Background Information on New Americans’ is a compilation of resources about refugees and special immigrants actively participating in refugee agriculture programs at the International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville, VA. The information originates from a variety of sources including the IRC itself and the Department of Health and Human Services. It provides abbreviated information about the cultural practices and context from which resettled people hail, with an emphasis on diet, food traditions and agricultural
background.
International Rescue Committee
Background Information on New Americans
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Soil Fertility Series
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- Digital Download
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.
Marketing Series
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This series of five lessons covers a range of topics related to marketing. Participating farmers will learn about different ways to set up a market stand, make their stand successful and visually appealing, and answer common questions and requests from customers. These sessions also help farmers tie records of previous market sales to future crop planning. Many are appropriate for farmers with low or no literacy and numeracy, but some are best suited to more intermediate or advanced audiences with basic numeracy and English reading skills.
Crop Planning Series
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- Digital Download
This series of six workshops covers a range of topics related to crop planning. Farmers will be introduced to the concepts of harvest windows, succession planting, and days to maturity. Multiple sessions help farmers learn how to use calendars and tables to plan their growing season. One session teaches participants how to handle orders from customers and restaurants, and plan cropping and harvest schedules accordingly. Most of the workshops are appropriate for beginning- to intermediate-level farmers.
Micro-producer Academy: Market Success
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- Digital Download
This is module 8 in a series of 8 modules in the Interational Rescue Committee's Micro-producer Academy.This guide will help you, the trainer, to conduct this lesson on marketing success. This can be done as one complete workshop or lesson, or individual activities can be pulled out and done independently with farmers. 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.
Micro-producer Academy: Dealing with Money
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- Digital Download
This is module 7 in a series of 8 modules in the New Roots Micro-producer academy. Module 7 introduces farmers to forms of currency, money handling and making change. This guide provides talking points for each slide in the corresponding PowerPoint presentation, and includes activity steps, tips for allowing farmers to reflect, and ideas for how to assess for farmer learning. 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.
Micro-producer Academy: Clean and Healthy Harvest
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This is module 6 in a series of 8 modules in the International Rescue Committee's Micro-producer academy. This modules introduces farmers to post-harvest handling and food safety and farm rules, to maximize food quality and safety. Farmers will demonstrate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for market harvest days and will be able to identify what crops need and need not be cooled upon harvest. 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.
Micro-producer Academy: Budgeting
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- Digital Download
This is module 5 in a series of 8 modules in the Interational Rescue Committee's Micro-producer Academy. This training guide will help you, the trainer, to lead a 2-hour training on the building blocks of budgeting and recordkeeping. While this was designed to serve as one workshop, some of the activities can be used independently if desired. Farmers will understand what counts as income, and what counts as expenses, and will become familiar with basic recordkeeping words and forms. 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.
Micro-producer Academy: Growing for Market 2, Planning for Planting
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- Digital Download
This is module 4 in a series of 8 modules in the New Roots Micro-producer academy.Understanding the difference between personal and commercial production. Growing techniques (as well as farm rules) to maximize production and timing production based around the markets they hope to sell at. Farmers will draft a planting and harvest calendar for the market crops they have chosen, and they will draw a potential succession planting map for one crop. 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.
Micro-producer Academy: Growing for Market 1, Choosing Crops
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- Digital Download
This is module 3 in a series of 8 modules in the New Roots Micro-producer academy.This is an introduction to the concept of market gardening or farming, and to selecting crops that fit the market channel that producers anticipate using. 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.