2008 Pre-conference Intensive Short Courses

Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. through
Thursday, January 17, 2008, 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

We are offering 8 intensive short courses this year, aimed at those who want an in-depth learning experience. 

We have a short course for just about anyone!  Five of the short courses teach specialized production techniques for specific farming enterprises ideal for small and medium scale operations.  One teaches website design for those ready to take their operation to the net. One teaches business planning.  And one focuses on building organizational capacity.

Each short course is two half-day sessions designed to give you the knowledge you need to be successful.  The evening break will allow you time to network with others and get prepared to fully absorb the lessons during the second half of the course.

Our instructors have a wealth of practical experience and will provide, in detail, critical information based on their years of experience. To extend the learning experience beyond the classroom, each participant will receive valuable take-home resources, including for short courses numbers 1-5 one of the videos from Southern SAWG’s popular Natural Farming Systems in the South series.

Through partnerships with agencies and institutions, the Business Planning Short Course is being offered at no charge and the other Short Courses are being offered at a reduced rate of only $65 each. 

The number of participants in each short course is limited. You are strongly encouraged to register early to guarantee your place in one of these exceptionally valuable short courses. 

Short Courses #1 and #2
ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

Short Course #3
CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

Short Course #4
YEAR ROUND HOOPHOUSE PRODUCTION

Short Course #5
BEEKEEPING FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS FULL

Short Course #6
WEBSITE DESIGN

Short Course #7
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Short Course #8
BUSINESS PLANNING FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS

(Click on Short Course of choice or scroll down for description)

Short Courses #1 and #2
ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

Because of the popularity of this class in previous years, it has been divided into TWO. Short Course #1 is a course for those having 0-5 years of commercial production experience. Short Course #2 is a course for those veteran commercial producers with over 5 years experience under their belt.  Both courses will cover the same topics and will vary only in the starting point and the depth of coverage. Those topics covered will be:

• Basics of Organic Farming
• Marketing First and Last (What are you going to sell? to whom?)
• Soil Health and Soil Building (crop rotation, cover crops, fertility, cultivation)
• Garden Planning
• Variety Selection (for disease, production, marketing edge)
• Propagation (transplant production)
• Irrigation
• Pest and Weed Control
• Equipment (must-haves, seeders, cultivation, refrigeration, delivery vehicles)
• Harvest and Post Harvest

Cathy Jones, Ken Dawson and Alex Hitt have decades of experience producing organic vegetables commercially. They each have highly diversified operations where dozens of varieties of vegetables are produced, as well as many other crops. Each is a skilled direct marketer, selling at the famous Carrboro Farmers' Market, and through other direct market avenues.  All have been sharing their knowledge and mentoring new farmers through internships on their farms, workshops in their area and trainings around the South for years. 

Cathy Jones and husband Michael Perry own and operate Perry-winkle Farm in Chapel Hill, NC. In 1983 they bought the farm and by 1991, working a quarter acre, took their first crop to market. Currently, they have about 3 acres in production and are expanding production by adding a new quarter- or half-acre section each year. Cathy collaborates with Cooperative Extension on on-farm research projects as well as a cut flower farmer mentoring program. They are members of the Slow Food Triangle and were delegates to the Terra Madre Slow Food World Summit. http://www.ssawg.org/jones.html

Ken Dawson, with his wife, Libby Outlaw, own and operate Maple Spring Gardens in Cedar Grove, NC.  Ken has grown vegetables by organic methods since 1972 and farmed full time since 1984. In addition to selling at farmers’ markets, Maple Springs Garden has a 150 member CSA.  They produce crops in the field and in a number of unheated hoophouses. He has served for 21 years on the Boards of Directors of local farmers’ markets and currently serves as a farmer representative on the Southern SARE Administrative Council. http://www.ssawg.org/dawson.html

Alex and his wife Betsy own and operate Peregrine Farm in Graham, NC. They planted their first perennial crops in 1982 and their first quarter acre of vegetable crops for market in 1986. By 1990, both Betsy and Alex were full-time on the farm. They now have 4 acres in production and grow crops in the field, in unheated hoophouses and in field-scale high tunnels.  In recognition of their pioneering leadership in sustainable agriculture, Alex and Betsy recently received the prestigious Patrick Madden Award given by the National SARE Program. http://www.ssawg.org/hitt.html

This short course and take-home materials are being offered through a partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Short Course #3
CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

Another popular intensive short course, we’re offering this course again for those who have recognized the incredible market for cut flowers these days and are ready to capitalize on that market. This in-depth instruction on developing a successful Cut Flower enterprise will cover:

