Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The following target audiences that we have worked with are 80% or more with a social, economic, and/or educational disadvantage. Most are Latino or African American. We have conducted varying degrees of outreach to each of these populations depending on their specific needs and their awareness levels. Target Audiences: Prospective Farmers: People who are exploring an alternative livelihood, and are interested in learning more about farming (pre-college age to mid-career to late in life) New Beginning Farmers: Those who self identify as wanting to engage in a farm-based venture Effort: We have delivered formal classroom instruction and practicum experiences to our Apprentices, which involved the development of a curriculum based on Permaculture Design and Ecological Farming that exposed them to a broad array of workshops and experiential learning opportunities. Changes/Problems: The goals and objectives were changed and approved by NIFA as follows after the project's first year: The goals of GPFPA is: To support the creation of new “permanent” farmers by facilitating access to training and technical assistance programs that empowers them to practice diverse, sustainable small-scale intensive “infill agriculture” on underutilized land. Objective 2: Enable prospective and new beginning farmers to produce large amounts of food sustainably in small-scale, underutilized conventional and non-conventional settings (infill farms). Objective 3: Provide technical assistance to prospective and new beginning farmers in the form of business development, land and resource access, whole farm planning and design, marketing and other cooperative services; including USDA programs and services. Objective 4: Create support structures including regular and diverse networking opportunities and a Local Food Hub that will serve to enhance the viability of beginning farmers by connecting them to restaurants, institutional buyers, CSAs and farmers markets, and directly to consumers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has provided Permaculture Design Certificates and Advanced Permaculture Training (2,935 hours) and hands-on training (34,812 hours). In addition to the formal and hands-on training, we have hosted 3 Community Food Summits (community-wide dialog and networking event for producers and all involved in bringing about a robust local food system); hosted networking events for Beginning Farmers, with young urban farmers and activists presenters from around the country. We have hosted the following regular gatherings: Locavore Lounge (quarterly), for beginning farmers, existing farmers, and local food enthusiasts; Crop Mobs/Volunteer events (monthly) for beginning farmers to learn, work, and share a meal together around an on-farm project, creating over 5000 hours of farming exposure; Earth Harvest Festivals: Slow Money South Florida Regional Chapter (Monthly) for people interested in pooling funds to invest in small farmers and local food infrastructure; South Florida Food Policy Council (monthly) participating to as a voice for urban producers and beginning farmers; Weekly Farmers' Markets a forum for creating community connections and a market for beginning farmers. Our beginning farmers partivipated in and many times helped make these events possible, learning to organoze them and often teaching workshops to communicate the skills they had learned. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We took every opportunity afforded to us at various scales to communicate our program, highlighting always our results and successes. Locally, we gave regular tours of our Learning Centers (working farms) where our Apprentices were stationed; we organized several levels of programs with school and community groups (Junior Apprenticeships and service learning) and with Universities (Miami Dade College, Florida International University, University of Miami) that invloved service learning, internships, and research-based courses; We held public events, such as the Community Food Summits (mentioend above) and Earth Harvest Festivals and Farmers Day were we performed outreach throughout the County. We exposed 5,700 members of the general public to our farm and apprenticeship program that was shaping the farm. We collaborated with Natural Awakenings Magazine to host Natural Farmer Day. The Learning Center at The Farm at Verde Gardens was a major collective accomplishment for the classes of Apprentices that trained there and it and they recieved a fair amount of Media Coverage, and we always emphasized the Apprenticeship program. We have conducted over three dozen talks from colleges and universities to Sierra Club meetings, environmental education providers, slow food gatherings, municipal meetings, and chambers of commerce to conduct outreach and to disseminate information about our program. Regionally & Nationally, we presented the program and its innovations at various statewide, regional, and national conferences and gatherings. Theprogram and our work in training Beginning Farmers in Permaculture is well known throughout the loose permaculture network in North America. We would like to pull our collective experiences, curricula, tools and resources together and publish a book-length manual to share with others, if the funding became available. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
