New American Farmer Teaching Resources

These tools have brought together the best practices in the country for refugee and immigrant farmer education.”

-Nick Wuertz, Director of Refugee Community Services at Lutheran Services in Iowa

See and search the over 60 training and technical assistance (T&TA) resources (below), primarily for New American audiences and the programs that serve them. New Americans include refugees, asylees, and immigrants who are part of the current and next generation of beginning farmers in the U.S. and Canada.

This resource library is the result of a 3-year partnership between ISED Solutions and 18 beginning farmer incubators, through a Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) Educational Enhancement initiative titled Educational Tools and Methods for Beginning Refugee & Immigrant Farmers. Our intent has been to develop and share resources that facilitate high quality instruction and hands-on assistance using a combination of carefully-designed tools and techniques. These resources can be freely downloaded and used as is, or adapted to meet the specific capacities and priorities of a specific program or setting. These teaching resources and handbook are appropriate to use with any beginning farmer audiences whose learning needs and styles vary because of education, language, literacy, and/or cultural factors. ISED expresses gratitude to all the partners who shared in the development of these resources. Individuals and organizations involved in specific resource development are identified within.

Marketing

This is module 2 in a series of 8 modules in International Rescue Committee's Micro-producer Academy. In this workshop, farmers will explore the pros and cons of indirect and direct marketing options. In addition to learning vocabulary and concepts with the help of PowerPoints, farmers will complete a pros and cons smiley face (or color dot system) ‘Activity Board’, and do some farmers’ market role play activity to explore these topics. In module 6, farmers will have a chance to build their direct marketing skill. 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.

Introduction to the Incubator

Farmer Assessment and Goal Setting

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.

Farmer Assessment and Goal Setting

This guide shows trainers and staff how to use the benchmarking/competency tool with participants to assess skills, knowledge, and performance through self- and staff-administered assessments. You may use the provided materials and tools, or you may develop your own criteria/competencies as needed for your program. This teaching resource was developed by International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville, VA 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.

Pest Management

Organic Farming

These charts are meant to be used as a reference after showing how to mix and apply the pesticides in a hands-on workshop. After the hands-on work-shop we hope that farmers will be able to use the charts as a reference to stimulate farmers’ memory and to be able to identify the correct pesticide to use, and to mix and use it correctly. See below for tips on helping farmers understand and use these reference sheets.

Pest Management

Organic Farming

These charts are meant to be used as a reference after showing how to mix and apply the pesticides in a hands-on workshop. After the hands-on work-shop we hope that farmers will be able to use the charts as a reference to stimulate farmers’ memory and to be able to identify the correct pesticide to use, and to mix and use it correctly. See below for tips on helping farmers understand and use these reference sheets.

Pest Management

Organic Farming

These charts are meant to be used as a reference after showing how to mix and apply the pesticides in a hands-on workshop. After the hands-on work-shop we hope that farmers will be able to use the charts as a reference to stimulate farmers’ memory and to be able to identify the correct pesticide to use, and to mix and use it correctly. See below for tips on helping farmers understand and use these reference sheets.

Pest Management

Organic Farming

These charts are meant to be used as a reference after showing how to mix and apply the pesticides in a hands-on workshop. After the hands-on work-shop we hope that farmers will be able to use the charts as a reference to stimulate farmers’ memory and to be able to identify the correct pesticide to use, and to mix and use it correctly. See below for tips on helping farmers understand and use these reference sheets.

Crop Planning

This tool aids gardeners in working with a calendar and knowing the planting dates for various crops. A large format (3’x 4’), laminated 2-month blank calendar is used (purchased from office supply store). Throughout the season, the months and dates are filled in with whiteboard marker. Laminated pieces are taped onto the calendar to show last and first frost dates, last and first dates to plant different crops, last dates to plant winter cover crops, etc.

Harvesting

Food Safety

Farmers will learn why it is important to use correct post-harvest handling techniques with different vegetables. They will learn about temperature, hydration and the proper tools and equipment for post-harvest handling. A post-harvest handling grid handout will be taught to reinforce and extend learning beyond the lesson. 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.

Pages

CSVCSV