Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management provides farmers with the tools and knowledge needed to develop and manage a successful farm business. This course is intended for people who are considering starting a farm business, those within their first five years of farming and others who may be considering major changes to their farm business.

The core Growing Farms course is a series of six online modules that lead you through the basics of managing a successful farm business. The combined online/on-site course option includes the six online modules PLUS several face-to-face classes and one full-day field trip. Classroom times are from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meet with other students in an instructor-facilitated learning experience. There will be three evening classes (2-3 hours each), plus a full day of farm tours.

Schedule:

January 22 – 6:00-8:30pm

February 5 – 6:00-8:30pm

February 19 – All-day field trip

February 23 – Small Farms Conference (included)

March 5 – 6:00-8:30pm

The course was developed by OSU Small Farms Program faculty and other farm management experts, and is presented in an interactive and graphically rich format. Modules include more than four hours of video created specifically for the Growing Farms course, and feature six Oregon farmers who share their experience and insights about farming (see Featured Farmers). Although the course draws on examples from Oregon’s robust farming communities, its innovative examples, models and insights are highly relevant to farmers nationwide.