New Beginning Farmers: Of the 39 apprentices (new beginning farmers) that have completed 58 apprenticeships by participating in multiple levels of our 24-week program to date 33 are now farming or have launched a farming related business, four intend to do so within the next year, and 2 are either not farming or are out of touch with us. We are employing and giving technical assistance and training to 8 New Latino Farmers. Farmer Network and Local Food Hub: We are growing a local food infrastructure and network that is supporting our existing farmers/producers (over 50), as well as providing a welcoming network for our Beginning Farmers (both existing and new). The Local Food Hub is now functioning as a pilot program, buying food from these farmers and feeding the local markets, including three of our own. The Network has already hosted several very successful and well-attended events, including three Community Food Summits, several Locavore Lounge (mixers) and new farmer gatherings.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Community Food Summit (Sep 29 - Oct 5 2011) - a 7-day community-wide dialog and networking event for producers and all involved in bringing about a robust local food system to ensure vibrant farms well into the future. As part of the Food Summit, we hosted an entire day dedicated outreach and to launching a support network for Beginning Farmers, with young urban farmers and activists presenters from around the country and a potluck, film showing (The Greenhorns), and a conversation with the director, Severine von Tscharner Fleming, afterwards. We have conducted over two dozen talks from colleges and universities to Sierra Club meetings, environmental education providers, slow food gatherings, municipal meetings, and chambers of commerce to conduct outreach and to disseminate information about our program. We have hosted the following regular gatherings: Locavore Lounge (quarterly), for beginning farmers, existing farmers, and local food enthusiasts; Crop Mobs/Volunteer events (monthly) for beginning farmers to learn, work, and share a meal together around an on-farm project, creating over 5000 hours of farming exposure; Slow Money South Florida Regional Chapter (Monthly) for people interested in pooling funds to invest in small farmers and local food infrastructure; South Florida Food Policy Council (monthly) participating to as a voice for urban producers and beginning farmers; Weekly Farmers' Markets (every Fri & Sat) a forum for creating community connections and a market for beginning farmers. During Earth Harvest Festival we were able to perform outreach to the greater communities of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties through advertising in local newspapers, public radio and social media. We exposed 1,500 members of the general public to our farm and apprenticeship program. We collaborated with Natural Awakenings Magazine to host Natural Farmer Day. At this event we interacted with an additional 1,200 members of the general public and exposed them to the farm and the apprenticeship program. Formal trainings: Delivered 1,068 person-hours of intensive Permaculture instruction; 11,738 person-hours of hands-on new beginning farmer learning opportunities and experiences; 60 hours of introductory permanent agriculture training to beginning farmers. PARTICIPANTS: PARTICIPANTS: Individuals Mario Yanez, Project Director, oversight and direction of project development; Development Director, coordinating partners and outside resources, ongoing evaluation and reporting and Co-Project/Project Manager and Apprentice (New Beginning Farmer) Advisor, schedule and deliver learning experiences, follow progress, guide development of learning plans, track and evaluate, provide access to resources and technical assistance; Beginner Apprentices: Andrew Burke, David Herbella, Francisco Escobar, Ryan Burke, Santiago Arroyo, Scott Lewis, Patrick Garvey, Debra Iglesias, Braian Tome, Miles Medina, Beverly Gatewood; Farmer Apprentices: Jason Long, David Laws, Michelle Baldovin, Cameron Perey, Gretta Sowyrda, Carmen Pla, Celia Izaguirre, Patrick Garvey, Carolina Alzate, Debra Iglesias, Bambi Liss; Intensive Farmer Apprentices: Jason Long, David Laws, Michelle Baldovin, Leslie Aronson, Wren Levy; Managerial Apprentices: Carolina Alzate, Sonia Quintero. Contracted Trainers: Chris Lindstrom, David Harper, Eric Toensmeier, Basilio Bernal, Woody Tasch, Michael Brownlee, Armando Nieto, Martin Bourque, Eric Holt-Jimenez, Tirso Moreno, Louis Alemayehu, Rob Jones, Edwin Marty, Sharon Yaego, and Corinna Moebius. Hands-on Trainings were conducted in a variety of areas including composting and soil-building, nursery operations, beekeeping, natural building, farm finances & economy, business planning and grant-writing, food forestry, wood working, whole-farm planning and design, animal keeping, alternative land tenure, preserving the harvest, marketing and distribution, alternative