Free trainings for educators working with beginning farmers offered this spring and summer
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EmailJoin us for an engaging, hands-on train-the-trainer workshop designed for educators working with beginning farmers!
A series of train-the-trainer workshops have been planned in 2025 for beginning farmer educators to receive an introduction to the curricula and teaching techniques. The first took place in Detroit in March, and subsequent workshops are planned in other areas of the state. There will also be a virtual workshop covering the same topics. All events are free, but registration is required.
- May 8 – Kalamazoo, register here!
- June 3 – Grand Rapids, registration coming soon! – email mborgm@msu.edu to be notified
- June 6 – Flint, register here!
- June 10 – Online, register here!
- June 17 – Chatham, register here!
Topics are organized into modules, with each module including engaging activities designed to teach practical skills and encourage peer-to-peer learning. The modules are designed as stand-alone packages, so users can pick and choose the ones that are most relevant. Topics include:
- Land access
- Soil health
- Produce safety
- Integrated pest management
- Pollinators
- Farm financial management
- Produce marketing
- Urban agriculture and policy
- Peer-to-peer learning and mentorship*
- Engaging diverse farmers*
The last two topics (*) offer guidance that may be more useful to the facilitators of farmer learning groups and formal farmer training programs rather than individual farmer learners.
A team of beginning farmer educators from Argus Farm Stop, American Farmland Trust, Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology, Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, Growing Hope, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Michigan State University and MSU Extension developed new curricula and resources for teaching practical farming skills using hands-on activities and participatory learning principles. The curricula are primarily designed for beginning fruit and vegetable farmers, but several of the modules are applicable to any type of farm and are inclusive of both rural and urban farm settings. The curricula and associated resources are available at www.beginningfarmercurriculum.org.
For more information on the curricula or trainings, reach out to Vicki Morrone at sorrone@msu.edu or Mariel Borgman at mborgm@msu.edu.
This work is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant no. 2021-70033-35833 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
