Farm School 2017
Anyone, with any amount of space, can grow food. Whether you want to build raised beds in your backyard or start a small-scale farm, this course will empower you to get the most food possible out of your space.
18 Reasons and the Bi-Rite Farm are delighted to offer the opportunity to get your hands dirty during this eleven session immersion course, running May through October 2017.
FARM SCHOOL is geared for adults who want to learn about the life, economics, and labor of small scale organic farming practices. The course includes five lectures at 18 Reasons and six farming days at the Bi-Rite Farm, with additional excursions to surrounding farms and gardens. The Wednesday lectures will take you through the logistics and business of starting a rural or urban farm; the Saturday farm sessions will put you on-site digging, planting, weeding and harvesting - hands-on, experiential learning. While this is not a comprehensive, collegiate-level course, the 18 Reasons Farm School is perfect for folks who are interested in growing food and who desire to gain a deeper understanding of the politics and practicalities of small scale organic farming in the Bay Area.
ADDITIONAL PERKS: a free 18 Reasons membership (if you are already member, this can be applied when your current membership expires), bags of produce following harvest on Saturdays, and a farm to table lunch cooked by Sam Mogannam, owner of Bi-Rite Market!
INSTRUCTORS
Simon Richards, Bi-Rite Market's head produce buyer and Layla Aguilar, Bi-Rite Farm's farmer; co-led with Janine Gee, 18 Reasons' coordinator and gardening educator. Guest lectures may include Andy Griffin (the inspirational and pioneering owner of Mariquita Farm), educators from Sonoma Garden Park, Janet Hikari of Hikari Farms, Ben Eichorn (Founder of Grow Your Lunch), Kristyn Leach from Namu Farm, and more.
PRICE
$650
Class size capped at 24.
If you are unable to attend all sessions, you must still pay full price. Tickets are not discounted or pro-rated for any reason. *If you would like to set up a payment plan, you can send us three post-dated checks, each made out to 18 Reasons for $217. We will deposit the checks on April 1, July 1, and September 1. If this is the route you’d like to take, please contact Janine at janine@18reasons.org.
DATES, TIMES, LOCATION
Wednesday lectures are 6:30-9:00 pm at 18 Reasons.
Saturday farm days are 8:00 am-2:00 pm at Bi-Rite Farm (carpools will be organized during the first meeting).
Wednesday, May 10 | Reception, Dinner, Inspirational Lecture
Saturday, May 13 | Hands-on learning including field preparation, irrigation and transplanting
Wednesday, June 14
Saturday, June 17 | Hands-on learning including composting and inputs
Wednesday, July 12
Saturday, July 15 | Hands-on learning including greenhouse seeding, direct seeding, succession planting and crop planning
Wednesday, August 9
Saturday, August 12 | Farm tours
Wednesday, September 13
Saturday, September 16 | Harvesting at Bi-Rite Farm, Introduction to Beekeeping, and a lunch prepared by Sam Mogannam
Saturday, October 14 | Bonus Farm Day to transition into fall
*Topics are subject to change
TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD
18 Reasons will help organize carpooling logistics but will not offer transportation to Sonoma. Students are responsible for their own food and water. Snacks and water are provided during Wednesday evening lectures.
This promises to be a extremely fun and in-depth introduction to farming!