energy and appropriate technology on farms. Outreach Partners: Mahadev Bhat, FIU Agroecology Program; other community partners Farming Partners: David Raymond, Miami Dade County Homeless Trust; Stephanie Berman, Carrfour Supportive Housing, TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: The following target audiences that we have worked with are 80% or more with a social, economic, and/or educational disadvantage. Most are Latino or African American. We have conducted varying degrees of outreach to each of these populations depending on their specific needs and their awareness levels. Target Audiences: Prospective Farmers: People who are exploring an alternative livelihood, and are interested in learning more about farming (pre-college age to mid-career to late in life) New Beginning Farmers: Those who self identify as wanting to engage in a farm-based venture Effort: We have delivered formal classroom instruction and practicum experiences to our Apprentices, which involved the development of a curriculum based on Permaculture Design and Ecological Farming that exposed them to a broad array of workshops and experiential learning opportunities PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
New Beginning Farmers: Of the 39 apprentices (new beginning farmers) that have participated in our 24-week program to date 32 are now farming or have launched a farming related business, five intend to do so within the next year, and 2 are either not farming or are out of touch with us. We are employing and giving technical assistance and training to 8 New Latino Farmers. Farmer Network and Local Food Hub: We are growing a local food infrastructure and network that is supporting our existing farmers/producers (30 or so far), as well as providing a welcoming network for our Beginning Farmers (both existing and new). The Local Food Hub is now functioning as a pilot program, buying food from these farmers and feeding the local markets, including three of our own. The Network has already hosted several very successful and well-attended events, including two Community Food Summits, several Locavore Lounge (mixers) and new farmer gatherings.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Community Food Summit (Sep 29 - Oct 5 2011) - a 7-day community-wide dialog and networking event for producers and all involved in bringing about a robust local food system to ensure vibrant farms well into the future. As part of the Food Summit, we hosted an entire day dedicated outreach and to launching a support network for Beginning Farmers, with young urban farmers and activists presenters from around the country and a potluck, film showing (The Greenhorns), and a conversation with the director afterwards. We have conducted over two dozen talks from colleges and universities to Sierra Club meetings, environmental education providers, slow food gatherings, municipal meetings, and chambers of commerce to conduct outreach and to disseminate information about our program. We have hosted the following regular gatherings: Locavore Lounge (quarterly), for beginning farmers, existing farmers, and local food enthusiasts;Crop Mobs (monthly) for beginning farmers to learn, work, and share a meal together around an on-farm project; Slow Money South Florida Regional Chapter (Monthly) for people interested in pooling funds to invest in small farmers and local food infrastructure; South Florida Food Policy Council (monthly) participating to as a voice for urban producers and beginning farmers; Weekly Farmers' Markets (every Fri & Sat) a forum for creating community connections and a market for beginning farmers. Formal trainings: Delivered 1,008 person-hours of intensive Permaculture instruction; 10,062 person-hours of hands-on new beginning farmer learning opportunities and experiences; 60 hours of introductory permanent agriculture training to beginning farmers. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals Mario Yanez, Project Director, oversight and direction of project development David Harper, Co-Project Director, coordinating partners and outside resources, ongoing evaluation and reporting Elena Naranjo, Project Manager and Apprentice (New Beginning Farmer) Advisor, schedule and deliver learning experiences, follow progress, guide development of learning plans, track and evaluate, provide access to resources and technical assistance Beginner Apprentices: Erin Healy, Wren Levy, Leslie Aronson, Reshard Lorde, Jacob Policzer, Celia Izaguirre, Chelsea Wilkes, Shawnee Chasser, Carolina Alzate Farmer Apprentices: Muriel Olivares, Jacob Policzer, Soula Pefkaros, Sonia Quintero, Wren Levy, Leslie Aronson, Matrice Jackson,Lanette Sobel, Carolina Alzate Managerial Apprentices: Muriel Olivares, Jacob Policzer Contracted Trainers: Chris Lindstrom, Jorge Espinosa, Dale Hendricks, Dr. Ted Butchart, Ray Chasser, and Cassidy Fry Hands-on Trainings were conducted in a variety of areas including composting and soil-building, nursery operations, beekeeping, natural building, farm finances & economy, biochar soil enhancement, business planning and grant-writing, food forestry, wood working, diesel mechanics, whole-farm planning and