIDAY POTLUCK PARTY TUESDAY 12/6 6:00PM
Please hold the date for our annual holiday celebration.  We will be in the ballroom of Memorial Hall.  Emily Hartnet of Terra Fata Farm will be our Know Your Farmer presenter. It's always a great time to catch up with other VOGEANs and attract new members.  Remember to bring a friend or two.

_Monica Wiitanen and Scott Horner invite you to Small Potatoes Farm (40575 O Road, Paonia) on Tuesday November 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 to share their farm stories in the first of VOGA's 2011/2012 lecture series.  In addition, Monica will give us the latest update on the Farmer/Cottage Foods Bill that she is helping champion with Colorado State Senator Gail Schwartz, Sally Kane and producers in the North Fork and across the state.

A New Hope 360 blogger came to the North Fork Valley and visited Hardin's, The Living Farm, Fresh & Wyld, Leroux Creek Vineyards and Small Potatoes Farm.  See the blog entry to find out more about the adventure.

KNOW YOUR FARMER LECTURE 11/8, 5-7:00PM
Monica Wiitanen and Scott Horner invite you to Small Potatoes Farm (40575 O Road, Paonia) on Tuesday November 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 to share their farm stories in the first of VOGA's 2011/2012 lecture series.  In addition, Monica will give us the latest update on the Farmer/Cottage Foods Bill that she is helping champion with Colorado State Senator Gail Schwartz, Sally Kane and producers in the North Fork and across the state. 


VOGA HOLIDAY POTLUCK PARTY TUESDAY 12/6 6:00PM
Please hold the date for our annual holiday celebration.  We will be in the ballroom of Memorial Hall.  It's always a great time to catch up with other VOGEANs and attract new members.  Remember to bring a friend or two.  More details to follow.


VOGA ANNUAL MEETING TUESDAY 1/10
Come support VOGA and hear about the past achievements and future plans.  We will be in the ballroom of Memorial Hall.  More details to follow. 


NOVEMBER SEED SAVING CLASSES WITH LANCE SWIGART AT GARDEN PLANET
719 2nd St, Paonia, 970-527-3522
5:30 - 7:30pm * drop in price $12 or 3 for $30

Wed., November 2 - Small Grains
Planting, growing, harvesting, cleaning, saving
It's not too late to plant winter grains!

Wed., November 9 - Seed Saving Annuals
Vegetables and Flowers

Wed., November 16  - Seed Saving Biennials
Biennial vegetables normally require two years from seed to flowering. Biennial vegetables include beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leek, onion, parsley, parsnip, rutabaga, salsify and turnip.


FROM OUR FRIENDS FROM THE NORTH FORK MOSQUITO DISTRICT:
The Mosquito District needs you to vote YES on 5A and 5B.

Many of you already know about the good work and success of NFMAD.  Please help us to continue our larvicide-based program.

There are 2 conditions that you must meet to be eligible to vote:
1.        You must be registered to vote in  Colorado
AND
2.        You must live (renters included) OR own property in the Mosquito District.

If you meet these requirements and do not receive a ballot this week, call the County Elections Officer at 874-5903 to get one. 

*********************************************************************

Board Members’ Letter to the Taxpayers of the North Fork Mosquito Abatement District

The transition to a larvicide-based mosquito control program has been exciting as well as challenging, and we feel privileged to have served on this board.

During this time of transition, there have been NO human cases of West Nile Virus in the District.  We’re grateful to have played a role in supporting the health of our community.

In addition to controlling mosquitoes before they become adults, we trap the adults and sort out the Culex – the kind that may carry WNV, to isolate where problems could potentially occur.  Because we are looking so intently, we have discovered pockets of WNV infected mosquitoes.  And, because we are maintaining that data from year to year, we are starting to see patterns that will allow us to be more effective in the future.

NFMAD is using GPS to map mosquito-breeding sites.  Mapping where larvae have been found in the past gives the crew an advantage.  They already know where to treat, based on the information gathered by the crews from the previous years.  The database is updated as new sites are discovered.

And, in an effort to bring transparency to our operations, much of this information is readily available to you on our website.

NFMAD has two issues on this fall’s ballot that would support the progress we have made in reducing mosquito numbers and reducing health risks while treating the environment with the respect it deserves.

Measure 5B asks you to allow NFMAD to “de-bruce” – allowing NFMAD to come out from under the TABOR requirements.  In a nutshell, TABOR ratchets revenues down during economic downturns, but limits the growth in revenues during good times.  Under TABOR, the District’s finances can never catch up to provide services for our growing community. There will be no increase in taxes with 5B.

Measure 5A is a request for an increase in the mil levy.  The increased revenues will bring seven new seasonal jobs to the  North Fork  Valley  , and provide the support necessary to continue this program into the future. 

Two employees will be full-time field crew, responsible for operations such as larviciding, mapping, and fogging, as needed.  Additional provisions will be necessary to support the new crew, including GPS units, backpack sprayers, larvicide, safety equipment, and training.  NFMAD will also put aside funding to replace our aging fleet of vehicles.

Five part-time jobs are slated for technicians who do mosquito trapping, identification and WNV sampling.  The Colorado Department of Health depends upon us to identify the Culex and send them to the lab for WNV testing.

The information gathered by these dedicated individuals sets the foundation for much of the day-to-day decision-making.  For example, when the numbers of adult mosquitoes in a trap spikes, the field crew targets the area around that trap to locate unidentified breeding sites.  This approach has been remarkably successful. 

For the last three years, our trapping and identification programs have been run by committed volunteers.  It’s time we make these paid positions.

Finally, some current irrigation practices account for a majority of the District’s mosquito breeding sites.  Eliminating breeding sites may be an expensive proposition initially, but the long-term rewards are very cost-effective.

In summary, an increased mil levy will allow NFMAD to increase the number of field personnel, pay for the trapping and counting currently done by volunteers, purchase additional supplies and equipment, accumulate reserves toward the replacement of vehicles and other capital improvements, and assist in the effort to physically reduce breeding sites throughout the District.

Your YES vote on 5A and 5B will make this possible.

NFMAD Board
Kevin Parks, President
Tara Budinger, Secretary
Kris Kropp, Treasurer
Rosemary Bilchak
Catherine Gockley