Progress 04/01/02 to 06/30/05
Outputs
The purpose of the NESARE funded Community Agriculture and Food Systems Development Certification Program -aka Growing Home Certification Program- was to develop a comprehensive training program to increase the knowledge and skills of agriculture developers to strengthen farm and food-based enterprises and their communities. Web-based marketing of the program resulted in the receipt of 26 applications. 21 individuals were selected to participate in the program and 17 completed Year I of the two year program, consisting of three distance learning modules, four meetings and field trips. 10 participants completed Year II of the program, attending two meetings and implementing local projects, with 5-30 member core groups, impacting an estimated 800+ additional community members. Projects include: incorporating agriculture into a regional comprehensive plan; a cooperative meat processing project; an agriculture ambassador program; an urban horticulture
program; a farm-to-restaurant distribution program; a regional meat production, processing, and distribution cluster; incorporating agriculture into a watershed tourism campaign; an annual agriculture leadership conference; a farmers market in a low-income, inner-city, business district; and a farmland preservation effort consisting of farm-based diversification consultation. Multiple feedback mechanisms suggest the program met its overall goal of building capacity for food and ag-based community development: 1. Evaluation responses and completed assignments indicate the curricular requirements provided participants with (a) increased understanding of ag development, (b) increased awareness of ag development strategies and community development processes, (c) frameworks for planning ag development projects, and (d) opportunities for establishing long term support networks. 2. Project reports show that the program supported the development and implementation of local projects and that
the projects are, in turn, benefiting communities. Participants described the program is an ag development incubator. 3. Project updates also suggest that the program facilitated the development of an informal support network. Participants alluded to engaging their Growing Home peers in the implementation of other projects with which they were involved. 4. Evaluation responses and class discussions taught us, as educators, a great deal about the needs of a training program designed to simultaneously support and integrate ongoing work and professional development goals. The professional development, networks, and local projects supported and achieved through the project are important because they have: strengthened the capacity of agriculture developers to pursue community-based food and agriculture development; and cultivated 10 new food and agriculture-based initiatives specifically designed to socially, economically, and ecologically benefit New York and Northeastern communities and
regions. Based on these outcomes, it is our intent to work with participants, potential participants, and community development training programs to redesign the program, accordingly, and offer it on an ongoing basis.
Impacts
Thriving farms and food businesses contribute to overall community well-being and are an essential part of a comprehensive economic and community development strategy. To thrive, these businesses require community support. Communities, in turn, need to know how to support these businesses and how to partner with them as development engines. Due to increasing expenses and decreasing revenues, capitalizing on locally developed resources is more critical than ever. In a way that individual trainings cannot, this training has provided ongoing, interactive support for community-based ag development, ultimately increasing the well-being of farms, food-based businesses, and communities. More specifically, the impacts include: the provision of campus-based instruction and support to ag development professionals as they worked in New York communities; the creation of a forum for peer mentoring and collaboration among ag development professionals that has extended past the
project end date; and the development of new ag development initiatives in 10 communities, ultimately benefitting the farmers, entrepreneurs, and members of the communities in which these intiatives were based.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
In 2004, its second year, the Growing Home Certification Program, a professional development training program for agriculture developers, accomplished the following: The development and implementation of 12 community-based projects and the development of professional relationships that have resulted in ag-development collaborations and achievements outside of the project. Twelve participants who completed a three-module, curricular-based training program in Year I of the program, submitted Year II project proposals in January 2004. Following peer and instructor reviews, participants were awarded $1000 in SARE funds to support project implementation. Initiated in March 2004 the projects have been supported by the program coordinator, instructors, and participants, through monthly check-ins and a class meeting in September 2004. These community-based projects include: the development of a food bank guide to local food procurement; the incorporation of ag development
into a regional comprehensive plan; the development of a cooperative meat processing project; an agriculture ambassador program; an urban horticulture program; a farm-to-restaurant distribution program; the development of a regional meat production, processing, and distribution cluster; the development of a guide to applying commercial community theory to agriculture development initiatives; the incorporation of agriculture into a watershed tourism campaign; an annual agriculture leadership conference; the development of a farmers market in a low-income, inner-city, business district; and a farmland preservation effort consisting of farm-based diversification consultation. Although the projects were planned to be completed within a six month time frame, a consequence of their community-based collaborations, in practice they have moved more slowly, prompting us to request and be granted a project extension of one year. For the purposes of the Growing Home program, community projects
are currently scheduled to be completed no later than April 31, 2005. However, several of these projects will continue to support agriculture development in local communities long after the completion of the program. The final meeting of the program will be held in March 2005 at which time participants will summarize the results of their project up to this point, as well as lessons learned. The final project reports will be shared with SARE and published, as case studies, through the Community, Food, and Agriculture Program website. The professional development, professional networks, and community-based projects supported and achieved through the project are important because they have: strengthened the capacity of agriculture developers to pursue community-based food and agriculture development; and cultivated 12 new food and agriculture-based initiatives specifically designed to socially, economically, and ecologically benefit New York and Northeastern communities and regions.
