Farmer Field School - Past Workshops
ABOUT THE FARMER FIELD SCHOOL Begun in 2015, the MSU Farmer Field School is comprised of intensive one and two day hands-on workshops. They are tailored to deliver in-depth, practical information built upon the foundational work of the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program and the wealth of knowledge in Michigan’s farming community. See More about the Program and Current Workshops. PAST WORKSHOPS
2019
MAY - Forcing Bulbs, Flowers & Branches MAR - Scaling up to Wholesale 2018 DEC - Peak CSA Roundtable DEC - Farmer Brain Trust OCT - Crop Fertility AUG - Adding Value to Your On-Farm Marketing (webinar) JUL - Cut Flowers for Weddings & Events MAR -Designing Your Packing Shed APR - DIY Caterpillar Tunnel Build 2017
DEC - Work Life Balance Roundtable NOV - Shoulder Season & Roots Production SEPT - Crop Intensive: Brassicas AUG - Cut Flower Farming MAY - Irrigation Success for the Small Farm MAR -Transplant Production Success JAN - Record Keeping for Higher Profits 2016
DEC - Farm Labor Roundtable: Getting, Managing, and Keeping Good Labor for Your Farm [Description] DEC - Advanced Strategic Business Planning & Management: Finances Deep Dive, Strategic Investment, Capital Access, and Growth DEC - Strategic Business Planning & Management: Markets, Finances, Production, HR and More NOV - Scaling Up (or Maybe Down): Finding and Getting to the Right Scale for Your Farm SEPT - Communications & Marketing for Farm Success AUG - Summer Fruiting Crops in High Tunnels (Tomatoes and more) JUNE - Crop Establishment & Scheduling for Direct Seeded and Transplanted Crops APR - Do It Yourself Infrastructure, Equipment and Maintenance 2015
NOV - Year Around and Seasonal CSA Success: Strategies and techniques for improving profitability and satisfaction OCT - Holistic Soil Management: Fertility, Cover Cropping, Weed Management and Tillage SEPT - Field Based Pest and Disease Management: For Sustainable Outdoor and Hoophouse Vegetable Production This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-70017-22856.
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2019 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Monday, July 1, 2019, 9:30am - 4pm
Weeds & Cultivation for Lean Farm Production Cost: Free! Location: Green Wagon Farm, 4960 Quiggle Ave. Ada, MI, 49301 Speakers: Caleb Tacoma of Green Wagon Farm, Sarah Geurkink of the MSU Student Organic Farm, Dr. Daniel Brainard of MSU Weeds can be one of the biggest obstacles to high yields, profits and peace of mind on the farm. Learn ways to prevent, reduce and control the weeds on your farm. See the tricks and tools in action on a successful organic vegetable farm. Agenda 9:00 - 9:30am............................Coffee & Registration 9:30 - 10:00….............................Introductions 10:00 – 11:15….........................Hand Tool Demos + Planting Systems for Cultivation 11:15 – 12:30.............................Weeds Farm Walk 12:30 – 1:30............................... Lunch (Bring your own!) 1:30 – 3:00..................................Tractor Cultivation Demonstrations 3:00 - 3:30 ................................. Preventing & Reducing Weeds 3:30-3:50…................................. Questions 3:50-4:00…..................................Evaluation Thursday, May 16, 2019, 9am - 4pm Forcing Bulbs, Flowers & Branches for Early Spring Sales Cost: $55 - $100 Location: Forget Me Not Farms, 9380 Whiteford Center Rd, Ottawa Lake, MI 49267 Speakers: Lindsay Daschner of Forget Me Not Farms & Susan Sharp of Open Sky Farm Learn to extend the season for flower sales to capture market opportunities like Mothers' Day and Memorial Day. Lindsay Daschner will share her experience forcing anemone, ranunculus and other flowers in bulb crates and in-ground in her gutter connect greenhouse, as well as coppicing woody materials, marketing nursery stock. Susan Sharp will discuss forcing flowers at Open Sky Farm and will demonstrate making interesting kokedama and hypertufa containers to market them. Agenda 8:30-9:00… ........................... Coffee & Registration 9:00-9:30…………………………………… Introductions 9:30-10:15……...……….……Forcing Bulbs & Corms 10:15 – Noon …………….…Farm Walk & Discussion Noon-1...........................................Lunch (Bring lunch!) 1:00-2:00….........………………………………......Coppicing 2:30-3:00…………………………….. ..Making Hypertufa 3:00-3:50…….………………...Making Kokedama Balls 3:50-4:00……....……………………………...