Progress 08/15/19 to 08/14/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this program is beginning farmers with a special emphasis on military veterans. The program partners have experience working with this group. Delaware Valley University provides a robust system of supportfor military veterans including specially trained staff devoted to military and veteran students and the processing of theiracademic and financial benefits. Delaware Valley University is committed to making sure that our veterans are an integralpart of the local community. The University has an ongoing relationship with the Travis Manion Foundation whoseheadquarters are in Doylestown, PA. The Military and Veterans center at the College is named for the late Janet Manion whostarted the Foundation to honor the service of her son who died in combat in Iraq in 2007. The Janet Manion Military andVeterans Center provides a social center for military veterans and is a gathering place for student-veterans and militarymembers, offering personalized services to fulfill each veteran's needs. It is a place for veterans, military personnel and their dependents to relax with people with shared experiences between classes, get help with paperwork for educational funding,and get support from staff and peers. Staff members at the center provide counseling and college advising tailored formilitary veterans' success. Rodale Institute began working with military veterans through the first year of this program prior to receiving the BFRDPgrant funding. Rodale Institute is deeply qualified to address the needs and training of new and beginning organic farmers,as it hasbeen doing this work for more than sixty years. Through its popular New Farm publication, to the workshops held on thefarm, to theresearch support offered to new and established organic farmers, the Rodale Institute is a trusted source of science-basedinformation rooted in the tradition and philosophy of organic agriculture. Each partner organization aspires to shape and deliver a program that meets the needs of new organic farmers andespecially military veterans. This Organic Farming Certificate Program is available to all students, regardless of their veteranstatus, but has been an attractive option for veterans returning to college. Specifically, our target audience includes: • Military veterans • Organic producers • Small farms • Women With our focus on regional marketing and veteran outlets, we were able to have 10 new studentsfrom August 14, 2019 - August 14, 2020and 7completions for theOrganic Farming Certificate program, which includes some students from Year 2 completing their programs. By attending local conferences, conventions and using local media for earnedcoverage, we engaged in the local community. From those 10 new students in this reporting period; 4were military, and 6were civilians. Out of those 10 newstudents; 6were female and 4were male. Changes/Problems:One of the challenges for the program from March 2020 - August 2020, was the onset of the Covid-19 virus. The OFCPadjusted its Spring curriculum and coursework from in-classto an online format for the remainder of the Spring semester. The Summer semester at Rodale modified its schedule to conduct the Plant Health and Soil Biology courses primarily online from 5/19/2020 - 7/2/202; with the second portion of the Summer semester dedicated to the on-siteFarm Practicum with some hands-on labs in Soil Biology and in-person presentations for Plant Health and Soil Biology in August 2020. The Farm Practicum was able to fulfil its hours requirements and still provide 7 field trips, but some additonal field trips and extended training opportunites were not realized due to travel restrictions. Our traditionalOpen House at Rodale switched to an online virutal event due to limitations of outside personnel in June. The uncertainty of the situation impacted potential student participation in the summer and fall semesters. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?DELVAL Commercial Vegetable Production 3 credits Reading Sustainable Vegetable Production Textbook Irrigation layout & readings for background Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations - Background Information Separate article: Understanding Weed Seed Banks Projects The Farmer's Apprentice Project Report 1. Records & observations 2. A section on harvest and yield 3. Conclusion section Guest lecturer: Alumni Carl Cantaluppi; Asparagus Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Hershey, PA Field trip to JR Peters fertilizer plant - Allentown, PA Principles of Sustainable Agriculture 2 credits Reading 1. The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food by Wayne Roberts 2. Local: The New face of Food and Farming in America by Douglas Gayeton 3. Selected readings from the internet and handouts will be assigned. We will see several movies and listen to interviews; information from these resources will be covered on the exams as well. Integrated Pest Management 3 credits Reading 1. Norris, Robert; Edward Chen and Marcos Kogan. 2003. Concepts in Integrated Pest Management. Prentice Hall, Saddle River, NJ. 2. Handouts and websites What is IPM? http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managingecosystems/ integrated-pest-management/ipm-what/en/ • bioeconomics (http://ipmworld.umn.edu/pedigo) • http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/mitchell.hp/Structure/modules.pdf • https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/bio.php • https://nysipm.cornell.edu/agriculture/vegetables/weed-identification • http://extension.psu.edu/plants/green-industry/landscaping/integrated-pest-management/plant-diseases (Identification and management of landscape diseases) • http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/vegetables/factsheets/ecological-diseasemanagement/ extension_publication_file (Ecological disease management) • http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/invasiveplants/ (invasive plant • tutorial)https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.ph Projects IPM Toolbox The project will have 5 parts, and each section will have a due date throughout the semester so that one portion builds upon the previous section. I - Research the cultural requirements of that crop from seed to harvest. II - Pests -What are the most common pests of your crop? III - Scouting IV - Control measures V - Crop Calendar Organic greenhouse; NJ Beneficial Insect Lab Organic Food and Fiber 3 credits There will be numerous handouts that are required reading. Project Report Date 11/14/2018 Page 3 of 7 United States Department of Agriculture Progress Report Accession No. 1013024 Project No. Each project should have at least a 5 page paper. The presentation portion of the project should be a Power Point Presentation of at least 5-6 minutes, including interview and survey results, pictures and/or videos.You may make a video or narrated Power point for the presentation. 