PDF guide to assessing efficient scales for individual farming operations.  Helps farmers assess if scaling up is a good decision for their farm business. All regions. English Level: Advanced. Farming Level: Intermediate. Literacy Level: Advanced. Keywords: scaling up, food safety

This guide helps trainers deliver a series of trainings or activities to refugee farmers on season extension in temperate regions. The trainings were designed as a package, but each session or activity can be done independently. Graphics can be used both during and after the activities.This teaching resource was developed by Global Garden in Chicago, Illinois in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on this lesson, which is now integrated throughout the guide.

This resource is designed to be a module in Cultivating Community’s Advanced Farm Production curriculum. Built for farmers who are familiar with the difficulty of weed management and frustrated by crop quality and pest problems that result from weed competition, this workshop is a standalone class designed to emphasize the value of preventing weeds from going to seed. This teaching resource was developed by Cultivating Community in Portland, ME in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on this lesson, which is now integrated throughout the guide.

Sharing The Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture by ELizabeth Henderson with Robyn Ven En (1999, 2007) offers guidance towards the many aspects of Community Supported Agriculture dating back to the experimental roots of first trials of CSAs in the US and lessons learned through various experiences. Available in both English and Spanish.

This is a guide for training on the basics of raising farm livestock (specifically chickens and goats). Each lesson can be used independently if desired by the program. It was written for a community farm program in Central Virginia, however most of the concepts are transferable across geography. Local livestock laws and regulations and supply sourcing stores will need to be researched to be relevant for other locations.

This series of six workshops covers a range of topics related to soil quality and fertility management. For example, multiple workshops focus on learning plant families as a basis for understanding the importance of crop rotation and soil management planning. Other sessions introduce the concepts of crop rotation, soil nutrients, and teach the importance of giving soils an opportunity to “rest” in crop rotation planning. Most of the workshops are appropriate for beginning- to intermediate-level farmers.

This module contains six mini-lessons on practices and knowledge related to soil health and fertility. These lessons can be chosen and combined in whatever way makes sense for your program. The lessons address soil texture, fertilizers, soil organisms, legume crops and nitrogen, cover crops, and nutrient problems. This teaching resource was developed by Global Garden in Chicago, Illinois in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on this lesson, which is now integrated throughout the guide.
 

To a beginning farmer, the project of establishing a working farm at a new site can feel overwhelming. Depending on what resources already exist at the property, the task of identifying, prioritizing, and paying for needed improvements can be a difficult road to cultivate productive farmland.

This tool is designed to help a farmer who is considering establishing a farm at a new site to examine the scope of improvements the site may require, to prioritize which upgrades should be made, and to identify various organizations and funding sources that might offer advice and/or financing for farm-related improvements. Beginning with a section about selecting a farm enterprise, this resource then addresses Land Access, Utilities and Energy, Structures, and Equipment.

This tool is designed with farmers in Massachusetts specifically in mind, but many of the elements considered are applicable to farmers in other states, as many of the MA-based organizations and resources have parallels in other states as well. Each section below will include 1) Key Considerations and Questions, 2) Resources, and 3) Contacts related to that section, and some sections will also have 4) Financing information as well.

This is not an exhaustive list of key considerations and resources associated with starting or improving a farm on a new site. Hopefully the information provided will prove valuable to farmers as they undertake the important and demanding work of creating the conditions by which a property can generate value for the community and provide a sustainable income for the producer.

The webinar Strategies to Capitalize the Farm: Lessons from the Field, is part of the Investing in Your Farm: Accessing Grants and Loans for Growing Your Business workshop series, hosted by the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.

In this webinar, Farmers share knowledge/understanding of state/federal grant and loan programs. Topics covered in the workshop include:

• Scaling-up journey
• Land access, funding, infraestructure and logistic challenges
• Wish list of investments, farm profitability and grants available
• Specialty crops and MDAR funding opportunities
• Tips for grant writing
• Challenges of grants

For additional information please reach us out at: nesfp@tufts.edu

This is a PowerPoint presentation introducing some basic concepts related to soil fertility and fertilizers. At Global Gardens, we have a number of challenges related to soil fertility. This ppt provides an overview of what is in soil and how it becomes depleted over time. The presentation then reviews what cover cropping and fertilization methods can be used to keep soil fertile and healthy. Options for hands-on activities and engagement to add to the ppt are below.