‘Grow Your Farm’ short course set

The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food at Fayetteville will hold a short course on small-scale farming titled “Grow Your Farm” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4.

The CAFF Small Farm Short Course provides an intensive workshop with a deep dive into bed building, equipment and transplanting, according to a news release.

“We’ll also cover the basics of record keeping, profitability, branding and marketing,” said CAFF Program Director Heather Friedrich. “The course features both classroom and field study, so wear your work clothes. We’ll demo equipment and tour some local farms, too!”

The cost of the workshop is $100 thanks to a grant from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants and outreach program. Scholarships are also available.

Lunch, refreshments and snacks will be provided. No experience is required, and the course is beginning-farmer-friendly, Friedrich noted. Guest speakers will include local farmers and technical experts.

The third and final short course of the year will be Oct. 18-19, focusing on crop planning and budgeting, soil health and equipment care.

CAFF supports local food entrepreneurs and increases small farm viability through experiential learning. Explore courses at LearnToFarm.org and follow on Instagram @caff_ ar_farms. CAFF is part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The deadline to register for the May3-4 course is April 28 at NWAFarming.org.