South East Tennessee Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (SETN CRAFT)

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, sustainability measures

South East Tennessee Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (SETN CRAFT)

The purpose of this project was 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 was to support and promote the growth of 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 wide network of farmers and consumers in both Chattanooga and the surrounding 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 included members of each of these organizations we hoped to ensure a strong organizational structure for continuing this project into the future beyond the term of this grant. 

The mission of the SETN CRAFT chapter was to serve as a cooperative network of farmers, apprentices, and emerging farmers to be a source of education, connection, and a variety of approaches to agriculture and regional food systems. 

The project outcomes for year one were:

1) The creation of a SETN CRAFT advisory committee that included 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 were 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 farms in the region; 

2) Increased and expanded trainings and resources that reach more 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 a variety of approaches to 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 farmers/apprentices/emerging farmers in the region by creating spaces for knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• To address the needs of farmer education and training by facilitating farmer "field-day" trainings.