Groundswell Center 2016 Program Guide

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2016PROGRAMS& COURSES

GROUNDSWELL CENTER FOR LOCAL FOOD AND FARMING

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GROUNDSWELL CENTERFOR LOCAL FOOD AND FARMING

Groundswell empowers diverse learners with skills, knowledge and access to resources in order to build more sustainable land-based

livelihoods and equitable local food systems.

REGISTRATION INFORMATIONTo register for any of the courses in this guide, please visit

www.groundswellcenter.org or email us at [email protected] and request a registration form.

You can also reach us by phone with any questions or comments.

MORE INFORMATION - CONTACT USwww.groundswellcenter.org [email protected]

607.319.5095P.O. Box 6679, Ithaca, NY 14851

Groundswell programs are presented in parntership with Cornell Cooperative Extension - Tompkins County.

Groundswell’s New Farmer Training Programs are supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development

Program under grant #11674923.

PROGRAM GUIDE

FOOD CITIZENAnyone interested in learning about the local food system.

HOMESTEADERAn urban, rural or suburban residentproducing some or all of your own food, or interested in learning how.

EXPLORERThinking about farming, not yet sure if it’s right for you. You may (or may not) own land, but have not yet taken any steps to develop an agricultural business.

PLANNERActively planning to start a farm business within 1-2 years. You have basic knowledge and experience, but seek more information about production, marketing and business management practices.

FARM WORKEREmployed on someone else’s farm, perhaps with the goal farming on your own someday.

EARLY STAGEBEGINNING FARMERAlready farming, but still exploring and learning what is and isn’t going to work for your particular operation and management practices.

ADVANCED BEGINNING FARMERFarming up to 10 years, maturing your farming systems and possibly still diversifying.

Use the following guide to help you determine which courses and programs will suit your skills and interests. These icons will appear with each course/program listing.

HOMESTEAD FARMERS & GARDENERS NETWORKRecommended For:

FOOD CITIZENS • HOMESTEADERS • EXPLORERS

Groundswell’s Homestead Farmers & Gardeners Network is designed to provide those interested in home-scale food production with the opportunity to connect with others, and share knowledge, skills and resources. The first gathering of the season is a Spring Swap, where we’ll share extra seeds, seedlings, and supplies for the garden,

barn and kitchen. The last gathering is a Fall Swap, where we’ll share the fruits of the season’s labors. In between, we’ll enjoy monthly tours of four unique homesteads – urban, rural and suburban.

Schedule: The Homesteaders Network meets once a month on the 4th Sunday, from 3:30-5:30pm, May through October:Sunday May 22, Spring SwapSunday June 26, Homestead Tour TBASunday, July 24, Homestead Tour TBA

Location: Diverse homesteads in the Ithaca, NY area

Cost: (per session) Groundswell Members Free; Non-members $10/tour; scholarships available.

Sunday August 28, Homestead Tour TBASunday September 25, Homestead Tour TBASunday October 23, Fall Swap

REGISTER

WORKER COOEPRATIVES IN FOOD AND FARMINGRecommended For:

EXPLORERS • FOOD WORKERS

Learn about people who own and democratically operate their food and farming businesses through worker cooperatives. Gain skills and templates for setting up your business with this principled and transformative model. This workshop will be led by Joe Marraffino, Rural

Cooperative Developer for the Democracy at Work Institute.A presentation will illustrate examples of seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, roasters, aquaculture and hydroponics growers, food distributors, bakers, restaurants, and baristas are building everyday democracy and economic stability into the food chain.

Schedule: Monday, March 21, 5pm-8pmLocation: The Space @ Greenstar, Ithaca, NY

Cost: $10 (includes light dinner). Tuition support available.

REGISTER

FARMING 101Recommended For:

HOMESTEADERS • EXPLORERS

Learn the basics of operating a farm! This program is designed for anyone who is exploring the possibility of farming, including landowners and those without land of their own. We will cover some business basics but the main focus is on soils, land prep and production of livestock or horticultural crops. The program begins at 9am and ends at 3pm and will involve extension educators and farmers as presenters. This workshop will be offered in two locations: on March 12 at the Schuyler County Cooperative Extension office in Montour Falls and on March 19 at the TC3 Farm on Route 13 north of Ithaca. Co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension South Central NY Ag Program.

