Common use of Lessons learned Clause in Contracts

Lessons learned. CRAFT programs were originally created by a community of growers with like minded commitments to the education of new farmers; experienced farmers both educated and mentored new farmers. The modified CRAFT model we developed and used for this program supports the education of new farmers by providing the organizational structure to allow expert farmers to be teachers. It was successful in part because of our regional collaborative partner whose farmer board provided a direct connection to the community of farmers in that region. These farmers were willing to commit to the project, lend their expertise to educate specialty crop producers, and promote the series. We recommend and plan to continue the approach of working with a regional partner in other areas of the state. Evaluations were lower in quantity than desired. We developed both paper and electronic evaluation formats. Paper evaluations could be either written in the field or taken home to be completed and later mailed to the NOFA-VT office. Electronic evaluations were available in Survey Monkey. The paper evaluations handed out in the workshop contained a link to the electronic evaluation. We received 12 paper evaluations and 12 electronic evaluations from participants. However, our collaborative partner conducted their own evaluation which had 16 responses, so we gleaned additional information from their survey. Next year we will use a simpler evaluation format to increase participation with check box options. We also plan to ask farmers how many new practices they learned so we can start to quantify the learning experience. CONTACT INFORMATION ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ph.D., Vegetable and Fruit Technical Assistance Advisor for NOFA-VT Phone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ and email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The beginner farmer workshops were marketed through a catalogue of summer workshop offerings; the whole catalogue can be viewed at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/sites/default/files/SWS2010.pdf. Below is one section describing the beginner farmer workshops. Note that only some of the workshops (those targeted to specialty crop farmers) were part of this project. Beginning Farmers & Apprentices Workshops 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 & 9 are produced in partnership with the Rutland Food and Farm Link (RAFFL) and funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant; they are offered at no charge. 1Wednesday, July 14 • 6:30 - 8:30pm Marketing Strategies for the Small Farm ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm • Granville, NY Learn the basics of marketing - as they relate to your farm! We will give an overview of different marketing tools, emphasizing those which are a good fit for small farms. We’ll cover our own marketing strategies, focusing on our extensive use of relationship marketing. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm grows a wide variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, marketing them year 'round through farmers' markets and a CSA. 2Wednesday, July 28 • 5 - 7pm Building Soils: Soil Testing, Composting, Amendments Dutchess Farm • Poultney Farmer ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, NRCS Soil Conservationist ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and NOFA- VT Vegetable and Fruit Advisor ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will discuss the need to test soils annually, and how to use soil tests to determine your need for organic fertilizers. We will demonstrate how a cover crop and vegetable rotation system can control weeds and increase organic matter without added manure or compost. We will discuss how to choose a site for vegetable production. Dutchess Farm grows 4 acres of produce using organic practices, selling to a 100-member CSA, the Rutland ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Market, and the Rutland Co-op. 3Saturday, July 31 • 1 - 4pm Introduction to Pasture Management: Using Ruminants to Improve Pasture Bread and Butter Farm • Shelburne/S. Burlington $10 for NOFA-VT and VGFA members, $15 non- members Livestock expert ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ will cover the fundamentals of setting up a new grazing system for ruminants - or improving an existing one. Using practical examples of grazing systems, we’ll discuss pasture plant species and how to manage them for desirable plants, as well as how to do so with livestock and fence rather than expensive plowing and planting. Topics include plant species, grazing methods, fence, water systems, pasture design and layout, paddock size, and acreage. Cosponsored by the VT Grass Farmers Association. 4 Sunday, August 8 • 2 - 5pm Beginning Farmers and Apprentices Producing Eggs Year ‘Round On Compost Without Purchased Grain & NOFAvore Social Vermont Compost • Montpelier $10 for NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members • Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social Vermont Compost Company was founded and sup- ported by organic crop-growing professionals to meet the need for high quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production. Integrated into this production is an innovative system that provides chickens with foraging opportunities to produce eggs along with compost. Come join us for an afternoon with ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, founder of Vermont Compost, as he gives a tour of the farm and discusses the different enterprises that are intertwined. Following the workshop, there will be a community dinner with the NOFA pizza oven. 5Wednesday, August 11 • 5 - 7pm Business Strategies and Cheese Blue Ledge Farm, Leicester Pre-registration required (limit 20) Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Blue Ledge Farm as ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇- sions extrapolate on what it takes to start and maintain a farmstead cheese operation. We will discuss equipment needs and costs for both the dairy and cheese produc- tion areas, value added ideas, and labor needs. They will “crunch the numbers” as to size and profit. Blue Ledge Farm was established in 2000 and now produces 40,000 pounds of artisanal cheese annually from the milk of their own 80 goats as well as two other area farms. Participants may purchase cheese after the workshop. 