Market Gardener Training Curriculum
The Curriculum Below was a part of a 10 week training that took place in the spring of 2006. Five intensive training sessions took place at the George Jones Farm and Nature Preserve during the summer of 2006 to cover a vareity of topics and offer hands-on learning opportunities.
City Fresh Market Gardener Training Program
Spring 2006
Week 1:
Introductions and class guidelines
Week 2:
Business Understanding agribusiness; How a business grows and develops; Developing your mission statement
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture “Thinking Like a Market Gardener”: The Production – Marketing Continuum
Matt Kleinhenz, Vegetable Crop Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Week 3:
Business Developing your Mission Statement; Elements of a business plan
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Marketing your product, direct marketing, pricing, grower’s association
John Ellerman, Ohio Farmer’s Union
Week 4:
Business 5 functions of management; planning/problem solving;
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Soil Basics: Amendments, cover crops, composting and contamination
Lynn Gregor and Morgan Taggart, OSU Extension;
Maurice Small, New Agrarian Center and Cleveland Botanical Garden
Week 5:
Business Organization; setting up your legal structure; accounting and bookkeeping
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Watering and fertilization
Tim Malinich, OSU Extension, Cuyahoga County
Week 6:
Business Marketing, marketing analysis, marketing principles and strategies
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Maintenance of crop, pest & disease prevention and management
Erik Draper, OSU Extension, Geauga County
Week 7:
Business Leading; pricing produce
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Harvest to market
Valerie Fox, Farm Manager Jones Farm
Week 8:
Business Conflict resolution/stress management; developing a policy and procedures
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Selling to Fresh Stops and other local markets
Brad Masi and Maurice Small, New Agrarian Center
City Fresh Seed Grants Program
Brad Masi and Morgan Taggart
Week 9:
Business Developing cash flow projections
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Local Food Markets
Kari Moore, Program Coordinator, Local Food Works Initiative
Working with Restaurants
Kurt Steeber, Executive Chef, Great Lakes Brewing Company
Funding sources for Small Businesses
Charnika Hudson, WECO Fund
Week 10:
Business Developing your budget, wrap-up of business plans
Walt Williams, Community Development Extension Educator
Agriculture Pricing, and trends in the local and organic food markets; Forming growers cooperatives and associations
John Ellerman, Ohio Farmers Union
Hands-On Training at the George Jones Farm and Nature Preserve:
Wednesday, May 3 9:00-4:00pm Growing Power Training on Vermicomposting
Saturday, May 20 9:00-3:00pm Organic Vegetable Production, Introduction to Permaculture
Saturday, June 24 9:00-3:00pm Organic Vegetable Production, Basic Beekeeping
Saturday, July 29 9:00-3:00pm Organic Vegetable Production, Youth Gardening
Saturday, Sept 9 9:00-3:00pm Harvesting, Marketing, Networking
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