Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching Fall 2011
Instructors: Doug Collins, WSU Small Farms Program & Nicole Capizii, Amaranth Urban Farm & WSU Extension
Contact Information
Doug Collins
WSU Small Farms Program
253-445-4658
email
Nicole Capizii
Amaranth Urban Farm & WSU Extension
email
Course Content
Sept 27- Class 1
Course Introduction, Whole Farm Planning, Evaluation of Resources
Applications of sustainability and whole farm concepts on the farm
Applying “Whole Farm” concepts and planning tools to develop a farm plan
Assessing personal (and family) interests, skills, and values
Developing your whole farm goals
Enterprise Assessment
Enterprise ideas for small acreage farms/ranches
Production requirements and feasibility of enterprise
Activity: Quick Market Analysis
Assignment:
Read: Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction, Holistic Management: A Whole-Farm Decision Making Framework, Whole-Farm Planning at Work: Success Stories of Ten Farms (pgs. 8-11)
Complete Worksheet: Farmers Market Analysis, Identifying your Farm Related Interests and Skill, Developing your Whole Farm Goals, Farm and Ranch Resource Assessment Worksheets, Evaluating Enterprise Requirements Worksheets, Enterprise Evaluation Summary
Additional Reading: Whole-Farm Planning for Economical and Environmental Sustainability, Evaluating a Rural Enterprise
Class Presentations
Whole Farm Planning.pdf (38MB)
Evaluation of Resources.pdf (40MB)
Evaluation of Resources-Doug.pdf (5MB)
Enterprise Ideas (34MB)
Researching Small Farm Enterprises (6.5MB)
Oct 4 -- No Class
Oct 11 - Class 2
Sustainable Grazing Management and Livestock Production
Guest Lecture: Rene Skaggs, Pierce Conservation District – Pasture Management
Guest Lecture: Rick Reinsolader, King County Ag Program - Livestock
Guest Producer: TBD
Grazing management on small acreages
Pasture management and renovation
Introduce livestock production
Discuss breed selection
Basic nutritional information discussed
Marketing options
Assignment:
Read: Sustainable Sheep Production, Goats: Sustainable Production Overview, Livestock for Small Acreage Landowners, Hog Production Alternatives, Sustainable Pasture Management, Rotational Grazing, Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers, Dairy Production on Pasture: An Introduction of Grass-Based and Seasonal Dairying, Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers
Additional Reading: Profitable Poultry, Profitable Pork
Oct 18- Class 3
Enterprise Budgets and Land Tenure
Guest Lecture: Dick Carkner, Terry’s Berries/Emeritus WSU Prof. Agr. Econ.
Guest Speaker: Sarah Wilcox, Cascade Harvest Coalition
- The basics of farm economics
- Enterprise budgets as decision making tools
Assignment:
Read: Agricultural Alternatives: Enterprise Budget Analysis. Using Enterprise Budgets to Make Decisions about Your Farm.
Complete Worksheet: Developing An Enterprise Budget
Oct 25 - Class 4
Sustainable Poultry Production
Guest Lecture: Rocio Crespo, WSU Avian Health and Food Safety Lab – Chicken Health
Guest Producer: TBD
- Introduce poultry production
- Discuss housing requirements
- Basic nutritional information discussed
- Marketing Options
Assignment:
Read:Alternative Poultry Production Systems and Outdoor Access, Small –Scale Egg Handling
October 29th -- Class 4a
Field trip -- To be announced
Nov 1 - Class 5
Sustainable Crop Production
Guest Lecture: Carol Miles, WSU Vegetable Specialist or Nicole Jain Capizzi, WSU Extension and Amaranth Urban Farm
Guest Producer: TBD
Assignment:
Read: Diversify Crops to Boost Profits and Stewardship, Basics of Vegetable Crop Irrigation, Overview of Organic Crop Production, Smart Water Use on Your Farm
Complete Worksheet: Draft Crop Management Plan Worksheets
Implementing farming practices that promote sustainability
Organic practices for vegetable production
Assignments due 11/1:
Read: Diversifying Cropping Systems, Basics of Vegetable Crop Irrigation, Overview of Organic Crop Production, Smart Water Use on Your Farm
Complete Worksheets: Draft Crop Management Plan Worksheets
Nov 8 - No Class
Nov 15 - Class 6
Ecological Soil Management
Assignment:
Read: Soil Management for Small Farms, Soil Quality Resource Concerns, Soil Sampling
Complete Worksheet: Use of Compost and/or Manure as Soil Amendments
Composting and Soil Amendments
Nov 22 - Class 7
Integrated Pest Management
Guest Lecture: Chris Benedict, WSU Extension, Whatcom County; Todd Murray, WSU Extension, Skamania County; and Doug Collins, WSU Small Farms Program
Basics of Integrated Pest Management
Ecological weed management
Assignment:
Read: A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests, Integrated Pest Management: Effective Options for Farmers, Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Croplands
Optional Reference: Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual
Complete Worksheet: Pest and Weed Management Table
Direct Marketing
Assignments:
Read: Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers, Marketing Alternatives for Specialty Produce, Alternative Meat Marketing, “Green” Markets for Farm Products.
Complete Worksheets: Farm and Ranch Marketing Assessment Worksheets
Nov 29 - Class 8
Equipment and Facilities
Lecture: Andy Bary, WSU Extension, Crop and Soil Scientist
Guest Producer: Holly Foster – Zestful Gardens, CSA/Vegetables/Small Fruit/Equipment
Selecting Appropriate Equipment
Irrigation Systems for small acreage farming
Meeting the building and fencing requirements
Assignment:
Read: Decision making for Part-Time Farmers (Online Link)
Complete Worksheets: Farm and Ranch Resource Assessment Worksheets, Evaluating Enterprise Requirements Worksheets, Optional Assignment: Regional Opportunities and Challenges for Your Farm, Property Inventory Map, Enterprise Evaluation
Dec 6 - Class 9
Direct Marketing Strategies
Guest Lecture: Colleen Donovan, WSU Extension Small Farms Program
Guest Producer: TBD
Exploring methods to market direct to consumers
Direct marketing regulation and resources
Dec 13 - Class 10
Tools for Whole Farm Success & Farm Plan Presentations
Tools for tracking success
Assessing Sustainability
Proactively addressing legal liability issues
Lecture: Doug Collins, WSU Small Farms Program and Nicole Jain Capizzi, WSU Extension and Amaranth Urban Farm