design, animal keeping, alternative land tenure, preserving the harvest, marketing and distribution, alternative energy and appropriate technology on farms. Introductory training on permanent agriculture was delivered to three groups of Latino farmers and/or farm workers. Outreach Partners: Mahadev Bhat, FIU Agroecology Program; Tirso Moreno, Farm Worker Association of Florida; other community partners Farming Partners: David Raymond, Miami Dade County Homeless Trust; Stephanie Berman, Carrfour Supportive Housing, Ray Chasser, Earth n Us Farm TARGET AUDIENCES: The following target audiences that we have worked with are 80% or more with a social, economic, and/or educational disadvantage. Most are Latino or African American. We have conducted varying degrees of outreach to each of these populations depending on their specific needs and their awareness levels. Target Audiences: Prospective Farmers: People who are exploring an alternative livelihood, and are interested in learning more about farming (pre-college age to mid-career to late in life) New Beginning Farmers: Those who self identify as wanting to engage in a farm-based venture Effort: We have delivered formal classroom instruction and practicum experiences to our Apprentices, which involved the development of a curriculum based on Permaculture Design and Ecological Farming that exposed them to a broad array of workshops and experiential learning opportunities Target Audience: Existing Beginning Farmers (including farm workers) who are leasing land or have been loaned land (mostly Latinos) Effort: We have delivered classroom based training and on-farm assessments **Curricular innovation lies in that we are equipping beginning farmers with the knowledge to farm small, marginalized (under utilized land)using diverse polycultures of plants and animals that will reduce their risks and increase their profitability and viability Target Audiences: Existing Small and part-time Farmers that wish to engage in our network improve their access to markets and learn new approaches to farming Effort: Created a support network and incorporated into our Local Food Hub PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The only real programmatic change we are requesting that affects several of our objectives, is the shifting away from reaching out to, training, and providing technical assistance of Existing Beginning Farmers that do not own land. We have learned several key facts as we have begun to work with this population at the moment: Few, if any, are willing to invest their time in training; Fewer still are motivated to significantly change the way they farm; The current food infrastructure so strongly favors exports, that the economic pressures are formidable for these producers to commit to making behavioral changes in how or what they grow - they are not willing to trust selling at local markets enough yet; Land ownership, even with the depressed real estate market, is beyond many of their reach, even with a USDA loan. The bottom line is that we will not be able to significantly impact this target population with the current iteration of this grant. We are hopeful that in time, this is a population we can devote more significant resources to, but the reality is that we underestimated their needs and the difficulty in reaching them in significant ways. It is a marked difference to those that come to us as New Beginning Farmers that have a desire to make formidable behavioral changes to achieve success in farming. We strongly feel that our projects resources should be fully focused on the Prospective and New Beginning Farmers.
Impacts
New Beginning Farmers: Of the 24 apprentices (new beginning farmers) that have participated in our 20-week program to date 15 are now farming or have launched a farming related business, seven intend to do so within the next year, and 2 are either not farming or are out of touch with us. We are confident that we can double this number by the end of the grant. We are employing and giving technical assistance and training to 8 New Latino Farmers. Existing Beginning Farmers: Through our partners, we have reached out to over 135 Latino and Socially Disadvantaged Existing Farmers, 30 of which have participated in our Introductory Training. Although we are meeting our numbers here, we misjudged the perceived needs of this target group and the quality of the interaction does not seem as fruitful; we find that the resources can be better utilized with the Apprenticeship program (more below). Farmer Network and Local Food Hub: We are growing a local food infrastructure and network that is supporting our existing farmers (25 so far), as well as providing a welcoming network for our Beginning Farmers (both existing and new). The Local Food Hub is now functioning as a pilot program, buying food from these farmers and feeding the local markets, including three of our own. The Network has already hosted several very successful and well-attended events, including two Community Food Summits, several Locavore Lounge (mixers) and new farmer gatherings.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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