… Evaluations Thursday, March 7, 2019, 9am to 4pm Scaling up to Wholesale: Marketing & Production Cost: $55 - $100 Location: MSU Extension, 605 N Saginaw St, Flint, MI 48502 Speakers: Jae Gerhart, MSU Extension, Washtenaw County Farmer Panelists: Mark Nowak, Seeley Farms Vince Sanna, Give n Grow Mushrooms Andrea Kirchoff, Campbell Farm Topic: Learn directly from farmers who are succeeding with wholesale markets. Whether you want to get started with wholesale or take your farm's wholesale business to the next level, this is the workshop for you. This will also include a tour of the Flint Fresh Food Hub! Agenda: 8:30 - 9 Registration & Coffee 9 - 9:30am Introductions 9:30 - Noon: Wholesale Basics: Marketing, Production, Finances, Food Safety Noon to 1pm: Lunch (Bring a lunch or buy lunch at The Local Grocer) 1 - 2:30 Farmer Panel 2:30 - 3 Wrap up & Questions 2:50 - 3pm Evaluations 3 - 4pm Flint Fresh Food Hub Tour 2018 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL WORKSHOPS Tuesday, December 11, 10am to noon
Farmer Braintrust Cost: Free Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd, Holt MI 48842 Farmer Field School presenters, participants and advocates will meet to plan Farmer Field School 2019 and other ways to collaborate. Tuesday, December 11, 1pm - 3pm
Farmer Roundtable: Topic TBD Cost: Free Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd, Holt MI 48842 Join beginning and experienced farmers as we take a close look at how to use creativity to sell all your farm products and CSA shares. October 7, 2018, 9am to 4pm
Crop Fertility Cost: Sliding Scale $55 to $100 (NOTE: Please bring your own lunch - lunch NOT provided) Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd, Holt MI 48842 Speakers: Lee Arboreal of Live Edge Farm, Zach Hayden of MSU and Joel Clifton of Morgan's Composting. See creative cover crop rotations at the MSU Student Organic Farm, make biochar and learn about how to amend soil nutrients and enliven your soil food web. Tuesday, August 21 from 6 - 7:30pm Adding Value to your On-Farm Marketing Cost: Free Location: Webinar Speakers: Trent Thompson from Green Gardens; Jill Sweetman and Nate Lada from Green Things Farm, Corie Pierce from Bread & Butter Farm in Shelburne VT. Summary: Learn from growers selling produce and flowers through farm stands, on-farm dinners and hosting weddings on their farms. [Link to Webinar recording coming soon!] Sunday, July 15, 9am - 4pm CUT Flowers for Weddings & Events Cost: Sliding Scale $45 to $150 Location: Seeley Farm,2150 Warren Road, Ann Arbor MI 48105 Speakers: Alex Cacciari of Seeley Farm and Amanda Maurmann of Gnome Grown Flower Farm Learn how to grow, market and arrange flowers for weddings & events! Tentative Schedule: 8:30 - 9 register, coffee socialize 9-9:30 intros 9:30-11:30 field walk, mini-harvest, q&a, discuss production techniques, pests, weeds, variety choice, etc 11:30-12:30 convene in shade and discuss marketing: designing yourself or marketing to wedding florists 12:30-1:30 lunch 1:30-4pm arranging workshops. We'll take what we harvested (plus some pre-harvested stuff) and work up maybe 3 types of wedding pieces: bridal bouquet, boutonniere, corsage. Monday, April 30, 2018 9am-4:30pm (Registration at 8:30am) Designing your Packing Shed Location: Eastminster Presbyterian, 1315 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, 48823 Speaker: Atina Diffley, former co-owner of Gardens of Eagan Farm; author of Turn Here, Sweet Corn Tuesday, April 10, 8am - noon
DIY Caterpillar Tunnel Build Cost: FREE Location: New City Urban Farm, 1226 Union NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Speaker: Lance Kraai of New City Urban Farm Every Year, New City Urban Farm adds a new caterpillar tunnel to their intensively cropped 2 acres in the Creston Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. This year, they are adding 2 new caterpillar tunnels. You will be able to pull and secure plastic on one tunnel before bending hoops and building another tunnel. Join us on April 10 and you will gain the skills to construct the lowest-cost hoophouses on your own farmsite. 2017 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Tuesday, December 12th, 11:30am - 2pm [NO CHARGE]
Farm Labor Roundtable: Work/Life Balance ============ Cost: FREE Location: Eastminster Presbyterian Church Together, farmers and others will share and discuss positive methods for maintaining work/life balance in the hectic world of sustainable farming. Join us to share your thoughts and get great ideas on making your livelihood a healthy and happy part of your life. Tuesday, December 12th, 2 pm-4pm
