Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:86 BFRS Participated in training programs, 20% were veterans 12 LR/SD crew members have been hired by the program since Oct 1, 2015 Changes/Problems: Challenges Faced in Development Award Stage Establishing Learning Farm Incubator sites on demand: Sites have been established just in time to start production or site preparation has delayed production in some cases. The rush has to meet the last week to plant a crop within the constraints of the growing season left crew members less time to understand what they were doing and learning. This continuous and demanding schedule made it more difficult to offer training for all the crew members. Therefore production capacity was also limited by the time crews had to split between establishing sites and growing crops. This challenge is being addressed through the WV Incubator Farm Network, which is developing a series of lesson plans to help new farmer incubation programs get started. These lesson plans cover basics of seasonal planning, business management, crop management, marketing, and production problem solving. Refresh Appalachia is a key leader in the group and has also attended the Field School for the National Incubation Farm Training Initiative. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This was a one year project, we plan to apply for more funding to enhance the structured learning plans for individual crew members and create a trainee- to-ownership transition program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
GOAL: Train and Educate BFRs in business management, marketing and agricultural production through a series of workshops and demonstrations. OUTPUTS: 86 BFRS Participated in training programs, 20% were veterans OUTCOMES: 1 started farming*, 20 became better prepared and 86 have an enhance success 10 farms gained access to new markets through a partnership between the Wayne County Cooperative and Refresh Appalachia's Food Hub activities. Refresh Appalachia has designated a pickup spot for their products, which are taken to restaurants in Charleston and Huntington. *the one year timeline of the development award did not allow a reasonable period to measure this outcome. STEPS: The Wild Ramp in Partnership with Refresh Appalachian and Unlimited Future offered the following training opportunities for Beginner Farmers and Ranchers in the Huntington Area. Business Startup Farm Planning for Profit in Huntington, WV: 8 BFRs Farm Planning for Profit in Williamson, WV: 12 BFRs This course is a three session series and offers 12 hours of total instruction for individuals starting a farm businesses. The course covers the development of the business concept, identification of target market, development of product line and value added enterprise opportunities, marketing strategies for direct marketing, business financing and acquiring credit, financial records and analysis, incorporation, liability and food safety concepts, and managing employees. Business management and marketing enhancement Wholesale Success: Post harvest handling and volume marketing for specialty crop growers. Workshop held in Huntington on April 5th 2016 for 8 BFRs. Tri-State Farm and Food Conference: Attended by 20 farmers, 14 BFRs this day long conference increased understanding on online marketing, Production and Marketing plans, year-round marketing with high tunnels, and insurance and risk management strategies. Agricultural Systems: GAP Ready: GAP Training and Mock Audit Experience. GAP Classroom Session on August 2, 2016 introduced Basic GAP Instruction for Wholesale Marketers, FSMA Final Rule, Setting up the Food Safety Plan of Action Manual, and Applying for GAP Audit. The Follow-up session on September 8th, 2016 was a mock audit where Refresh Appalachia's food safety plan was scored by a mock inspector and farmers from the classroom session. 17 people attended the session in Charleston/Milton, WV and 15 were BFRs. This training was offered through a collaboration with the Value Chain Cluster Initiative's Local Food Corridor Wholesale marketing project. High Tunnel Construction: An experienced farmer, shared his methods for building affordable high tunnels for small farms, with most of the materials available from a local hardware store. Participants gathered over two days to construct a tunnel at the Wayne County Site. This workshop was repeated in Lincoln County were two additional tunnels were built in three days, approx. 40 FFA students learned about high tunnels and helped with a few steps in the process. 9 BFRs from the community attended. Growing Mushrooms: participants inoculated logs with shitake spores, learned about the production cycle, and left with their own test log. 12 BFRs attended this workshop. Container Gardening: May 14th, 2016. Refresh Appalachia Crew Chief hosted a gardening workshop to build interest in growing food on a small scale for twelve food insecure families in Mingo County. 12th Annual WV Small Farms Conference February 24-27, 2016 in Charleston, WV: 5 LR/SD Crew Members and 2 Program Staff attended the conference with four full days of workshops; including GAP Introduction, production for high tunnels and specialty crops, marketing at farmers markets, pest management, and more http://smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu/r/download/224656 GOAL: Establishment of Learning Farm Incubator (LFIs) OUTPUT: Sites developed by crew members. OUTCOME: This network of sites provide hands-on, visual learning to support BFRs and accelerate entrepreneurship in food production. Learning Farm Incubator Sites Wayne County (BFRDP Supported): 2 high tunnels and indoor growing at abandon factory. This site has produced winter leafy greens, onion sets, tomatoes, and pepper varieties. Indoor production of Microgreens. Lincoln County (BFRDP Supported): 2 High tunnels (built), 2 heated greenhouses (existing), aquaponics, and 20 acres for livestock