Schedule & Locations: The same workshop will be offered on2 dates at 2 locations:March 12, 9am-3pm, CCE Schuyler County, 323 Owego Street, Unit #5, Montour Falls, NY 14865 (Human Services Bldg. on Rt. 14 south of the Village)

March 19, 9am-3pm, TC3 Farm, 100 Cortland Rd., Dryden, NY 13053 (right off Rt. 13 just north of Dryden)

Cost: (per session) $10 per person; second person from the same farm or family $5.

REGISTER

EXPLORE YOUR FARM & FOOD BUSINESS IDEASRecommended For:

EXPLORERS

Thinking of starting your own business in farming or food, need to bounce your ideas of others? Join Groundswell and Cornell Coop Extension for a chance to “workshop” your business ideas! Our experienced staff will lead a group discussion to help you develop and refine your idea and get one step closer to making it a reality.

Schedule: This two hour workshop will be held twice in 2016.Dates to be announced.Location: Groundswell office, 225 South Fulton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

Cost: FREE. (Registration required.)

STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS!Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive the latest updates

and announcements about our programs, courses and special events.

VISIT WWW.GROUNDSWELLCENTER.ORG TO SIGN UP

REGISTER

FINGER LAKES CRAFTRecommended For:

PLANNERS • FARM WORKERS • EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS

The Finger Lakes Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) brings together aspiring farmers with experienced mentors to share support and information about starting and maintaining a farm business. The group meets regularly throughout the growing season on diverse, small-scale, mostly organic farms. Each session features an in-depth tour of the farm operation, plus a short workshop on a specific technical topic. If you are seriously considering farming as a business, or have already started farming, CRAFT is an important opportunity to connect

with other local farmers and strengthen your support network.

Schedule: TBALocation: Diverse small farms in the Ithaca, NY area

Cost: (per session) Groundswell Members Free; Non-members $10/tour; scholarships available.

REGISTER

FARM BUSINESS PLANNING CLASSRecommended For:

PLANNERS • EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS

This course is designed for serious beginning farmers who need some guidance on how to start planning a farm business. Established farmers who want to improve their business operations will also benefit from this course. Students in this class are expected to have at least one year of hands-on farming experience; a clear business concept in progress or ready to launch within a year; enough time to fully commit to an intensive 10-week course requiring substantial outside research and homework.

It is not a requirement that students own land or have the financial resources to buy land: this course will explore opportunities to lease land for farming in the Tompkins County area, and to find farm loans through commercial/agriculture lenders or through local investors.

Schedule: Thursday evenings, January 14 - March 17, 6 - 9pmLocation: CCE Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY, 14850

Cost: $480 (One additional registrant from same farm or family is $240); Tuition support available.

STRATEGIC MARKETING IN ONE NIGHTRecommended For:

EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS • ADVANCED BEGINNING FARMERS

Is your marketing strategy “we sell whatever we have to anyone that will buy it”? Learn how a focused strategy and specific efforts can reduce your marketing labor needs and make every step count. If you want to sharpen and focus your marketing skills or just don’t know where to begin developing a marketing plan, we can help!

Schedule & Locations: This is a one-evening workshop with 3 dates and locations to choose from.Tuesday February 16, 6:30-8:30pm. Cortland County CCE Offices, 60 Central Avenue, Room 105 Cortland, NY 13045

Tuesday March 1, 6:30-8:30pm. Groundswell Office, 225 South Fulton St., Ithaca, NY 14850

Tuesday March 15, 6:30-8:30pm. Steuben County Civil Defense Center, 7220 State Rt. 54, Bath, NY 14810


REGISTER

FARMER 2 FARMER DISCUSSION GROUP@ CCE TOMPKINS Recommended For:

EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS • ADVANCED BEGINNING FARMERS

The Farmer 2 Farmer series is a free potluck dinner and discussion group for beginning and experienced farmers in the Central NY/Finger Lakes area. Facilitated by CCE’s Matt LeRoux, Farmer 2 Farmer is a great opportunity for you to meet and learn from other farmers with operations similar to yours. If you plan to come, please let Matt know via phone or email at [email protected] or 607-272-2292, ext. 159. Please bring a dish to share and one to eat off of, if you can.