2.Interview 3 farmers, at least 2 of whom are organic farmers and preferably one that is certified. Think of questions of your own to ask and report back on the interview. Interview a conventional farmer about whether or not they have ever considered switching to organic. 3.Project of your choice.In order to do an alternative project, you must write a up a brief (one paragraph) proposal and ask the professor before getting approval. Roth Farm, North Wales, PA; Detweiler Homestead Farm, Sellersville, PA; Milk House Farm, Newtown, PA; Anchor Run CSA, Newtown, PA; Promised Land Farm, Yardley, PA; Barefoot Botanicals, Doylestown, Roth Farm - Organic certification inspection, Mark Keating Marketing of Horticultural Products 2 credits • Project Working as an individual or in a group of no more than 2, you will be creating your own horticultural business and utilizing this business to gain skills in various marketing tools and techniques. The group/individual will do a 5-10 minute "Shark Tank" presentation where each person will present a portion of the marketing portfolio created during the semester. Project grading will be done as a group. Doylestown CoOp Market; The Market at DelVal; Shady Brook Farm; Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market ?RODALE INSTITUTE Plant Health Management 3 credits • Transition to Organic, online course published by the Rodale Institute, http://rodaleinstitute.org/farm/organic-transitioncourse/ • Introduction to Organic Vegetable Production: Apprentice Reader. Penn State Cooperative Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/apprentices-mentors/organic-vegetable-apprentice-reader • Botany for Gardeners, Third Edition by Brian Capon. Timber Press: Portland. 2010. • Weeds of the Northeast by Richard Uva, Joseph Neal & Joseph DiTomosa. Comstock/Cornell: Ithaca. 1997. • The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control, Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, & Deborah Martin. Rodale Inc.: Emmaus. 2009 • National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders • Managing Cover Crops Profitably. Greg Bowman, Christopher Shirley, and Craig Cramer. Sustainable Agriculture Network: Beltsville, MD. 1998. • Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping: Soil Resiliency and Health on the Organic Farm (Organic Principles and Practices Handbook Series), by Seth Kroek published by NOFA • Field journal with daily entries • Crop design to include a 3-year crop rotation incorporating cover crops Soil Biology 3 credits Textbook: Building Soils for Better Crop: Sustainable Soil Management. Fred Magdoff and Harold Van Es. 2009. Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE). • 2018 student project was evaluating the soil health of fields that have been managed organically over the last 6 years. • Make graphs and do some analysis based on the measurements taken. • Create an Organic System Plan that is similar to what would be submitted for the requirements for organic certification. • Enter farming practice data in to the Cool Farm Tool to estimate greenhouse gas emissions that result from our farming practices. Farm Practicum III 6 credits (120 hours Rodale) Students were directly instructed in over a variety of tasks during the 2020summersemester. • 8field trips during the summer semester, each one was enhanced by the Q and A withthe farmer during and after the tour. Common Ground Farm and Retreat - incubator farm opportunity Horn Farm Educational Center - incubator farm opportunity Seed Farm - incubator farm opportunity Homesweet Homegrown - hot peppers, hot sauce, salsa Tooth of the Lion - medicinal herbs, tinctures Tulpehocken Farm - sheep, goats Pocono Organics - regenerative organic farm, vegetables, hemp, greenhouse First Fruits Farm - hemp, oats, chickens (this was a 2019 OFCP veteran owned farm) • Tractor Safety Training, Orchard Maintenance, Agriculture Supported Communities-Vegetable Production, Apiary, Greenhouse/High Tunnel, Organic Livestock Maintanence, Compost, Agribusiness Planning, How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As in previous years, our recruitment this year was regionally focused, with only 1-2 national campaigns of earned media during the year. Over this past year we have had several former students become independent organic farmers who have shared their stories. We have engaging Facebook groups for graduates, and we continuallyencourage alumni to use DelVal and Rodale Institute as resources as they continue in their farming careers. • Held a virtualOpen House in June 2020, where former students presented who are currently farming and staff from DelVal and Rodale presented materials to the participants in lieu of in-person large scale events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?There is no further reporting period, grant concluded on 8/14/2020; potentially develop online programs to reach out of region students. We are currently updatinga Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As outlined through our program; we provide students with 3 semesters of the basic knowledge of organic farming with a strong focus on hands-on training with experienced organic farmers. During their 3 semesters in the certificate program, continually providing them with extension, state and federal resources that will help them financially, networking and marketing their product. Providing the students pre and post evaluations, we are able to amend the curriculum to best meet the students' needs. We were also able to ensure that our classes are accredited through the proper university channels to provide a level of education that our students are expecting. We continued theOrganic Livestock Management, and integrated a more structured business development class. Out-sourcing tractor training received above average reviews from the students and ensures their safety on any farm they will work at. We will continue to provide this training in this capacity moving forward, as it ensures the students receive the best safety training we can provide. Visiting local veteran farmers, providing veterans with Farmer Veteran list, and connecting them to their local military associations who will be able to help them as well. • Individual Stories / Examples of Success from this Grant Period Wilson Florez - Owns and farming in New Paltz, NY Michael Lupacchino - Owns and farming in Ferrum, VA Michael Wilcox - Farm Manager, Green Flaming Organics Farm, FL John Winter - Owns and farmingathiseducational farm BnB in VT Chris Molnar and Emily Ingersoll - Owns and farming at First Fruit Farm in Ottsville, PA Lindsey Williams - Farming near Scranton, PA McKenna Moore - Operating, Ewe and Me at Common Ground Farm and Retreat, Kempton, PA
Publications
|
