This handbook is for staff providing training and technical assistance (T&TA) in immigrant and refugee farmer-training programs. This foundational and practical handbook provides basic explanations of certain teaching theories, as well as tips for applying them in the design and delivery of T&TA. This handbook was developed by Dani M. Scherer M. Ed. with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Twelve refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on the content of this guide.

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.

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.
 

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.

This tool is designed for beginning farmers who want to learn vegetables names in English. This lesson includes activities for farmers to identify vegetables by reading, writing, listening, and seeing photos.

The What to Wash and What Not to Wash signs are visual aides to assist farmers at the wash station in order to recognize which vegetables should be washed in water and those that should not be washed with water. This resource can be used by staff as a guide to teach farmers during a workshop on post-harvest handling, but then will stand alone as a large sign in a farm wash station area. Staff will use hands-on demonstration to show farmers how to utilize the wash station and follow food safety procedure; this is one piece of that education.

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.

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.