The Back 40 ...    

Find out about featured farmers in the area, what is going on in local markets and CSA's and what is happening in Northeast Ohio.

Forging the First FarmLink in Northeast Ohio

Jessica began urban farming on two acres in the city of Cleveland but was looking for a little more... Susan is planning to cut back on her farming and spend more time with family.

FarmLink was a way for them to connect and build a partnership that met both of their needs.  Read more about the first FarmLink connection in the state of Ohio here.

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New! Farm & Food Blog

Marilou Suszko, the author of the book “Farms and Foods of Ohio: From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate.” has launched a new Blog about everything Ohio Farm & Food related.

Link to mlou blog

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Local Communities advance farmland protection

Three communities received grant awards from OSU's Farmland Policy Innovation Center.  Portage and Wayne counties are two of those award recipients that will implement innovative farmland protection policy in Northeast Ohio.

Read more...

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A Wise Land Ethic for Northeast Ohio

Denny Wise thought about farmland preservation for a long time before he applied to the state farmland protection program established by the Clean Ohio Bond Issue.

Protecting the farm is something that he wanted to do for a long time.  This story is about Denny Wise, a Randolph township farmer with an ethic for the land that benefits us all.

Read "A Wise Land Ethic for Northeast Ohio".

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How do you know where to buy local foods or what products to buy organic?  Two new valuable resources available

Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy produces fall harvest guide, farming directory, directory of CSA farms, restaurants, caterers and cafes and a farmers market listing.

Each directory can be downloaded separately on the

CVCC website.

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Portage County Farmland Advisory Board posts informative website

Portage County's farmland task force has been one of the most active- and hence one of the most successful counties in preserving farmland.  Their website is a great example of how to outreach to the community and answer the why and how questions of farm conservation as well as talk about the economic impact of protecting the county's farmland

Visit the website at http://www.portagefarmland.org/

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Geauga County Farmers Donna & David Divoky

Maple Valley Sugarbush & Farm These farm entrepreneurs represent hope for the future of farming in Northeast Ohio. Read their story

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Thinking about conserving your farm?  Want to know why farmers decide to forgo the immediate payoff of sale for development for the long term pay off of permanently protected farmland?  Read the story of a Northeast Ohio farmer that decided to invest in his farm and his community.

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"Visions of Farmers’ Markets Danced in my Head"  This guest column written by market manager Tom Burris illustrates many of the challenges and opportunities faced by market managers around the country.  Read more....

New farmers market opening! in Grafton, Ohio.  Visit our farmers market page for more information

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Geauga County develops county resource featuring direct market producers

Geauga County planning commission and department of community and economic development surveyed all of their agricultural producers and used  some of the information to develop a map and brochure featuring all farmers that direct market any type of product. Click here to  access the map and brochure.

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Ohio ranks 14th in the nation in receipt of farm subsidies. 

Most NEOH counties rank low in the state in receipt of farm subsidies.  Download a comparison of receipts for NEOH counties from 1995-2004.

For a complete analysis of subsidy information visit the Environmental Working

Group farm subsidy database. The data is searchable by county, recipient or congressional district.

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Lorain County Farmer Jim McConnell shares an innovative city/township approach to maintaining rural farmland in Northeast Ohio in this informative article from the National Association of Realtors Common Ground Publication.

And what does this mean for urban communities? "Preservation of the agricultural economy and the revitalization of existing communities are two answers to the same equation," According to former governor Paris Glendening

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Fred Maier, developer of the "Save a farm" Campaign has been selected by Ohio Magazine as an Ohio Hero in this month's issue of Ohio Magazine (See ohiomagazine.com).  Fred developed a series of jingles that are featured on signs adorning Portage County thoroughfares.  The campaign has also moved north to Ashtabula County at the South River Vineyard.  To learn more visit http://www.saveafarm.org/

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Howard Hartzler was selected by Entrepreneurs for Sustainability as a Champion of Sustainability for 2005. Mr. Hartzler is the sustainable producer of value added dairy products in Wayne County.  For more information on Hartzler Dairy visit http://www.hartzlerfamilydairy.com/ or dowload the Special Report on Entreprenerial Farming *Right column* to learn more.

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Wayne County's Agriculture Success Team Plans for the future of ag in their county.

Read a summary of their producer survey

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View this innovative way that Portage County farmland preservation advocates are supporting their agricultural producers by creating a map and brochure listing all agricultural producers that direct market their products.