Beginning Farmer educational Event Schedule (2025)
Each region (Portland, Rogue Valley, and Willamette Valley) will have some variation. Events are 2 hours (online) or 2.5 hours (in-person) on afternoons. 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 chapter (Portland, Rogue Valley, and Willamette Valley) attend at least online events and the 4 weekend intensives.
Weekend intensives include in-depth workshops, farm tours, networking, discussion, and camping at a farm site.
EXAMPLE sCHEDULE:
APRIL
Online: Welcome / Orientation
Weekend Intensive #1: Social History of US & OR Food System + Farm Tours (Apprentices and Fellows only)
Online: Introduction to Agroecology
Online: Introduction to Horticulture
Propagation + Farm Tour
MAY
Online: Soil Biology
Weekend Intensive #2: 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: Irrigation & Water Resilience
Weekend Intensive #3: Irrigation Systems + Farm Tours (Apprentices and Fellows only)
Online: Integrating Livestock into Farm Systems
Regenerative Grazing + Farm Tour
Online: Dry Farming
JULY
Online: Decolonizing Agriculture
Indigenous Land Stewardship + Farm Tour
Online: Mitigating Pest & Disease Pressure
Online: Pollinators and Habitat
Online: Advocacy & Farmworker Justice
AUGUST
Online: Cover Crops & Rotation
Food Sovereignty + Farm Tour
Online: Next Steps Discussion
Online: Post Harvest Handling & Food Safety
SEPTEMBER
Online: Farm Business Planning Basics
Small Farm School (Portland day of workshops)
Online: Seed Saving
Seed Production + Farm Tour
OCTOBER
Online: Crop Planning
Winter Farming & Season Extension + Farm Tour