Farmer Field School Gathering Cost: FREE Location: Eastminster Presbyterian, 1315 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, 48823 Farmer Field School Gathering, is for workshop attendees and other new farmers to get to know more about each other, but also help us brainstorm provide feedback about Farmer Field School. This includes: feedback on workshops, input on workshop structure, pricing, timing & content, explore how to support dialogue & learning between workshops and among each other, and other topics around workshops as they emerge. Monday, November 6th 9am - 5pm
Shoulder Season* and Root Crop Production *(Oct – Dec/Feb – April) Cost: $150 ($40 for 2nd person from same farm) NEW - Scholarships now Available (See button below) Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842 Presenters: Denae Friedheim, MSU Student Organic Farm, and Tomm Becker - Sunseed Farm Join us for this workshop looking at two key aspects of season extension: Shoulder Season Production (Oct – Dec) and spring (Feb – April) and Root Crops. In both areas we will look at important practices & schedules for success, necessary production & storage infrastructure, proven crop types and varieties, post-harvest/storage management and other critical elements to moving beyond summer production. Hosted at MSU Student Organic Farm, which has experimented and fine-tuned their season extension production since 2002. Co-presented by Sun Seed Farm, which has been growing in the shoulder season and producing lots of root crops since 2009. Lunch and snacks provided. ========== Sunday, September 10th 9 - 5pm Getting Great Production, Quality & Profits from Your Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage and Family Cost: $150 ($40 for 2nd person from same farm) NEW - Scholarships now Available (See button below) Location: Understory Farm, 28120 County Road 215 Bangor, MI 49013 Presenters: Lee Arboreal, Live Edge & Fred Monroe, Monroe Family Organics Join us for this information packed, hands on workshop that will be all about Brassicas - one of the most critical vegetable families to the small scale vegetable farmer. Presented by two farmers with more than 25 years of combined organic and sustainable vegetable farming experience in wholesale & direct market production. The day will cover variety selection, production, management and marketing of brussel's sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, collards, kale & kohlrabi with possible forays into turnips, mustard and rutabegga. Lunch and snacks provided. ============ Wednesday, August 2nd, 9 – 5pm Cut Flowers: Planning, Production & Marketing Cost: $150 ($40 for 2nd person from same farm) NEW - Scholarships now Available (See button below) Location: 3378 Mason Rd, Owosso, MI 48867 Presenters: Pooh Stevenson, Owosso Organics and, Casey Lemeiux, The Flower Garden Join us for this information packed, hands on workshop on Cut Flowers. Two very successful flower farmers with different approaches will share their strategies and experiences in cut flower production, covering everything from flower selection, infrastructure needs, plant starting and cultivation to harvesting, handling, arranging and marketing to individual, event and wholesale customers. Workshop will include a tour of Owosso Organics flower production. ============ Wednesday, May 24 1 – 5pm (HALF DAY WORKSHOP!) Irrigation Success: Strategies & Design for the Small Farm Cost: $70 ($25 for 2nd person from same farm) NEW - Scholarships now Available (See button below) Location: 4960 Quiggle Ave SE, Ada, MI 49301 Presenters: Chad & Heather Anderson, Green Wagon Farm and, Lee Arboreal, Live Edge Join us for this information packed, hands on workshop on irrigation options, design and practices. Get perspectives on design and equipment purchases for a reliable irrigation system from Green Wagon Farm, a diverse vegetable CSA & market farm as well as from Live Edge which specializes in larger wholesale vegetable production with a background in direct to market vegetable production. Discussion and farm tour will also include irrigation prioritization (what is most or least priority) , dry land farming approaches, and designing the best system you can with limited funds or water supply. We will also cover weather and moisture monitoring and fertigation tools. ============ Sunday, March 19 9am – 5pm Vegetable Transplant Production Success! Cost: $150 - 1st person from farm, $40 for 2nd - NEW - Scholarships now Available (See button below) Location: Cinzori Farm, 10506 F Drive South, Ceresco, MI Presenters: Anthony Cinzori, Cinzori Farm, Denae