2016 Class Schedule
Minnesota Food Association and Big River Farms Farmer Training Program www.mnfoodassociation.org
2016 Class Schedule
651-433-3676
The Growing Season: Classes and Farm Tours These classes and farm tours are required for all Basic Training Program farmers. All classes are at the farm unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change based on weather; call or visit our website for the most up-to-date schedule. Presenter Date Class Tuesday Molly Schaus Irrigation April 26th Farm Director Learn about the different irrigation options for small5: 45-8:00 PM scale vegetable farming and the pros and cons of each in Location: Big River Farms order to determine which method is best for your farm. We will also go through a hands-on demonstration of how to install a drip-tape system. Tuesday Molly Schaus Tractor Basics, Implement Demo & Field Day May 17th 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (Alternate rain day: May 24th)
Part 1: (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) A basic introduction to the anatomy and safe operation of a standard tractor and demonstration of a plastic mulch layer and water wheel transplanter. (1:00-2:00 – lunch break; light refreshments provided) Part 2: (2:00-6:00 PM) Practice installing plastic mulch and planting with the water wheel transplanter in BRF farmers’ fields.
Thursday May 26th 5:45-8:00 PM (Rescheduled)
Food Safety on the Farm
Tuesday June 28th 5:45-8:00 PM (Rescheduled) Tuesday July 19th 5:45-8:00 PM
Harvest Basics & Post-Harvest Handling, Part 1
Tuesday July 26th 5:00-7:30 PM
Field Day: Disease & Pest Management
Tuesday September 6th 5:45-8:00 PM
Fertility Management & Cover Cropping
Tuesday November 8th
Writing an Annual Farm Report
Gaining more and more attention, food safety is something that every vegetable farmer needs to understand. Learn how you can practice food safety in your farming practice. **Required in order to sell to BRF accounts
Learn how to properly handle, cool, wash, store, sort, and pack your early-season produce, and how this greatly affects your markets. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
Harvest Basics & Post-Harvest Handling, Part 2 Learn how to properly handle, cool, wash, store, sort, and pack your main-season produce, and how this greatly affects your markets. Part 2 of a 2-part series. Learn what to look for as your walk your field and why it’s so important to do so regularly. Scout for diseases and pests and learn about how to manage them effectively using organic methods.
Understand basic fertility concepts used in Organic agriculture, such as cover cropping, composting, and various fertilizers, and how to effectively implement them on your farm. The goal is to keep good records during the season of all your
Farm Director Mike Leck Humble Pie Farm Location: Big River Farms *Bring your own lunch* Michele Shermann & Annalisa Hultberg University of Minnesota Extension Location: Big River Farms Linda Halley Location: Big River Farms TBD Location: Big River Farms Collie Graddick & Kevin Cavanaugh Minnesota Department of Agriculture Location: Big River Farms Molly Schaus Farm Director Location: Big River Farms TBD Location: TBD
Minnesota Food Association and Big River Farms Farmer Training Program www.mnfoodassociation.org
2016 Class Schedule
651-433-3676
5:45-8:00 PM
field activity and farm work. Now, what can you learn from those records? Learn how to use your records to create a helpful summary of the past season to assist with planning for next year and future years.
December TBD
Filing a Schedule F Understand the importance of filing farm taxes, learn at what point in your farming career to start, and go through the tax form line by line with an expert.
TBD
Farm Tour: Buying a Farm
Dawn 2 Dusk Farm Moses Momanyi
Farm Tour: Sin Fronteras
Sin Fronteras Farm Eduardo
Farm Tour: Whole Farm Planning Farm Tour:
TBD TBD
Farm Tours Tuesday June 21st 5:00-7:00 PM (Rescheduled) Wednesday August 3rd 10:00 AM-12:00 PM TBD TBD
Skill Sessions Skill sessions are learning opportunities in the field that are based on demonstration and examples. All are recommended for 1st year and are noted if required. Thursday, March 10th Molly Schaus Greenhouse Orientation **required 4:00-6:00 Farm Director Skill Session: Seeding Onions Thursday, March 17th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, March 24th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, April 14th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, April 21st 4:00-6:00 Thursday, May 5th 5:45-8:00
Skill Session: Seeding Brassicas and Greens
Thursday, May 31st 5:45-8:00 (Rescheduled) Thursday, June 2nd 5:45-8:00
Skill Session: Organic Sprays
Thursday, June 30th 6:00-7:00
Skill Session: Seeding Eggplant/Peppers/Tomatoes Skill Session: Thinning & Potting up Skill Session: Seeding Cucurbits Skill Session: Transplanting, Direct Seeding & Fertility
May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor Porfirio Perez Caretaker Molly Schaus Farm Director
May Lee Skill Session: Weeding In-field demonstration of weeding tools and discussion of Farmer Mentor plants water needs. Porfirio Perez Skill Session: Trellising Tomatoes Farmer Mentor
Minnesota Food Association and Big River Farms Farmer Training Program www.mnfoodassociation.org
2016 Class Schedule (Rescheduled) Thursday, August 11th 5:45-8:00 PM (Tentative)
Skill Session: Estimating Harvest Amounts
651-433-3676
Molly Schaus Farm Director
2016 Class Schedule
651-433-3676
The Growing Season: Classes and Farm Tours These classes and farm tours are required for all Basic Training Program farmers. All classes are at the farm unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change based on weather; call or visit our website for the most up-to-date schedule. Presenter Date Class Tuesday Molly Schaus Irrigation April 26th Farm Director Learn about the different irrigation options for small5: 45-8:00 PM scale vegetable farming and the pros and cons of each in Location: Big River Farms order to determine which method is best for your farm. We will also go through a hands-on demonstration of how to install a drip-tape system. Tuesday Molly Schaus Tractor Basics, Implement Demo & Field Day May 17th 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (Alternate rain day: May 24th)
Part 1: (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) A basic introduction to the anatomy and safe operation of a standard tractor and demonstration of a plastic mulch layer and water wheel transplanter. (1:00-2:00 – lunch break; light refreshments provided) Part 2: (2:00-6:00 PM) Practice installing plastic mulch and planting with the water wheel transplanter in BRF farmers’ fields.