6Tuesday, August 17 • 9am - 1pm Processing Chickens on the Farm All Together Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ $20 members, $25 non-members • Preregistration required (limit 12) Farmers ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will go over the set-up, procedure, and safety of processing your own birds on the farm or at home. They will then lead the group step-by-step through the whole process. Participants can gain more experience by participating in the processing of a batch of their summer broilers. All Together Farm is a small-scale, diversified family farm raising animals on pasture. 71 Wednesday, August 25 • 5 - 7pm Farm Equipment Primer: Safety and Types of Equipment for Small Farms with NOFAvore social and New Farmer Mixer! ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇ Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as we go over basic safety rules for tractors and other typical small farm equipment. We will talk about tractors, PTOs, tillage equipment, and bucket loaders. We will also talk about small equip- ment and, for livestock farmers, safety tips when work- ing with animals. Time permitting, we can talk about preventative maintenance. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm is a former commodity dairy farm, now milking 20 Jerseys for raw milk and supplying a local artisan cheese maker, as well as raising grass-fed beef. Plus! Join us for ▇▇▇▇▇’s New Farmer Mixer and NOFAvore Celebration with the mobile pizza oven at 7pm! All new and aspiring farmers are invited to come mix, mingle, and meet new farming friends. A sample of the survey distributed to participants in the courses is as follows: I am a: Beginning Farmer (less than 10 years)

Lessons learned. CRAFT programs were originally created by Lessons Learned from Agritourism Workshop The attendance at this workshop was a community bit lower than we had hoped. However, a recap of growers with like minded commitments the important highlights of information from the panel was posted to the education of new farmers; experienced our farmer blog: What’s Growin’ on. This blog is a communication tool for farmers both educated and mentored new farmersin our region. The modified CRAFT model we developed and post about the workshop has received 54 views to date. In addition, staff used for this program supports the education information learned from the workshop in our communications with farmers who hosted farm tours as part of new farmers by providing the organizational structure to allow expert farmers to be teachers. It was successful in part because of our regional collaborative partner whose farmer board provided a direct connection to the community of farmers in that region. These farmers were willing to commit to the project, lend their expertise to educate specialty crop producers, and promote the series. We recommend and plan to continue the approach of working with a regional partner in other areas Lessons Learned from Farm Tours The content of the statefarm tours were very educational. Evaluations were lower RAFFL staff worked closely with the farmers in quantity than desiredthe weeks leading up the tours to walk the farm and think about how to effectively work with the public coming on to the farm, how to develop interesting content, and how to incorporate interactive activities. We developed both paper and electronic evaluation formats. Paper evaluations could be either written in found that we had underestimated the field or taken home amount of staff time it would take to be completed and later mailed to the NOFA-VT office. Electronic evaluations were available in Survey Monkey. The paper evaluations handed out in the workshop contained a link to the electronic evaluationdo this properly. We received 12 paper evaluations and 12 electronic evaluations ended up using our general funds to supplement the Specialty Crop funds. Lessons Learned from participants. HoweverCulinary Workshops The best attended workshop that required people to intentionally attend, our collaborative partner conducted their own evaluation which had 16 responsesversus drop by, so we gleaned additional information from their survey. Next year we will use a simpler evaluation format to increase participation with check box options. We also plan to ask farmers how many new practices they learned so we can start to quantify was the learning experience. CONTACT INFORMATION one led by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ph.D., Vegetable and Fruit Technical Assistance Advisor for NOFA-VT Phone: ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇ is a known entity. She is the chef instructor at ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technical Center and the event was held in the facilities at her school. She definitely drew in people from a broad cross-section of the community on a weekday evening during the summer. We surmise that having confidence