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INVESTIGATOR: Jones, R.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
WILLIAM S. DAVIES HOMELESS SHELTER, INC.
132 E 18TH ST SW
ROME, GEORGIA 301616342

DAVIES URBAN FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM: IMMERSIVE BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Urban agriculture has the potential to be a promising entry point for limited resource farmers, but many barriers to entry exist for limited resource farmers. The William S. Davies Homeless Shelter's Urban Farmer Training Program seeks to increase the number of farmers serving food insecure communities in Floyd County, Georgia by reducing barriers for new limited resource farmers to generate supplemental income through part-time urban farming. The program will leverage the Davies Shelter's existing farm and garden programs to train 10 new beginning farmers (at least 70% limited resource) and assist 5 new beginning farmers in starting their own urban micro-farm operation. The Urban Farmer Training Program will achieve these goals and objectives through an intensive Urban Farmer Boot Camp; paid on-farm apprenticeships; three public farming workshops; and farm start-up assistance in the form of rent-free land access, tools, coaching, and direct marketing of produce for at least 5 new urban farmers. Trainees will complete farmer skills self-assessments before and after the training program.

OBJECTIVES: The long-term goal of the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter's Urban Farmer Training Program is to increase the number of farmers serving food insecure communities in Floyd County, Georgia by reducing barriers for new limited resource farmers to generate supplemental income through part-time urban farming.The objectives of the Urban Farmer Training Program are to train ten new beginning farmers and assist five new beginning farmers in starting their own micro-farm operations.

APPROACH: The primary activity of the program will be a 12-week urban farmer training program called the Urban Farmer Boot Camp. Sessions will be adapted from USDA NIFA's Urban Farming Toolbox and the 2014 BFRDP Journeyman Farmer Program curriculum developed by UGA. Sessions will include both classroom and on-farm training with a culturally appropriate curriculum for limited resource farmers. Topics covered will include crop production, soil fertility, pest management, harvest and post-harvest handling techniques, whole farm management, and farm business planning. Trainees will complete a Farmer Skills Self-Assessment Tool as a pre-assessment and post-assessment of the training. Classroom sessions will be held at the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter at 132 East 18th Street. Program participants will be recruited from the guests at the Davies Shelters, community garden volunteers, and the Rome Food Oasis program led by Program Director Robert Jones. The Urban Farmer Boot Camp will be co-led by Program Director Robert Jones and Farm Manager Tim Hayes.Trainees will also participate in a 200-hour paid on-farm apprenticeship at the Davies Shelter's South Meadows Farm. Because many limited resource farmers will need to maintain off-farm jobs, each participant will be given flexibility in completing their 200 hours between March and August. Some apprentices may need to complete only 10 hours per week to accommodate off-farm work and others will work full-time. Under the supervision of the farm manager, apprentices will participate in hands-on experiential training on the farm. Apprenticeships will reinforce concepts learned in the boot camp and expose trainees to the day-to-day rigors of running an actual urban farm. Apprentices will receive hands-on training in crop production, tool and equipment use and maintenance, harvest techniques, post-harvest handling, and on-farm recordkeeping. Apprentices will also receive one-on-one mentoring throughout their apprenticeship.The program will host three supplemental workshops open to the public. These workshops will bring in subject experts to enhance learning for trainees and allow trainees to network with other local farmers. Attendees should increase their knowledge on the topic and leave each workshop with actionable steps to improve production practices. One workshop will be on profitable seed propagation for conservation and biodiversity, led by Dr. Brian Campell of Berry College. Another will be a hands-on food safety and pack shed design workshop led by Billy Mitchell of the National Farmers Unions. The third workshop will be a farmer-led workshop on appropriate tools for small urban farms. These workshops will be advertised through press releases to local media, UGA Cooperative Extension, Georgia Organics, the Between the Rivers Farmers Market, and the Rome Food Oasis.Upon completion of the boot camp and apprenticeship,five trainees will be given the opportunity to receive direct assistance in starting their own micro-farm operation. Trainees will receive access to a rent-free plot of land, tools, equipment, and infrastructure at South Meadows Farm as well as ongoing technical assistance and coaching from the farm manager. Trainees can have their produce marketed and sold on the Davies Farm Bus. This ready market for their crops will jumpstart trainees' micro-farm operation by virtually eliminating marketing and sales tasks so they can focus on growing and building their business.Project evaluation will be conducted by the Davies Shelter with assistance from Georgia Organics. Trainees will complete a demographic questionaire, pre-assessment, and post-assessment after completing each stage of their training (boot camp, apprenticeship, and start-up assistance).The project will utilize a modified version of the Sustainable Farmer Skills Self-Assessment developed by the New England Small Farm Institute as a pre-assessment and post-assessment tool for program trainees. A simple post-workshop assessment tool will be utilized for each of the three public workshops.