Future Harvest -- Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture is launching of its new Eastern Shore Program with an office in Easton, Md. It’s tasked with helping new and existing Delmarva farmers innovate for greater profit and protection of the Bay.

“We’re extremely excited to further grow programming on the Delmarva Peninsula,” says Executive Director Dena Leibman. “The region, with close proximity to large consumer markets and rich agrarian heritage make it an ideal place for developing and sharing innovative practices that help farmers tap local markets and cost-effectively steward their land.”

HIGH-TUNNEL IT? Intensively managed high tunnels can easily double production on any give piece of land.

The program, made possible by a grant from the Town Creek Foundation, will be managed by Eastern Shore Farmer and Educator Aleya Fraser. She’ll be supported by an advisory council comprised of board members Nevin Dawson (University of Maryland Extension), Cheryl Tritt of Wye Mills, Md., Susan Eliason of Kalmar Farms at Harrington, Del., and Carole Morrison of Birds Eye Farm, Pocomoke, Md., plus other partner farmers and organizations supporting the food economy.

The new office will:

* Provide farmer-to-farmer and expert-led skill-building trainings on profitable practices that build soil health, help mitigate climate change and subsequent sea-level rise, protect water, and build the economy of Delmarva’s farming communities.

* Share latest research from field and variety trials and marketing data, and provide ongoing consultancies for intermediate-level farmers.

* Build strong producer support networks and open more opportunities to connect with markets and consumers.

* Grow a new generation of farmers by expanding Future Harvest CASA’s Beginner Farmer Training Program on the Eastern Shore. It already has three training farms.

April 7 High tunnel event
The Eastern Shore Program’s upcoming education event will be a 2-day High Tunnel Raising Intensive, April 7 and 8 at a Virginia Eastern Shore farm of a Beginner Farmer Training Program graduate. Says The new office will be located at 114 S. Washington Street, Suite 101, Easton, Md.

For about the Future Harvest CASA Eastern Shore Program, visit Future Harvest CASA . Or contact Fraser at [email protected] or call 443-955-3330.