Posts by Violet Stone

Violet's work focuses on creating retreats, workshops and programs for the agricultural community centered on themes of connection, wellness, purpose, integrity and courage. She sees this work as contributing to a more inclusive ‘culture’ of agriculture where all voices are warmly welcomed, honored and celebrated, including the voices of our ‘inner teachers’, sometimes referred to as 'spirit' or 'soul'. Violet serves as the NY SARE Coordinator and can help farmers and educators navigate NESARE grant opportunities.
Violet

2019 Baskets to Pallets Farmer Training, Rochester, NY

By Violet Stone / February 27, 2019

Baskets to Pallets Two Day Training Tug Hill Vineyards, Lowville, NY January 29 & January 30, 10:00am – 4:00pm The ‘Baskets to Pallets’ course is designed for farmers of all enterprises and will cover building relationships with buyers, customer management and record keeping, pricing, grading and packaging, uniformity and consistency, and food safety, among many other topics! …

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Seeking New Markets? Baskets to Pallets Coming to Rochester March 14-15

By Violet Stone / January 31, 2019

Are you looking to diversify sales beyond the farmers market, CSA and farm stand? Food hubs, grocery stores, schools, and cooperatives are looking for your products to meet growing consumer demand for locally produced food. Yet, doing successful business with wholesale buyers requires planning and preparation. Ensure your success by joining us for ‘Baskets to…

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Training Instructors Biographies

By Violet Stone / January 15, 2019

Baskets to Pallets Training Instructors Violet Stone launched the Baskets to Pallets Project in 2014 in an effort to prepare direct-marketing farmers to successfully connect with new scale-appropriate markets.  Prior to joining the Cornell Small Farms staff, Violet worked as a farmers market manager, local foods educator and farm direct-marketing consultant.  She is also the …

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Announcing the 2019 Baskets to Pallets Training in Rochester, NY

By Violet Stone / January 15, 2019

Baskets to Pallets Regional Farmer Training. March 14th and 15th Irondequoit Conference Center, Rochester, NY Are you in search of new markets? Have you considered intermediary channels like food hubs, grocery stores, schools and cooperatives? The demand for local food continues to grow…Is your farm business ready for the opportunities? Ensure your success by joining us…

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Group picture, Baskets to Pallets Cohort

A Retrospect on the Baskets to Pallets Cohort Opening Gathering

By Violet Stone / August 14, 2018

On August 7 and 8, we convened the inaugural gathering of the new Baskets to Pallets educator cohort. Here’s a brief update on the new cohort and the work they plan to do over the next two years. Last week, I was happy to find myself out of my office chair and seated instead in…

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Announcing the Baskets to Pallets Educator Cohort

By Violet Stone / June 26, 2018

The Baskets to Pallets project is pleased to announce members of the new Baskets to Pallets Educator Cohort.  Over the next 2.5 years, members will have the opportunity to work closely to share knowledge and expertise, design and teach lesson plans, meet buyers, receive free coaching and ‘big picture’ perspectives on local food marketing trends from…

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Groundswell agricultural education class

Mapping Services for Ag Refugees in New York

By Violet Stone / May 24, 2018

Do you serve refugee farmers?   Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and the Cornell Small Farms Program are seeking to identify organizations who are working with refugee populations engaged in agriculture in New York State.  If this describes your organization, please take a minute to fill out a short questionnaire describing your work. Click here for Questionnaire We will compile…

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Seeking New Markets? Join us in Lowville, NY for Baskets to Pallets

By Violet Stone / December 7, 2017

2 day Training helps farmers develop new relationships with scale-appropriate wholesale buyers Are you looking to diversify sales beyond the farmers market, CSA and farm stand? Food hubs, grocery stores, restaurants and cooperatives are looking for your products to meet growing consumer demand for local and sustainably produced food.  Yet, doing successful business with wholesale buyers requires…

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New! Find all your favorite resources in one place!

By Violet Stone / June 1, 2017

Have you noticed our new look? Yes, we’ve merged our sister site, the Northeast Beginning Farmers Project, with the Small Farms Program website. You can now find all the great features of both sites in one place, but excuse some broken links. We’re working to address them as soon as possible! If you need help…

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Register Now: Tractor Workshops: TWO LOCATIONS!

By Violet Stone / March 31, 2017

Increasing production on the farm can often require investments in equipment to improve labor efficiency, productivity and profitability.  Are you a farmer who is interested in scaling up farm production through investment in your first tractor or upgrading to a bigger piece of equipment?  Are you a beginning or experienced farmer who wants to understand tractors…

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