Progress report for EDS24-067
Project Information
South East Tennessee Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (SETN CRAFT)
The purpose of this project is to create and implement a Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) chapter in the Southeastern Tennessee region. The goal of establishing a CRAFT chapter is to support and promote the growth of sustainable agriculture, thriving local food systems, responsible land stewardship, and resilience in the agricultural community.
The need for this project was made clear in a series of brainstorming sessions and strategic planning sessions hosted by SeTNYF which included both young and established farmers in the greater Chattanooga area. One model that was explored was the well established CRAFT network model. This seemed like an ideal option for this area because it allows for farmer-to-farmer training and was very close in structure to the monthly events that SeTNYF was already hosting. Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, City Farms Grower Coalition, and SeTNYF together serve a diversity of farmers and consumers in both urban Chattanooga and the surrounding rural areas. SeTNYF’s network includes 450 area farmers and supporters, with 30 dues-paying members. Crabtree Farms' programs and services reach over 5,000 community members and producers each year. By creating an advisory board that includes members of each of these organizations we hope to ensure a strong organizational structure for continuing this project into the future.
The working mission of the SETN CRAFT chapter will be to serve as a cooperative network of farmers, apprentices, and emerging farmers to be a source of education, connection, and diverse approaches to sustainable agriculture and regional food systems.
The project outcomes for year one will be:
1) The creation of a SETN CRAFT advisory committee that includes representatives from Crabtree Farms, City Farms Grower Coalition, and SeTNYF.;
2) A determination of program components, responsibilities, communications, evaluations, and administrative functions based on member interest/needs;
3) The creation of a farmer training schedule with commitments and lesson plans from participating farms and educators;
4) Determine measurable program metrics, design evaluation tools, and develop an implementation/reporting protocol; and
5) Create new member and emerging farmer outreach strategies
The project outcomes for year two will be more specifically determined by participating farmers in year one, but generally:
1) Farmers/apprentices/emerging farmers will benefit from attendance at (12) once-monthly potlucks and (9) yearly farmer-led training days on established sustainable farms in the region;
2) Increased and expanded accessible trainings and resources reaching more underserved and underrepresented farmers in the region;
3) Communicate resources, information, and opportunities to CRAFT members via quarterly newsletters;
4) Implement new member and emerging farmer outreach strategies;
5) Conduct program and participant assessments ;
6) Create and publish an annual report; and
7) Create a chapter specific logic model based on two year findings.
8) Develop and adopt a sustainable funding strategy and budgetary oversight measures
SETN CRAFT Objectives:
- To strengthen small farms and model a resilient short-chain food system through a cooperative network of farmers/apprentices/emerging farmers providing practical education, peer-to-peer connection, and diverse approaches to sustainable agriculture in the Southeastern Tennessee region
- To promote effective stewardship of natural resources by adopting/sharing agricultural methods that protect the environment, minimize soil degradation/erosion, decrease pollution, and support biological productivity and healthy ecology.
- To improve quality of life for producers, consumers, and communities by fostering cooperative connection and beneficial partnerships
- To address the needs of underserved/underrepresented farmers/apprentices/emerging farmers in the region by creating spaces and strategies that prioritize representation, inclusion, and diversity of membership and knowledge
- To address the needs of farmer education and training by facilitating farmer "field-day" trainings and knowledge sharing opportunities
Education
The educational approach used in this project is farmer-to-farmer learning and access to the social network and culture of farmers in the Southeastern Tennessee region. Through mentoring, field days, technical assistance, workshops, social gatherings, strategic business planning courses, this project hopes to help prepare the next generation of farmers and strengthen local food systems.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
SeTNYF already provides monthly events for members and farmers in the area. While continuing to offer these events, the chapter coordinator will work with the advisory board to bring training/networking opportunities into alignment with a typical CRAFT alliance format. The coordinator will offer farmer support with developing the educational components of their farm tours and will collect feedback from event participants on effectiveness and areas of improvement. This program does not intend for farmers to take on more work, but it is hoped that the CRAFT model will provide those that want to share knowledge with a format and venue for doing that.
The outreach strategy will use the existing farmer/apprentice/emerging farmer network of SeTNYF, Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, and City Farms Grower Coalition to build membership. The intended audience is established farmers, emerging farmers, farm apprentices, and community gardeners in the region.
In year one, the specific program components, responsibilities, communications, evaluations and administrative functions will be determined based on member interest and regional need. This planning will result in a yearly curriculum that includes (12) once monthly potlucks and (9) farmer-led "field day" trainings. Each of the "field-day" trainings will be hosted by a member farm or garden and will focus on one area of expertise such as:
- Adaptive grazing systems for livestock
- Cut flower production
- Greenhouse production
- Opportunities for soil carbon research on farms
- BEAM compost systems
- Urban farming
- Starting a community garden
- Crop mobs as a way to create community and meet labor needs
- Alternative land access arrangements
- Working with NRCS
- Farm to Food Bank connections and;
- Agritourism
Using resource materials from Best Practices of CRAFT Farmer Alliances in North America, the program coordinator will assist participating farmers with "field-day" training curriculum development and will oversee the collection of program and participant feedback for each session.
The Advisory Board will be tasked with developing the measurable program metrics and designing assessment tools.This information will be published in an annual report and eventually used to create a logic model for the program. This data will also be used to increase and expand accessible trainings and resources to more underserved and underrepresented farmers in the region.
Resources, information, and opportunities will be communicated to CRAFT members via a quarterly newsletter and a Farmer Handbook/Manual will be compiled based on trainings.
Learning Outcomes
Creating Business Plans
Grant Research
Networking Opportunities
Project Outcomes
Will be able to provide an assessment at the conclusion of this project.
n/a