This is to let you know about a splendid new, intensive training
program for aspiring small-scale vegetable producers: The Wisconsin
School for Beginning Market Gardeners.
The school offers a unique opportunity to learn what it takes to set
up and conduct a successful smaller-scale vegetable operation. And
it helps students understand these operations as integrated ag
systems: where production, management, and marketing strategies are
blended into a comprehensive, well-managed farm business.
This one-week intensive course will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., January 5 to 9, 1998, as part of the Wisconsin Farm and
Industry Short Course. We're accepting applications now through
December 19.
The program
--combines knowledge from UW faculty and growers
--brings growers, researchers, and students together
--positions graduates to understand basic concepts in market
gardening and what it takes to organize a business of this type
--offers a comprehensive approach to connecting production and
marketing strategies
--gives students an opportunity to learn from growers who
have successful operations
--provides students with state-of-the-field concepts in horticulture
and plant pathology from UW faculty
The tuition fee includes a general orientation and marketing module,
in-class lectures, growers' panels, curriculum and background
materials, business plan development workshop, and networking
opportunities.
UW faculty and growers will share lead teaching responsibilities for
different modules, so students receive a blend of faculty and grower
expertise that's both relevant, interesting, and appropriate to the
topics.
Topics covered include: a general orientation and marketing module;
ecology and soil health systems; crop selection and plant
establishment; plant health and pest management (insects/diseases and
weeds); crop rotations; equipment needs and feasibility; labor
considerations; harvest, post-harvest handling, storage, and facility
considerations; greenhouses, irrigation, and season extension
techniques and technologies; crafting a solid business plan; getting
started; and making transitions as the operation grows and changes.
Tuition per person is $200. We offer a $50 discount to a second
applicant in the same household, farm, or address.
Sponsoring institutions include: the UW-Madison Center for
Integrated Ag Systems (CIAS), the Wisconsin Farm and Industry Short
Course (College of Ag and Life Sciences, UW-Madison), and the
UW-Madison departments of horticulture and plant pathology.
Support for this program comes from CIAS as part of its Regional Food
Systems area of research and programming.
Housing for the Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Gardeners will
be available on the UW campus.
To register, or for registration information, contact Lee Gottschalk,
(608) 263-2421.
For more information on the school, contact John Hendrickson,
(608) 265-3704, or jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu
Come join us in Madison for the second best thing you can do in
Wisconsin this winter...besides poring over seed catalogs with the
local cluster of market gardening, sustag, and CSA folks, and ice
skating on Lake Wingra under a nearly full moon (1/12). Well, maybe
the third best thing.
:^)
peace
michele
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The best way to predict the future
is to invent it. --Mister 3D
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