Progress 08/15/17 to 08/14/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this program is beginning farmers with a special emphasis on military veterans. The program partners have experience working with this group. Delaware Valley University provides a robust system of support for military veterans including specially trained staff devoted to military and veteran students and the processing of their academic and financial benefits. Delaware Valley University is committed to making sure that our veterans are an integral part of the local community. The University has an ongoing relationship with the Travis Manion Foundation whose headquarters are in Doylestown, PA. The Military and Veterans center at the College is named for the late Janet Manion who started the Foundation to honor the service of her son who died in combat in Iraq in 2007. The Janet Manion Military and Veterans Center provides a social center for military veterans and is a gathering place for student-veterans and military members, offering personalized services to fulfill each veteran's needs. It is a place for veterans, military personnel and their dependents to relax with people with shared experiences between classes, get help with paperwork for educational funding, and get support from staff and peers. Staff members at the center provide counseling and college advising tailored for military veterans' success. Rodale Institute began working with military veterans through the first year of this program prior to receiving the BFRDP grant funding. Rodale Institute is deeply qualified to address the needs and training of new and beginning organic farmers, as it has been doing this work for more than sixty years. Through its popular New Farm publication, to the workshops held on the farm, to the research support offered to new and established organic farmers, the Rodale Institute isa trusted source of science-based information rooted in the tradition and philosophy of organic agriculture.Each partner organization aspires to shape and deliver a program that meets the needs of new organic farmersand especially military veterans. This Organic Farming Certificate Program is available to all students, regardless of theirveteran status, but has been an attractive option for veterans returning to college. Specifically, our target audience includes: • Military veterans • Organic producers • Small farms • Women Changes/Problems:One of the challenges for the program from March 2020 - August 2020, was the onset of the Covid-19 virus. The OFCP adjusted its Spring curriculum and coursework from in-class to an online format for the remainder of the Spring semester. The Summer semester at Rodale modified its schedule to conduct the Plant Health and Soil Biology courses primarily online from 5/19/2020 - 7/2/202; with the second portion of the Summer semester dedicated to the on-site Farm Practicum with some hands-on labs in Soil Biology and in-person presentations for Plant Health and Soil Biology in August 2020. The Farm Practicum was able to fulfil its hours requirements and still provide 7 field trips, but some additonal field trips and extended training opportunites were not realized due to travel restrictions. Our traditional Open House at Rodale switched to an online virutal event due to limitations of outside personnel in June. The uncertainty of the situation impacted potential student participation in the summer and fall semesters. The Fall semester (outside of the grant reporting window)at DelVal had some online/remote classes and some in-person classes as well. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?DELVAL Commercial Vegetable Production 3 credits Reading Sustainable Vegetable Production Textbook Irrigation layout & readings for background Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations - Background Information Separate article: Understanding Weed Seed Banks Projects The Farmer's Apprentice Project Report 1. Records & observations 2. A section on harvest and yield 3. Conclusion section Guest lecturer: Alumni Carl Cantaluppi; Asparagus Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Hershey, PA Field trip to JR Peters fertilizer plant - Allentown, PA Principles of Sustainable Agriculture 2 credits Reading 1. The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food by Wayne Roberts 2. Local: The New face of Food and Farming in America by Douglas Gayeton 3. Selected readings from the internet and handouts will be assigned. We will see several movies and listen to interviews; information from these resources will be covered on the exams as well. Integrated Pest Management 3 credits Reading 1. Norris, Robert; Edward Chen and Marcos Kogan. 2003. Concepts in Integrated Pest Management. Prentice Hall, Saddle River, NJ. 2. Handouts and websites What is IPM? http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managingecosystems/ integrated-pest-management/ipm-what/en/ • bioeconomics (http://ipmworld.umn.edu/pedigo) • http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/mitchell.hp/Structure/modules.pdf • https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/bio.php • https://nysipm.cornell.edu/agriculture/vegetables/weed-identification • http://extension.psu.edu/plants/green-industry/landscaping/integrated-pest-management/plant-diseases (Identification and management of landscape diseases) • http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/vegetables/factsheets/ecological-diseasemanagement/ extension_publication_file (Ecological disease management) • http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/invasiveplants/ (invasive plant • tutorial)https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.ph Projects IPM Toolbox The project will have 5 parts, and each section will have a due date throughout the semester so that one portion builds upon the previous section. I - Research the cultural requirements of that crop from seed to harvest. II - Pests -What are the most common pests of your crop? III - Scouting IV - Control measures V - Crop Calendar Organic greenhouse; NJ Beneficial Insect Lab Organic Food and Fiber 3 credits There will be numerous handouts that are required reading. Project 1.Each project should have at least a 5 page paper. The presentation portion of the project should be a Power Point Presentation of at least 5-6 minutes, including interview and survey results, pictures and/or videos.You may make a video or narrated Power point for the presentation. 2.Interview 3 farmers, at least 2 of whom are organic farmers and preferably one that is certified. Think of questions of your own to ask and report back on the interview. Interview a conventional farmer about whether or not they have ever considered switching to organic. 