Because program participants document the development and implementation of their projects, moreover, others will have opportunities to learn from and replicate these initiatives.
Impacts
At the end of Year II, there is evidence that the Growing Home Certification Program is building the professional capacity of agriculture developers and contributing to the welfare of communities: 1. Responses to program evaluations and assignments suggest the program has provided participants with a theoretical basis for their work; a better understanding of food and ag-based development strategies and community-based development processes; a framework for planning food and ag-based community development projects; and valuable networking opportunities with knowledgeable peers. 2. Project updates speak to the ways in which the program has supported the development and implementation of community-based projects and to the ways the projects are, in turn, benefiting communities. Some participants have encouraged us to think of the Growing Home Certification program as an ag development incubator. 3. Anecdotal evidence speaks to multiple spin-off impacts that are the
result of bringing regional ag developers together through Growing Home. Participants repeatedly referenced ways they were engaging their Growing Home peers in the implementation of other ag-development projects with which they were involved. 4. In addition to professional development and community-based impacts, the program has served its purpose as a pilot project - as educators, we have learned a great deal about the needs of a training program designed to simultaneously support and integrate ongoing food and ag-based community development work and professional development goals.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The Growing Home Certification Program project accomplishments during 2003, the first full year of the project include: (1) The selection and enrollment into the program of twenty-one participants, from throughout the Northeast, working in the area of agriculture development. (2) The development, implementation and evaluation of Year I of the Program, which consisted of (a) three, 4-unit, distance-learning modules, each involving weekly reading and writing assignments, on-line discussions, and a paper; (b) four in-person class meetings designed to further understanding of the modules and foster peer-based educational opportunities; and (c) the completion of Year II project draft proposals. Based on completed assignments, we have achieved the objectives established for Year I of the project: Participants can articulate how the contemporary food system impacts the community in which they work and understand the process of community-based development well enough to be
able to identify food and agriculture-based community development strategies and create a well-though out plan for implementing them in their communities. Although the full impacts of this project will be clearer after the completion of the second year of the project, when participants have provided leadership for the implementation of community-based projects, there is evidence that the Growing Home Certification Program is making a positive difference in the work of program participants: Favorable responses to written and verbal evaluations of the program indicate that it has provided participants with (a) a theoretical understanding of work they have been pursuing for a long time, (b) a better understanding of food and agriculture-based development strategies and community-based development processes, (c) language that they can use in the pursuit of their work, and (d) valuable networking opportunities with knowledgeable peers. In addition to the impacts on program participants and
their ability to strengthen agriculture and communities, the program has thus far served its purpose as a pilot project - we are learning a great deal as educators developing a training program designed to simultaneously support and integrate ongoing work and professional development goals over a two year term. As a result of the feedback provided from participants over the first year, we have a better sense than when we started of (a) the quantity of work that can be completed by people with careers and lives, (b) the level of professional experience that participants should be required to have in order to participate in the program, and (c) the level of employer support required for participants in this program. As a result of these impacts and several calls that we've received from individuals wanting to be a part of the program in the future, we believe it provides training that is both valuable and in demand, and are seeking funding to modify it accordingly, and offer it again.
Impacts
A growing number of people are recognizing the important contributions food and agriculture make to the (social, environmental and economic) quality of life in communities. This training program has been designed with the goal of building the capacity of community development professionals (agriculture developers, Extension educators, economic and community developers, planners, local government officials) and community leaders, through knowledge and skill development, to strengthen their communities through innovative food and agriculture-based activities. Thus, the expected impacts of this project are: (1) More community development professionals who understand the important contributions food and agriculture make to communities; (2) More community development professionals who are prepared to use food and agriculture-based initiatives as tools for community development; (3) Stronger food and ag-based community development initiatives; (4) More food and
agriculture-based community development initiatives; and (5) Ultimately, stronger communities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Since being initiated in October 2002, project accomplishments include: (1) the development and Northeast dissemination of publicity materials, including fliers, a program brochure, list of frequently asked questions, and time line; (2) a request for applications due February 28, 2003; (3) the development of curriculum for 3 four-week modules; and responses to approximately 30 requests for additional information about the program. The publicity materials and application instructions have been mailed to individuals requesting a copy, are posted on the Community, Food, and Agriculture website, and have been announced via email and assorted conferences throughout the Northeast.
Impacts
A growing number of communities are recognizing the important contributions food and agriculture make to the quality of life (socially, environmentally and economically). This training program will develop the knowledge and skills of community development professionals (including agriculture development specialists, extension educators, economic developers, planners, and local government officials) and other community leaders to strengthen their communities through innovative food and agriculture-based activities.
Publications
- Green, J. and Hilchey, D., 2002. Growing Home: Reconnecting Agriculture, Food, and Communities. Ithaca, NY: Community, Food, and Agriculture Program, Cornell University.
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