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Seeds of Self-Reliance – Part 2: Build Your Homestead Skills

Maryland Ministry of  Agriculture, Inc.

Learn how to become more self-sufficient and build essential homesteading skills at our Seeds of Self-Reliance event!

Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown Branch

🍁 Fall is calling — and it’s time to build your homestead power.Join us for Part 2 of the Seeds of Self-Reliance workshop series, where we go beyond the basics and dive into the skills that help you grow, preserve, and thrive year-round. Whether you made it to Part 1 or this is your first step, you’re exactly where you need to be.Hosted by the Maryland Ministry of Agriculture, Inc. (MD MOA), this workshop is about more than gardening — it’s about self-sufficiency, community resilience, and reclaiming the ability to feed and care for ourselves and our families.And yes — registration is still OPEN, but not for long. 🍂

<h3>🌻 What You’ll Learn – Series 2 Sessions:</h3><h3></h3>🛡️ Cold Weather Crop Protection:Learn how to guard your garden against frost and extend your growing season with low-cost tools and techniques.🥫 Intro to Food Preservation:Canning? Drying? Freezing? YES. We’re going to break it down so you can store your harvest safely and confidently.📋 Fall Homestead Planning:Get your game plan together! We'll walk you through how to prep your garden, animals, and mindset for a strong fall season.🤝 Homestead Cohort Meet-Up:Connect, collaborate, and build with others who are growing with you. This is your tribe.

<h3>💡 What to Bring:</h3>✔️ Your Homestead Notebook or a fresh notepad✔️ Comfortable clothes (we’re moving around!)✔️ Water or your favorite drink – light snacks are on us✔️ A teachable spirit and a will to grow!

<h3>👩🏽‍🌾 Who Should Attend?</h3><ul><li>Beginners AND returning participants</li><li>Gardeners, growers, and backyard builders</li><li>Families &amp; individuals ready to take control of their food and future</li><li>Anyone passionate about sustainability, freedom, and self-reliance</li></ul>

This is more than a class — it's a community.Let’s grow together. Reserve your seat today.

Agenda

- Brief overview by MD MOA team
- Icebreaker: “What did you apply from Part 1?”
- What to expect today

Welcome & Check-In

- Greeting & recap of Part 1 takeaways
- Overview of today’s hands-on focus and objectives

Opening Remarks

- Raised bed vs. container pros & cons
- Deciding optimal placement for access, water, and soil health
- Planning pathways, compost, and animal areas

Session 2: Strategic Bed & Container Placement

Stretch & Hydration Break

- Narrowing to specific crops (15 recommended fall crops, excluding collards & kale)
- Integrating pollinator-friendly flowers
- Aligning selections with preservation goals

Session 3: Crop & Flower Selection for Fall Planting

- Identifying what you will preserve from your harvest
- Choosing between canning, freezing, drying, and fermenting
- Timeline for implementation after harvest

Session 4: How to Protect Your Harvest

Session 5: Preservation Strategy Planning

- Participants work individually or in small groups to complete full scaled plans
- Peer and instructor feedback on layouts and planting choices

Group Planning Lab

- What to bring & what will be provided
- Safety tips & benefits of preservation
- Registration reminder for the class

Preview of September 27 Canning & Preservation Class

- Share your top action step for the week ahead
- Exchange contacts & join MD MOA Cohort List
- Group photo

Closing Circle & Next Steps

- Measuring and scaling your yard, balcony, or lot
- Determining sunlight zones & wind patterns
- Using graph paper or templates to draw your space to scale

Session 1: Farm Mapping Exercise

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Seeds of Self-Reliance – Part 2: Build Your Homestead Skills

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Seeds of Self-Reliance – Part 2: Build Your Homestead Skills

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