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INVESTIGATOR: Blumhagen, S.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
301 5TH AVE SE
MEDINA, NORTH DAKOTA 58467

FARRMS: GROWING TOGETHER

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Immigrant Development Center, in partnership with FARRMS*, Medina, North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota Extension will increase the number and sustainability of Red River Valley's emerging farm enterprises through internship opportunities, education and mentoring. A 4-stage farmer-training model will include experience working in a Growing Together community garden as a beginning step for those who may have little experience in (northern) agriculture. Growing Together is a faith-based garden ministry that provided 42,000 pounds of food to 150 participating New American families last year. Utilizing a community organizing model to recruit and support new farmers in the Fargo/Moorhead Metro area, at least 50% of the trainees will be new Americans, women, veterans, socially disadvantaged, or developmentally disabled adults. A local New Farmer Learning Circle and New Farmer Task Force will support recruitment, identification of barriers and provide translation or access to materials from USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program-funded Tufts University project in order to build farming skills for those needing assistance with developmental learning issues, literacy or English as a Second Language.

OBJECTIVES: Utilizing a community organizing model to recruit and support new farmers in the Fargo/Moorhead Metroa area, at least 50% of those involved in the training will be new Americans, women, veterans, or developmentally disabled adults. A local learning circle will help identify barriers, provide translation or testing of materials materials from BFRDP funded ISED Solutions and Hawthrone Valley Farm designed to build farming skills for those needing assistance with developmental learning issues, literacy or ESL. Program Objectives: 1) Train 50 new/beginning farmers in ND or Western Minnesota in business, marketing, & sustainability; 2) Establish a Fargo/Moorhead Advisory/Organizing group to support recruitment; establish incubator farm opportunities, and guide program; 3)Establish a F/M metro area FARRMS intern learning circle as a subgroup of the statewide FARRMS training to integrate new Americans, veterans, special needs, and female beginning farmers into the FARRMS program. 4) Obtain, test, and modify existing farmer training materials from Farm Beginnings® training materials to meet the specific needs of those involved in the internship program with regard to literacy, ESL, developmental learning challenges, etc.; 5) Provide adapted materials, experiences, as needed; 5) Modify Growing Together toolbox used to guide the development of new community garden sites; 7) With Lutheran Social Services staff support, launch new Growing Together gardens in two other cities working with LSS refugee communities; 8) Attend Farm Beginnings® collaborative meetings.