Lessons and Workshops

Weed Management and Hardpan

Media:

  • Digital Download

Using this guide, farmers will learn about weeds, why it is important to manage them, and about different tools, techniques, and approaches for weed management they can use in their fields. They also review the effect of tilling on soil health. This teaching resource was developed by Global Gardens in Boise, Idaho 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.

Wholesale Readiness

Media:

  • Digital Download

Global Growers developed a series of resources related to providing technical assistance to farmers with previous experience in commercial agriculture. Our technical assistance process begins with the Wholesale Readiness Assessment Tool. After the tool is implemented, theservice provider creates an individualized education plan (IEP) together with the farmer to map learning objectives. As we began to identify individual farmers’ learning goals, we started to create one-pager information sheets on market-readiness themes. The goal of the process and approach is to be learner-centered, rather than content-driven. While content is available, it is shared based on readiness and willingness of the learner to engage based on individual objectives identified.

Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Standard Operating Procedures

Media:

  • Digital Download

This workshop gives the trainer an opportunity to explain what a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is and walks through an SOP for when to wash your hands, how to wash your hands, and what produce to wash. It also introduces some common vocabulary around the wash station so that farmers and trainers can start to use the same language. The workshop goes on to set up a common harvest and post-harvest handling SOP for greens and for roots, which then can be hung up in the wash station to remind farmers of the proper SOP to follow.

Introduction to Integrated Pest Management

Media:

  • Digital Download

This field or classroom workshop will introduce farmers to the principles of integrated pest management, with a focus on identification and options for management practices. The lesson is based around a resource we created called “Pest Management in the Garden,” which is printed in a large format (approximately 4’x 6’) and mounted outdoors at each of our farm/garden sites.

Crop Production Manual

Media:

  • Digital Download

This is a resource designed to provide farmers with readily accessible, technical information and cultural practices for organic vegetable production without relying on advanced English literacy skills. This manual can be introduced in pre-season crop planning settings and subsequently used throughout the planting season. Though the practices and suggested planting dates presented are specific to our New England growing season, the icons can be easily modified to represent practices and timing suited to your farm and locale.

Profitability and Cost of Production

Media:

  • Digital Download

This is a resource designed to introduce some key concepts to farmers familiar with basic production and marketing strategies: profit, revenue, profitability, cost of production, and enterprise budgets. The key takeaway is this: to make money, you need to make informed decisions about how much it actually costs to produce a crop. By working through several examples of costs of producing various crops, farmers can start to assess which crops are easiest to grow, highest grossing, and have the most potential for highest net profit.

Farmers Markets and Farm Stands

Media:

  • Digital Download

Preparing a good farmers market stand is difficult and there are a lot of tips and tricks that New American farmers need to learn. This training gives them that, while focusing on the skills that they may not have yet to make them good salespeople. The users guide is a guide to the PowerPoint and to the activities that are used in a two to three-hour classroom session with students. 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.

Seedbank and Weed Management

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

Introduction to Organic Farming

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide is an introduction to organic vs. conventional farming. PowerPoints and visuals are meant to reinforce learning as you facilitate discussion and activities. While this is written as one two-hour session, slides and activities can be used independently to suit programmatic needs. This teaching resource was developed by New Roots for Refugees, Catholic Charities of NE Kansas 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.

Crop Planning Module

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide covers essential components of crop planning. Participants will learn how to fill out and complete a production plan, determine transplants needed, complete a seed order using the seed calculator tool, and weigh and bag direct-planted or direct-seeded crops. At the end, farmers will be prepared with all their seeds for spring and summer planting and the crop production information needed for the upcoming year. This teaching resource was developed by Transplanting Traditions in Chapel Hill, NC 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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