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.

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.

In this lesson, farmers learn about what makes the CSA model different from other marketing options, what American customers like about a CSA, and how to use knowledge of different veggie-types to pack diverse CSA shares. This teaching resource was developed by New Roots for Refugees, Catholic Charities of NE KS 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 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.

This tool can be used in any setting where marketing is taught and where farmers would benefit from learning which vegetables are most familiar to most American-born customers. This tool can be incorporated into an existing lesson on marketing, used while CSA shares are being packed, while farmers are in production planning, or at market stands.