Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Eastern Hops Guild on Facebook
Hops – a cultivation seminar for the prospective, beginning and intermediate grower
Day One - Tues, April, 6 2010
10am - 12pm, Economics of the Hop yard - Chris Reedy, Eastern Hops guild, program coordinator, Hops seminar coordinator
1 pm - 3pm, A year in the life of the Hop yard - Van Burnette, Hop farmer & entertainer
3 pm - 5pm, Soil Fertility/Nutrient Management - Bill Yarborough, NCDA&CS regional agronomist
Day Two - Wed., April 7 2010
10am - 12pm, Integrated Disease and Pest management, Sue Colucci, NCSU Area Specialized Agent for Commercial Horticulture
1pm - 3pm, Hops, a brewers perspective, Andy Dahm, French Broad Brewery, Asheville brewers supply and the Consigliere of Brewing in Asheville
3:30pm - 5pm, optional brewery tour at French Broad Brewery
Topics of discussion will include:
1. Start-up cost
2. A realistic look at the labor requirements in hop cultivation.
3. Specific nutrient and micro-nutrient ranges
4. How to take and understand your soil samples. Soil samples kits will be provided at the seminar. Those who pre-register are encouraged to take soil samples from their yards and bring the results to the seminar. (Bill Yarborough has agreed to help interpret your results. Check out this link http://www.agr.state.nc.us/agronomi/pubs.htm for more information or see your local extension agent for a free soil sample kit.(North Carolina only)
5. Specific hop disease and pest that have already been observed in our region as well as the methods of treatment.
6. Possible non invasive techniques to reduce the risk of possible disease and pest.
7. A brewer’s perspective on hops which includes Hop chemistry, processing, quality, and use in the brewing process.
8. Also, an optional brewery tour to one of Asheville’s oldest breweries.
And much more
Please contact Sarah Schober at sschober@abtech.edu
Or
Chris Reedy at hopnetwork@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hops Production Meeting
Come learn about the challenges and opportunities of growing Hops, a new, exciting crop in Western North Carolina.
Topics Covered will include:
- Site Selection and Soil requirements
- Trellising Systems and cover crops
- Disease, Pest and Weed management
- Economic and budgets
- A rep from the Eastern Hops Guild will be present to discuss the opportunities for communication and advantages of cooperation.
- Current hops growers will be present to discuss their experiences!
Meeting Fee is $5. Payable at the Door. Cash Only!
Please RSVP to the Haywood County Extension Office:
Phone: 828.456.3575 or email at erin_freeman@ncsu.edu or tim_mathews@ncsu.edu
Directions Link: http://www.ncagr.gov/Research/MountainResearchStationWaynesville.htm
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
On Saturday, August 29th, 2009, the NC Cooperative Extension Service hosted an informative and educational tour of two local hops farms in the Western North Carolina region. Over 100 interested growers, commercial brewers, and home brewers attended the event.
Landfair Farms in Weaverville, NC was the first to host the attendees. Participants traveled from all over North Carolina and as far away as Central Virgina and Tennessee. A majority of the participants were either home brewers with 'hobby' gardens and those with interest in commercial hop yards. We were lucky enough to have commercial brewers attend as well.
Tour Coordinator, Melinda Roberts, a Small Farms agent from Buncombe Country, started the tour with an overview of the days agenda.
Dr. Jeanine Davis followed with an excellent presentation regarding hops as a relatively new and unproven crop in our area and stressed the importance of a communication network to facilitate the flow of ideas and experiences.
Next, Chris Reedy with Eastern Hops Guild, discussed the formation of The Eastern Hops Guild as well as the issues of Processing, Harvesting, Testing and the possibility of a Disease and Pest work shop.
Julie Jensen, owner of Landfair farms, then led the tour into the fields to actually discuss the nuts and bolts of the growing process. Currently, landfair has 1300 crowns in the ground consisting mainly of Cascade, Willamete, Brewers Gold and Chinook. Chinooks seemed to be the most vigorous growing and heavily fruiting variety of all. Landfair has been using organic cultivation methods with their yards for the past two years.
Sue Colluci, NC Extension, Plant Pathologist also answered some questions from the attendees concerning possible disease as well as pest problems. Sue has some experience with Hops and will be a valuable asset for Hop growers.
The Group proceeded to the Second stop on the tour. Van Burnette's Hop'n Blueberry Farm in Black Mountain, NC. The Farm has been in Van's Family for over 100 years He has been awarded the Centennial Farm designation and also a 2009 WNC AgOptions Recipient to cultivate hops. Van's hop yard has over 130 crowns of Centennial, Chinook, Nugget and Cascade.
The Yard is irrigated by a gravity fed drip irrigation system that uses both water flowing through the property as well as rain water catchment.
The day ended with a networking session/after party at Pisgah Brewing located 5 minutes from Hop'n Blueberry. The Brewer gave samples of Endless Summer Ale, India Pale Ale and Belgian Amber. Dave, owner of Pisgah Brewing, stressed his interest in sourcing local hops.
The Eastern Hops Guild would like to thank all the participants involved in the tour. The Guild would also like to recognize the truly unmeasurable contribution of the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Special thanks go to Steve Ducket, Jeanine Davis, Amanda Stone, Erin Bonito, Sue Colluci and Mike Ford. Extra Special thanks go to Tour Coordinator, Melinda Roberts.
Eastern Hops Guild