Thursday May 26th 5:45-8:00 PM (Rescheduled)
Food Safety on the Farm
Tuesday June 28th 5:45-8:00 PM (Rescheduled) Tuesday July 19th 5:45-8:00 PM
Harvest Basics & Post-Harvest Handling, Part 1
Tuesday July 26th 5:00-7:30 PM
Field Day: Disease & Pest Management
Tuesday September 6th 5:45-8:00 PM
Fertility Management & Cover Cropping
Tuesday November 8th
Writing an Annual Farm Report
Gaining more and more attention, food safety is something that every vegetable farmer needs to understand. Learn how you can practice food safety in your farming practice. **Required in order to sell to BRF accounts
Learn how to properly handle, cool, wash, store, sort, and pack your early-season produce, and how this greatly affects your markets. Part 1 of a 2-part series.
Harvest Basics & Post-Harvest Handling, Part 2 Learn how to properly handle, cool, wash, store, sort, and pack your main-season produce, and how this greatly affects your markets. Part 2 of a 2-part series. Learn what to look for as your walk your field and why it’s so important to do so regularly. Scout for diseases and pests and learn about how to manage them effectively using organic methods.
Understand basic fertility concepts used in Organic agriculture, such as cover cropping, composting, and various fertilizers, and how to effectively implement them on your farm. The goal is to keep good records during the season of all your
Farm Director Mike Leck Humble Pie Farm Location: Big River Farms *Bring your own lunch* Michele Shermann & Annalisa Hultberg University of Minnesota Extension Location: Big River Farms Linda Halley Location: Big River Farms TBD Location: Big River Farms Collie Graddick & Kevin Cavanaugh Minnesota Department of Agriculture Location: Big River Farms Molly Schaus Farm Director Location: Big River Farms TBD Location: TBD
Minnesota Food Association and Big River Farms Farmer Training Program www.mnfoodassociation.org
2016 Class Schedule
651-433-3676
5:45-8:00 PM
field activity and farm work. Now, what can you learn from those records? Learn how to use your records to create a helpful summary of the past season to assist with planning for next year and future years.
December TBD
Filing a Schedule F Understand the importance of filing farm taxes, learn at what point in your farming career to start, and go through the tax form line by line with an expert.
TBD
Farm Tour: Buying a Farm
Dawn 2 Dusk Farm Moses Momanyi
Farm Tour: Sin Fronteras
Sin Fronteras Farm Eduardo
Farm Tour: Whole Farm Planning Farm Tour:
TBD TBD
Farm Tours Tuesday June 21st 5:00-7:00 PM (Rescheduled) Wednesday August 3rd 10:00 AM-12:00 PM TBD TBD
Skill Sessions Skill sessions are learning opportunities in the field that are based on demonstration and examples. All are recommended for 1st year and are noted if required. Thursday, March 10th Molly Schaus Greenhouse Orientation **required 4:00-6:00 Farm Director Skill Session: Seeding Onions Thursday, March 17th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, March 24th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, April 14th 4:00-6:00 Thursday, April 21st 4:00-6:00 Thursday, May 5th 5:45-8:00
Skill Session: Seeding Brassicas and Greens
Thursday, May 31st 5:45-8:00 (Rescheduled) Thursday, June 2nd 5:45-8:00
Skill Session: Organic Sprays
Thursday, June 30th 6:00-7:00
Skill Session: Seeding Eggplant/Peppers/Tomatoes Skill Session: Thinning & Potting up Skill Session: Seeding Cucurbits Skill Session: Transplanting, Direct Seeding & Fertility
May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor May Lee Farmer Mentor Porfirio Perez Caretaker Molly Schaus Farm Director
May Lee Skill Session: Weeding In-field demonstration of weeding tools and discussion of Farmer Mentor plants water needs. Porfirio Perez Skill Session: Trellising Tomatoes Farmer Mentor
Minnesota Food Association and Big River Farms Farmer Training Program www.mnfoodassociation.org
2016 Class Schedule (Rescheduled) Thursday, August 11th 5:45-8:00 PM (Tentative)
Skill Session: Estimating Harvest Amounts
651-433-3676
Molly Schaus Farm Director
