Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Individuals from throughout the New England region intrested in learningnew agricultural, food and forestry skills.This includes employees looking to upskill and reskill, individuals looking to support their entrepreneurial ventures, pre-career students, and community members. Changes/Problems: Original Project Director left the college. VTC was combined with other schools in the Vermont State College System to become Vermont State University, delaying some project milestones. I was asked if I would be willing to be the PDon this grant. It was determined that the original space this grant was written for needed substantial work to make it reasonable to install new IT equipment. Getting permission to move the AV equipment from the original classroom to the proposed meat lab has been a challenge. Before we can get approval to use the money a price list has to be created, but the equipment being purchased is not standard off the shelf audio visual equipment. It has to be cold tolerant and work in conditions of high humidity. Adding enhanced audio visual equipment to the Green 113 classroom would allow trainings to be offered in person and for online students. After instruction, students wouldhead to field to practice what they have just learned. Online students would be participating as well. The instructor would be videoed giving instruction to in-person students, as well as taking time to show up close specific examples for remote students as well as answering their questions. This would be accomplished by using an iPad and wi-fi remote spot when needed. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Introduction to grafting (6 of attendees) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Trainings are being increasingly marketed regionally to get the word out in a number of new platforms and methods.Positive press releases on the Center and the Meat Processing Facility are helping to bolster community awareness and interest. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Butchery classes will begin being offered in the newly redesigned meat lab Increased marketing efforts, working with a third-party vendor for design services. Request a year extension for the grant so we can finish document utilization of the new audio visual equipment in the classroom spaces. Equip botany classroom with enhanced audio visual equipment that will allow remote students to come to class, with the extra benefit of taking the student to the worksite through an iPad and wi-fi hot spot.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Remodeling has begun on the classroom space. (A different classroom was chosen then the one list in the original goals of this grant. See Part 7.) A list of audio-visual equipment that can withstand cold temperatures and extreme humidity has been developed and will be put out to bid before the end of 2024. One community workshop. Schedule of workforce and community trainings to be offered winter/spring 2025 Mid-February - Production Pruning for Standard and Dwarf Apple Trees Mid-March-Pruning of young apple trees April 19th-Berry Lab Training May 11th- Tree Mulching and root health in conjunction with residents of Randolph Center
Publications
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