Beginning Farmer Workshops

Sheep for New Farmers
Saturday 8:00 AM
This workshop will provide an overview of what you need to know to get started in sheep
farming. Fiona Harrar, Meadowood Farms, will provide information on how to choose the
right breed, infrastructure such as barns and fencing, feeding and health care, and basic
marketing of products.

The Farmer’s Calendar
Saturday 1:00 PM
Do you know what to expect for your first full year of owning or running a farm business? How do you avoid the burnout and breakdown that are the hallmarks of so many first years? In this workshop, Mark and Kristin Kimball, Essex Farm, will help you learn how to plan your monthly and seasonal activities to avoid the often-unexpected fluctuations and surprises surrounding the financial, labor, and agricultural demands of farming on your own.

How to Get the Vegetable You Want When You Want Them
Saturday 2:30-3:45 PM
Bringing vegetables to your markets when they are needed starts with good planning and improves with effective record-keeping. Maryellen Sheehan, Hilltop Hanover Farm, will focus on the basics of using spreadsheets to approach crop planning in a workable manner. Topics will include how to set up yearly production/labor plans for CSAs and markets and how to time crops and succession plantings.

Starting Small and Growing Smart
Saturday 4:15 PM
Join in the discussion about how getting your boot in the door, starting your small farm, and how to get by while growing your infrastructure and market over time.  Led by beginning farmers Jeff and Adina Bialas, J&A Farm, and Lisa MacDougal, Mighty Food Farm, this session will be an open discussion.  Bring your best questions to pose to your peers about the important issues surrounding staying true to your farming values as you start the farm and scale it up.

 
Sustainable Soil Management for Beginners
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sustainable soil management involves maintaining good biological, physical, and chemical soil health. Bianca and Daniel Moebius-Clune, Cornell University, will cover basic principles including soil type and quality, what soils need to do for your crops, how constraints impact your crops, and interpreting soil tests. We will consider sustainable management strategies and provide resources for learning more about management options.
 
Perennial Plants, Now and Later 
Sunday 9:30 AM
Being a Beginning Farmer is no reason to neglect the world of perennial plants as profi table and valuable parts of your farm! Join Abby Goldfarb to learn about the options available to you so that you can stack your yields and profits with perennial cropping systems. Regardless of your land use agreement, there is a way to enjoy the benefits of this diverse world of plants in the short-term, while being a steward of the landscape for the future.