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INVESTIGATOR: Martin, J. L.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIV OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CONNECTICUT 06269

SOLID GROUND 2: WEAVING TOGETHER EXPERT TRAININGS AND PEER NETWORKS FOR SUSTAINED BEGINNER AND ADVANCED-BEGINNER FARMER SUCCESS IN CONNECTICUT

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The lifecycle of UConn Extension's Solid Ground Training Program has reached mid-stage and many of the initial beginning farmer clients are now in year 6-10 with more defined skill needs, such as advanced IPM and agriculture mechanics for cost-saving maintenance and construction projects on the farm. Early stage beginning farmers (0-5 years)are isolated from each other. As they encounter knowledge and skill gaps they have limited time and must be selective about which trainings to attend in person. Advanced-level beginning farmers (6-10 years)need a peer support system to help each other through personal challenges and business setbacks, and could serve as a leadership development opportunity. There are also persistent gaps in appropriate training for farmers of color in cities, most of whom rely on community-based urban gardening networks in place of traditional agriculture service providers; there is a related need for trainers that understand the experience of urban farmers (from similar backgrounds). Finally, for too many beginning farmers,particularly those with limited resources or without a farm family background, the effort to find stable land tenure near their base of customers is extremely challenging and emotionally draining.In Solid Ground 2, UConn Extension's long tradition of serving agriculture producers is integrated with 6 partners and 11 collaborators to generate new learning opportunities that 1) responds to different skill gaps in production and farm management for advanced-level and early-stage BF; 2) leverages the capacity of organizational partners to meet the needs of beginning farmersthat are unmet through existing trainings; and 3) addresses farmland access needs of beginning farmers. Developed by and for beginning farmers, this shared project represents a major investment in the growth and leadership of Connecticut's beginning farmercommunity. We will leverage our existing Solid Ground Training program to generate new digital resources, experiential training, and one-on-one technical assistance. We will partner with two school-based agriculture organizations in Nonnewaug and Rockville to deliver more agriculture mechanic trainings. Experienced leaders atNew CT Farmer Alliance and Connecticut'sNortheast Organic Farming Association will launch a new peer-to-peer learning opportunity called Farmer Circles that will help beginning farmers support each other. Experts in urban farming at Love Fed Initiative will train farmers of color in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford.A regional non-profit, Land For Good, will coordinate a series of matchmaking events for farm seekers and farmland owners. This project's long-term goal is to increase the durability of the next generation of farmers by improving their ability to withstand disruption and shocks (social, environmental, financial) through more advanced skills, convenient learning tools, and stronger peer support networks.

OBJECTIVES: Goal 1 - Build upon the accomplishments of the Solid Ground Program to deliver increasingly relevant, high quality training that respond to BF skill gaps at the appropriate level.Objective 1.1: Offer new training opportunities targeting advanced-level BF, emphasizing agriculture mechanics, pest/disease management, and farm infrastructure projects.Objective 1.2: Develop more convenient and accessible learning tools focused on the fundamentals of small farm success for early-stage beginning farmers.Goal 2) Leverage the capacity, talent, and integrity of partner organizations to meet the needs of BFs that are unmet through Solid Ground trainings.Objective 2.1: Launch a peer-to-peer learning program targeting advanced-level BF that strengthens farmer networks and develops new leaders in the agriculture community.Objective 2.2: Offer POC-led training that responds to the highest priority skill gaps of community-based urban agriculture projects and their BF clients.Goal 3) Address the farmland access needs of beginning farmers.Objective 3: Increase BF opportunities to acquire farmland and provide technical assistance to farm seekers.