3.Project of your choice.In order to do an alternative project, you must write a up a brief (one paragraph) proposal and ask the professor before getting approval. Roth Farm, North Wales, PA; Detweiler Homestead Farm, Sellersville, PA; Milk House Farm, Newtown, PA; Anchor Run CSA, Newtown, PA; Promised Land Farm, Yardley, PA; Barefoot Botanicals, Doylestown, Roth Farm - Organic certification inspection, Mark Keating Marketing of Horticultural Products 2 credits Project Working as an individual or in a group of no more than 2, you will be creating your own horticultural business and utilizing this business to gain skills in various marketing tools and techniques. The group/individual will do a 5-10 minute "Shark Tank" presentation where each person will present a portion of the marketing portfolio created during the semester. Project grading will be done as a group. Doylestown CoOp Market; The Market at DelVal; Shady Brook Farm; Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market FARM Practicum I and II: This required a minimum of 80 hours for each student at various sustainable and organic farms in the region (to include the Roth Farm at DelVal as well) in the Fall and Spring semesters RODALE INSTITUTE Plant Health Management 3 credits • Transition to Organic, online course published by the Rodale Institute, http://rodaleinstitute.org/farm/organic-transitioncourse/ • Introduction to Organic Vegetable Production: Apprentice Reader. Penn State Cooperative Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/apprentices-mentors/organic-vegetable-apprentice-reader • Botany for Gardeners, Third Edition by Brian Capon. Timber Press: Portland. 2010. • Weeds of the Northeast by Richard Uva, Joseph Neal & Joseph DiTomosa. Comstock/Cornell: Ithaca. 1997. • The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control, Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, & Deborah Martin. Rodale Inc.: Emmaus. 2009 • National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders • Managing Cover Crops Profitably. Greg Bowman, Christopher Shirley, and Craig Cramer. Sustainable Agriculture Network: Beltsville, MD. 1998. • Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping: Soil Resiliency and Health on the Organic Farm (Organic Principles and Practices Handbook Series), by Seth Kroek published by NOFA • Field journal with daily entries • Crop design to include a 3-year crop rotation incorporating cover crops Soil Biology 3 credits Textbook: Building Soils for Better Crop: Sustainable Soil Management. Fred Magdoff and Harold Van Es. 2009. Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE). • 2018 student project was evaluating the soil health of fields that have been managed organically over the last 6 years. • Make graphs and do some analysis based on the measurements taken. • Create an Organic System Plan that is similar to what would be submitted for the requirements for organic certification. • Enter farming practice data in to the Cool Farm Tool to estimate greenhouse gas emissions that result from our farming practices. Farm Practicum III 6 credits (120 hours Rodale) Students were directly instructed in over a variety of tasks during the 2020 summer semester. • 8 field trips during the summer semester, each one was enhanced by the Q and A with the farmer during and after the tour. • Common Ground Farm and Retreat - incubator farm opportunity • Horn Farm Educational Center - incubator farm opportunity • Seed Farm - incubator farm opportunity • Homesweet Homegrown - hot peppers, hot sauce, salsa Tooth of the Lion - medicinal herbs, tinctures • Tulpehocken Farm - sheep, goats • Pocono Organics - regenerative organic farm, vegetables, hemp, greenhouse • First Fruits Farm - hemp, oats, chickens (this was a 2019 OFCP veteran owned farm) • Tractor Safety Training, Orchard Maintenance, Agriculture Supported Communities-Vegetable Production, Apiary, Greenhouse/High Tunnel, Organic Livestock Maintanence, Compost, Agribusiness Planning, How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As in previous years, our recruitment is ongoing, but largely regionally focused, but also participating in some national veteran related events such as the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Over thepast few years we have had several former students become successful, independent organic farmers who haveshared their stories. We have engaging Facebook groups for graduates, and we continually encourage alumni to use DelVal andRodale Institute as resources as they continue in their farming careers. • Held a virtual Open House in June 2020, where former students presented who are currently farming present to the prospective student whilestaff from DelValand Rodale presented materials to the participants in lieu of in-person large scale events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As outlined through our program; we provide students with 3 semesters of the basic knowledge of organic farming with a strong focus on hands-on training with experienced organic farmers. During their 3 semesters in the certificate program, continually providing them with extension, state and federal resources that will help them financially, networking and marketing their product.Providing the students pre and post evaluations, we are able to amend the curriculum to best meet the students' needs. Wewere also able to ensure that our classes are accredited through the proper university channels to provide a level of education that our students are expecting. We continued the Organic Livestock Management, and integrated a more structured business development class.Out-sourcing tractor training received above average reviews from the students and ensures their safety on any farm they willwork at. We will continue to provide this training in this capacity moving forward, as it ensures the students receive the bestsafety training we can provide.Visiting local veteran farmers, providing veterans with Farmer Veteran list, and connecting them to their local militaryassociations who will be able to help them as well. Individual Stories / Examples of Success from this Grant Period Wilson Florez - Owns and farming in New Paltz, NY Michael Lupacchino - Owns and farming in Ferrum, VA Michael Wilcox - Farm Manager, Green Flaming Organics Farm, FL John Winter - Owns and farming at his educational farm BnB in VT Chris Molnar and Emily Ingersoll - Owns and farming at First Fruit Farm in Ottsville, PA Lindsey Williams - Farming near Scranton, PA McKenna Moore - Operating, Ewe and Me at Common Ground Farm and Retreat, Kempton, PA
Publications
|
Progress 08/15/18 to 08/14/19
Outputs
Target Audience:As discussed, the target audience for this program is beginning farmers with a special emphasis on military veterans. The program partners have experience working with this group. Delaware Valley University provides a robust system of support for military veterans including specially trained staff devoted to military and veteran students and the processing of their academic and financial benefits. Delaware Valley University is committed to making sure that our veterans are an integral part of the local community. The University has an ongoing relationship with the Travis Manion Foundation whoseheadquarters are in Doylestown, PA. The Military and Veterans center at the College is named for the late Janet Manion who started the Foundation to honor the service of her son who died in combat in Iraq in 2007. The Janet Manion Military and Veterans Center provides a social center for military veterans and is a gathering place for student-veterans and military members, offering personalized services to fulfill each veteran's needs. It is a place for veterans, military personnel and their dependents to relax with people with shared experiences between classes, get help with paperwork for educational funding,and get support from staff and peers. Staff members at the