• Commercial Farming System Principles
• Crop Diversity (importance and managing)
• Soil Health and Soil Building (crop rotation, cover crops, fertility, cultivation)
• Variety Selection (new varieties, standard crops)
• Plug Production and Propagation (potting mixes, supplies, best practices)
• Planting (bed preparation, planting schedules, seeding, transplanting)
• Drip Irrigation (benefits, system design)
• Weed Control (straw, living and plastic mulches, mechanical)
• Pest Control (cultural, botanical, deer control)
• Equipment (field, refrigeration, delivery vehicles)
• Greenhouse production (high value winter crops)
• Season Extension (greenhouses, high tunnels)
• Post Harvest Handling (cutting, handling, storage)
• Markets (focus on Farmers Markets)
• Promotion (website, presentations, presence at Market)
• Bouquets (varieties, design, pricing)
• Business (finances, record keeping)

Instructor:   Mark Cain, Dripping Springs Garden, Huntsville, AR

Mark Cain has been farming organically in the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks since 1984. He was a student of master gardener Alan Chadwick in the late 70s, and apprenticed at the Farm and Garden Project of the University of California in Santa Cruz. Since the mid-eighties, he and farm partner Michael Crane have owned and operated Dripping Springs Garden, an intensively-cropped 5 acre market garden in Huntsville, AR. Their cut flowers and other crops are sold at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market. Mark has given presentations around the region on cut flower production for years and they have hosted tours at their farm for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and numerous other groups. Their large variety of specialty cut flowers is a huge draw at their market booth with customers frequently having to wait in line. They even had to initiate a take a number system for bouquets made on the spot!  http://www.ssawg.org/cain.html

This short course and take-home materials are being offered through a partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Short Course #4
YEAR ROUND HOOPHOUSE PRODUCTION

This intensive learning experience will cover all the “nuts and bolts” of year-round production in hoophouses.  Geared toward those with production experience but new to growing in hoophouses, it will cover:

• Introduction and overview of year-round production
• Construction and alternative structures
• Attaching poly
• Soil and bed prep
• Drip irrigation, including a hands-on demo
• Winter production, including a variety list
• Spring season extension, including varieties
• Mesclun production for maximum yield and profit
• Managing diseases, insects and weeds
• Marketing strategies

Paul and Alison Wiediger, pioneers in the use of hoophouses for year-round production, will share their 12 years of experience growing in hoophouses.  Combined, they have over 65 years growing experience using organic methods which they use in both their hoophouses and outside production.  Au Naturel Farm is a diversified farm, including pastured broilers and layers, greenhouse plant production, cut flowers and more.  They also write a regular article, “Growing Great Vegetables”, in Growing For Market.  Their markets include a producer only farmers’ market that they helped to develop and email for the “off” season.  The Wiedigers’ book, Walking To Spring will be a part of the take-home materials. Come and learn how they attract and keep customers buying year-round. http://www.ssawg.org/wiediger.html

Short Course #5
BEEKEEPING FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS

This in-depth instruction on beekeeping is for those looking to raise bees commercially as a source of income and for those wanting to keep bees as a hobby. The course will allow producers a chance to learn what is involved in a honeybee keeping enterprise. The participants will be able to see and handle all the necessary beekeeping equipment that they will need to begin keeping bees. The construction portion will allow participants to actually construct the hive parts. 

The course will cover:

• Bee biology (types of bees and their role in the colony)
• Beekeeping Equipment (equipment needed, costs and suppliers)
• Constructing hive parts
• Hive management (different tasks that must be performed throughout the year and how much time they require)

Carol Schreiber serves as the UK County Extension Agent for Horticulture in Warren County.  She works with commercial, consumer and youth horticulture.  She also serves as the advisor for the Southern KY Regional Farmers' Market and the Warren County Beekeepers Association.  Carol received her B.S. in Horticulture from Northwest Missouri State University and a M.S. in Horticulture & Urban Forestry from Iowa State University

Greg Drake serves as the UK County Extension Agent for Agriculture in Butler County.  He works with grain, livestock, horticulture, and community development in Butler County.  He has active beekeeping, stockman’s, and rural development clubs that he advises as part of his program.  Greg has a B.S. and M.S. degrees from Western Kentucky University. 

This short course and the take-home materials are being offer through a partnership with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Short Course #6
WEBSITE DESIGN

This intensive short course will introduce participants to website design, enable them to produce an initial website for their enterprise and provide them with a packet of resources to support the lessons and study aspects of web design in more detail. Computers will be provided for use to participants. Each participant will leave with a working website in digital format created by participants in the course of the workshop and a library of links to web design and e-commerce resources, tutorials, software tools, etc. to support and enhance lessons learned in the course. The course will cover:

• Website structure, publication, hosting, etc.
• Website structure/navigation,
• Website layout,
• Website themes/templates,
• Content development and placement,
• Graphic image manipulation and insertion
• Search engine optimization
• Domain name registration and finding a web hosting service, and
• Post-publication promotion

Paul Miller is the Chief Technical Officer and principle Web Designer of Persephone's Garden Webscaping Service (PGWS). Paul brings to his work with PGWS thirty-five years of broad educational and professional experience in business operations and management, community organizing and economic development, and information technology. Paul served as the Technology Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator for Appalachian Spring Cooperative (ASC) (a member-owned value-added agricultural producers marketing association), lead developer for the Cooperative's Web Development Group, webmaster for the Cooperative's public and private websites, and as the Coordinator of ASC's Tele-Guild Project, a U.S. Dept. of Commerce Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) project, which provided laptop computers and classroom training to Cooperative members during the project period.