APPROACH: UConn Extension and its partners will work together to deliver exceptional training and networking opportunities that are practical, convenient, and accessible. UConn Extension will serve as the administrative and communications backbone. Two school-based agricultural education organizations (SAEOs) will host Agriculture Mechanic trainings for BF. Front-line community based organizations (CBOs) led by people of color will plan and deliver urban farming training in the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. Two statewide NGOs with a strong base of BF members will work together to implement peer networking. A regional NGO will coordinate matchmaking events for farmland seekers. The project's overall approach recognizes the integrity and new knowledge that the beginning farmer community, and the organizations they belong to, can offer to the broader agriculture sector in our state.In-person trainings will be strategically located in convenient locations, with a preference for Greater Hartford, Greater New Haven, and Greater Bridgeport that are all easily accessible from highway corridors of I-84, I-91, I-95. Networking events will take place at community farms, Grange Halls, or businesses with a commitment to local agriculture. The project will rely on locations that are already well known in the region for hosting public education workshops and community-building events. In recognition that the BF community is largely employed off-farm, the majority of in-person events will be held on weekday evenings or the weekend. Participant and travel stipends will be available to limit barriers to attending in-person events or hands-on trainings faced by socially disadvantaged BF (SDBF).Each objective is paired with activities that build on UConn Extension's 8 years of experience delivering BF training and leverages the capacity of its partners.A. - Agriculture Mechanics Trainings. An annual series of Agriculture Mechanic trainings will take place in the winter months at Rockville AgriScience and 3 will take place at Nonnewaug AgriScience. Planned topics include welding, carpentry, small engine repair and maintenance, plumbing, electrical, land surveying, chainsaw use and safety. Attendance will be limited to 15 BF per training. These hands-on trainings are designed to teach competence in safety, maintenance, and help BF tackle small fixes and improvements to infrastructure on the farm that are critical both financially and timewise. In some cases, a training may be offered in dual formats: one that is open to all BF, and one that is targeted to Women/POC/Queer farmers.B. - Agroecology Trainings.Anannual series of 3 Agroecology trainings will take place each winter with 2.5 hours of content and .5 hour for networking. Planned topics include no-till intensive vegetable agriculture, organic pesticides, beneficial insects, soil and foliar fertility, and managing for invasive plants. UConn Extension will recruit expert presenters and farmer practitioners to deliver the trainings; faculty from UConn's Fruit & Vegetable IPM Program and Plant Diagnostic Lab will be invited to provide an overview of services and expertise.C. - "DIY Farm Infrastructure" videos. Six educational videos (2 per year) on small farm infrastructure projects will be produced, with plannedtopics of: Caterpillar tunnels, Heated Seedling Houses, Coolbot Installation, Wash and Pack stations, Field Drainage, and Fencing. Viewers will gain an understanding of materials, cost-benefit analysis, structure considerations, and uses.D. - Online Soil Health & Climate Adaptation Course. An online course will increase BF skills in soil health and associated climate adaptation strategies. UConn Extension will engage a consultant to develop and record the course, totaling 4 hours of content, and make this available to BF through it's digital platform for distance learning.E. - "Connecticut's New Farm Entrepreneur" Digital Series - 6professional videos and 6 webinars will be branded and promoted together featuring BF farm operations that demonstrate a replicable combination of crops and varieties, sales channels, and emerging products for direct-to-consumer markets. The series will help broadcast new ways to shift sales and delivery of food to customers. BF will learn about different online ordering platforms, boxed/pre-packaged delivery systems, how some farms are partnering with schools to freeze products, and finding ways to reduce bottlenecks of customers at farm stands, CSA pick-up, and farmers' markets.F. - One-on-one Technical Assistance for Vegetable Pest & Disease Management. UConn Extension will engage a consultantto travel to farms to deliver one-on-one coaching on field scouting techniques, diagnosing disease and pest issues, and reviewing corrective options. His services will target BF who are in a decision-making role on the farm, recognizing that any response has a financial impact on the farm business.G. - Farmer Circles. New CT Famer Alliance & CT Northeast Organic Farming Association will co-lead the Farmer Circle activity. There will be 5Farmer Circles in Year 1, 6in Year 2, and 7 in Year 3. Farmer Circles are a new peer-learning and peer leadership journey for farmers interested in sharing obstacles and strategies in a small, semi-structured, supportive environment.For 9-12 months, the Farmer Circles will gather to explore an issue together.Possible issues to coalesce around include:getting clear on farm financials, identifying vegetable disease and pest management during the season, farming during a natural disaster or public health emergency, building a local/regional economy for farm inputs, finding and maintaining a strong farm crew, and mental health/wellness for farm families. Farmer Circles will have 5-8 members and will choose their preferred meeting style, whether in-person in a conference room, living room, barn, through field walks, or via video conferencing. There will be a minimum of 12 hours of meeting time per Farmer Circle. A Farmer Circle Leader will act as the point person to coordinate meetings.H. - Build Your Network, Grow Our Future Gatherings. New CT Farmer Alliance, which is already known for its excellent hosting of two BYNGOF in 2016 and 2018, will reshape this event to include the Farmer Circles and use grant funds to organize the conference annually. In December 2020, the event will serve as a kick-off for the Farmer Circles.I. - Urban Farming Trainings. Love Fed Initiative will plan and deliver 6 urban farming trainings per year for BF in the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. Each winter, Love Fed's trainers will work with collaborators at Park City Harvest (Bridgeport), Green Village Initiative (Bridgeport), and Keney Park Sustainability Project (Hartford). Potential topics include companion planting, intro to permaculture, season extension, microgreens, pollinator gardens, beekeeping, pest/disease challenges in the city, site mapping, crop planning, seed saving, composting on urban plots, using city water, soil management and restoration, community involvement strategies/models, food justice education, state/federal programs, herbalism, and plant-based culinary arts.J. - Farmland Mixers. Land For Good, a regional non-profit that guides farmers and farmland owners through the complex challenges of land access and succession, will coordinate and host six regional Farmland Mixers (2/year). The Farmland Mixers are informal matchmaking events for farmland owners and farm seekers and will increase awareness of service providers that are ready to assist farmland owners/farm seekers.K. - One-on-one Technical Assistance on Farmland Access. UConn Extension will engage a consultantto assist BF in their efforts to acquire farmland to purchase or lease from retiring farmers or other landowners.