Small Farm Boot Camp

This January through March, please join Alamance County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent, Bill Kleiner, for an in-person Small Farm Boot Camp Pilot program. Whether you just bought a few acres or just want to start growing your own food, the eight sessions are a practical training program that will provide the technical knowledge and skills needed to get started with your farm. The course is designed for new and beginning farmers, market gardeners, and homesteaders who have an interest in exploring fruit and vegetable production.

General Program Format

This program includes eight modules with each covering a different topic. Some modules will have a guest speaker like Alamance County Extension Family Consumer Science Agent, Elisa Phillips, talking on Identifying Community Assets in session 1.

Each module contains approximately two hours of content. Module topics include:

1. Getting Started with Local Foods Production - January 11
2. Soil Health and Fertility Management - January 18
3. Vegetable Production - January 25
4. Growing Small Fruit - February 1
5. Tree Fruit Production - February 8
6. Season Extension - February 15
7. Postharvest Handling of Fresh Produce - February 22
8. Putting a Plan to Work - March 1

There will also be some optional activities and field trips to Buster Sykes Farm and other places to complement each module.

Timeline for Classes: Wednesdays, from 1/11/23 - 3/01/23, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Program Cost: $20 one time fee paid with a credit or debit card through Eventbrite or if paying by check or cash, please mail or bring payment to 209-C North Graham Hopedale Rd., Burlington NC, 27217. Make all checks out to "Alamance County." Payment should be received at least one week prior to the event. Event hosts reserve the right to release your spot to someone else if payment is not received by this date.

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2023

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commits themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual identity (including pregnancy) and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Accommodation requests should be made a minimum of two weeks prior to the class to:

Bill Kleiner at 336-570-6740 or bill_kleiner@ncsu.edu

209-C N. Graham-Hopedale Road Burlington, NC 27217