center provide counseling and college advising tailored for military veterans' success. Rodale Institute began working with military veterans through the first year of this program prior to receiving the BFRDP grant funding. Rodale Institute is deeply qualified to address the needs and training of new and beginning organic farmers, as it has beendoing this work for more than sixty years. Through its popular New Farm publication, to the workshops held on the farm, to the research support offered to new and established organic farmers, the Rodale Institute is a trusted source of science-based information rooted in the tradition and philosophy of organic agriculture. In 2016, Rodale Institute also began the Veteran Farmer Training Program that focuses on providing organic farmer training to veterans who do not seek a traditional university, but are interested in learning about organic agriculture. Each partner organization aspires to shape and deliver a program that meets the needs of new organic farmers and especially military veterans. This Organic Farming Certificate Program is available to all students, regardless of their veteran status, but has been an attractive option for veterans returning to college. Specifically, our target audience includes: • Military veterans • Organic producers • Small farms • Women With our focus on regional marketing and veteran outlets, we were able to have 27 participants and 12 completions (as of 11/1/2019) for the Organic Farming Certificate program. By attending local conferences, conventions and using local media for earned coverage, we engaged in the local community. From those 27 students; 13 were military, and 14 were civilians. Out of those 27students; 18 were male and 9 were female. Changes/Problems:After receiving feedback from earlier year groups, we enhanced the field trips for the summer semester and implemented the Organic Livestock Management course. One of the issues is that the limitations of the grant schedule do not allow us to fully capture the overall success of the program. Some students who initially complete their 1 year certificate program remain in school to complete their bachelors degree and do not begin farming until after the end date of the grant report so their farming "success" is not fully captured in the grant report due to mandated reporting timelines. Students who begin participation in the program in the Spring or Summer semesters of 2020 will only count as participants since they will not be able to complete the program before the grant report deadlines. Additionally, even in continuousgrant awards, the numbers are not transferrable from one grant awardto the newer grant award. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY PS-2211 Commercial Vegetable Production (3 credits) A study of the culture of the principal vegetable crops, emphasizing production of vegetable plants in hotbeds, coldframes, greenhouses and fields, variety choice, soil adaptation, planting, fertilization, cultivation, pest control, harvesting, storage and marketing. 2 hours Lecture and 3 hours Laboratory Field Trips to Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Convention, Trauger's Farm, Tinicum CSA, JR Peter's Fertilizer, Folling Hills Farm PS-2235 Principles of Sustainable Agriculture (2 credits) This course in sustainable agriculture embraces several variants of non-conventional agriculture (alternative, regenerative, ecological, low-input) and pulls together these practices into systems that are profitable and environmentally sound. It addresses the serious problems of high energy costs, groundwater contamination, soil erosion and risks to human health and wildlife from pesticides. 2 hours Lecture and Discussion PS-3240 Integrated Pest Management (3 credits) An introduction to the principles and techniques applied in an integrated pest management program. The objective of the course is to enable the student to become knowledgeable about the natural and supplemental control measures that can be employed to control insects, diseases, and weeds in an integrated pest management program. 3 hours Lecture Field Trips to Peace Tree Farm, New Jersey Beneficial Insect Lab Spring Farm Practicum (4 credits -students work at various farms in the region) AS-9908 Organic Livestock Management (3 credits) From lectures, discussions, and field trips students will learn how to manage livestock organically. Students will examine feeding, healthcare, and grazing strategies affecting the growth and development of organically grown livestock including small ruminants, dairy cows, pigs, and poultry will be studied among others. The National Organic Standards, organic certification and alternative niche markets will also be covered. Field Trips to Carversville Farm Foundation, Profetta Farms, and Delaware Valley University Dairy PS-2240 Organic Food & Fiber (3 credits) This course provides the student with practical experience in the organic production of fruits, vegetables, herbs, ornamentals, field crops and turf. Environmental, social and political issues concerning organic crop production are addressed. Comparisons to conventional production are made. 2 hours Lecture and 3 hours Laboratory Field Trips to Roth Farm (Organic Certification Process and Cover Crop), Detweiler Homestead Farm, Anchor Run CSA, Milk House Farm Market PS-4106 Marketing Hort Products (2 credits) An advanced study of modern techniques in the marketing of fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. Illustrated lectures, discussion periods and research reports are supplemented by laboratory field trips to various types of retail and wholesale facilities for marketing of processed and fresh market products as well as floral and landscaping operations. 1hour Lecture and 3 hours Laboratory Field Trips to Traugers Farm Market, Detweiler Homestead Farm, Hellerick's Farm, and Giant Supermarket Fall Farm Practicum (4 credits - students work at various farms in the region) RODALE INSTITUTE PS-1301 Plant Health Management (3 credits) This course explores the key tenants of organic growing systems and their role in maintaining plant health. We will discuss important elements of farm planning including crop rotations, cover crops, improvement of soil biological health and encouraging farm diversity. These practices are fundamental for developing plant positive systems that support health rather than treat dis-ease. This course is also an introduction to identification and management of pests, weeds, and disease in an organic system. It will incorporate design and maintenance of healthy field systems including the scouting, collection, identification and observation of insects, weeds & disease. PS-1302 Soil Biology (3 credits) Soils are the central component of terrestrial ecosystems. This course is an introduction to the properties, functions, and conservation of soil. Major emphasis is placed on physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and their relationships to plant growth and ecosystem processes. Topics include soil biodiversity, soil biogeochemical cycles, belowground