located at Lincoln County High School. This site has produced flower and food plant starters, winter greens, tomato and pepper varieties, and rotational grazing chickens. Mingo County (ARC POWER+ Supported): (1) 300 acres of reclaimed mine lands- 30 fenced for livestock, rotational grazing chickens, pigs, and goats -Orchard with Fruits and Nuts established by Redevelopment Authority, (2) 3 high tunnels located in Williamson, and (3) installing hydroponic growing system in abandon factory. These sites have mainly produced eggs, summer squash, corn, tomatoes, and pepper varieties. Cabell County: 15 Acres, 3 Acres in production of winter squash for wholesale markets is being cultivated and will be GAP certified. GOAL: Employ 2 LR/SD young adults in an apprentice learning program that will build their skills and connect them to real opportunities in agriculture. OUTPUT: 12 LR/SD crew members have been hired by the program since Oct 1, 2015 OUTCOME: 17 FTE jobs in agriculture created STEPS 2 Crew Members and one Crew Chief were hired for the Wayne County Program on October 1st with BFRDP funds. ARC POWER+ Funding was awarded to expand the program to Mingo County Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Funding was awarded to expand the program to Lincoln County. The goal for trainees after completing this 2.5 year program is to start their own farm enterprise. The program will continue to expand to 40 trainees and will graduate 20 trainees by the end of 2018. 1 of the Trainees in the program has already partnered with a land owner to grow log shitakis on her own time, that can be sold by the food hub. Employees Breakdown Wayne: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Lincoln: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Mingo: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Food Hub Manager Program Director Additional outcomes Food Hub Launch In July, program staff began sourcing product from over 10 producers, including 2 high schools. Products are distributed in a cool-bot trailer (borrowed) to more than 15 different buyers including restaurants, schools, retail outlets, direct to consumer, mobile food market for low-income communities. Refresh has also donated products to food banks and church food pantries when it could not be sold. The program's recent hire of Savanna Lyons (graduate of Iowa State) as the food hub manager will greatly expand the marketing opportunities for Refresh and partner farms. The Food Hub Manager will maintain relationships with buyers and work with the growers group to meet needs. Savanna also brings a vast amount of knowledge about the financial viability of food hub models, especially in rural areas. Refresh hopes that her expertise will help the food hub grow and create opportunities to partner with more farmers.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:86 BFRS Participated in training programs, 20% were veterans 12 LR/SD crew members have been hired by the program since Oct 1, 2015 Changes/Problems:Challenges Faced in Development Award Stage Establishing Learning Farm Incubator sites on demand: Sites have been established just in time to start production or site preparation has delayed production in some cases. The rush has to meet the last week to plant a crop within the constraints of the growing season left crew members less time to understand what they were doing and learning. This continuous and demanding schedule made it more difficult to offer training for all the crew members. Therefore production capacity was also limited by the time crews had to split between establishing sites and growing crops. This challenge is being addressed through the WV Incubator Farm Network, which is developing a series of lesson plans to help new farmer incubation programs get started. These lesson plans cover basics of seasonal planning, business management, crop management, marketing, and production problem solving. Refresh Appalachia is a key leader in the group and has also attended the Field School for the National Incubation Farm Training Initiative. One year timeline: The 12 month timeline made it very difficult to start a new program, compelete all activities and produce the outcomes that this grant is designed to fund. The project team has been able to achieve more on the short term outcomes, which we hope is eveidence of our abiltiy to perform over a longer period as well. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This was a one year project, we plan to apply for more funding to enhance the structured learning plans for individual crew members and create a trainee- to-ownership transition program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
GOAL: Train and Educate BFRs in business management, marketing and agricultural production through a series of workshops and demonstrations. OUTPUTS: 86 BFRS Participated in training programs, 20% were veterans OUTCOMES: 1 started farming*, 20 became better prepared and 86 have an enhance success 10 farms gained access to new markets through a partnership between the Wayne County Cooperative and Refresh Appalachia's Food Hub activities. Refresh Appalachia has designated a pickup spot for their products, which are taken to restaurants in Charleston and Huntington. *the one year timeline of the development award did not allow a reasonable period to measure this outcome. STEPS: The Wild Ramp in Partnership with Refresh Appalachian and Unlimited Future offered the following training opportunities for Beginner Farmers and Ranchers in the Huntington Area. Business Startup Farm Planning for Profit in Huntington, WV: 8 BFRs Farm Planning for Profit in Williamson, WV: 12 BFRs This course is a three session series and offers 12 hours of total instruction for individuals starting a farm businesses. The course covers the development of the business concept, identification of target market, development of product line and value added enterprise