Thinking of raising livestock for the first time? The Heart of Ohio Chapter is hosting a panel discussion on Getting Started with Livestock on Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Sigma Chi House on the campus of Denison University in Granville. Expert farmers who raise grass-fed beef, dairy goats, sheep, chickens, and bison will tell their stories, show slides, and give advice to the beginning livestock farmer.

Refreshments and a question and answer period will follow the presentation. The public is cordially invited for this educational discussion. A PDF of the campus map is available as a download. For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Janell Baran.

NOTE: There will be a summer break for the months of July and August.  Join us when we meet again in September.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at Denison University’s Sigma Chi House in Granville. A PDF of the campus map is available as a download. For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Janell Baran.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2009 at Denison University’s Sigma Chi House in Granville. A PDF of the campus map is available as a download. For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Janell Baran.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, Feb. 4 2009 at Denison University’s Sigma Chi House in Granville. A PDF of the campus map is available as a download. This month we welcome Forrest Shirkey of OSU-Newark as guest to discuss local food systems suited to small farmers. For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Janell Baran.

On January 21, 2009, nominations for 2009 Heart of Ohio Chapter offices were taken and the following slate of officers was submitted and unanimously approved.

• President: Janell Baran
• Secretary: Trish Mumme
• OEFFA Board Rep: Joan Richmond

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at Kenyon’s Brown Family Environmental Center. All Heart of Ohio members are strongly encouraged to be at this meeting to set the tone and direction of the group for the year. We need you!

• Election of 2009 officers
• Programming planning ? What do we want to do this year?
• Fedco Seed Orders (if possible, bring your completed order sheets and checkbook to the meeting. Beth Elder is compiling the order)
• Other group orders (seed potatoes, nursery trees, other seed companies, etc. )
• Thanksgiving Box 2009 preplanning

PLEASE COME! Bring your ideas! For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Joan Richmond.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Thursday, December 11 at Kenyon’s Brown Family Environmental Center. A debriefing of the Thanksgiving Box project, a report from the Nov. OEFFA membership meeting, and chapter elections are on the agenda.For additional information about the chapter, contact Chapter President Joan Richmond.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Thursday, October 2 at Windy Hill Apple Farm (home of Charlie’s Apples) just outside of Fredonia, OH. Note the change of venue!

The chapter welcomes Windy Hill Apple Farm owner Charlie Fritsch who will demonstrate the fine art of cider making. Windy Hill Sweet Cider is made from apples picked from the trees, washed and then stored at room temperature until the apples have fully ripened. While September apples such as Jonafree and Liberty make excellent sweet cider, they are not pressed for cider until the first part of October after they sit and mellow (the technical term is “sweat”.) The juice is pressed with a rack and cloth press and let to sit overnight to let the natural enzymes enhance the flavor. The result is a golden rich full flavored drink that will remind you of the cider of years gone past. It is free of chemicals and preservatives and is unpasteurized. Thus, it will remain fresh for about two weeks in refrigeration. After that, it will start to ferment. (Some people like it with a little naturally carbonated “zip”.)

This presentation is free and open to the public. For additional information about the chapter or the program, contact Chapter President Joan Richmond. The next meeting will be November 6; the tentative program topic is a tour of the Knox Co. community kitchen facility at Kenyon College.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 PM on Thursday, September 4 at Kenyon’s Brown Family Environmental Center. At 8 PM, the chapter welcomes guest speaker Andrew Semler, owner of Lucky Cat Farm in Pataskala, OH who will talk about small-scale farm extraction of plant-based oils. 

Plant oils are generally used by the food industry. However they are also elementary in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries—finding them in things like salves, soaps, shampoos, and lipstick. Furthermore, with the new economic and political atmosphere plant oil is increasingly being used in traditional petroleum applications such as generator and vehicle fuel, and industrial lubricants. Another benefit on farm production is the waste product known as meal or seed cake, is a valuable input for livestock feed, different food uses, fertilizer, and fuel. Overall there are clear benefits from small-scale plant oil production. He will cover an overview of the production process, some production site development issues, and some specific nut ands seeds fit for use in Ohio. 

This presentation is free and open to the public. For additional information about the chapter or the program, contact Chapter President Joan Richmond. The next meeting will be October 7th at Windy Hill Apple Farm (home of Charlie’s Apples) just outside of Fredonia, OH; owner Charlie Fritsch will demonstrate the fine art of cider making.

The next meeting will be September 4th; the program will be on small-scale food-grade oil extraction.  For additional information about the chapter or the program, contact Chapter President Joan Richmond.