Urban Agriculture Grower Meetings

Some of the meetings below contain registration information, event details, and recordings if the event has occurred.

Event: Maryland Beginning Farmer Success Course
Date: Feb. 2, 2023 thru April 6, 2023 (Thursday evenings)  | Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Small groups of students will meet in person at one of several locations across the state of Maryland, in either Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Charles County.
Cost: $65 plus eventbrite fees (total: $70.59)
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maryland-beginning-farmer-success-course-tickets-468743814367
Description: This course is designed for people in Maryland who are considering or in the beginning stages of starting a farm as a business. Topics covered will include business planning, marketing, crop production, livestock husbandry, soil health, pest management, food safety, and regulations and certifications. Additional elective resources will cover more specialized topics, such as organic production, urban agriculture, and direct marketing to local customers. Students will learn from over 14 speakers, including agricultural Extension educators, farmers, and agricultural industry professionals.

This 10-week course will be offered in a blended in-person and online format.

• The class will meet on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., from February 2 through April 6, 2023.
• The course kick-off session on February 2 and the final class and graduation ceremony on April 6 will be held in person. Small groups of students will meet in person at one of several locations across the state of Maryland, in either Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Charles County.
• In weeks 2 through 9 of the course, students will complete at-your-own pace homework on the course website on campus.extension.org and will meet online each Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for a live class using the software Zoom.

This course does not provide college credit or an exam-based certification. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate stating that they completed the course requirements. To complete the course, students will need to both attend the weekly class and complete weekly homework on the course website.

Two course textbooks will be used, with supplementary readings and videos from additional sources. Both course textbooks are available for free digitally. Hard-copies of the course textbooks can be picked up at the Feb 2 in-person kick-off session.

By actively engaging in this program, participants will

• Understand each of the topics covered at a beginner’s level, so they will be prepared to take more advanced trainings in future.
• Decide what they need to learn more about next to launch their farm business.

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Event: Cultivating Conservation Workshop
Date: April 5-6, 2023  |  Wed. & Thurs.
Time:  3:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m.
Address: Harford County Agricultural Center, 3225 Conowingo Road, Suite 600, Street, MD 21154
Contact: Andy Kness, phone (410) 638-3255, e-mail: akness@umd.edu
Description: Federal programs can be complex to navigate, especially for beginning farmers or individuals who have not established a relationship with the sponsoring agency. “Cultivating Conservation for Maryland and Delaware’s Small and Historically Underserved Farmers” will target historically underserved groups to increase their knowledge of conservation practices and programs. The course will cover an overview of conservation practices, available conservation programs provided by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies, understanding of application processes, eligibility, and contractual agreements, and how conservation projects can fit into an overall farm plan.

The University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative team, in cooperation with University of Delaware Extension, Maryland and Delaware NRCS, and Soil Conservation District field offices, will deliver education and outreach through classroom and hands-on experiences and tours of conservation offices.

The program is open to all. Meals and handouts are included.

For more information visit: https://go.umd.edu/cultivatingconservation.

Registration: https://go.umd.edu/cultivatingconservation