Resources for Farmers
Here are a few resources I’ve found really helpful on my farming journey.
Books
Note: Links provided are to Amazon, but I recommend checking out Abe Books, Thrift Books, or Ebay for used books. Don’t forget about your local library, or library apps such as Hoopla and Libby!
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway
This book was written for the home gardener, but it is packed with really good information that can be applied to small, diverse farms. In the book you’ll find information about trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs, soil, water, design, beneficial insects and animals (including chickens, rabbits, ducks, though not in depth).
Online Articles and Websites
Marbleseed has a plethora of farming resources for the organic farmer, from land access to soil health to growing specialty crops and raising livestock.
Events + Conferences
Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference
(formerly known as MOSES)
The Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference is held in La Crosse, Wisconsin at the end of February. They feature workshops, speakers, roundtables, and are full of knowledgeable farmers and professionals in the food/agricultural world. Some of the workshops I went to in the past included food safety regulations, online marketing strategies, and research on minimizing the spread of spotted wing drosophila. I also attended a clever workshop on reducing food waste by making kimchi, and another that discussed how she built a queer farming space. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so much knowledge, and I highly recommend this conference. Early registration discounts and scholarships are available.
Programs
Farm Beginnings Class - Land Stewardship Project (LSP)
From the Farm Beginnings website:
The Farm Beginnings class is a 12-month training session that helps beginning farmers clarify their goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building their operation. The course uses a mix of farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network. Farm Beginnings focuses on the business management skills of farming. We do not go in depth on specific how-to’s of growing and raising crops or livestock.
My experience:
The program was wonderful! It was well thought-out and managed, and I found it immensely helpful. Definitely check out their website - all of the information about what you will learn is accurate. Applications are due around August or September, but check sooner for early bird discounts. Scholarships are available!
Blazing Trails through the Jungle of Food Regulations
Learn to navigate federal and Minnesota state food regulations. There’s a free slide deck on the website, but I recommend taking the training. At the time of writing, it is $10 for a 4 hour training, and is well worth the money.