Field School: Recordkeeping & Labor

Join us for a practical overview of on-farm recordkeeping and how strong systems can support daily operations, decision-making, and long-term planning as the season unfolds.

We will also explore standardization for volunteers and staff, strategies for recruiting and retaining labor, and key management tips to support a resilient and well-coordinated team.

About the Field School

The Farm Alliance of Baltimore (FAB) is proud to launch Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy (BBUFA) Field School. Running from March to December, this series of hands-on workshops is intended to serve as an accessible point of entry for anyone interested in learning the seasonal fundamentals of urban agriculture. No previous farming experience is required to participate!

The BBUFA Field School's schedule is split up into three sessions: spring, summer, and fall. The majority of instruction will take place on site at FAB's teaching farm in South Baltimore, with occasional classroom sessions depending on content.

Learn more about the history of the Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy program on our website.

About the Facilitator

Kristin Carbone is the Farm Manager at FAB's Black Butterfly Teaching Farm and brings two decades of farming knowledge and a lifelong love of learning to the position.

After an early career in community organizing, she began her farming journey at Clagett Farm, learning the ins and outs of farming while focusing on cover cropping and agriculture's impacts on the Chesapeake Bay. In 2009, she started her own farm business, Radix Farm, in Upper Marlboro MD. At Radix, she converted three acres of conventionally farmed land into a thriving and bountiful market farm, selling to CSA customers, restaurants, and farmers markets in the DC area. In 2010 she participated in Future Harvest’s Beginning Farmer Training Program and went on to become a trainer for the program.

After growing her first human baby, Kristin moved to Baltimore and leaned into carpentry, spending a decade renovating and repairing homes. Kristin’s passion for growing healthy food remained strong, as she continued to grow vegetables at her home garden, occasionally worked for farmer friends like Two Boots Farm and Moon Valley Farm, and now stewards land at a collectively owned land project in PA.

Additional Information

This workshop will be held indoors. We encourage you to bring a water bottle! Extra water, masks, and hand sanitizer will be provided.

• Parking: Parking is available in the lot on the north side of the Union Mill building. Street parking is also available in the neighborhood.
• Restrooms: There is a restroom on site.
• Accessibility: Please enter on the north side of the building. The conference room is on the first floor with ramp access. Seating will be provided.
• Illness: Please do not attend this event if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of illness including but not limited to fever, coughing, and/or vomiting.
• Cancellation Policy: In the event that we need to cancel due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, attendees will receive an email notification.

Questions? Please contact programs@farmalliancebaltimore.org