Program Schedule

DRAFT Schedule 2024

MSU Organic Farmer Training Program

FBP = Farm & Business Planning; M&C = Marketing & Community Engagement

NOTE: This is a DRAFT schedule! We will try to post a final schedule ASAP :)

  • 2/26/2024 FBP 1: Welcome + Intros + Values & Goals + Farm Business Plans (online)
  • 3/4/2024 FBP 2: Enterprise/Project Choices; Crop Budgets + Community Farm Plans (online)
  • 3/11/2024 M&C 1: CSA, Farmers’ Markets, Community programs + Homestead Plans (online)
  • 3/18/2024 M&C 2: Community Research + Marketing/Community Plans (online)
  • 3/24/2024 M&C 3: Organic/Other Certifications, Farmland & Site Planning 1 (online)
  • 4/1/2024 Farm 1: Crop Plans, Successions, Crop Rotations & Site Planning 2 (online)
  • 4/8/2024 Farm 2: Farm Tour + Transplant Production (on-farm: Detroit with Akello)
  • 4/15/2024 Soils 1:  Site Plans + Soil Mapping (online)
  • 4/22/2024 Soils 2: Assessing & Managing Soils (on-farm with Kido or Katie)
  • 4/29/2024 Soils 3: Fertility/Cover Crops/Compost + Soil Tests (online) 
  • 5/6/2024 Farm 3: Season Extension (on-farm with Kido or Katie)
  • 5/13/2024 Food System 1: Race & Food Systems + Farms & Farmers (online)
  • 5/20/2024  Field Trip 1: 4 Detroit Farms
  • 5/27/2024 No Class – Memorial Day
  • 6/3/2024 Farm 4: Planting & Irrigation + Herbs (on-farm with Akello or Katie)
  • 6/10/2024 Ecology 1: Weeds + Greens (on-farm with Rosebud)
  • 6/17/2024 No Class - Juneteenth 
  • 6/24/2024 Field Trip 2: 4 Ann Arbor Farms
  • 7/1/2024 Ecology 2: Insect Pests & Beneficials + Roots (on-farm with Rosebud or Katie) 
  • 7/8/2024 Ecology 3: Conservation Programs/Techniques + Holistic Resource Mgmt. (online)
  • 7/15/2024 Ecology 4: Crop Diseases and Wildlife + Alliums (on-farm with Rosebud or Katie)
  • 7/20 to 7/22 Field Trip 3: 6+ Chicago Farms
  • 7/29/2024 FBP 3: Labor/Right Livelihood/Volunteers + Risk/Insurance (online)
  • 8/5/2024 Farm 5: Cut Flowers + Cucurbits (on-farm with Molly or Katie)
  • 8/12/2024 Field Trip 4: 4 Grand Rapids Farms
  • 8/19/2024 Farm 6: Tractors & Equipment + Solanaceae (on-farm in E. Lansing with Katie)
  • 8/26/2024 Field Trip 5: 4 Lansing Farms
  • 9/2/2024 No Class – Labor Day 
  • 9/9/2024 FBP 4: Startup Budgets + Loans, Grants and Funding (online)
  • 9/16/2024 Field Trip 6: 4 Flint Farms
  • 9/23/2024 Farm 7: Food Safety, Harvest & Wash/Pack +Brassicas (on-farm with Molly or Katie)
  • 9/30/2024 FBP 5: Financials + Sustainability Plans + Business/Non-Profit Types (online)
  • 10/7/2024 FBP 6: Records, Pricing, Taxes + Farm Plan Presentation Prep (online) 
  • 10/14/2024 No Class – Indigenous People's Day
  • 10/21/2024 FBP 7: FBP Presentations + OFTP Feedback (online)
  • 10/28/2024 FBP 8: FPB Presentations + FBP Partner Review Session (online) 
  • 11/4/2024 FBP 9: FBP Presentations + Vision for Food & Ag Systems (online) 
  • TBD: Graduation celebration

Typical Schedule

May vary due to guests, weather, or activities.

On-Farm Days, 10 Mondays, 9am-5pm

@ Keep Growing Detroit or the MSU Student Organic Farm

  • 9 – 10 am Introduce the Daily Theme 
  • 10 – 10:20am Break
  • 10:20 - Hands-on Activities
  • Noon – 1pm Lunch Break
  •  1 – 3:00pm Hands-on or Theme Activities 
  • 3:00– 3:20pm Break 
  • 3:20 – 4:45 Farm Walk 
  • 4:45 – 5pm Evaluation

 

Field Trips, 5 Mondays (~8am-6pm) + 1 Weekend

5 day trips:

  • Detroit (4 or 5 farms)
  • Lansing (4 farms)
  • Ann Arbor (4 farms)
  • Grand Rapids (4 farms)
  • Kalamazoo or Flint (4 farms)

1 weekend trip:

  • Chicago* (6+ farms)

Carpool or drive solo.

*The Chicago trip is Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with group camping, cabin or solo overnight options.

 

Online Days, 17 Mondays, 9am-5pm

  • 9 – 10am Introduce Daily Themes
  • 10 – 11am Break or 1:1 advising
  • 11am – noon Full Group Activities
  • Noon – 1pm Lunch break
  • 1 – 2:30pm Guest Speakers
  • 2:30–3:30pm Break or 1:1 advising
  • 3:30 – 4:45 Small Group Activities
  • 4:45 – 5pm Evaluation & Sharing