Mary Pergande is the Director of Customer Relations and graphic designer for Persephone's Garden Webscaping Service. Mary brings to her role with PGWS thirty years' experience in business management and client relations in the for-profit banking, real estate and small business fields and in the non-profit rural economic development sector. She is a former and current small business entrepreneur who is well acquainted with the challenges of rural small and microenterprise development. Mary's work with PGWS includes website design, graphic design, animations, and small business e-commerce systems development.

This short course and take-home materials are being offered through a partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Short Course #7
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This short course is designed to help build the capacity of community-based organizations working in our field. It will help give you the skills to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your organization.  Participants will learn the key concepts and definitions in strategic planning, the basic steps in strategic planning process, and the components of a strategic plan. Participants will also be introduced to the principles of effective governance by defining the basic roles and responsibilities of the board and examining strategies for building effective board structures.  The course will cover:

• Strategic Planning (the road map to the future)
• Evaluating Mission
• Strategies to Advance Mission
• Setting Realistic Goals and Objectives
• Strategic Fund Development Plan
• Public Awareness and Marketing
• Effective Fundraising Strategies
• Roles and Responsibilities of Board
• Board Structures
• Board Effectiveness
• Strategic Recruitment and Orientation
• Board Development
• Board and Fundraising

Ruth Peebles has more than 20 years of hands-on-experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and development, and project management.  She is the founder and president of The INS Group (Innovative Nonprofit Solutions) providing consulting services for nonprofits, faith-based institutions and governmental agencies nationally.  She earned a bachelor's degree in Communication and a graduate degree in Public Administration, specializing in nonprofit management and policy analysis. Ms. Peebles is an instructor for the Duke University Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and is the creator of the workshops: Grassroots Fundraising, The ABCs of Grant Writing and Establishing an Effective Direct Mail Campaign.  She is an adjunct instructor for the Master of Public Administration Program at North Carolina State University. Ms. Peebles currently serves as the Funding Development Coordinator for Southern SAWG and has facilitated organizational development sessions for Southern SAWG’s Community Food Systems Program trainings.

This short course and take-home materials are being offered through a partnership with the USDA CSREES Program.

Short Course #8
BUSINESS PLANNING FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS

Once again we are offering this well-received intensive short course that will introduce participants to the business planning process. The course will cover the entire planning process and a method of keeping business records. Each participant will receive a copy of A Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers Manual, which includes lesson plans, template sheets, case study applications and reference publications. In this short course, this manual will be used to walk participants all the way through the business planning process. Once completed, farmers should be able to use the color coded materials and planning guides in the manual to determine where their operation is currently, where the operation should be in the future, and impediments to getting there. Producers will be prepared to complete a written business plan and they will have in-depth informational materials to take home. The course will cover:

• Role of business planning
• Creating a resource inventory
• SWOT Analysis
• Transaction log
• Cash flow statement
• End of the Year Allocations
• Income Statement
• Balance Sheet
• Enterprise Budgets
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Evaluating Marketing Alternatives for Ag Products

Instructor:  Marion Simon, Kentucky State University (KY)

Marion Simon is program coordinator for the Kentucky State University Extension Small Farm Program and Small Farmer Outreach and Technical Assistance Project. She runs a popular monthly training program at KSU’s research farm, known as “Third Thursday”. These hands-on trainings help small farmers and extension specialist learn about sustainable farming.  A native from Kentucky, she was raised on a small tobacco and livestock farm in Scott County and currently owns and operates a small quarter horse farm. Marion obtained her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Agricultural Economics in 1984.

This short course and the take-home materials are being provided at no charge to producers through a special partnership with Kentucky State University, USDA Risk Management Agency, the Association of 1890 Extension Administrators and USDA-CSREES.

If a short course is sold out we will immediately indicate that it is sold out on this page and on the registration page to prevent you from registering for a short course that is sold out. If we receive your short course registration after a short course has sold out, we will immediately notify you and provide a refund for the sold out short course. 

If you need conference materials to distribute or use in media outlets,
go to http://www.ssawg.org/conference-media.html, or email Shari Hawley.