Friedheim, MSU Student Organic Farm Join us at one of Michigan’s oldest and largest diverse organic vegetable farms, Cinzori Farm, for a look at their strategies for large scale transplant production as they grow transplants for more than 70 acres of vegetables. Denae Friedheim will also share techniques and lessons learned from the 13 years of vegetable transplant production at the MSU Student Organic Farm. ============ Monday, January 23rd, 9am - 5pm Record Keeping for Higher Profits Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for 2nd person from same farm) Location: Stone Coop Farm, 9615 Musch Rd. , Brighton MI 48116 [directions] Presenters: Joannee DeBruhl - Stone Coop Farm, Katie Brandt - Groundswell Farm, and additional other farms. There is an axiom that says you can only manage what your measure - and it applies to farming... Join us for this dynamic workshop on the key record keeping practices for running an efficient, informed and profitable farm. We will explore what kinds of records to keep, methods for keeping them and strategies for implementation. We will explore how to use records to inform price setting. Finally we will explore how to use your records to make critical decisions on practices that will identify costly problem areas on the farm and profit centers that can help improve profits on your farm. 2016 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, December 14th, 1pm - 4pm [NO CHARGE]
Farm Labor Roundtable: Getting, Managing, and Keeping Good Labor for Your Farm ============ Cost: FREE Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842 Together, farmers and others will share and discuss a variety of successful practices and approaches to farm labor including: employment, contract work, piece rate, internships, and work trades. Workshop will explore the benefits and trade-offs of these various arrangements relating to cost, legal, management, and souring considerations. Approaches for recruiting, training, managing and retaining employees will be covered. Presenters will also discuss setting employees up for success and expectation achievement, investing in staff, creating management positions, and setting appropriate compensation. Saturday, December 10th - 9am - 5pm Advanced Strategic Business Planning & Management: Finances Deep Dive, Strategic Investment, Capital Access, and Growth ============ Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for 2nd person from same farm) Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842 Presenters: Fred Monroe, Monroe Family Organics, Tomm Becker - Sunseed Farm, Michael. D. Jordon, Retired Farm Loan Manager (20 years experience) and former farmer. We’ll offer a very thorough analysis of business financial measurement, planning & management tools, indicators for understanding current business structure and health, planning and assessing strategic investments, accessing and maximizing capital investments, taxes & business types, risk assessment and management, planning for growth and strategies for business exit/transition. ====== Saturday, December 3rd - 9am - 5pm Strategic Business Planning & Management: Markets, Finances, Production, HR and More Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for 2nd person from same farm) Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842 Presenters: Fred Monroe, Monroe Family Organics, Tomm Becker - Sunseed Farm, Michael. D. Jordon, Retired Farm Loan Manager (20 years experience) and former farmer. This workshop will cover the key elements of a business plan: values & vision, goals and strategies, market analysis & strategy, production & operations management, HR management, and understanding and implementing business financial measures & analysis. ====== Sunday, November 6th, 9am - 5pm Scaling Up (or Maybe Down): Finding and Getting to the Right Scale for Your Farm Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for a 2nd person from the same farm) Location: Sunseed Farm 5000 Boyden Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (Map) Presenters: Tomm Becker - Sunseed Farm, Nic Theisen - Loma Farm and Nic Welty - 9 Bean Rows Farm This group of experienced farmers will explore such ideas as - "What is the best scale for your farm business to maximize success?" The answer to this important question depends on a wide variety of factors relating to your income needs, goals, values, product mix, strategic opportunities/competitive advantage, land base and other resources. Getting the right ratio of overhead and costs relative to sales and income along with the right mix