Cultivating Success

On October 14th, P and I started taking a Farming and Ranching course called "Cultivating Success". It is for 3 hours every Thursday night, and the topics are:
Module 1: Starting with Whole Farm Sustainability in Mind
 Understanding “sustainability” and “whole farm” concepts
 Applications of sustainability and whole farm concepts on the farm

Module 2: Successful Whole Farm Planning
 Applying the “Whole Farm” concepts to develop a farm plan
 Whole farm planning tools
 Assessing personal (and family) interests, skills, and values
 Developing your whole farm goals

Module 3: Evaluating Your Whole Farm Resources
 Introduction to the whole farm plan layout
 Resource inventory and assessment
 Mapping the farm property

Module 4: Enterprise Assessment
 Enterprise ideas for small acreage farms/ranches
 Production requirements and feasibility of enterprise
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Module 5: Direct Marketing Strategies
 Exploring methods to market direct to consumers

Module 6: Sustainable Crop Production
 Implementing farming practices that promote sustainability
 Growing organic

Module 7: Ecological Soil Management
 Soil characteristics important to plant growth
 Building healthy Soils
 Soil testing

Module 8: Integrated Pest and Weed Management
 Basics of Integrated Pest Mangement
 Ecological weed management


Module 9: Sustainable Livestock/Poultry Systems
 Sustainable animal production
 Grazing management on small acreages

Module 10: Sustainable Grazing Management
 Grazing management methods for small acreage farms
 Principles of rotational grazing.
 Setting up paddocks and pastures for rotational grazing
 Manage for multi species grazing

Module 11: Facilities and Equipment
 Selecting Appropriate Equipment
 Irrigation Systems for small acreage farming
 Meeting the building and fencing requirements

Module 12: Assessing the Potential for Profit
 The basics of farm economics and record keeping
 Enterprise budgets as decision making tools

Module 13: Enhancing Success of Your Whole Farm Plan
 Tools for tracking success
 Assessing Sustainability
We've been to our first two classes, and besides getting home at ten o'clock at night and the classes being an hour away, we love it! It's a good group of about 12 people who want to start their farms at various levels.
Through the extension agency for our county, we are getting a "farm planner" who is going to come out to our property (for free). He is going to look at our land, and assets, and tell us the best way to use the land. He is going to help us work around our seasonal creek and wetlands and help us do soil testing.
The county extension office also has grants for fencing and other materials!!!