The Talking FarmHand CertificateProgram
This certificate program is geared to teaching participants about Urban Agriculture through the hands-on experience of volunteering and working on a diversified, sustainable urban farm. In order to achieve a certificate, participants are required to complete 50 hours of volunteer work in a minimum of 6 categories over a 12 month period of time. The availability of these categories will be based on the season and current necessary projects on the Howard Street Farm, Howard Street Woodland and the ETHS Edible Acre.
Participants will report to and work closely with the Farm Manager and Assistant Farm Manager as they complete the assignedtasks. Teaching and educational information will be discussed with participants as they unfold, with appropriate handouts, readings and other resources.
There is a $200 fee to participate in this Program. Please contact Matt Ryan, Assistant Farm Manager, at , or 847-440-6997 if you would like to sign up or for more information.
Categories:
Seed Propagation: How to start and propagate seeds for sale and to be transplanted into the Farm. Learn about soil mixes, germination temps, light requirements, days-to-transplant maturity, soil blocking, thinning and record keeping.
Crop Planning/implementation: Understanding the importance of a crop plan, how to prepare and read one, crop rotation, succession planting, companion planting, days to maturity, and harvesting windows.
IPM (Insect Pest Management) and Disease Control: How to identify troublesome garden pests and diseases and how to treat them naturally and how to implement a weekly log.
Harvesting/post harvest handling: When and how to properly harvest ripe produce and how to clean, weigh, bundle, cool and log produce.
Season Extension: How to implement different season extension techniques; help to build, install and work with season extension row covers and cold frames.
Hoop house construction/upkeep: How to choose and build a hoop house and how to maintain, repair and use it.
Watering/drip irrigation: The importance of drip irrigation; how to design a system, maintain and repair it and calculate water flow needs based on terrain, different crops, and the weather.
General Farm upkeep/work: There are always many different on-going “farm tasks”: from designing the layout, to building wood chip paths and roads, to fence repair, to tool shed construction to clearing new land.
Field Construction/soil building: How to space and measure out above-ground, raised field rows and how to build ‘lasagna’ beds. Learn how to organically and sustainably suppress weeds, when and how to weed different cropsand how to test for, choose and apply soil amendments and mulch.
Volunteer management/public education/Farm PR: How to lead and work with volunteer groups, give Farm tours, participate in presentations and public education events.
Classes/workshops: Certificate FarmHands will be able to participate without charge in any 2 regularly scheduled classes such as: Crop Planning, Seed Starting, Soil Building, and Season Extension plus others as they are set up.
The Talking FarmHand Certificate Program Application
All potential farmhand participants are required to interview with the Farm Manager and/or Assistant Farm Manage prior to enrollment in the program.
Name: ______
Street: ______
City: ______
State/Zip: ______
Email: ______
Phone #:______
Date: ______
Signature: ______