ecosystem services, human impacts on soils, soil conservation methods, and the socioeconomic implications of soil degradation in natural and agricultural settings. The function of each group of soil organisms, e.g., bacteria and fungi will be explained. Management practices to increase biological activity and nutrient cycling and reduce disease and weed issues and soil erosion will be described. The course is comprised of lectures and laboratory and field soil testing. Demonstrations of how healthy soil functions compared to unhealthy soil will be used. This course is designed to help the students understand the principles underpinning soil ecology and apply integrated approaches to promote soil health and enhance agroecosystem performance. Summer Farm Practicum 6 credits (3 credits at Rodale Institute, 3 credits - students work at various farms in the region) Students were directly instructed in over 78hours of hands-on experience in a variety of fields during the 2019 summer semester. • 8field trips during the summer semester, each one was enhanced by taking the time to askthe farmer questions after the tour. • Tractor Safety Training (12 hrs), Orchard Maintenance (6 hrs), Agriculture Supported Communities/Vegetables(18hrs), Apiary (8hrs), Greenhouse (8hrs), Grains (6hrs), Organic Livestock Maintanence (6 hrs), Compost (12 hrs), Hemp (2 hours). Field Trips: Heritage Farm, Philadelphia, PA, urban farm,supplies local food bank and local restaurants, met with beginning farmer who is the farm manager Kneehigh Farm, Pottstown, PA, organic diversified vegetable operation, woman run, beginning farmer, CSA operator Tooth of the Lion, Orwigsburg, PA, natural apothecary and herbal farm, woman run, small acreage, beginning farmer,successful business Common Ground Farm and Retreat, Kempton, PA, free land access opportunity for beginning farmers, met with owner/operator 8 Oaks Distillery, farm to still operation with military veteran business owner Seed Farm, Emmaus, PA, incubator farm opportunity, met with farm manager Horn Farm Center, York, PA, incubator farm opportunity, met with executive director &farm staff Homesweet Homegrown, Kutztown, PA, organic, vegan homegrown hot sauces, woman run, small acreage, beginning farmer and successful business owner How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Partnered again with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) to do targeted IG posts, FB advertisements, and E-Newsletter Promotion through their alumni and prospect WWOOFers. Continued again with our Instagram and FB account postings. Produced updated videos of the Organic Farming Certificate Program in 2 minute and 1 minute versions highlighting current students in the program Updated our flyer with recent success storyof student Updated our 1 page handout Conducted an Open House event at Rodale Institute on 7/25/2019 and had 12 potential students in attendance What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Following on feedback from previous students, the keys to program success were: Field Trips, hands-on training at farms, the practicums throughout the semesters, one-on-one learning from DelVal/Rodale staff and farmers. The assigned course work and schedule will remain with a focus on tasks related to the students to assist withestablishing their own farms or agriculture businesses and understanding the soil and plants around them.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As outlined through our program; we provide students with 3 semesters of the basic knowledge of organic farming with a strong focus on hands-on training with experienced organic farmers. During their 3 semesters in the certificate program, continually providing them with extension, state and federal resources that will help them financially, networking and marketing their product. Providing the students pre and post evaluations, we are able to amend the curriculum to best meet the students' needs. We were also able to ensure that our classes are accredited through the proper university channels to provide a level of education that our students are expecting. This year, we added Organic Livestock Management, and integrated a more structured business development class. Integrating Lunch and Learn events during the summer semester proved very beneficial to the students. Moving forward, students wish to work on the farm, during the tour and then sit and eat with the farmer. Out-sourcing tractor training received above average reviews from the students and ensures their safety on any farm they will work at. We will continue to provide this training in this capacity moving forward, as it ensures the students receive the best safety training we can provide. Visiting local veteran farmers, providing veterans with Farmer Veteran list, and connecting them to their local military associations who will be able to help them as well. • Individual Stories / Examples of Success Wilson Florez - Owns and farming in New Paltz, New York Alexzandra Warren - Homesteading and farming in Pennsylvania Michael Lupacchino - Owns and farming in Ferrum, Virginia Emily Georgis - farming in Pennsylvania Andrew Jones - farm in Rolling Hills, Pennsylvania Michael Wilcox - Farm Manager Green Flamingo Organics Farm, Florida David Brecht - Brecht Mountain Farm, Allentown, Pennsylvania John Winter - Pursuing a farm for Bed & Breakfast/Organic Education Center in Vermont (sale pending) Chris Molnar - Continuing his Sustainable Agriculture degree, farming at Bonnie Blue Farm and Roth Farm, Pennsylvania Gary Garret-Bills - Continuing his Sustainable Agriculture degree, farming at Bonnie Blue Farm, Pennsylvania McKenna Moore - Coordinating for sheep at Common Ground Farm and Retreat for Spring 2020, Pennsylvania
Publications
|
Progress 08/15/17 to 08/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:As discussed, the target audience for this program is beginning farmers with a special emphasis on military veterans. The program partners have experience working with this group. Delaware Valley University provides a robust system of support for military veterans including specially trained staff devoted to military and veteran students and the processing of their academic and financial benefits. Delaware Valley University is committed to making sure that our veterans are an integral part of the local community. The University has an ongoing relationship with the Travis Manion Foundation whose headquarters are in Doylestown, PA. The Military and Veterans center at the College is named for the late Janet Manion who started the Foundation to honor the service of her son who died in combat in Iraq in 2007. The Janet Manion Military and Veterans Center provides a social center for military veterans and is a gathering place for student-veterans and military members, offering personalized services to fulfill each veteran's needs. It is a place for veterans, military personnel and their dependents to relax with people with shared experiences between classes, get help with paperwork for educational funding, and get support from staff and peers. Staff members