Training for Farmers

Learning About CSA

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

Soil Health and Fertility

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  • Digital Download

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.
 

Imported Cabbage Moth

Media:

  • Digital Download

This is a short (9 slides) lesson on how and why to identify imported cabbageworms, with two control methods suggested for organic growers.

Post-Harvest Handling

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

Vegetable Identification

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

Vegetable Groups and American Eating Habits

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

Food Safety

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  • Digital Download

This users guide will help the trainer to deliver one 4-hour training session, or two 2-hour training sessions with staff and farmers. This training guide will support incubator farm staff as they prepare facilities to meet food safety standards and train farmers on food safety procedures. This teaching resource was developed by Global Growers in Atlanta, Georgia 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.

Season Extension

Media:

  • Digital Download

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.

On-Farm Food Safety Checklist

Media:

  • Digital Download

Use this on-farm self assessment to determine how to improve your farm's food safety protocols.  

April 2017 Record Keeping Strategies for Organic Certification Webinar

Media:

  • Video

This one hour online webinar, hosted by the New Entry Sustinable Farming Project and led by Laura Davis, will cover all you need to know about farm record-keeping for organic certefication. Specefic topics include simplifying records on your farm for efficiency and organic certification requirements as well as compost production records needed to gain approval for use on certified organic farms.

About the instructor: Laura Davis owns and operates Long Life Farm in Hopkington MA. Long Life Farm strives to grow nutrient dense food by utilizing organic, biological and mineral balanced farming techniques, it is also certified organic by Baystate Organic Certifiers. Laura has also served as the Organic Certefication Assistance Coordinator for NOFA/MASS and a Organic Inpector.

This material is based upon work supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Managment Education and USDA/NIFA under award number 2015-49200-24225

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmG_hmVl_8&t=338s

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