in the presenter may be one of the critical factors for people when deciding whether or not to make the time to attend a cooking workshop versus not. CONTACT ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ and email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 417-1528 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The beginner farmer workshops were marketed through a catalogue of summer workshop offerings; the whole catalogue can be viewed at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/sites/default/files/SWS2010.pdf. Below is one section describing the beginner farmer workshops. Note that only some of the workshops (those targeted to specialty crop farmers) were part of this project. Beginning Farmers & Apprentices Workshops 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 & 9 are produced in partnership with the Rutland Food and Farm Link (RAFFL) and funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant; they are offered at no charge. 1Wednesday, July 14 • 6:30 - 8:30pm Marketing Strategies for the Small Farm ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm • Granville, NY Learn the basics of marketing - as they relate to your farm! We will give an overview of different marketing tools, emphasizing those which are a good fit for small farms. We’ll cover our own marketing strategies, focusing on our extensive use of relationship marketing. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm grows a wide variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, marketing them year 'round through farmers' markets and a CSA. 2Wednesday, July 28 • 5 - 7pm Building Soils: Soil Testing, Composting, Amendments Dutchess Farm • Poultney Farmer ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, NRCS Soil Conservationist ▇.▇▇▇ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PEG-TV Rutland filmed most of the farm tours and some of the culinary workshops: ▇▇▇▇▇ ://▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇, and NOFA- VT Vegetable and Fruit Advisor .▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will discuss /preview?id=T00969&video=152015 Project 6: An Emerging Problem for Vermont Christmas Tree Growers: Root Aphids – Final Report‌ PROJECT SUMMARY Root aphids have become a problem in Christmas tree production in Vermont. Root aphids in New England Christmas tree plantations are believed to be a relatively new problem that may have developed due to current production practices. Infested seedlings are stunted, chlorotic and susceptible to root rot. They slow tree growth, delay maturity and impact revenues. In most plantations and cut-your-own operations, trees are cut intermittently throughout the need field as they reach salable size and shape. Growers fill gaps with young seedlings, planted adjacent to test soils annuallystumps of trees harvested earlier in the year. Stumps from multiple generations may occur side by side (Fig. 1). Corn field ants transport root aphids from harvested trees to viable roots of the seedlings through channels they make in the soil. In the past growers have relied on imidacloprid insecticides for management. Stratiolaelaps scimitus (formerly Hypoaspis miles), a commercially available predatory mite, has been shown to be effective against a wide range of soil-dwelling pests, including root aphids, black vine weevil, thrips and how to use soil tests strawberry root weevil. The goals of this project were to determine your need for organic fertilizers. We will demonstrate how a cover crop the species of aphids infesting Christmas trees and vegetable rotation system can control weeds and increase organic matter without added manure or compost. We will discuss how to choose a site for vegetable production. Dutchess Farm grows 4 acres evaluate the efficacy of produce using organic practices, selling to a 100-member CSA, releasing the Rutland ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Market, and the Rutland Co-op. 3Saturday, July 31 • 1 - 4pm Introduction to Pasture Management: Using Ruminants to Improve Pasture Bread and Butter Farm • Shelburne/commercially available soil dwelling predatory mite S. Burlington $10 for NOFA-VT and VGFA members, $15 non- members Livestock expert ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ will cover the fundamentals of setting up a new grazing system for ruminants - or improving an existing one. Using practical examples of grazing systems, we’ll discuss pasture plant species and how to manage them for desirable plants, as well as how to do so with livestock and fence rather than expensive plowing and planting. Topics include plant species, grazing methods, fence, water systems, pasture design and layout, paddock size, and acreage. Cosponsored by the VT Grass Farmers Association. 4 Sunday, August 8 • 2 - 5pm Beginning Farmers and Apprentices Producing Eggs Year ‘Round On Compost Without Purchased Grain & NOFAvore Social Vermont Compost • Montpelier $10 for NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members • Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social Vermont Compost Company was founded and sup- ported by organic crop-growing professionals to meet the need for high quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production. Integrated into this production is an innovative system that provides chickens with foraging opportunities to produce eggs along with compost. Come join us for an afternoon with ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, founder of Vermont Compost, as he gives a tour of the farm and discusses the different enterprises that are intertwined. Following the workshop, there will be a community dinner with the NOFA pizza oven. 5Wednesday, August 11 • 5 - 7pm Business Strategies and Cheese Blue Ledge Farm, Leicester Pre-registration required (limit 20) Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Blue Ledge Farm as ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇- sions extrapolate on what it takes to start and maintain a farmstead cheese operation. We will discuss equipment needs and costs for both the dairy and cheese produc- tion areas, value added ideas, and labor needs. They will “crunch the numbers” as to size and profit. Blue Ledge Farm was established in 2000 and now produces 40,000 pounds of artisanal cheese annually from the milk of their own 80 goats as well as two other area farms. Participants may purchase cheese after the workshop. 