Beginning Your Farm, Years 1-2

This workshop will explore planning and resources for beginning a vegetable and flower farm in Connecticut. Participants will learn more about their motivations and “why” behind starting a farm, and how to choose the best farming model based on those motivations, i.e. financial gain, personal enjoyment, community engagement, etc. The workshop will explore sales outlets (farm stand, CSA, farm to school, wholesale, retail, farmers markets) and how to select which sales outlet is best for your farm, marketing (website, social media, newsletter), basic production methods and models (certified organic, certified naturally grown, no till, IPM, climate smart ag, high tunnel etc., as well as explore resources available to new farmers and their programs (NRCS, NCTFA, Solid Ground UConn Extension, The Carrot Project, CT NOFA, etc.).