Lessons and Workshops

Micro-producer Academy: Program Overview

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  • Digital Download

This is module 1 in a series of 8 modules in the International Rescue Committee's Micro-producer Academy.Farmers get an overview of the program, its context, and what they can expect from their participation in it. They also will have the opportunity to envision what they want their year to look like which can both help farmers to get excited about the season and help program directors better understand what their participants want from the program. This teaching resource was developed by International Rescue Committee 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.

Experiential Teaching Techniques

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  • Digital Download

This facilitator’s guide is intended to help the facilitator(s) lead a four-hour workshop for trainers or future trainers on experiential teaching techniques. Each participant receives the ‘participant’ version of this booklet, and participants and trainers move through the guides together throughout the training. This teaching resource was developed by International Rescue Committee 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.

Taking Care of Our Soil

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  • Digital Download

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.

Farmer Centered Goal Setting

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  • Digital Download

This guide will help you to use the farmer-centered goal setting ‘questionnaire’ tool one-on-one with farmers. There are many ways to modify this tool, but the overall goal is to help farmers set SMART goals and reflect on their season as a whole through various activities and the questionnaire.

Bean Pests

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  • Digital Download

Shell beans are an important crop to farmers, but (and because of how much they are grown) they face significant pest pressure on the farm. We worked with our local extension agent to put together accurate, useful, and accessible organic management options for the two most important pests on our farm: Mexican bean beetle and leaf hopper.

ESL Test

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  • Digital Download

This is a lesson for identifying a new farmer’s English skills, particularly related to farming and selling produce. This lesson includes a series of activities to test English comprehension and speaking as well as an activity to let farmers identify the farming topics where they need more English language skills.

Farm Tax Preparation

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  • Digital Download

This guide is an introduction to reporting farm income for taxes. This lesson can be used as part of the larger Financial Literacy curriculum developed by All Farmers, or it can be done independently. While this lesson was designed to be two hours long, it can be done in two one-hour sessions, or activities can be used independently to suit programmatic needs. This teaching resource was developed by All Farmers in CT River Valley, MA 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.

Financial Literacy: Reflection and Planning

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  • Digital Download

This is a one-hour reflection-based, hands-on workshop where most of the farmers’ learning will take place in pairs and in-response to reflection questions. This user’s guide will help trainers to lead this reflection session and how to use the reflection worksheet and PowerPoint. Cash flow is an important but sometimesdifficult concept, and is the primary focus of this lesson. This module is the last core module of the Financial Literacy curriculum, though you may choose to add an optional session on farm financing options. This teaching resource was developed by All Farmers in CT River Valley, MA 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.

Financial Literacy: Financial Decision Making

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  • Digital Download

This user’s guide will prepare trainers to teach farmers new ways of considering financial decisions. This lesson focuses specifically on maximizing profit by changing how farmers think about income and expense decisions. Farmers can also (optionally) learn about enterprise budgets. This lesson should ideally be used as part of the financial literacy curriculum. This teaching resource was developed by All Farmers in CT River Valley, MA 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.

Financial Literacy: Budgeting and Record Keeping

Media:

  • Digital Download

This user’s guide will prepare trainers to teach farmers the foundations of budgeting and record-keeping. This is the foundation module to other financial literacy modules. You will start by teaching concepts in a classroom setting, then reinforce concepts and skills throughout the season. The farm records here are set-up to match categories for Federal taxes (taught through the Farm Taxes module). This teaching resource was developed by All Farmers in CT River Valley, MA 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.

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