Project Title: Understanding Organic Basics: Farmer Education 04-05 Round 2 (2004)  

Project Leader (s):  Faye Jones, MOSES Executive Director, Jody Padgham MOSES Education Director

Project Collaborators:  UW Extension, Emerging Ag Markets Team

Project Category:    Marketing   

Situation:  There is a substantial hunger for basic education about the fundamentals of organic certification, production and marketing throughout rural communities in Wisconsin. Staff of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) have fielded numerous requests from leaders in a diversity of communities- from school teachers to UW-Extension Agents to managers of Farmer’s Markets- to bring a training program on the basics of organic production and marketing to audiences of farmers and youth throughout the state.

Response:  Objective: To educate new, beginning, part-time farmers and established farmers in Wisconsin to the option of organic production and marketing. The Understanding Organic Basics: Farmer Education project held a series of five workshops around the state to inform participants of the option and basics of organic production, and discuss marketing tools and opportunities. MOSES will do initial outreach, plan and implement the “Organic Basics” classes during the fall of 2004 and spring/summer of 2005.

• “Organic Production and Certification: a training for Hmong Farmers and Gardeners” was held Saturday April 16th with over 30 Hmong individuals attending. MOSES Education Director Jody Padgham led the two-hour session, with a translator present. An additional session was held for English speakers from 1-3 in the afternoon.  (Partner Bill Wright, UW Extension Brown County)
• “Organic Basics: Introduction to Organic Dairy Production” was held Friday April 22 in Marshfield, WI with 35 registered. This session included a morning classroom session with trainer Harriet Behar and an afternoon farm tour at the Jim Greenberg Farm in Stratford. (Partner Roy Diver, NRCS, Matt Lippert, UW-Extension Wood County attended)
• On April 26, 7-9pm, “Organic Basics: Introduction to Organic Production and Certification” was held in Algoma, WI. MOSES Executive Director Faye Jones led the session for 33 participants. (Partner, Algoma Community Kitchen and Greg Lawless, UW-Center for Co-ops, Mark Feuerstein, UW-Extension Door County attended)
• “Organic Basics: Introduction to Organic Grain Production and Certification” was held May 20, 1-5 pm in Camp Douglas, WI. (Partner, Paulette Bradley, WI Organic Marketing Alliance). 50 farmers attended, along with 4 staff (including Harriet Behar, trainer) and organizers.
• “Organic Basics: Introduction to Organic Production and Certification” was held May 26, 7-9 pm, at the Price County Extension Office, Phillips, WI. (Partner- Mark Kopecky, UW-Extension Price County). 22 farmers attended with trainer Faye Jones and Mark Kopecky.

Results:  

• 175 new, beginning, part-time farmers and established farmers in Wisconsin were exposed to the option of organic production and marketing. Publicity of sessions was broad based, with referrals for attendees coming from UW Extension, media press releases, grazing group newsletters, state and regional newspapers, radio announcements, NRCS offices, mailed and emailed announcements. Sessions took place in several areas of the state, allowing producers easy access to the information.
• Evaluations show that trainings offered very valuable information and that the handout resources would be useful later when producers make production decisions. On a numerical scale of 5 (great) to 1 (poor) the question “Was today’s training useful?” and “Do you feel the course helped you better understand organic certification?” got an average score averaging from 4.5 or 5.
• Sample comments stated “Excellent session- wish we would have had more time.” “You are doing a great job- keep up the good work.” “The overall knowledge was wonderful, it helps me understand organic production.” Also “The “Organic Basics” binder is wonderful, great resource.” “3 Ring binder will be of huge value.” “Thanks for the very complete manual, I’m sure that will be very helpful when I get done reading!”

Evidence: 

• Participant numbers were tallied through registrations.

Evaluations were collected at each event (except the Hmong session on April 16) and analyzed. Discussions were had with participants at sessions on what they were planning. Several were in the process of becoming certified for organic production and appreciated the opportunity to have questions answered. Others were considering organic production as an option and were happy to more fully understand all that is involved in transitioning. Many commented on the benefit of visiting a farm and being able to talk to a farmer who has gone through certification and understands some of their issues.