opportunities, marketing strategies for direct marketing, business financing and acquiring credit, financial records and analysis, incorporation, liability and food safety concepts, and managing employees. Business management and marketing enhancement Wholesale Success: Post harvest handling and volume marketing for specialty crop growers. Workshop held in Huntington on April 5th 2016 for 8 BFRs. Tri-State Farm and Food Conference: Attended by 20 farmers, 14 BFRs this day long conference increased understanding on online marketing, Production and Marketing plans, year-round marketing with high tunnels, and insurance and risk management strategies. Agricultural Systems: GAP Ready: GAP Training and Mock Audit Experience. GAP Classroom Session on August 2, 2016 introduced Basic GAP Instruction for Wholesale Marketers, FSMA Final Rule, Setting up the Food Safety Plan of Action Manual, and Applying for GAP Audit. The Follow-up session on September 8th, 2016 was a mock audit where Refresh Appalachia's food safety plan was scored by a mock inspector and farmers from the classroom session. 17 people attended the session in Charleston/Milton, WV and 15 were BFRs. This training was offered through a collaboration with the Value Chain Cluster Initiative's Local Food Corridor Wholesale marketing project. High Tunnel Construction: An experienced farmer, shared his methods for building affordable high tunnels for small farms, with most of the materials available from a local hardware store. Participants gathered over two days to construct a tunnel at the Wayne County Site. This workshop was repeated in Lincoln County were two additional tunnels were built in three days, approx. 40 FFA students learned about high tunnels and helped with a few steps in the process. 9 BFRs from the community attended. Growing Mushrooms: participants inoculated logs with shitake spores, learned about the production cycle, and left with their own test log. 12 BFRs attended this workshop. Container Gardening: May 14th, 2016. Refresh Appalachia Crew Chief hosted a gardening workshop to build interest in growing food on a small scale for twelve food insecure families in Mingo County. 12th Annual WV Small Farms Conference February 24-27, 2016 in Charleston, WV: 5 LR/SD Crew Members and 2 Program Staff attended the conference with four full days of workshops; including GAP Introduction, production for high tunnels and specialty crops, marketing at farmers markets, pest management, and more http://smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu/r/download/224656 GOAL: Establishment of Learning Farm Incubator (LFIs) OUTPUT: Sites developed by crew members. OUTCOME: This network of sites provide hands-on, visual learning to support BFRs and accelerate entrepreneurship in food production. Learning Farm Incubator Sites Wayne County (BFRDP Supported): 2 high tunnels and indoor growing at abandon factory. This site has produced winter leafy greens, onion sets, tomatoes, and pepper varieties. Indoor production of Microgreens. Lincoln County (BFRDP Supported): 2 High tunnels (built), 2 heated greenhouses (existing), aquaponics, and 20 acres for livestock located at Lincoln County High School. This site has produced flower and food plant starters, winter greens, tomato and pepper varieties, and rotational grazing chickens. Mingo County (ARC POWER+ Supported): (1) 300 acres of reclaimed mine lands- 30 fenced for livestock, rotational grazing chickens, pigs, and goats -Orchard with Fruits and Nuts established by Redevelopment Authority, (2) 3 high tunnels located in Williamson, and (3) installing hydroponic growing system in abandon factory. These sites have mainly produced eggs, summer squash, corn, tomatoes, and pepper varieties. Cabell County: 15 Acres, 3 Acres in production of winter squash for wholesale markets is being cultivated and will be GAP certified. GOAL: Employ 2 LR/SD young adults in an apprentice learning program that will build their skills and connect them to real opportunities in agriculture. OUTPUT: 12 LR/SD crew members have been hired by the program since Oct 1, 2015 OUTCOME: 17 FTE jobs in agriculture created STEPS 2 Crew Members and one Crew Chief were hired for the Wayne County Program on October 1st with BFRDP funds. ARC POWER+ Funding was awarded to expand the program to Mingo County Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Funding was awarded to expand the program to Lincoln County. The goal for trainees after completing this 2.5 year program is to start their own farm enterprise. The program will continue to expand to 40 trainees and will graduate 20 trainees by the end of 2018. 1 of the Trainees in the program has already partnered with a land owner to grow log shitakis on her own time, that can be sold by the food hub. Employees Breakdown Wayne: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Lincoln: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Mingo: 4 crew members; 1 crew chief Food Hub Manager Program Director Additional outcomes Food Hub Launch In July, program staff began sourcing product from over 10 producers, including 2 high schools. Products are distributed in a cool-bot trailer (borrowed) to more than 15 different buyers including restaurants, schools, retail outlets, direct to consumer, mobile food market for low-income communities. Refresh has also donated products to food banks and church food pantries when it could not be sold. The program's recent hire of Savanna Lyons (graduate of Iowa State) as the food hub manager will greatly expand the marketing opportunities for Refresh and partner farms. The Food Hub Manager will maintain relationships with buyers and work with the growers group to meet needs. Savanna also brings a vast amount of knowledge about the financial viability of food hub models, especially in rural areas. Refresh hopes that her expertise will help the food hub grow and create opportunities to partner with more farmers.
Publications
|