Farmers Growing Farmers
The Information Package For The 2010/2011 Program Is Ready!!!
Everdale’s Farmers Growing
Farmers Program
Farmers Growing Farmers (FGF) is a multi-level program designed to help new farmers plan a sustainable and successful business or help existing farmers re-strategize their business or launch a new enterprise. Through the step-by-step development of a comprehensive farm plan, we focus on using and adapting planning tools for your farm business to carry your farm into the future. To ensure your plan benefits from the experience of many generations of farming, we incorporate one-on-one mentorship and bring expert farmers into the class at every opportunity. You will also have the opportunity to establish a network with other farmers who are at the same stage as you are, sharing your knowledge and ideas.
The program is divided into various components described below depending on your prior experience and commitment to farming.
Introduction to Farm Planning: Evaluating Your
Options
Whether an experienced producer or beginning farmer, this intensive two day course takes a structured approach to investigating and evaluating all of the possible products and services you could produce on your farm. The course will focus on group work where you will have the chance to build lasting relationships with other new farmers. You will also have the chance to communicate with experienced farmers who will provide insight and feedback for your ideas. By the end of the course those just starting out should have a good idea whether or not farming is for them and what direction their business will take. For those already farming, individuals should gain an understanding of the viability of any alternative products and services they could offer on their farms.
Dates: The course will consist of two classroom sessions on Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. A farm tour will take place on Oct. 31.
Location: Both days of the course will take place at a location in Guelph to be determined.
Advanced Farm Planning: Details of Planning and
Running a Farm Business
This course is for anyone who has a clear idea of what they want to plan for their farms over the next one to three years. It will build on ideas that are introduced in the ‘Introduction to Farm Planning’ course. The focus is on developing planning skills and habits that will help you take your farm planning beyond the end of the course. Full day sessions will help you to gain an understanding of your potential markets, the financial aspects of farming, regulations pertaining to your farm, and how to plan on an on-going basis. One of the most valuable aspects of the course is the networks you will create with both experienced farmers and other individuals who are at the same point as yourself.
Dates: The course will start with a farm tours on Oct. 31 and Nov 14. Classroom sessions start on Nov. 21 and end on Mar. 6. There will be a total of eight classroom sessions running full days on Sundays.
Location: All sessions will be held at a location in Guelph (except for the farm tours). Exact location to be announced.
Workshops
For any individual who already has a solid plan but is missing one piece of their management toolbox we encourage you to sign up for one of our workshops.
FGF Farm Tour #1 - Enterprise All-Stars
FGF Farm Tour #2 - Farms with a plan
FGF Marketing and distribution
FGF Farm finances – Two part workshop
FGF Farm business regulations and risk management
FGF From paper to plant – implementing and monitoring your plan
FGF Spreadsheets for farmers
Production Workshops – Everdale also offers a series of production workshops available to the general public. Please see www.everdale.org/taxonomy/2/1 for an up-to-date list.
FOR MORE DETAIL INCLUDING PRICES, DATES AND LOCATIONS ON ANY OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Click Here For The Detailed Information Package
A PDF Version of the Information Package is available at the bottom of this page
Please Contact Course Facilitator David Alexander at david.alexander@everdale.org or 647-367-1816
Course tuition rates are subsidized by Heifer International. If financial need is demonstrated Heifer will further subsidize course costs and if eligible can provide up to $4000 in farm start up costs through their ‘pass on the gift’ program. Everdale would like to thank Heifer for their continued support in helping to develop sustainable agriculture around the world and allowing us to further develop the ‘Farmers Growing Farmers’ program.
What past participants have said about ‘Farmers Growing Farmers’:
“FGF has encouraged me to take a very conscious approach to realizing my farm enterprise. FGF has provided me and my enterprise with a vast collection of appropriate resources to help plan for success and minimize failure and mistakes. I especially enjoyed building a community of new farmers with my classmates”
“A huge door has been opened to knowledge, experience and a network of help and support that I would never have been able to access on my own. A truly clarifying experience on not just where I want to go but how to get there”
“The structure of the course has really helped push us to formulate the content for our farm plan. I don’t think we would have been in a comfortable place to take on a project of this scale otherwise.”
“I have gained a comprehensive idea of farming. I also have gained a great resource; if I ever need any questions answered I know where to go. I especially enjoyed the farm tours. But most of all I have gained the confidence to continue farming.”
“Getting to know young farmers and realizing that I am not the only one who feels passionate about farming.”
Farms With a Plan - Click to see a map of new farms FGF is supporting and links to their websites!
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| Detailed Information Package.pdf | 110.09 KB |