Recipient Organization
NIRVANA TEA INC.
12906 LONGACRE ST
DETROIT,MI 48227
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The overarching importance of this project is to support BIPOC and socially disadvantaged farmers who havenot had equitable access to the education, financial resources or mentoring opportunities topursuesuccessfulcareers in farming.Traditional farming education and the changing landscape of farming due to climate change continue to be a barrier for entry. Additionally, the overallnumber of youngentrepreneurs pursuing agri-business is declining while retiring farmers areincreasing. Our projectwillrecruit and educate a select group of BIPOC beginning farmersand provide a solid foundation of education, financial literacy, technical assitance and mentoring that will support our interns to be highly skilled and confident farmers and overcome thesebarriers. This planning grant will support more accessibilty which will be greatly increased by educating BIPOC farmersabout hydroponic farming. Hydroponicfarmscan provide fresh produce in their respective communities, directly improving food security. Environmentally, hydroponics uses significantly less water than traditional soil farming and can reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, contributing to a healthier ecosystem. Hydroponics is a resilient farming system that can sustainabily growcrops year round. It allows for accelerated crop growth and higher yields over traditional soil based growing.It allows for year round farming which can stabilize food supply and market prices benefiting both the producer and the community. Hydroponic systems are environmentally friendly and contribute to a cleaner environment. The faster crop turn around enhances our producersprofitability and make this project one that will have positive impact on producers and communities of color. This will produce new business opportunies and farming job creation in historically disdvantaged communities. At the conclusion of this project our cohort will be confident, trained and highly skilled beginning farmers equipped with technical and practical knowledge necessary for success. They will be prepared to sell their harvest in the market place and collaborate with industry stake holders. We will provide ongoingfollow surveys to track progress and success.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal and importance of this project is to support BIPOC and socially disadvantaged farmers who are increasingly at risk of not having access to pursuing long term sustainable farm careers.Traditional farming education and the changing landscape of farming due to climate change continue to be a barrier for entry. The four key pillars within our program are farmingbusiness fundamentals, sustainable farming solutions specifically hydorponics, selection of climate smart crops, and experiential programming. Historically, a startling number of BIPOC populations face significantbarriers to opportunities to become farm entrepreneurs. The wealth gap, inequitable education, limited access to capital, lack of mentoring are resource constraints. Additionally, the overallnumber of younger entrepreneurs pursuing farming is declining while retiring farmers areincreasing. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture that is done once every five years, only 1.4 % of the 3.4 million producers identified as black. Other notable findings from the censuswere that blacks' producers were older on average (60.8 versus 57.7 in 2017) and were more likely to have also served in the U.S. military. Regarding farm characteristics, black operated farms sold 1.4 billion in agriculture products in 2017 with 61 percent ($858 million) in crop sales. These BIPOC farms onlyaccounted for 0.4 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. These facts lead to both the need and theopportunity in farming for individuals from BIPOC communities to consider farming as a viablecareer path. The four key pillars within our program SOP are agriculture business fundamentals, crop selection & area of focus, sustainable farming solutions, and experiential programming.Our goal is to use this planning grant to help to overcome these barriers through providing farm education utilizing curriculum from farmanswers.orgthe BFRDP clearing house, and MSU extensions recorded educational sessions. Objective 1.) The project will develope a hybrid in person and online recorded for on demand learning curriculum in farm safety, food safety, organic certification,farm business planning, farm business record keeping and immersive hands-on demonstrations training. Our project will place emphasis on the importance of education and building strong partnerships with industry stakeholders for success. We will provide anopportunity for younger BIPOC and socially disadvantaged participants to be educated and trained to becomehighly skilled farmers competent to operate sustainable climate smart farms. Objective 2.) We willspecifically focus on the advantages and advances in hydroponic farming to address climate change. Objective 3.) Develope (S.O.P.) standard operating procedures that will increase markets of high qualty products grown by our beginning farmers for sale in farmers markets, retail grocers, CSA and online ordering through ourestablished distribution channels.Our initiative will advance the growth of high value, advanced skilled BIPOC beginningfarmers able to produce and market locally grown produce year-round from farm to table sales.
