Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability: PDFs
CLICK ON THE TITLES BELOW TO ACCESS THE PDF OF EACH UNIT OR CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL MANUAL (400 PAGES, 3.5 MB)
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Foreword and Introduction: How to Use This Resource
An introduction to the material and how to use it to teach organic farming and gardening skills. Includes table of contents, list of contributors and reviewers.
Unit 1.0 Small Farm Economic Viability
This unit provides the context for subsequent studies of the economics of small-scale agriculture, including the social and economic factors affecting small-farm viability.
PDF download »Unit 2.0 Overview of Produce Marketing
This unit introduces students to the history of produce marketing in the U.S. and discusses growers' most common marketing options.Unit 3.0 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
This six sections of this unit on direct marketing through CSA projects address multiple aspects of the CSA model, including its history, CSA management, outreach and organization, crop planning, and harvest and post-harvest handling.Unit 4.0 Other Direct Marketing Options
This 4-part unit includes sections on a number of marketing options that small-scale producers are using to maintain the economic viability of their farms, including farmers' markets, roadside stands, eCommerce, agritourism, food hubs, and other creative efforts.Unit 5.0 Marketing Basics
This unit addresses the standard 4 P's of marketing: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion, and reviews the steps for communicating who you are as a farmer by developing a brand and value proposition, and communicating with customers.Unit 6.0 Building Resilience—Small Farm Planning and Operations
This five-part unit provides a comprehensive overview of the business side of the farming operation, including information on business planning, cash flow planning, bookkeeping, taxes, using social media and public events to help build a resilient operation.PDF download »
Appendix, Unit 6.1» Appendix 1: Time Flow Worksheet
Appendices, Unit 6.2 » Appendix 1, Sample Cash Flow Spreadsheet; Appendix 2, Cash Flow TemplateUnit 7.0 Food Safety on the Farm
This unit introduces the topic of food safety on the farm, and why it has become an increasingly important issue for growers. Included is information on "good agricultural practices" (GAPs), and development of a food safety plan.Unit 8.0 Farm Employees and Innovative Models for Interns & Apprentices
This unit covers the basic information about having employees on a farm, including employee protections, taxes, and complying with regulations, as well as working with contractors, interns, and apprentices.Unit 9.0 Land Tenure Options and Strategies
This unit introduces a range of strategies that farmers can use to identify and secure long-term and affordable access to agricultural land, including traditiona leases and innovative approaches such as partnerships, owner financing, conservation easements, leases to non-profits, and land pooling.General Resources
A list of resources not specifically tied to Units 1–9.
