Skills, Scale, Sustainability

A holistic and farmer-to-farmer approach for assessing and matching skills to appropriate levels of scale for sustainability

April 3-5, 2009
9 – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
9 – Noon Sunday
Airlie Center
Cost: $210

Are you looking for greater success in your small-scale agricultural endeavors? Join agricultural consultant Shane J. LaBrake for a 3-day intensive workshop that blends philosophy and pragmatic advice with hands-on training and real-life problem solving. Based on lessons learned from a lifetime of work and travel in food and farming, Shane will provide unique insights from his practical experience of reconciling idealism with the nitty-gritty, day-to-day reality of maintaining a viable and sustainable farming life. View our full-color brochure to see pictures of Shane and his students in action.

“As we consider small farm design, we’ll address real life skills and knowledge that aspiring farmers need to know,” says Shane. On-site and hands-on demonstrations with scale-appropriate tools, equipment, and gear will allow workshop attendees to make better decisions for their own operations. Classroom lectures and discussions will explore the rhythms and evolution of a season, and offer tips and ideas for better management of time and resources.

Read Shane’s bio.

Topics We'll Address
Classroom Study Sessions, Group Discussions and Exercises

• Assessing farm resources
• Creating a farm plan that works
• Building a farm system that works for you
• Managing the farm system
• Navigating the season
• Communication

Hands-on Skill Development and Live Field Demonstrations

• Hand tools for the small farm—use, maintenance, and testing
• Chainsaw safety and proper use
• Tractor basics, operations, safety, maintenance and practice
• Hoophouse construction and production basics
• Scale appropriate field layout and infrastructure design

Registration
To pay by credit card, visit our online registration center and enter conference code 105784. To pay by check, download a registration form and send payment made out to Airlie Foundation to:

Pablo Elliott
6809 Airlie Road
Warrenton, VA 20187


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