Farm tour ends at Terrapin Farm

The final farm tour in a summerlong series aimed at educating Montana farmers and others involved with agriculture in the state about cover cropping and crop-insurance issues will explore cover cropping on a diverse vegetable operation.

The Aug. 16 tour will be at Terrapin Farm in Whitefish. 

Terrapin Farm owner Judy Owsowitz is a longtime organic producer. 

With over 20 years of certified organic production, Terrapin Farm produces more than 500 varieties of diversified vegetables, herb, and seed crops and incorporates greenhouse, hoop-house, and high tunnel production. 

Owsowitz also oversees more than 30 varieties of seed production, some of which are Terrapin Farm exclusives.

This tour will include a presentation on cover cropping in diverse horticultural operations by Tammy Howard, a sustainable agriculture specialist at the National Center for Appropriate Technology in Butte.

Jeff Schahczenski will speak on a new type of whole-farm revenue for diversified farming systems that will be available in 2015.

The farm-tours are part of a the National Center for Appropriate Technology, the Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana State University and Montana Farmers Union have been working on with the Montana Organic Association.  

The farm tour is free and begins at 2:30 p.m. at Terrapin Farms, 6505 Farm to Market Road in Whitefish. Children are welcome, but organizers ask participants not to bring dogs.

 Pre-registration isn’t required, but it is appreciated. Those interested in attending should register online at https://www.ncat.org/tours. Those who have questions should contact Jeff Schahczenski by email at jeffs@ncat.org or phone at 406-494-8636.

After the tour, the Montana Organic Association will hold a “Fabulous Farm Feast Fundraiser Dinner,” featuring food from Terrapin Farm and music by cellist Lee Zimmerman. 

This is a separate event from the tour with a suggested donation of $45. Contact Nathan Brown at g.nathanbrown@gmail.com.