Farm Beginnings Class Schedule - Land Stewardship Project

Tuesday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 1: Introduction to Whole Farm Planning and Goal Setting
Chapter 1: Dream It – Strategic Planning

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 2: Assessing your Resources: What do you have and what do you need
Chapter 2: Do It — Farm Infrastructure, Labor, and Energy

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 3: Beginning Farmer Panel, Soil Health & Regenerative Practices
Chapter 5: Grow It – Managing the Whole Farm Ecosystem

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 5: Financial Planning with a Holistic Lens — Personal, Household & Farm
Chapter 4: Business Management for the Farm

Tuesday. Jan. 25, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 6: Financial Planning with a Holistic Lens – Start-up costs & enterprise budgets
Chapter 4: Business Management for the Farm

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 7: Risk Management – Legal Structure, Record Keeping & Insurance
Chapter 6: Keep it – Entrepreneurship, Family Business Dynamics, and Managing Risk

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 8 (Optional): Exploring Land Access Options

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 9: Connecting with Local Resources (FSA & NRCS)

Tuesday, Feb 22, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 10: Participant Show & Tell

Tuesday, March 1, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Session 11: Participant Show & Tell

Upcoming Events

June 2022

Wednesday June 29

10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Volunteer Johnson-Su Bioreactor Construction Event

Volunteer Johnson-Su Bioreactor Construction Event

Wednesday June 29

10:00 am – 5:00 pm

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This is the second year of a two-year research project through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture looking into creating on-farm compost recipes using the Johnson-Su Bioreactor design. Land Stewardship Project staff are working with five farms to build a total of 10 bioreactors in the month of June. We are looking for 3 to 5 member-volunteers for the days of June 7, 9, 15, 17, and 29. Details are here.

E-mail Shona Snater at ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org for more information and to sign-up as a volunteer.

July 2022

Wednesday July 6

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Farming in Karst Country

Farming in Karst Country

Wednesday July 6

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

A special LSP workshop called “Farming in Karst Country” will highlight the intersection of soil-building farming practices, water movement, and karst geology. Local farmer presenters and karst geologists will share how practices like no-till, cover crops and intensive, rotational grazing can improve the health of the soil and underground streams. The Bishop family will host the event at Niagara Cave. The cost to attend is $20 for adults, $10 fo runder 16, and includes a cave tour and dinner. Space is limited to 75 participants. For details and to register, click here.

Tuesday July 12

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP Deep Canvassing Training

LSP Deep Canvassing Training

Tuesday July 12

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Deep canvassing is a candid, non-judgmental, two-way conversation where canvassers ask voters to share their relevant, emotionally significant experiences and reflect on them aloud. It is one of the most durable and proven forms of persuasion when talking to people who might hold differing beliefs than you and is going to be critical in creating the world we want and need.

Join the Land Stewardship Action Fund to learn about deep canvassing, what it is and why it’s important, and get trained on how to deep canvass so you’re able to powerfully participate in LSAF’s upcoming deep canvasses and put these important skills to use in your community. Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/f4vV9QoSbUWMe4UVzQFrVg2.

Wednesday July 13

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP Small Grains Deep Dive

LSP Small Grains Deep Dive

Wednesday July 13

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Come join Terry Cunningham, producer of certified organic commodities for 34 years, and Nic Podoll, small grains specialist with the Rodale Institute, as well as resource specialists from the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District, for this peer-to-peer information and discussion field day.

This field day will include information and discussion about Cunningham’s experiences over three decades raising corn, soybeans, oats, alfalfa, barley, field peas, winter rye, winter wheat, triticale, spelt, and sweet clover.

This event is free; dinner will be provided; a free-will offering for the meal is welcomed. For more information and to register, click here.

Tuesday July 19

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: LSP Grazing Group Pasture Walk at Knutson Shorthorns

LSP Grazing Group Pasture Walk at Knutson Shorthorns

Tuesday July 19

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Zach Knutson of Knutson Shorthorns is hosting a pasture walk for area graziers to show specialty crops grown in bale residue left behind by cows from winter-feeding. A range of specialty crops planted include: tomatoes, peppers, huckleberries, sweet corn, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, eggplant, and more.

Also on the farm, cattle are grazing an 11-way mix of summer annuals (dwarf sorghum-sudan, BMR grazing corn, crimson clover, mung beans, sun hemp, collards, African cabbage, kale, baldy safflower, plantain, and chicory). There will be discussions around integrating livestock and specialty crop production, marketing to a wider audience with limited additional land or labor, and extended grazing. To register, click here.

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