6Tuesday, August 17 • 9am - 1pm Processing Chickens on the Farm All Together Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ $20 members, $25 non-members • Preregistration required (limit 12) Farmers ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will go over the set-up, procedure, and safety of processing your own birds on the farm or at home. They will then lead the group step-by-step through the whole process. Participants can gain more experience by participating in the processing of a batch of their summer broilers. All Together Farm is a small-scale, diversified family farm raising animals on pasture. 71 Wednesday, August 25 • 5 - 7pm Farm Equipment Primer: Safety and Types of Equipment for Small Farms with NOFAvore social and New Farmer Mixer! ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇ Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as we go over basic safety rules for tractors and other typical small farm equipment. We will talk about tractors, PTOs, tillage equipment, and bucket loaders. We will also talk about small equip- ment and, for livestock farmers, safety tips when work- ing with animals. Time permitting, we can talk about preventative maintenance. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm is a former commodity dairy farm, now milking 20 Jerseys for raw milk and supplying a local artisan cheese maker, as well as raising grass-fed beef. Plus! Join us for ▇▇▇▇▇’s New Farmer Mixer and NOFAvore Celebration with the mobile pizza oven at 7pm! All new and aspiring farmers are invited to come mix, mingle, and meet new farming friends. A sample of the survey distributed to participants in the courses is as follows: I am a: Beginning Farmer (less than 10 years)scimitus.

Lessons learned. CRAFT programs When the trial was initiated in the late summer of 2012 a malfunction with the incubator caused extreme temperature fluctuations over several days. Since the samples were originally created by only sampled weekly the temperature malfunction was not caught in time to save the samples. Therefore the experiment had to be conducted second time in 2013 once the incubators were fixed and temperatures were stabilized. Reliable incubators are essential to this type of work. Much was gained from conducting the project but the results lead to additional work that needs to be conducted in a community field based setting. Work will begin in 2014 to evaluate release rates of growers with like minded commitments soybean meal nitrogen in the field. N release from organic amendments appears to vary between soil textures, though this was not true for all amendments. It may be more effective to calculate fertilizer value based on PAN for this season, rather than total N, though this method does not take into account N carried over to the education next season or the value of new farmers; experienced farmers both educated and mentored new farmersorganic matter additions. The modified CRAFT model we developed and used Where available, seed meals may offer a good alternative for this program supports the education of new farmers by providing the organizational structure organic growers who are trying to allow expert farmers to be teachers. It was successful in part because of our regional collaborative partner whose farmer board provided a direct connection to the community of farmers in that region. These farmers were willing to commit to the project, lend their expertise to educate specialty crop producers, and promote the series. We recommend and plan to continue the approach of working with a regional partner in other areas of the state. Evaluations were lower in quantity than desired. We developed both paper and electronic evaluation formats. Paper evaluations could be either written in the field or taken home to be completed and later mailed to the NOFA-VT office. Electronic evaluations were available in Survey Monkey. The paper evaluations handed out in the workshop contained a link to the electronic evaluation. We received 12 paper evaluations and 12 electronic evaluations from participants. However, our collaborative partner conducted their own evaluation which had 16 responses, so we gleaned additional information from their survey. Next year we will use a simpler evaluation format to increase participation with check box options. We also plan to ask farmers how many new practices they learned so we can start to quantify the learning experienceavoid excessive P application. CONTACT INFORMATION PERSON ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ph.D., Vegetable University of Vermont and Fruit Technical Assistance Advisor for NOFA-VT PhoneState Agricultural College Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ and emailEmail: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Project 2: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Public Awareness Campaign – Final Report (Previously Accepted) ‌ PROJECT SUMMARY According to the Travel