Project Methods
Our project will support category 1 beginning farmers that have not previously operated a farm or ranch. Our initiative will produce a cohort of high value, skilled BIPOC farmers that will be formally trained through our project. The approach of this project is focused on hydroponic farming and innovative climate smart practices. The project will be conducted using the key methods: 1. Needs AssessmentSurveys and Interviews: Conduct surveys and interviews with potential participants to understand their needs, backgrounds, and interests. Hold community meetings to gather input and ensure the program aligns with local needs.Analyze existing data on BIPOC farmers, local agricultural conditions, and socioeconomic factors.Educational FoundationProvide workshops and seminars on the basics of hydroponics, including plant biology, nutrient requirements, and system types. Provide access to scientific literature and resources on hydroponic farming techniques and advancements. Develop curriculum from farmanswers.gov and MSU extension recorded courses that covers essential farming skills, sustainable practices, business management, and scientific principles. Establish partnerships with local universities, agricultural extension services, and farmers to provide expertise and educational resources.Organize field days and demonstrations where participants can share peer to peer experiences. Establish peer learning groups for continuous knowledge exchange and problem-solving. Foster peer support groups to encourage knowledge sharing and mutual support.Use data and feedback to iteratively refine and improve the program.We will regularly conduct participant surveys and interviews to document their performance and experiences and publish them in relevant forums or journals. Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from participants and stakeholders for program improvement. Conduct regular impact assessment surveys to measure the long-term benefits of the hydroponic farming on participants and their communities.Improving participants' farming skills, economic outcomes, and well-being. Create mentorship opportunities with experienced farmers and agricultural scientists.3. Recruitment and Outreach We will work with community leaders and organizations to promote the program and recruit participants. Develop marketing materials that are culturally relevant and accessible to BIPOC communities. Host community information sessions to explain the program and answer questions.4. Training Delivery Hybrid classroom in person and online on demand courses. Comparative Analysis: Guide participants in comparing the six different hydroponic systems (e.g., NFT, DWC, Ebb & Flow, Drip, Wick and Kratky. The ( NFT) Nutrient Film Technique will be used in the project. Set up controlled environments to compare variables such as nutrient solutions, lighting conditions, and plant varieties.Emphasize the importance of replication and control groups to validate findings.Nutrient Management,Teach participants how to prepare and adjust nutrient solutions based on plant needs and growth stages. Monitor nutrient levels, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) regularly, and adjust as needed.Implement and manage climate control systems (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) to optimize plant growth.Light Management: Use scientific principles to design lighting setups, including the use of LED grow lights with specific wavelengths tailored to plant needs light recipes. Disease Prevention: Teach participants about common diseases in hydroponics and preventive measures, such as sterilization techniques and maintaining optimal environmental conditions.Yield Optimization: Determine optimal planting densities, pruning techniques, and harvest timings to maximize yields.Scaling Up: Use data to develop strategies for scaling up the operation while maintaining efficiency and productivity.Develop a set of performance metrics to evaluate the success of the hydroponics farming, including growth rates, yield, resource efficiency, and economic viability. Encourage ongoing R&D to explore new crops, advanced technologies.Field Days and Demonstrations: Organize six field trips and demonstrations where participants can share peer to peer experiences and learn from real world examples. Establish peer learning groups for continuous knowledge exchange and problem-solving. Foster peer support groups to encourage knowledge sharing and mutual support.Documentation and Publication: Use data and feedback to iteratively refine and improve the program.We will regularly conduct participant surveys and interviews to document their performance and experiences and publish them in relevant forums or journals. Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from participants and stakeholders for program improvement. Conduct regular impact assessment surveys to measure the long-term benefits of the hydroponic farming on participants and their communities.Impact Assessment: Conduct impact assessments to measure the program's effectiveness in improving participants' farming skills, economic outcomes, and community well-being..We will evaluate and measure the effectiveness and success of our initiative through the following evaluation studies and data collection: Objective: Establish initial conditions and participant knowledge/skills, participant demographics (age, gender, background, education, initial knowledge and skills assessment in hydroponics, initial expectations and goals.Attendance and participation rates in training sessions and workshops.Participant feedback on training sessions (surveys, interviews).Progress reports from projects.Engagement in mentorship and peer learning groups.Formative EvaluationObjective: Monitor the implementation process to improve program delivery.Key Milestones/Indicators:Completion of initial training workshops.Participant satisfaction ratings Assess the operational aspects and adherence to the planned program.Implementation fidelity (comparison of planned vs. actual activities).Resource utilization (materials, budget, time).Trainer and mentor performance evaluations.Key Milestones/Indicators:Adherence to training scheduleEfficient use of budgetOutcome EvaluationData Collected:Post-training knowledge and skills assessment.Changes in participant confidence and motivation.Initial crop yields and system performance data from projects.Adoption of best practices in hydroponics.Key Milestones/Indicators:Increase in knowledge/skills assessment scores Successful establishment of operational hydroponic systems Initial yield targets met or exceeded (specific crop yield targets).Sustainable production levels maintained over timeEconomic improvement for participants Positive community feedback and engagement Adoption of sustainable practices Achievement of project goals and objectives (as outlined in the project plan).Overall program effectiveness rating Scalability and replicability assessment evidence supporting program expansionBy systematically collecting and analyzing this data, the project can continuously monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the hydroponics farm initiative for BIPOC beginning farmers.