Montgomery County Agricultural Extension Office to offer a workshop series for beginner growers

Clarksville, TN – Are you thinking about becoming a grower?

If so SproUTing Growers is a 10-part workshop series to provide potential growers with the business planning and management, vegetable and small fruit planning and production and direct marketing skills that they need to properly plan and carry out a farming venture.

Workshops will be held from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Montgomery County Agricultural Extension office in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Deadline for registration is August 26th, 2014.

Please make checks payable to:

Montgomery County Extension Office

Mail to:

The class series is partially sponsored through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant

Program

September 2nd

Production Planning

This workshop will cover site selection, crop scheduling, seed selection, and farm design. Led by Karla Kean, Montgomery County Extension Agent.

September 9th

Marketing Strategies

This workshop will introduce participants to direct marketing options (farm market, farmers market, coops, and CSA), help them develop a marketing plan (strategy, market analysis, and customer service) and pro-vide tips for marketing their farm image. Led by Megan Bruch, Center for Profitable Agriculture

September 16th

Business Planning

This workshop will help participants think about the description of their business (products they will offer, location, legal structure, oper-ation procedures, personnel, accounting and legal, and insurance), as well as help them decipher financial data. Led by Jerri Lynn Sims, Humphrey County Extension Agent.

September 23rd

Transplant Production

This workshop will cover choosing your supplies, fertility, light requirements, and potential challenges. Led by Chris Robbins, Cheatham County Extension

September 30th

Small Fruit Production

This work-shop will introduce participants to considerations for small fruit production, including site prepara-tion, variety selection, pruning, maintenance, and weed, disease and insect control. Led by Karla Kean, Montgomery County Extension Agent.

October 7th

Cool Season Vegetable Production

This workshop will cover cool season crop selection, planting dates, variety selection, plant spacing, production tips, and weed, disease and insect control. Led by Ronnie Barron, Cheatham County Extension Agent.

October 14th

Warm Season Vegetable Production

This workshop will cover warm season crop selec-tion, planting dates, variety selection, plant spac-ing, production tips, and weed, disease and insect control. Led by Paul Hart, Robertson County Extension Agent.

October 21st

Season Extension Techniques

This work-shop will introduce participants to high and low tunnels, their design features, crop selection, planting dates, variety selection, production tips, and pest control. Led by Rusty Evans, Montgomery County Extension Agent.

October 28th

Food Safety

This workshop will help participants assess the food safety risks on their farm, or help them mitigate risks, and create a farm food safety plan. Led by Tamera Adjei, Montgomery County Extension Agent

November 4th

Harvest and Handling

This workshop will cover harvest-ing tips and post harvest handling (cooling, washing, storing and packaging) to maintain the highest quality product fresh from the farm. Led by Karla Kean, Montgomery County Extension Agent.