Industry Association of America, 60% of American leisure travelers indicate that they are interested in taking a trip to engage in culinary activities within the next 12 months. The beginner farmer workshops were marketed through Vermont Agriculture and Culinary Tourism Council (VtACT) built a catalogue link between these motivated travelers and the farmers and food producers of summer workshop offerings; Vermont. In 2010, fourteen statewide agriculture and tourism entities came together to build the whole catalogue can be viewed at collaborative site ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/sites/default/files/SWS2010.pdf. Below Through their combined databases, the site has 300+ locations, events and trails where tourists can experience Vermont’s food and farms. The site is one section describing the beginner farmer workshopsan interactive platform that provides visitors and Vermonters access to authentic, quality experiences through beautiful visual and written content highlighting Vermont’s farm and culinary experiences. Note that only some of the workshops (those targeted Prior to specialty crop farmers) were part of this project. Beginning Farmers & Apprentices Workshops 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 & 9 are produced in partnership with the Rutland Food and Farm Link (RAFFL) and funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant; they are offered at no charge. 1Wednesday, July 14 • 6:30 - 8:30pm Marketing Strategies for the Small Farm ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Family Farm • Granville▇’s creation there was no single website for introducing visitors to on- farm experiences, NY Learn markets for local foods, restaurants that support local farmers, and Vermont’s working landscape. The professional website design, visuals, and educational information (funded under earlier phases of the basics project) offer producers a presence on an attractive, comprehensive site that few Vermont farmers could afford to build on their own. Site visitors can use the site to find individual businesses, build itineraries for trails that take them to farms, food production sites, and restaurants, select from recommended trails, and build trips that take advantage of marketing - as they relate to your farm! We will give an overview the best agricultural and culinary experiences in Vermont. Two years of different marketing tools, emphasizing those which are a good fit for small farms. We’ll cover our own marketing strategies, focusing on our extensive use careful work went into development of relationship marketing. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm grows a wide variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, marketing them year 'round through farmers' markets and a CSA. 2Wednesday, July 28 • 5 - 7pm Building Soils: Soil Testing, Composting, Amendments Dutchess Farm • Poultney Farmer .▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ . VtACT secured the best possible content, design and collaboration between agriculture and tourism organizations. But the site only becomes effective when it enters into public use. This grant focused on building public awareness of the site—to increase the number of travelers who know about the features and functionality of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, NRCS Soil Conservationist ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, which in turn will increase the number of travelers who interact with Vermont’s specialty crop producers and NOFA- VT Vegetable farm communities. These interactions build today’s local food economy and Fruit Advisor ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will discuss set the need to test soils annually, and how to use soil tests to determine your need foundation for organic fertilizers. We will demonstrate how a cover crop and vegetable rotation system can control weeds and increase organic matter without added manure or compost. We will discuss how to choose a site for vegetable production. Dutchess Farm grows 4 acres of produce using organic practices, selling to a 100-member CSA, the Rutland ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Market, lasting connections between visitors and the Rutland Co-op. 3Saturday, July 31 • 1 - 4pm Introduction to Pasture Management: Using Ruminants to Improve Pasture Bread people and Butter Farm • Shelburne/S. Burlington $10 for NOFA-VT and VGFA members, $15 non- members Livestock expert ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ will cover the fundamentals foods of setting up a new grazing system for ruminants - or improving an existing one. Using practical examples of grazing systems, we’ll discuss pasture plant species and how to manage them for desirable plants, as well as how to do so with livestock and fence rather than expensive plowing and planting. Topics include plant species, grazing methods, fence, water systems, pasture design and layout, paddock size, and acreage. Cosponsored by the VT Grass Farmers Association. 