of diversity and/or specialization of production and markets is essential in evaluating decisions of scale. This workshop will examine potential critical thresholds for sales, relative to these factors based on observed patterns in successful farms and the first hand experiences of these farmer presenters. This workshop examines Return on Investment (ROI) for a number of potential capital and equipment investments/purchases a farmer might make, and some priorities and rules of thumb regarding infrastructure, equipment, management time, and staffing/labor at small-medium-large farm scales. This workshop is designed to help farmers identify and think critically and strategically about how to grow or right-size their operation for maximum success. September 19, 9am - 5pm Communications & Marketing for Farm Success Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for a 2nd person from the same farm) Location: MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842 Presenters: Katie Brandt, Groundswell Community Farm and Trent Thompson, Green Gardens Farm Learn some of the best tips, tools and strategies for reaching and building a relationship with current and potential customers/buyers and understanding and strategizing on what you need to communicate about and how to brand your business for success with both direct and whole-sale markets. Monday, August 1 8am - 5pm Summer Fruiting Crops in High Tunnels (Tomatoes and more) Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 for a 2nd person from the same farm) Locations: Start at Green Gardens Farm 14201 H Drive N Battle Creek, MI [map] and then go to Ten Hens Farm - 7539 Clark Road Bath, MI [map] Presenters: Trent Thompson, Green Gardens Farm and Adam Montri, Ten Hens Farm, A hands-on workshop covering the nuts and bolts of successful planning, production, post-harvest handling, packaging, and marketing of summer fruit under hoops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers). The workshop will also cover ginger, sweet potatoes, and basil. Led by experienced hoophouse growers and hosted on their farms, content includes an overview of the varieties and techniques that have worked best for them including plant dates, fertility, trellis systems, pest and disease management, harvesting, marketing and more. Don’t miss this chance to see their operations and learn from two expert growers in the field. Sunday, June 26th 8am - 5pm Crop Establishment & Scheduling for Direct Seeded and Transplanted Crops Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for a 2nd person from the same farm) Location: Monroe Family Organics, 8009 N. Ennis Rd, Alma MI 48801 [map] Presenters: Fred Monroe, Monroe Family Organics, Lee Arboreal, Live Edge Farm Ensuring a healthy stand of direct seeded or transplanted crops in the field is critical to farm success. This workshop provides an intensive focus on stand establishment in vegetable crop production covering seed, seeders, germination, and knowing when to till it in and start again for direct seeded crops. This workshop will also cover field establishment from greenhouse to a thriving crop for transplanted crops. We will explore various methods of transplanting and transplant production/management. All core plant families will be covered and optimum systems for each considered. Presenters will cover the right scheduling to get your production on-time for a continuous and bountiful harvest. Do It Yourself Infrastructure, Equipment and Maintenance Saturday April 9th, 8am - 5pm Cost: $150 for 1 person ($40 additional for a 2nd person from the same farm) Location: Cinzori Farms - 10506 F Drive South Ceresco, MI 49033 [map] Presenters: Lee Arboreal, Live Edge Farm and Anthony Cinzori, Cinzori Farm, The workshop will present strategies and designs for a host of projects to save you time & money and improve your efficiency on the farm: Everything from build-your-own vacuum seeders (which participants will do in the workshop), barrel washers and other tools to the best info on walk-in coolers, hoophouse end walls, quickhoops/caterpillar tunnels and more. Ideas on when it pays to DIY and when it might be best to buy it or have it done. Presenters will discuss how to evaluate purchase of new or used equipment, and what things to look for as possible failure/trouble points on used items. Workshop will also cover basic maintenance for common farm implements & equipment. Come learn from the over 40 years of collective experience of these two successful farmers. Participants will build and take home their own vacuum seeder.
