Women in Agriculture (WAgN)

I recently had the opportunity to revisit Peter Miller's work in Vermont Farm Women. The photographs are outstanding and the stories of the 44 farmers featured in the book continue to touch me in ways it is hard to explain if you are not part of Vermont's agricultural scene. The book really is timeless so if you need a special gift for Mother's Day consider picking up a copy.

If you have visited the Women's Agricultural Network website before then you are probably wondering if you typed in the wrong url. Not to worry...you are just seeing our new website. Actually, we have been working on this upgrade for months now behind the scenes but the public switch just took place this week.

Change is hard and it took us awhile to let go of a site that had been very homey and comfortable for a long time. But the way we all use websites is evolving and we wanted our site to do more. In order for that to happen we had to make some dramatic changes.

Some new features that you will find include a link to this blog where we post about issues of interest to the women farmers we work with. There's also a form where you can sign up to receive information from us electronically. We are trying to manage resources wisely and that means cutting back on printed newsletters, workshop announcements and other mailings in favor of more electronic communications.

You will see a new and improved business card section where you can post your farm's contact information. You will also find information on funding resources you can ask questions using the Ask an Expert feature all one click away.

Our new website is a work in progress so please check back often. In the coming months we'll be adding more content, more photos, and more opportunities for you to interact with us and with one another. We hope you like it!

How many times have you had to make some modification to a common tool or piece of equipment just so that you could use it? How many times have you said, "would it be so hard for someone to make a _____ that would fit me"?

Well, it's time for you to be heard! Join the Women’s Agricultural Network along with Ann Adams and Liz Brensinger of Green Heron Tools to share your ideas for how manufacturers and engineers could design farm equipment, hand tools and protective gear that would work better for women.

These focus groups are part of a research project to determine what works and what doesn’t work for women farmers when it comes to farm equipment, hand tools, personal protective gear.

Thursday, June 4 6:30—8:30
UVM Extension Office, Berlin, Vermont

Friday, June 5 11:30—1:30
Burlington, Vermont

Want to join us? Call 802-223-2389 x13 or email Mary.Peabody@uvm.edu