4 Sunday, August 8 • 2 - 5pm Beginning Farmers and Apprentices Producing Eggs Year ‘Round On Compost Without Purchased Grain & NOFAvore Social Vermont Compost • Montpelier $10 for NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members • Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social Vermont Compost Company was founded and sup- ported by organic crop-growing professionals to meet the need for high quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production. Integrated into this production is an innovative system that provides chickens with foraging opportunities to produce eggs along with compost. Come join us for an afternoon with ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, founder of Vermont Compost, as he gives a tour of the farm and discusses the different enterprises that are intertwined. Following the workshop, there will be a community dinner with the NOFA pizza oven. 5Wednesday, August 11 • 5 - 7pm Business Strategies and Cheese Blue Ledge Farm, Leicester Pre-registration required (limit 20) Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Blue Ledge Farm as ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇- sions extrapolate on what it takes to start and maintain a farmstead cheese operation. We will discuss equipment needs and costs for both the dairy and cheese produc- tion areas, value added ideas, and labor needs. They will “crunch the numbers” as to size and profit. Blue Ledge Farm was established in 2000 and now produces 40,000 pounds of artisanal cheese annually from the milk of their own 80 goats as well as two other area farms. Participants may purchase cheese after the workshop. 6Tuesday, August 17 • 9am - 1pm Processing Chickens on the Farm All Together Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ $20 members, $25 non-members • Preregistration required (limit 12) Farmers ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will go over the set-up, procedure, and safety of processing your own birds on the farm or at home. They will then lead the group step-by-step through the whole process. Participants can gain more experience by participating in the processing of a batch of their summer broilers. All Together Farm is a small-scale, diversified family farm raising animals on pasture. 71 Wednesday, August 25 • 5 - 7pm Farm Equipment Primer: Safety and Types of Equipment for Small Farms with NOFAvore social and New Farmer Mixer! ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇ Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as we go over basic safety rules for tractors and other typical small farm equipment. We will talk about tractors, PTOs, tillage equipment, and bucket loaders. We will also talk about small equip- ment and, for livestock farmers, safety tips when work- ing with animals. Time permitting, we can talk about preventative maintenance. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm is a former commodity dairy farm, now milking 20 Jerseys for raw milk and supplying a local artisan cheese maker, as well as raising grass-fed beef. Plus! Join us for ▇▇▇▇▇’s New Farmer Mixer and NOFAvore Celebration with the mobile pizza oven at 7pm! All new and aspiring farmers are invited to come mix, mingle, and meet new farming friends. A sample of the survey distributed to participants in the courses is as follows: I am a: Beginning Farmer (less than 10 years)Vermont.

Lessons learned. CRAFT programs were originally created All of the projects supported by this grant are continuing program efforts rather that specific and finite projects with identifiable implementation periods and identifiable end periods. Our educational and marketing efforts must be continual. NHVTCTA accepted the funds made available through this grant with gratitude. As we move forward, hopefully other grants may be available. But NHVTCTA does not live in a community of growers with like minded commitments to the education of new farmers; experienced farmers both educated vacuum. We realize that budget deficits must be brought under control, and mentored new farmers. The modified CRAFT model we developed that there will be increasing pressure as federal and used for this program supports the education of new farmers by providing the organizational structure to allow expert farmers to be teachersstate agencies allocate scarce resources among many worthwhile projects. It was successful in part because of our regional collaborative partner whose farmer board provided will be incumbent upon NHVTCTA “stand on its own feet” and to do its best to maintain these programs with internal funding and with less reliance on outside assistance. That will be a direct connection to the community of farmers in that regionchallenge. These farmers were willing to commit to the project, lend their expertise to educate specialty crop producers, and promote the series. We recommend and plan to continue the approach of working with a regional partner in other areas of the state. Evaluations were lower in quantity than desired. We developed both paper and electronic evaluation formats. Paper evaluations could be either written in the field or taken home to be completed and later mailed to the NOFA-VT office. Electronic evaluations were available in Survey Monkey. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The paper evaluations handed out in the workshop contained a link to the electronic evaluation. We received 12 paper evaluations and 12 electronic evaluations from participants. However, our collaborative partner conducted their own evaluation which had 16 responses, so we gleaned additional information from their survey. Next year we will use a simpler evaluation format to increase participation with check box options. We also plan to ask farmers how many new practices they learned so we can start to quantify the learning experience. website is ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ CONTACT INFORMATION ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ph.D.Executive Director, Vegetable and Fruit Technical Assistance Advisor for NOFA-VT Phone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ and email: NHVTCTA; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The beginner farmer PROJECT SUMMARY A series of seven on-farm workshops were marketed through a catalogue of summer workshop offerings; the whole catalogue can be viewed at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/sites/default/files/SWS2010.pdf. Below is one section describing the beginner farmer workshops. Note that only some of the workshops (those targeted to specialty crop farmers) were part of this project. Beginning Farmers & Apprentices Workshops 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 & 9 are produced in partnership with the Rutland Food and Farm Link (RAFFL) and funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant; they are offered at no charge. 