Progress 12/15/14 to 12/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:This project is focused on refugees, immigrants, and other limited resource individuals who would like to enter farming but have had difficulties overcoming the many barriers to doing so. All of our participants face significant economic, educational, and/or social barriers that make starting a small farm business challenging, and the purpose of the Farm Works business incubator program is to provide informational, economic, infrastructure, and land access to these communities of aspiring farmers. The majority of participants are either immigrants, refugees, socially or economically disadvantaged (with some fitting multiple categories). Changes/Problems:Expansion to operate additional land base for incubator farmers was not possible during the project timeframe. (Discussions are ongoing with King County, but the process is slower than anticipated.) Instead, project staff focused on increased movement of program graduates onto independently owned land. An unanticipated outcome of this project was an increase in the number of established farmers in the region who have begun to lease land to beginning farmers who have come through the OFEP/TAFW program. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Intense instructional services were provided to the farmers through Classes, Field Trips, and Field demonstrations, including: 97 Class hours in twice weekly sessions on farm production, management, and business Starting in February and continuing through June, a total of 97 hours of topic instruction were delivered by the Farm Manager and guest speakers from Tilth Alliance, local farms and Washington State Extension. 6 Weekly classes covered the inclusive categories of marketing, production, farm management and business management. Across these broad categories a sample of the topics included: Farm Visioning, Market Mechanics, Crop Planning, Farm systems, Sourcing farm land, Business Planning, Farm funding, Tractor repair and maintenance, Integrated Pest Management, and Farm Irrigation systems. This was the first year of the current Farm Manager scheduling and providing all of the class instruction. The majority of the class instruction time, field trips, and the field instruction hours were focused on various dimensions of production. The new farmers learned about Organic Certification and the required documentation that has been required since the Farm Works program was certified in October 2015. Among other topics the farmers also engaged in learning about orchard pruning, caterpillar tunnels, transplanting and irrigation. A schedule of the instruction topics is included in Attachment A. The total hours per month of topic instruction combined from the class sessions and the field trips is shown in the chart. 18 hoursspent on site at farms in northwest Washington The OFEP class toured Helsing Junction Farm, Whistling Train, Early Bird, Filbert Acres, and Windy Acre Farms. In addition, the new OFEP farmers visited markets as a group and on their own to explore options for selling products. Small groups of farmers have also visited Elk Run Farm managed by a graduate of the OFEP and also visited Viva Farm with sites in Snohomish and Skagit Counties. 49 field instruction hours provided by Farm Manager / Senior Production Manager Beyond the class topics and field trips, the manager also provided 49 hours of field instruction that engaged the new farmers in demonstrations and hands-on practice. Field hours included: orchard pruning, hoophouse seed starts, transplanting, tractor training, soil management, weed control and harvest training. The Farm Manager engaged the Phase 2 and Phase 3 farmers in carrying out small group and individual instruction in caterpillar tunnel construction and irrigation methods to support the farmers to continue learning skills throughout the growing season. The chart below conveys the instructional hours in the OFEP in February through June. Phase 2 and 3 Farmers received additional field instruction The Farm Manager /Senior Production Manager provided 28 additional instructional hours in March through October for the Phase 2 and 3 farmers as well as the 2017 OFEP cohort. The topics were diverse including Horn trimming, aquaponics, growing flowers, land acquisition, post-harvesting, growing mushrooms, high tunnels, and tillers. These topics included demonstrations and sparked interests among several of the farmers to seek out additional expert advice and mentoring from other farmers to continue developing their knowledge and skills. In addition to these topics, the Senior Production Manager provided 22 hours of instruction and demonstration on quality control. The focus was on growing and selecting high quality produce How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The OFEP curriculum is delivered to new farmers each year from February through June (11 farmers in project year 3), and is tailored to meet the composition of the cohort. The recruiting process is channeled through community organizations and liaison relationships that have been cultivated through the years. Often, current and former farmers share information about the program in their own communities, which has generated new participants and other inquiries. General and recruitment information is also shared through a brochure and through the organizational website. Through TAP digital and printed outreach, CSA customers are also informed of the TAFW program and learn about the new farmers they support. Finally, results of the project are also shared through providing public access to the annual project reportand other project outcomes, anecdotes, and observations through the RVS system, and at the annual project directors' meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Tilth Alliance Farm Works program trained 11 beginner farmers from the Puget Sound Region with 3 additional aspiring farmers who audited the program. 