at the center provide counseling and college advising tailored for military veterans' success. Rodale Institute began working with military veterans through the first year of this program prior to receiving the BFRDP grant funding. Rodale Institute is deeply qualified to address the needs and training of new and beginning organic farmers, as it has been doing this work for more than sixty years. Through its popular New Farm publication, to the workshops held on the farm, to the research support offered to new and established organic farmers, the Rodale Institute is a trusted source of science-based information rooted in the tradition and philosophy of organic agriculture. Each partner organization aspires to shape and deliver a program that meets the needs of new organic farmers and especially military veterans.This Organic Farming Certificate Program is available to all students, regardless of their veteran status, but has been an attractive option for veterans returning to college. Specifically, our target audience includes: Military veterans Organic producers Small farms Women With our focus on regional marketing and veteran outlets, we were able to have 20 participants and 18 completions for the Organic Farming Certificate program. By attending local conferences, conventions and using local media for earned coverage, we engaged in the local community. From those20 students; 13 were military, and 7 were civilians. Out of those 20 students; 15 were male and 5 were female. Changes/Problems:Based on feedback from studnets participating in the program in previous years, we implemented an Organic Livestock Management course. This was started in the Fall semester of 2017 at Delaware Valley University and is taught by Ross Duffield, Farm Managerfrom Rodale Institute. This class replaces the Animal Sciences course which fell short of expectations of students, due to it not being fully focused on organic management. More field trips have been added to the Farm Practicum poriton of the Summer semester, per feedback. These field trips are now executedas a Lunch and Learn, where the students eat lunch with the farmer after receiving a tour of the their farm. During this time they are able to ask more specific questions about their farming techniques, business and lifestyle. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Commercial Vegetable Production 3 credits Reading Sustainable Vegetable Production Textbook Irrigation layout & readings for background Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations - Background Information Separate article: Understanding Weed Seed Banks Projects The Farmer's Apprentice Project Report 1. Records & observations 2. A section on harvest and yield 3. Conclusion section Guest lecturer: Alumni Carl Cantaluppi; Asparagus Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Hershey, PA Field trip to JR Peters fertilizer plant - Allentown, PA Principles of Sustainable Agriculture 2 credits Reading 1. The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food by Wayne Roberts 2. Local: The New face of Food and Farming in America by Douglas Gayeton 3. Selected readings from the internet and handouts will be assigned. We will see several movies and listen to interviews; information from these resources will be covered on the exams as well. Integrated Pest Management 3 credits Reading 1. Norris, Robert; Edward Chen and Marcos Kogan. 2003. Concepts in Integrated Pest Management. Prentice Hall, Saddle River, NJ. 2. Handouts and websites What is IPM? http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managing-ecosystems/integrated-pest-management/ipm-what/en/ bioeconomics (http://ipmworld.umn.edu/pedigo) http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/mitchell.hp/Structure/modules.pdf https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/bio.php https://nysipm.cornell.edu/agriculture/vegetables/weed-identification http://extension.psu.edu/plants/green-industry/landscaping/integrated-pest-management/plant-diseases (Identification and management of landscape diseases) http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/vegetables/factsheets/ecological-disease-management/extension_publication_file (Ecological disease management) http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/invasiveplants/ (invasive plant tutorial)https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.ph ???Projects IPM Toolbox The project will have 5 parts, and each section will have a due date throughout the semester so that one portion builds upon the previous section. I - Research the cultural requirements of that crop from seed to harvest. II - Pests -What are the most common pests of your crop? III - Scouting IV - Control measures V - Crop Calendar Organic greenhouse; NJ Beneficial Insect Lab Farm Practicum II 4 credits Organic Livestock Management 3 credits Organic Food and Fiber 3 credits There will be numerous handouts that are required reading. Project Each project should have at least a 5 page paper. The presentation portion of the project should be a Power Point Presentation of at least 5-6 minutes, including interview and survey results, pictures and/or videos.You may make a video or narrated Power point for the presentation. 2.Interview 3 farmers, at least 2 of whom are organic farmers and preferably one that is certified. Think of questions of your own to ask and report back on the interview. Interview a conventional farmer about whether or not they have ever considered switching to organic. 3.Project of your choice.In order to do an alternative project, you must write a up a brief (one paragraph) proposal and ask the professor before getting approval. Roth Farm, North Wales, PA; Detweiler Homestead Farm, Sellersville, PA; Milk House Farm, Newtown, PA; Anchor Run CSA, Newtown, PA; Promised Land Farm, Yardley, PA; Barefoot Botanicals, Doylestown, Roth Farm - Organic certification inspection, Mark Keating Marketing of Horticultural Products 2 credits Project Working as an individual or in a group of no more than 2, you will be creating your own horticultural business and utilizing this business to gain skills in various marketing tools and techniques. Thegroup/individual will do a 5-10 minute "Shark Tank" presentation where each person will present a portion of the marketing portfolio created during the semester. Project grading will be done as a group. Doylestown CoOp Market; The Market at DelVal; Shady Brook Farm; Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market Jeff Tkach; The Rodale Institute Farm Practicum I 4 credits RODALE INSTITUTE Plant Health Management 3 credits Transition to Organic, online course published by the Rodale Institute, http://rodaleinstitute.org/farm/organic-transition-course/ Introduction to Organic Vegetable Production: Apprentice Reader. Penn State Cooperative Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/apprentices-mentors/organic-vegetable-apprentice-reader Botany for Gardeners, Third Edition by Brian Capon. Timber Press: Portland. 2010. Weeds of the Northeast by Richard Uva, Joseph Neal & Joseph DiTomosa. Comstock/Cornell: Ithaca. 