Workshops Hosted by Growing Growers are Open to the Public
OLATHE, Kan. – A series of workshops designed for anyone growing fruits and vegetables for sale or for the serious home gardener will be held in several locations in the Kansas City area, starting March 16.
Topics ranging from plant propagation, managing healthy soils, small farm equipment maintenance, drip irrigation, tree fruit production, introduction to cut flowers, farm business management, pest and disease control, and many other topics will be covered in this year’s workshop series. More information and registration is available at Growing Growers.
“The workshops are open to the public and are appropriate for anyone interested in growing,” said Kansas State University horticulturist, Cary Rivard. “We offer a range of workshops covering ‘Market Farming 101’ topics, plus several advanced topics. Participants typically include Growing Growers apprentices, new or experienced growers, and others who are interested in the particular topic or who are considering trying to farm.”
The workshops are hosted by Growing Growers – Kansas City, a collaborative effort of K-State Research and Extension, University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, the Kansas Rural Center, the Kansas City Food Circle and Cultivate Kansas City.
Cost of the workshops is $15 or $30, depending on whether it is a half- or full-day program. All workshops include farm tours of nearby commercial farms that are using techniques relevant to the workshop topic.
Workshop dates, topics and locations:
* March 16 – Plant Propagation and Production Planning – Kansas City, Kansas
* March 20 – KC Metro Area Farmers Market Workshop – Olathe, Kansas
* April 11 – Building and Managing Healthy Soils – Olathe, Kansas
* May 11 – Small Farm Equipment and Drip Irrigation – Lawrence, KS
* May 28 –– Conservation Agriculture & Sustaining Soils – Lawrence, Kansas
* June 8 – Postharvest Handling – Lawrence, Kansas
* June 20 – Introduction to Tree Fruit Production – Kansas City, Missouri
* July 13 –Equipment Maintenance– Kansas City, Missouri
* July 25 – Insect, Disease, and Weed Management – Kansas City, Missouri
* August 3– Introduction to Cut Flowers – Kansas City, Missouri
* August 10 – Field Day/Horticulture Research Update – Olathe, Kansas
* August 17 – Storage Crops – Baldwin City, Kansas
* September 5 – Farm Business Management – Kansas City, Missouri
* September To be determined – Livestock Options for Small Farmers – To be determined.
Growing Growers also coordinates a farm apprenticeship program for aspiring growers and maintains an electronic mailing list of growers. More information about Growing Growers workshops, including specific location, times and registration information is available at Growing Growers.
Story by: Molly Fusselman