2015 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Field Based Pest and Disease Management: For Sustainable Outdoor and Hoophouse Vegetable Production
September 14, 2015 8 am – 6pm Cost: $150 for the first person from your farm, $30 for the 2nd ($90 per person). Location: Student Organic Farm - Lansing, Michigan. Presenters: Ben Werling – MSU Extension, Nicole Quinn – MSU Graduate Research Assistant, Vegetable Entomology Lab, Jeremy Moghtader – Farm Manager, MSU Student Organic Farm, Director MSU Organic Farmer Training Program Participants will spend most of the day in the field and hoophouses seeing and learning about the pests, diseases, disorders, beneficials, and reactive measures associated with different crops as well as discussing the practical and financial aspects of management strategies. Outcome goals: Participants will learn how to identify and scout for major pest and disease challenges to their farm, articulate management responses to identified problems and become familiar with resources for problem-solving. Includes: Overview of a systems approach to pest and disease management, identification and exploration of lifecycles and common thresholds for action for pests and diseases. Also includes hands-on response strategies, field training for hoophouse and field pest and disease scouting and helpful record keeping. ============================================================== Holistic Soil Management: Fertility, Cover Cropping, Weed Management and Tillage October - 18, 2015 Sunday, 8am-6pm Cost: $150 for the first person and $30 for the second person from your farm Location: Student Organic Farm – Lansing, Michigan. Presenters: Lee Arboreal- Live Edge Growers (formerly of Eaters Guild Farm), a 15 year veteran organic farmer focused on larger scale organic production and Jeremy Moghtader - Farm Manager, MSU Student Organic Farm & Director, MSU Organic Farmer Training Program. Includes: Proven strategies, planning, and tools at various scales for building and maintaining the healthiest soils while managing weeds and prepping fields for crops. Plan to spend 4-5 hours outside on the Student Organic Farm exploring implementation and demonstrations on the farm landscape. Lunch provided. Participants will also receive valuable resource and support materials. ============================================================== Year Around and Seasonal CSA Success: Strategies and techniques for improving profitability and satisfaction November - 14, 2015, Saturday, 8am - 6pm Cost: $150 for the first person and $30 for the second person from your farm. Location: Student Organic Farm – Lansing, Michigan. Presenters: Tomm Becker - Sunseed Farm, Jeremy Moghtader - Farm Manger, MSU Student Organic Farm, Director MSU Organic Farmer Training Program. Learn about proven strategies and different approaches to CSA startup and growth from the experiences and exploration done by the Organic Farmer Training Program and Sunseed Farm. Leave with new tools and new ideas about how to live, work and grow your CSA including extended and year-round season models. Lunch provided. JOIN
The Michigan Beginning Farmer (Years 1-10) List - HERE (Help us get you summaries of the latest workshops and learning opportunities for Michigan Beginning Farmers) IN THE NEWS Feb. 3, 2015- MSU Today Sept. 14, 2015 - CRFS Website Oct. 14, 2015 - Vegetable Growers News Dec. 22, 2015 - Vegetable Growers News |