Expanding and strengthening a network of farmers to support a local foodshed

Expanding and strengthening a network of farmers to support a local foodshed

Summary

In order to increase the number of farmers and acreage on the Delmarva Peninsula dedicated to sustainable agriculture, several workshops were held to educate the targeted audience. The workshops covered topics such as: Equipment for Small Acreage Farmers; The Basics of Drip Irrigation; What to Plant When – Devising your farm plan and crop budgeting; Cover Crops and Composting. A total of 47 existing and potential organic farmers attended these trainings. Resources given to participants included “The Rodale Book of Composting,’ ‘On Farm-Composting,’ and ‘Managing Cover Crops Profitably.’ This increase in potential organic farmers results in a doubling of farmers supporting the Provident Farm CSA and other markets, such as farmers markets and restaurants inclined to buy locally.

Objectives/Performance Targets

In April a day and a half workshop was held on a working organic farm covering the following topics: Equipment for Small Acreage Farmers; The Basics of Drip Irrigation; What to Plant When – Devising your farm plan and crop budgeting.

Shane LaBrake, and Independent Consultant formerly of the Accokeek Foundation taught the day-long Equipment Workshop. He discussed different hand tools, as well as motorized machinery, attachments and specific alterations. The second day Jay Martin, Organic Farmer and Owner of Provident Organic Farm and CSA, covered drip irrigation and farm planning. He shared his decision-making tools of how to determine if a crop was profitable as well as crop scheduling. 17 new and existing farmers attended both days of the workshop and were given a binder ‘Organic 101’ covering the basics of transitioning to organic production. This binder was previously created for the Future Harvest-CASA Annual Conference in 2008.

In August 2008, a Twilight Tour was held at the Lower Eastern Shore Research and Education Center (LESREC) in Salisbury, MD. Matt Ryan of both Rodale and Penn State University spoke on using cover crops to manage weed populations on organic farms. He discussed difference cover crop rotations as well as using a cover crop roller. Kate Everts, Vegetable Plant Pathologist for the University of Maryland spoke on using cover crops to suppress diseases. The second portion of the evening covered making and using compost. Matt explained the ‘how-to’s’ of the compost-making process, and commonly made mistakes.

Thirty existing and potential organic farmers attended the meeting. They were given a survey on their interests and needs concerning future trainings and workshops. They were also given two resources: Managing Cover Crops Profitably and one of two composting books: The Rodale Book of Composting or On-Farm Composting (NRAES). Follow-up will be initiated in the spring with the recipients of the books to see how they have used them in their farming operation.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Through both of these programs, several potential farmers have been identified that will be able join the ‘Network of Farmers’ that provide produce to the CSA and other markets, such as farmers markets and restaurants inclined to buy locally. Currently 3 farmers provide produce for the CSA. The trainings and networking has brought forth 3 additional farmers that may provide produce and eggs in 2009.

Through this liaison, Jay Martin has been asked to speak at the Annual Future Harvest-CASA Conference on multi-farm CSA models. He will be a leader in the State on exploring the pros and cons of this type of distribution system.

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