1Wednesday, July 14 • 6:30 - 8:30pm Marketing Strategies for the Small Farm ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm • Granville, NY Learn the basics of marketing - as they relate to your farm! We will give an overview of different marketing tools, emphasizing those which are a good fit for small farms. We’ll cover our own marketing strategies, focusing on our extensive use of relationship marketing. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Farm grows a wide variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, marketing them year 'round through farmers' markets and a CSA. 2Wednesday, July 28 • 5 - 7pm Building Soils: Soil Testing, Composting, Amendments Dutchess Farm • Poultney Farmer ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, NRCS Soil Conservationist ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and NOFA- VT Vegetable and Fruit Advisor ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will discuss the need to test soils annually, and how to use soil tests to determine your need for organic fertilizers. We will demonstrate how a cover crop and vegetable rotation system can control weeds and increase organic matter without added manure or compost. We will discuss how to choose a site for vegetable production. Dutchess Farm grows 4 acres of produce using organic practices, selling to a 100-member CSA, the Rutland ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Market, and the Rutland Co-op. 3Saturday, July 31 • 1 - 4pm Introduction to Pasture Management: Using Ruminants to Improve Pasture Bread and Butter Farm • Shelburne/S. Burlington $10 for NOFA-VT and VGFA members, $15 non- members Livestock expert ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ will cover the fundamentals of setting up a new grazing system for ruminants - or improving an existing one. Using practical examples of grazing systems, we’ll discuss pasture plant species and how to manage them for desirable plants, as well as how to do so with livestock and fence rather than expensive plowing and planting. Topics include plant species, grazing methods, fence, water systems, pasture design and layout, paddock size, and acreage. Cosponsored by the VT Grass Farmers Association. 4 Sunday, August 8 • 2 - 5pm Beginning Farmers and Apprentices Producing Eggs Year ‘Round On Compost Without Purchased Grain & NOFAvore Social Vermont Compost • Montpelier $10 for NOFA-VT members, $15 non-members • Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social Vermont Compost Company was founded and sup- ported by organic crop-growing professionals to meet the need for high quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production. Integrated into this production is an innovative system that provides chickens with foraging opportunities to produce eggs along with compost. Come join us for an afternoon with ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, founder of Vermont Compost, as he gives a tour of the farm and discusses the different enterprises that are intertwined. Following the workshop, there will be a community dinner with the NOFA pizza oven. 5Wednesday, August 11 • 5 - 7pm Business Strategies and Cheese Blue Ledge Farm, Leicester Pre-registration required (limit 20) Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Blue Ledge Farm as ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇- sions extrapolate on what it takes to start and maintain a farmstead cheese operation. We will discuss equipment needs and costs for both the dairy and cheese produc- tion areas, value added ideas, and labor needs. They will “crunch the numbers” as to size and profit. Blue Ledge Farm was established in 2000 and now produces 40,000 pounds of artisanal cheese annually from the milk of their own 80 goats as well as two other area farms. Participants may purchase cheese after the workshop. 6Tuesday, August 17 • 9am - 1pm Processing Chickens on the Farm All Together Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ $20 members, $25 non-members • Preregistration required (limit 12) Farmers ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will go over the set-up, procedure, and safety of processing your own birds on the farm or at home. They will then lead the group step-by-step through the whole process. Participants can gain more experience by participating in the processing of a batch of their summer broilers. All Together Farm is a small-scale, diversified family farm raising animals on pasture. 71 Wednesday, August 25 • 5 - 7pm Farm Equipment Primer: Safety and Types of Equipment for Small Farms with NOFAvore social and New Farmer Mixer! ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm • ▇▇▇▇▇ Pre-registration requested for NOFAvore social ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as we go over basic safety rules for tractors and other typical small farm equipment. We will talk about tractors, PTOs, tillage equipment, and bucket loaders. We will also talk about small equip- ment and, for livestock farmers, safety tips when work- ing with animals. Time permitting, we can talk about preventative maintenance. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farm is a former commodity dairy farm, now milking 20 Jerseys for raw milk and supplying a local artisan cheese maker, as well as raising grass-fed beef. Plus! Join us for ▇▇▇▇▇’s New Farmer Mixer and NOFAvore Celebration with the mobile pizza oven at 7pm! All new and aspiring farmers are invited were developed and offered on important production and business-related practices (Soils and composting; Organic plant disease management; Organic weed control; Food safety practices in production, handling and marketing; On-farm energy production and conservation; Marketing practices and strategies; Business and enterprise planning and analysis). The workshops provided attendees with up-to-date practical knowledge and information required for successful commercial organic production and commercial enterprises. PROJECCT APPROAH NOFA-VT received a sub-contract through a USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher and Development Program (BFRDP) to come mixsupport the expenses associated with organizing, minglefacilitating and evaluating 8 beginner farmer workshops held as part of our on-farm summer workshop series. Because of that, we requested permission to use the $3,496.50 award to support beginner farmer marketing and business planning workshops at NOFA-VT’s Direct Marketing Conference, scheduled for January 8, 2012. In addition, we requested a 30 day extension of our contract to accommodate this change of scope, which was granted. The following list outlines the activities that were proposed and those performed with the change in scope: Winter 2010-11: Develop workshops’ content; identify expert presenters for each workshop; identify host-farms and develop farmer-host involvement on each farm Early Spring, 2011: Develop workshop materials; develop and implement publicity and outreach strategies Spring-Fall, 2011: Host workshops; continue publicity and outreach Fall, 2011: Project evaluation and summary of outcomes Project partners: The 13 member board of the Vermont Farmers Market Association (VTFMA), a project of NOFA-VT, were instrumental in workshop development, and meet new farming friendsassisting with logistics on the day of the conference. A sample representative of the survey distributed Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Markets serves on that board. In addition, 4 CSA farmers in Vermont served as advisors, helping develop and present workshops. GOALS AND OUTCOMES ACHIEVED The original proposal was to organize 7 summer workshops to reach 40-60 beginning specialty crop producers. We ended up organizing 12 workshops for specialty crop producers at the January, 2012 Direct Marketing Conference attended by a total of 140 participants, 89 of whom were specialty crop producers. The workshops were attended by farmers who sell fruits and vegetables at farmers markets or Community Supported Agriculture farms, or farmers market managers who manage specialty crop vendors. Since the vast majority of direct markets at Vermont only sell specialty crops, it was an easy way to make sure we were targeting that audience. There were a total of 140 participants at the conference. The 12 workshops that were offered for specialty crop producers, were attended by a total of 89 specialty crop producers. There were 7 other workshops offered predominantly for farmers market managers (not themselves producers, but who manage specialty crop vendors) who were the bulk of the 51 non specialty crop producers referenced in your question. Grant funding was only used to cover the courses is cost of presenters and organizing the 12 workshops for specialty crop producers. Workshops held and the number of attendees are as follows: I am aProtecting Your Markets with Safe Food Practices (16 attendees) Merchandising for Maximum Sales (46 attendees) Expanding Direct Markets to Include Limited Income Shoppers (12 attendees) Leveraging Customer Relationships into Year Round Sales (21 attendees) Pricing for Profit – Strategies for Diversified Farms (34 attendees) Hosting Visitors to Build Direct Marketing Relationships (18 attendees) Marketing Toolkit: Beginning Farmer Planning and Measurement Strategies (less than 10 years57 attendees) Effective Off-Farm CSA Management (14 attendees) Business Planning for Farm Success (23 attendees) Safe and Effective Food Demos (17 attendees) Brand Development (18 attendees) Strategies for Grassroots Fundraising (18 attendees) An evaluation completed at the conference was filled out by 58 participants. The first question, with 55 people responding, asked how they would rate the overall quality of the conference. 50 respondents said the conference was excellent or good (91%), and 5 answered that is was fair (9%). When asked if they learned any new techniques they will use on their farms, 39 participants answered yes, and 6 answered no. The majority of respondents wrote that the following information was the most helpful: pricing, advertising, food safety and general marketing. BENEFICIARIES The primary beneficiaries of this project were the specialty crop producers who sell at direct markets in Vermont, including farmers markets, CSAs and farm stands. Other groups that benefited from this work include farmers’ markets managers and organizers who benefit from improved marketing tools. This project was designed to help attendees to be successful farmers and develop successful markets, which in turn will provide improved sales opportunities for hundreds of specialty crop producers throughout Vermont. We operated under the assumption that the better skilled the participating farmers are, the stronger the market – and the stronger the market, the higher the gross sales for specialty crop producers.