8 of those farmers have moved onto agricultural projects and 7 of them have signed leases for the 2018 season for a total of 24.5 acres activated in vegetable and animal production. These farmers leased land for the 2017 season from Tilth Alliance at a subsidized rate and accessed production and business development technical assistance with 164 hours of curriculum education delivered to these first year farmers. Summer/ongoing education workshops included: irrigation systems and water use, marketing, food hubs and distribution, seed saving, hoof and horn trimming, land acquisition, post-harvest handling, growing flowers, aquaponics, ruminant slaughter and butchering, budgeting and cashflow management, hugelkulture. Intensive landlinking support to include site visits, liasioning, land leasing template resources provided, tours and introductions completed that staged the success for the bulk of farmers from the land base to be transitioned to new sites, including other incubators. Donations of infrastructure and hauling support given to farmers all throughout fall and winter. Coordination with regional partners in supporting beginner farmers included an emphasis in common language and benchmarking to create more fluidity in interregional referrals for beginner farmers. Coordination of working groups to generate cooperation and shared use of infrastructure and markets among local farmers has also been an emphasis of the year as a way to address the limited available resources available to beginner farmers that serves as a barrier for scale up. Key changes to the farm include a new land allocation structure that incorporated crop rotation and divided up the farm into crop families with farmers occupying space within the designated fields, based on their autonomous crop plan. This ensured crop rotation to address fertility management best practices and disease and pest management mitigation. Another result of this configuration was the more mixed integration of farmers throughout the farm and an immersion of experience each time they entered a field. Farmers were able to witness close up, a dozen different ways tomatoes were trellised or cucumbers pruned, or pests managed. It was also a point of frustration for farmers who were accustomed to having a single plot. Fertility management was also staged to offer more technical assistance, with a barn market where farmers could access a myriad of applications with soil samples of the various fields, as well as technical assistance in application ratios, process, and best practices. Only half the farmers were actively engaged in fertility management. Approximately three quarters of farmers were engaged in pest and disease management. On site Farmer Resident program launched in 2017 was a success. The investments the farmer was able to make in the farm business and the trials he experienced with pests and flock management accelerated the growth and stabilization of his business. Unfortunately the residency was terminated a year short of the planned residency, however the farmer was landlinked to an exceptional situation, leasing both home and 5 acres of farmland in his desired town of Enumclaw.
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Progress 12/15/15 to 12/14/16
Outputs
Target Audience:This project is focused on refugees, immigrants, and other limited resource individuals who would like to enter farming but have had difficulties overcoming the many barriers to doing so. All of our participants face significant economic, educational, and/or social barriers that make starting a small farm business challenging, and the purpose of the Farm Works business incubator program is to provide informational, economic, infrastructure, and land access to these communities of aspiring farmers. In 2016, nine new farmers were recruited to the Farm Works program. Those nine completed the Organic Farm Education Program and singed land lease agreements with STFW. Of these nine, six were immigrants, six were socially disadvantaged, five were economically resource-limited, and one was a veteran (several farmers fit more than one category). Countries of origin for immigrant farmers included Korea, Kenya, Somalia, China, Cambodia, Israel, and India. Additionally, 16 farmers who completed OFEP in previous years returned to STFW to continue growing their farm businesses. Of these 16, half described themselves as immigrants, 4 as refugees, 6 as socially disadvantaged, and 5 described economic resource-limitation. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In February through June, a total of 98 hours of topic instruction in farm production and management were delivered by staff and guest experts from Washington State University, PCC Farmland Trust, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and other agencies and farms. In addition, there were 24 hours of field trips to farmers markets and regional farms, and 88 hours of field demonstration on topics such as seed starts, tractor training, soil management and harvest training. Farmers also had the options to visit numerous other local farms. Formalized mentorship efforts were initiated in 2016, with three concrete mentorship relationships established among community partners and farmers with intensive mentorship and guidance for the farmers. Peer-to-peer, on-farm relationships continue to be a major benefit to developing farmers as they have the opportunity to be in community while developing their foundational skills in production and business management. The program in 2016 emphasized personalized technical assistance and the development of a Business Development Center on site to improve the traction and momentum in farmers launching their farm enterprises through ongoing personal skill building, establishing documentation practices, budget management, accounting and operations management, and assistance with grant, scholarship, and loan applications. Approximately 3,000 hours of technical assistance were delivered in 2016, with an average of 135 hours per farmer. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The OFEP curriculum is delivered to new farmers each year from February through June (nine farmers in project year 2), and is tailored to meet the composition of the cohort. The recruiting process is channeled through community organizations and liaison relationships that have been cultivated through the years. Often, current and former farmers share information about the program in their own communities, which has generated new participants and other inquiries. General and recruitment information is also shared through a brochure and through the organizational website. Through STP digital and printed outreach, CSA customers are also informed of the SFTW program and learn about the new farmers they support. Finally, results of the project are also shared through providing public access to the annual project report (Seattle Tilth Farm Works 2016 Program Evaluation Report) and other project outcomes, anecdotes, and observations through the RVS system, and at the annual project directors' meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The STFW program will continue in project year 3, with a target of another 10 farmers enrolled in OFEP. We aim to formalize the way in which the program provides support services to 'Phase 3' farmers who lease or purchase land off-site and to continue to expand our capacity to provide connections to available land. In terms of the technical assistance provided, we will work more closely with STP staff to provide farmers with guidance on sales/purchasing and produce quality assurance - an area of training that was identified during project year 2 as in need of expansion. We will also continue longer-term discussions with King County related to acquiring Tilth-owned or -operated land for expansion of the program. The County is committed to assisting STFW in this goal as part of their Local Food Initiative, which lists as objectives the training of 25 new farmers and preservation of 400 acres of farmland per year for a span of 10 years. STFW is excited to be an integral part of these activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A major goal of the project is to provide training, support, and land access to socially disadvantaged and resource-limited beginning farmers. In the 2016 cohort STFW trained 9 new farmers (Phase 1 farmers, see Target Audience for demographics). These farmers received educational and support services and signed land lease arrangements with STFW at reduced rates, based on income and number of dependents. In addition, 16 famers returned from previous seasons (Phase 2 farmers, see Target Audience for demographics) to continue receiving support services and to renewed land lease arrangements with STFW. Seven of the Phase 1 and 2 farmers also began leasing land off-site while continuing to receive support services during the 2016 project year, and were considered to have become Phase 3 farmers (the most advanced phase, closest to complete independence). Another major goal of this project is to provide farmers with assistance in accessing and creating market channels. In 2016, curriculum included topics related to marketing, and first year farmers on average described their knowledge related to marketing as having somewhat or greatly increased following the OFEP program. First year farmers also reported increases in their business management knowledge. Farmers with STFW grew a variety of produce and sold primarily to Seattle Tilth Produce (STP). Within STP, produce went to the CSA with more than 300 shares, the Good Food Bag program which provides a subsidized weekly bag of vegetables to low-income families, the University District Farmers Market, and a wholesale channel. Microloans were made available to new and returning farmers, in sums ranging from $64 to $2,416. Over the course of the season, new farmers' net income averaged $2,292 while returning farmers' net income averaged $5,523. Across all farmers, gross revenue per acre ranged from $1,668 to $63,081. Land acquisition discussions with King County partners led to the consideration of several sites for expansion. Much technical assistance was focused on land acquisition, which led to five participants farming full time in the 2016 season.
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Progress 12/15/14 to 12/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience:This project is focused on refugees, immigrants, or other limited resource people who would like to enter farming, but have had difficulties overcoming the many barriers to doing so. About three-quarters of our participants are from isolated refugee and immigrant communities in Washington State's King County, and nine out of ten qualify as low-income. All of our participants face significant economic, educational, and social barriers that make starting a small-farm business extremely difficult. In 2015, 10 new participating farmers were recruited for the STFW program. All 10 farmers completed the Organic Farm Education Program and signed land lease agreements with STFW. The 10 new participating farmers consisted of 5 women and 5 men, of whom 5 identified as socially disadvantaged, 2 as immigrants, and 3 as having limited resources. Additionally, 12 farmers returned to STFW to continue growing their farm businesses. Of these participants, there are 5 men and 7 women, of whom 5 identify as immigrants, 4 as refugees, 1 as having limited resources, 1 as socially disadvantaged, and 1 veteran. STFW also initiated a collaboration with Growing Veterans, a Washington based nonprofit focussed on providing support to veterans with farming as the nexus for reintegration. In2016, STFW will host a Growing Veterans outpost which will include education for interested veterans as well as the support systems provided at the incubator. In 2015, STFW also began providing support for 10 Hmong growers. Previously, King County had been leasing 20 acres to these growers and providing basic services. However, King County and the Hmong growers recognized the need to provide additional support. Because of the success of STFW, King County identified Seattle Tilth as the appropriate agency to provide on-the-ground farm support forthese growers. King County signed a 3-year lease with Seattle Tilth to manage the propoerty and increase services for the Hmong farmers. This relationship also provided an entry point to working with other Hmong farming communities in King County. Changes/Problems:STFW continues to work on identifying additional land base for advanced farmers to use in scaling-up their farm operations. Given development pressures in King County, this has proven to be relatively challenging. Additionally, water rights regulations in the West create an added parameter in selecting land. Although these factors have posed challenges thus far, STFW is optimistic that new relationships with King County offer near-term solutions. When additional land-base is activated, up to 10 advanced farmers will be able to access this land, which will allow the intensive training center (Red Barn Ranch) to free-up space for additional new farmer cohorts. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The 20-week Organic Farm Education Program (OFEP) provides a variety of training and professional development opportunities. As part of the program, guest speakers from partnering agencies, like Washington State University, Pike Place Market, PCC FarmLand Trust, Washington Young Farmers Coalition, WSDA, and USDA/FSA present infomration about theiragencies and/or specialties. In addition to the 10 new farmers, returning farmers also participate in these workshops. Hmong farmers also began benefiting from these workshops, specifically from support offered by Pike Place Market and Washington Wholesale Florists. STFW participants also attended the annual Tilth Producers Conference. This 3-day conference offers workshops, presentations and networking for farmers and farm professionals. In 2015, 4 STFW received scholarships to attend the conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Organic Farm Education Program (OFEP) is directly delivered to 10 new farmers each year, February - June. Curriculum is designed to meet the composition of the cohort, with interpretors hired as needed. The recruiting process begins in Novemeber of each year with information being solicited through community organizations and liaison relationships that have been cultivated through the years. After 5 years of programming, STFW has seen a remarkable amount of information get disseminated to communities of interest through the individuals that have participated in the program. Specifically, the Somali and Kenyan participants have shared experiences with their communities which have generated new participants and other inquiries. Additionally, relationships with partner agencies and local government have proved beneficial to share information about the program as well as identify new opportunities. The new relationship with Growing Veterans highlighted the importance of having a community liaison to share information about the program and opportunities to engage. Likewise, inthe new relationship working with Hmong farmers, STFW found it invaluable to have a colleague who served as a community liaison, both to provide interpretation as well as outreach. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?STFW plans to continue growing its program. A new cohort of 10 farmers has been recruited to participate in the 2016 OFEP. All but 2 of the 20 farmers from 2015 have indicated they will return in 2016. Additionally, all 10 Hmong farmers plan on returning in 2016. The Growing Veterans outpost will also be fully implemented in 2016, increasing the scope of outreach. STP will also continue to grow its marketing outlets. There is a goal of 400 CSA members for 2016 and an overall increase in Good Food Bags and restaurant sales. This all means more sales opportunites for local farmers, as well as increased food access for the Puget Sound Region. A major focus for 2016 is to secure additional land base that advanced farmers can use for scaling-up their businesses. King County has indicated they will help in the securing of land base as part of their Local Food Initiative, which lists as objectives the training of 25 new farmers and preservation of 400 acres per year for the next 10 years. STFW is excited to be an integral part of these activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
STFW trained 10 new farmers as part of the 2015 cohort (see audience for stats on demographic). All 10 farmers signed land lease arrangements with STFW at reduced rates, based on income and number of dependents. In addition, 10 farmers returned from previous seasons to sign land lease arrangements with STFW. These land lease arrangements were also subsidized, withsubsidies decreasingover time and as farmers grow their businesses. In 2015, STFW also began working with 10 Hmong farmers and King County in order to make available farm land that local government has access to. In total, 33 acres were made available to new or returning farmers through STFW, at subsidized rates. All farmers benefited from on-going technical assistance that focuses on production, marketing and small business management. The collaboration with King County has created an opportunity for additional land to be made available to STFW for new and retutrning farmers. STFW and King County are currently identifying other parcels of land that would be appropriate for farm-related activities. In 2015, Seattle Tilth Produce increaesd the amount of product bought from local farmers to $291,224, up from $112,340 in 2014. The majority of this product was sold to CSA members, an increase from 100 members in 2014 to 300 members in 2015. Additionally, product from farmers was sold through 3 farmers market outlets, a subsidized CSA program called the Good Food Bag, local Food Banks, and a variety of restaurants. All STFW farmers participated in the STP outlets and the increase in sales was realized acrosss all farm businesses. At the main STFW site (Red Barn Ranch) revenue increased to $140K from $80K in 2014. Additionally, newly participating Hmong farmers realized new marketing outlets through STP. These farmers were also supported through a collaborative partnership with Pike Place which focussed on marketing support. STP continued to bolster it's support of local farmers by increasing opportunities for non-tenant farmers to sell product through its marketing channels. More than10 non-tenantfarmers sold product through STP, increasing revenue opportunities.
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