Schedule: Three winter gatherings in 2016:Wednesday January 13, 6:30-8:30pm Topic: Insurance with Tree Gate FarmWednesday February 17, 6:30-8:30pm Topic: Holistic Planning with Erica FrenayWednesday March 16, 6:30-8:30pm Topic: TBD

Location: CCE Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY


REGISTER

DRAFT ANIMAL PRACTICUMRecommended For:

ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WORK WITH HORSES AND MULES IN FARMING AND LOGGING. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED. BEGINNING TEAMSTERS WILL ALSO FIND IT USEFUL.

This popular one-day workshop includes hands-on practice with experienced draft animals under the supervision of knowledgeable teamsters. Topics include safety; what makes draft animals work for people; how to harness a horse or mule; basics of line driving; how to skid logs with a team or single. Lunch time discussion will explore the economics of working with drafts animals and how to enhance your safety while you are learning. This program is offered in collaboration with Donn’s Teamster School. Lead instructor is Donn Hewes. Class size is limited to ensure no more than 3 students per instructor.

Schedule: Sunday April 24, 9am – 4pm, with 1 hour break for lunch and discussion.Location: Donn’s Teamster School at Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY

Cost: $175. Tuition support available.

REGISTER

MANAGING SOILS FOR HEALTHY CROPSRecommended For:

PLANNERS • FARM WORKERS • EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS • ADVANCED BEGINNING FARMERS

Explore practical soil management techniques through lectures, farm visits and guided discussions with fellow farmers on measuring soil health, cover cropping, composting, soil amendments and more. Assess the soil health on your own land, or another farmer’s field if you don’t own land yet. Participants will

be encouraged to submit at least one soil sample for a Cornell Soil Health Assessment ($50 or $95 additional cost).

Schedule: Four 3-hour sessions, 5-8pm. Wednesday April 27 • Soil Science 201 for FarmersWednesday May 25 • Land Assessment and Advanced Soil TestingWednesday June 29 • Cover Crops and Soil AmendmentsWednesday July 26 • Soil Biology and Advanced Soil Management

Location: Diverse small farms in the Ithaca, NY area

Cost: $150 for the series, or $45 per session. Tuition support is available.

REGISTER

GRAZING & PASTURE MANAGEMENTRecommended For:

PLANNERS • FARM WORKERS • EARLY STAGE BEGINNING FARMERS • ADVANCED BEGINNING FARMERS

This eight-session course starts from the important fundamentals of how pasture management affects grass growth and vice-versa, works through the nitty-gritty details of successful pasture based farming, and finishes with how to get your pastured meat processed and marketed. Each month throughout the grazing season there will be an intensive workshop on a different farm highlighting specific topics while also showcasing the unique elements of each farm with respect to their grazing system. Each farm will give participants a different perspective and insight on how to set up your own grazing systems.

Schedule: Eight 3-hour sessions, April to November, 5-8pm.Monday April 18 • It’s All About the GrassMonday May 16 • Bale it, Clip it, Graze it? Early season pasture managementMonday June 20 • Designing and Setting Up Your Grazing SystemMonday July 18 • Permanent and Temporary Fencing and Watering OptionsMonday August 15 • Hay: An integral part of all pasture farmsMonday September 19 • Multi-Species Management on PastureMonday October 17 • My Grass Stopped Growing! Utilizing stockpiled pastureMonday November 21 • Processing, Marketing & Health Benefits of Pasture-Raised Meats

Location: Diverse small-scale livestock farms in the Ithaca, NY area

Cost: $280 for the series, or $45 per session. Tuition support is available.

REGISTER

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- OTHER PROGRAMS -

GROUNDSWELL’S INCUBATOR FARMOur Incubator Farm is the first of its kind in New York State, creating pathways to ownership for aspiring farmers from marginalized communities, including people of color, refugees and other New Americans, and veterans. With affordable access to land, equipment, training and mentoring, Incubator Program participants can launch their farm businesses with minimal investment and risk.

Groundswell’s Incubator Program reflects our commitment to creating opportunities for farmers from economically and socially disadvantaged groups. People of color, New Americans and veterans are three groups of potential farmers who often have significant barriers to getting started in farming. Although we consider all applicants to the program, in order to build a more diverse farming community we prioritize admission to the Incubator Program for these groups.

To learn more about the benefits and requirements of the Incubator Farm Program, to support our work, or to apply to be an Incubator Farmer please visit www.groundswellcenter.org/incubatorfarm.

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groundswellcenter.org • 607.319.5095

Groundswell Center 2016 Program Guide

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