Transition to Sustainability in Small-Scale Vegetable Production: Hands-on training for agriculture professionals and educators

Project Overview

ES17-131
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2017: $79,520.00
Projected End Date: 03/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Alliance of Sustainable Farms
Region: Southern
State: Mississippi
Principal Investigator:
Keith Benson
Email
Alliance of Sustainable Farms

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: demonstration, Field Days/Trainings

    Abstract:

    The Alliance of Sustainable Farms (Alliance) and its partners will support the transition to sustainability in small-scale vegetable production by providing hands-on training for agricultural professionals, educators, providers, and farmer group leaders. Two half-day training sessions will be conducted on a quarterly basis at locations around the state. Project objectives include conducting field days/hands-on trainings and promoting the adoption of critical sustainable practices and appropriate technologies.

    Expected measurable outcomes include: improved participant understanding and appreciation of topics/issues and participant willingness to incorporate project information into products and educational tools they share with farmers and others. After being trained, participants will help conduct the Alliance's on-going field days/trainings for farmers, achieving the longer term outcomes of reaching farmers and gaining their commitment to adopt critical sustainable practices and appropriate technologies. Monitoring and evaluation will be an on-going process during the project; involving pre-and-post assessments completed by participants, trainers, and farmers, as well as, mid-project and final evaluations.

    Project objectives:

    Objectives
    Objective 1: To conduct 14 field days/hands-on trainings for 490 agricultural professionals, educators, providers, and farmer group leaders on critical sustainable practices and appropriate technologies; and
    Objective 2: To demonstrate and promote the adoption of 7 critical sustainable practices and appropriate technologies.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.