MSU Organic Farmer Training Program – March 15 - November 15

The 2021 MSU Organic Farmer Training Program (OFTP) will be a 50/50 mix of field and online learning, including 11 hands-on days at the MSU Student Organic Farm, 6 field trip days and 16 interactive online class days. Check out the full schedule and OFTP's COVID-19 protocols for masking, distancing and other precautions to see the plan for safe, on-farm learning. Join the 2021 cohort of aspiring and beginning farmers, farmworkers, homesteaders and educational gardeners to make your farm vision a reality! Online learning can create a strong learning community as Loretta Crum explains, “The give-and-take of comments and discussion I've received in this online course have convinced me that I can make my farm match where I am in my life and what I want to accomplish over the next 10-20 years. It's been fun to watch the rest of the students go through a similar process." Email msufarm@msu.edu or call/text Katie Brandt at 616-885-7776. For more information and to register follow this link: http://www.msuorganicfarm.org/organic-farmer-training-program.html 

Healthy Soil Summit – August 25, 26

The annual Healthy Soil Summit is built for farmers, growers and ranchers searching for an advantage in today’s marketplace. Our instructors are real farmers who practice what they teach, including detailed tactics to build soil resilience, increase water storage capacity and decrease costly inputs and programs. Not only will you learn how the ecological efficiencies of balancing the chemistry, biology and physical properties of your soil, but you will also learn how these tactics can decrease long-term fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide costs.  Register at this link.

Soil Health Workshop – September 16

Hosted in cooperation with several local conservation and agricultural organizations, the Farmer Veteran Coalition-Michigan Chapter will be conducting a Soil Health Workshop in Montcalm County, to increase veteran program awareness and increase members knowledge of soil health.  Topics for discussion are Small farm CSAs, Direct marketing and a tour of full Circle Farm.  Attendees are also invited to dinner and refreshments after the event at Edgar Farms, 11681 Howard City-Edmore Rd (M-46), Lakeview, MI 48850.  Please register at this link.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference – October 15, 16

16th Annual GLBD Conference will be held October 15 and 16.  The conference will take place IN PERSON at University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus 4001 W. McNichols at Livernois, Detroit MI 48221.