This guide can be used by trainers who want to assist pre-literate and/or English-as a second language-speaking farmers with including cover crops in vegetable production and other crop rotation schedules. It leads farmers through the process of sorting through the characteristics of specific cover crops to select the best one or mix of cover crops to meet their goals. It introduces farmers to a series of questions that they can answer throughout the growing season to evaluate the performance of the cover crops they have planted. Worksheets are provided so that trainers can assist farmers with this evaluation and with recording the results. Some data is specific to the Southeast region of the United States, but links to resources where data appropriate to other regions can be accessed are provided.This teaching resource was developed by Lauren Bailey of The Nashville Food Project in Nashville, TN in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions).

This guide can be used by trainers who want to assist pre-literate and/or English- as a second language-speaking farmers with including cover crops in vegetable production and other crop rotation schedules. It covers three major types of cover crops (mustards, legumes, and ‘other’), and the potential benefits and costs of cover crops. It leads farmers through the process of identifying what they want to accomplish via cover cropping, assists them with identifying opportunities within their production schedule for insertion of cover crops, and assists farmers with selecting the cover crop or mixture of cover crops which best match their needs and goals. Some data is specific to the Southeast region of the United States, but links to resources where data appropriate to other regions can be accessed are provided. This teaching resource was developed by Lauren Bailey of The Nashville Food Project in Nashville, TN in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). 

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.

This guide will help you to use the farmer-centered goal setting ‘questionnaire’ tool one-on-one with farmers. There are many ways to modify this tool, but the overall goal is to help farmers set SMART goals and reflect on their season as a whole through various activities and the questionnaire.

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.

This worksheet acts as an evaluation for the end of the season and helps farmers set goals for the next season. Topics include: in the field, yields, logistics, family support, sales, costs, education, and future goals. Advanced. Keywords: Buisness, Farmer, Goals, Worksheet, Assessment, Season

This document is a self assesment of where farmers can set goals and plan for future seasons. Advanced. Other keywords: Finance, Entrepreneur

This document provides a SWOT analysis (strength, weaknesses, opportunity, threat) for beginning farmers. Advanced. Other keywords: Finance, Entrepreneur

Word document of example risk management plans.  Based off questions from New American Sustainable Agriculture Project's risk management checklist.  All Regions.  English Level: Beginning.  Farming Level: Beginning.  Literacy Level: Low.  Key words: risk management.

Word document of questions used to guide farmers through a risk management assessment and action plan for production, marketing, finances, legal, an human resources. All regions. English level: Beginner. Farming level: Beginner. Literacy level: Pre.