1997. The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control, Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, & Deborah Martin. Rodale Inc.: Emmaus. 2009 National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders Managing Cover Crops Profitably. Greg Bowman, Christopher Shirley, and Craig Cramer. Sustainable Agriculture Network: Beltsville, MD. 1998. Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping: Soil Resiliency and Health on the Organic Farm (Organic Principles and Practices Handbook Series), by Seth Kroek published by NOFA Field journal with daily entries Crop design to include a 3-year crop rotation incorporating cover crops Soil Biology 3 credits Textbook: Building Soils for Better Crop: Sustainable Soil Management. Fred Magdoff and Harold Van Es. 2009. Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE). 2018 student project was evaluating the soil health of fields that have been managed organically over the last 6 years. Make graphs and do some analysis based on the measurements taken. Create an Organic System Plan that is similar to what would be submitted for the requirements for organic certification. Enter farming practice data in to the Cool Farm Tool to estimate greenhouse gas emissions that result from our farming practices. Farm Practicum III 6 credits Students were directly instructed in over 92 hours of hands-on experience in a variety of fields during the 2018 summer semester. Ninefield trips during the summer semester, each one was enhanced by taking the time to sit-down and have lunch with the farmer after the tour. Tractor Safety Training (12 hrs), Orchard Maintenance (12hrs), Agriculture Supported Communities (12 hrs), Apiary (12 hrs), Greenhouse (12hrs), Grains (8 hrs), Organic Livestock Maintanenc (12 hrs), Compost (12 hrs) 8 Oaks Distillery, farm to still operation with military veteran business owner. Tooth of the Lion, natural apothecary and herbal farm, woman run, small acreage, beginner successful business 2 Gander Farm, organic vegetable, husband/wife, focused on the business end of the farm, 9 years farming, conservation land, Josie Porter, biodynamic farm, woman run, small acreage, experienced farmer, community land acquisitions Origin Farm, organic dairy and field crops, husband/wife, how organic field crops and dairy business operate, scalability and profits Dickinson Farm, organic diversified college farm, farm to college concept, using EVERYTHING Great Road Farm, organic vegetable, restaurant owner-> supplies restaurant, mapping out growing season, working with chefs, profitability, Kimberton CSA, biodynamic vegetable,legal aspects of taking over an established business Kneehigh Farm, natural vegetable farm, woman run, incubator farm to established business, small scale, diversifying and growing smart Good Agriculture Practices, presented by Penn State Extension, hands-on tour of farm Natural Resources Conservation Services, presented by local extension agent, went over all resources available through NRCS Ag Loans, presented by local agent, went in depth on different loan opportunities in agriculture and for veterans How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our recruitment this year was regionally focused, with only 1-2 national campaigns of earned media during the year. Over the past year,of our 7 students have become organic farmers. We have engaging Facebook groups for graduates, and will be showcasing graduates on our IG account, enabling their farms to be showcased on a larger platform. We continually encourage alumni to use DelVal and Rodale Institute as resources as they continue in their farming careers. Examples include: Produced two 30-second videos of success stories of students who are organically farming/managing a farm; Partnered with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) USA to do a targeted IG posts, FB advertisements, andE-Newsletter Promotion through their Alumni and Prospect WWOOFers. Created an Instagram account to bring awareness of the program on campus and in local community; Held an Open House during Rodale Institutes Field Day with10 potential students in attendance.Two current students and three representatives from DelVal presented information about the OFCP program and spoke about the credibility of the program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?According to feedback provided by students from the 2017-2018 school year, keys to success were: Lunch and Learn presentations, hands-on training, Practicum during the school year at different farms, and one-on-one Learning from experienced, knowledgeable staff prepared students for a career in organic farming. With these new and standard practices students have reported: gaining a valuable network, mentors to help them post-graduate and skill-building. This has directly impacted the success rates of students who start farming post-completion. Many cite using farmers that they have met at Lunch and Learns as mentors to help them with everyday questions and support. Attending conferences such as PASA and attending PSU Extension workshops have also been beneficial. This provided students with the knowledge of what state, federal and local programs were available to them.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As outlined through our program; we provide students with 3 semesters of the basic knowledge of organic farming with a strong focus on hands-on training with experienced organic farmers. During their 3 semesters in the certificate program, continually providing them with extension, state and federal resources that will help them financially, networking and marketing their product. Providing the students pre and post evaluations, we are able to amend the curriculum to best meet the students' needs.We were also able to ensure thatour classes are accredited through the proper university channels to provide a level of education that our students are expecting. This year, we added Organic Livestock Management, and integrated a more structured business development class. Integrating Lunch and Learn events during the summer semester proved very beneficial to the students. Moving forward, students wish to work on the farm, during the tour and then sit and eat with the farmer. Out-sourcing tractor training received above average reviews from the students and ensures their safety on any farm they will work at. We will continue to provide this training in this capacity moving forward, as it ensures the students receive the best safety training we can provide. Visiting local veteran farmers, providing veterans with Farmer Veteran list, and connecting them to their local military associations who will be able to help them as well. Individual Stories / Examples of Success Kyle Maio - Owns Brothers in Bees - Apiary in Doylestown, PA Pedro Hernandez - Leasing and farming on land in PA Alicia Leone - Farming in Rhode Island Wilson Florez - Owns and farming in New Paltz, NY Michael Lupacchino - Owns and farming in Ferrum, VA Michael Wilcox - Farm Manager Green Flamingo Organics Farm FL
Publications
|
|