Beginning Farmer educational Event Schedule (2024)
Each region (Portland, Rogue Valley, and Willamette Valley) will have some variation. Events are 2 hours (online) or 3 hours (in-person) on afternoons/evenings. Most in-person events will be in spring and fall. During summer months when temperatures and AQI levels are high due to climate change and wildfire smoke, classes will largely be held online.
Apprentices at satellite Host Farms that are not within an active regional location (Portland, Rogue Valley, and Willamette Valley) attend at least online events and the weekend intensives.
Weekend intensives include in-depth workshops, farm tours, networking, discussion, and camping at a farm site.
Detailed Event Series schedules are here:
APRIL
Online: Welcome / Orientation
Weekend Intensive #1: Food Justice / Sovereignty, Social History of US & OR Food System + Farm Tours (Apprentices and Fellows only)
Online: Introduction to Horticulture & Sustainable Agriculture
Propagation + Farm Tour
MAY
Online: Post Harvest Handling and Food Safety
Weekend Intensive #2: Soil Biology / Soil Health + Farm Tours (Apprentices and Fellows only)
Online: Bed Prep and Cultivation Techniques in No-Till & Tillage Systems
Weed Management/ Tool Use & Tool Care + Farm Tour
Online: Nutrient Management
JUNE
Online: Decolonizing Agriculture
Weekend Intensive #3: Irrigation Systems & Concepts + Farm Tours (Apprentices and Fellows only)
Online: Integrating Livestock into Farm Systems
Regenerative Grazing + Farm Tour
JULY
Online: Farmworker Justice
Online: Pest / Disease Management
Online: Collective, Non-Profit, and Farm-to-Institution Business Models
AUGUST
Online: Next Steps Discussion
Online: Beekeeping
Online: Cover Crops & Crop Rotation
Online: Tree Crops & Cane Fruits
SEPTEMBER
Orchards/Perennials + Farm Tour
Small Farm School (Portland day of workshops) or Farm Tour
Online: Farm Business Planning Basics
Seed Production + Farm Tour
OCTOBER
Online: Crop Planning
Winter Farming & Season Extension + Farm Tour
End of Season Participant Presentations (online or in-person)
RFC Social & Closing Celebration