Growing Local Workshop & Event Series
New Mexico has tremendous resources for small market farmers, but they often can be hard to access, connect, and utilize in a timely and meaningful way. In the past six months, some of the folks who provide these resources have put their heads together to try to streamline the process of starting or expanding a small farm business. The Albuquerque Growers Market Alliance, the NMSU Bernalillo County Extension Service, the Mid-Region Council of Governments Agriculture Collaborative and La Montanita Coop are joining forces to provide the resources for existing farmers and potential farmers to increase the amount of local food available in our communities.
Further, these groups recognize the need to bring other stakeholders into the conversation to make the local food system thrive. In addition to workshops geared towards farmers, these groups will offer classes for landowners looking for farmers, and for chefs and other food service professionals looking to source local ingredients.
Over the next year, seasoned farmers, extension agents, chefs, business experts, and others will offer dozens of free to the public workshops and events geared towards giving small growers the opportunity to start or expand their business. These workshops will give technical assistance to growers on business and crop planning, introduce growers to funding streams to start or expand their operations, connect land owners to farmers, connect farmers to other markets like restaurants and institutions, and help wholesale buyers understand the logistics of buying from small scale farms.
Between February and July, the workshops and events will include (click on event title for more info and to access registration):
1/26 – 28 – Financial Success and Business Sustainability for Small Market Farms
2/8 - Get Caught Up On the Co-op: A Tour of the New Distribution Facility & Info Session (No registration required) 10am @ 901 Menaul Boulevard NE
2/8 - Mapping & Mining the Field: Crop Budgeting / Metrics / Planning
2/15 - Seed Money: Getting your Small Farm Financed
2/29 - Beyond the Growers Market: How to Sell to Other Markets
3/7 - Digging In: How to Find Land to Grow On
3/14 - Land and Water Use for Agriculture
3/21 - From Barren to Bountiful: Finding A Farmer & Putting Your Land Into Production
3/28 - Making a Stand: Selling at the Growers Market
4/4 - Growing Local Mixer Series: Land Seeker/Landholder Mixer
4/11 - Alvarado Urban Farm Grows Food and Farmers in the City:
A Farm Tour & Info Session on the Veteran Farmer Project (No registration required)
4/18 - The Devil in the Details: Navigating Environmental Health Permitting
4/25 - To Market, To Market: Introduction to Growers Markets for First-time Vendors
5/16 – Got Farm? Need Labor?: Handling Paid Labor, Internships, Volunteers, Crop Mobbing and More
5/30 - Growing Local Mixer Series: Grower/Buyer Mixer
6/27 - From Farm to Restaurant Plate: Buying Local for Your Restaurant or Food Service
TBD - Estate Planning for Agricultural Land Conservation
Detailed information about the classes and registration can be found by clicking on the event titles above. These free workshops and events are available to anyone who would like to attend, but participants must register ahead of time. Participation is limited to twenty, but if there is sufficient demand, a second session of the workshop will be scheduled to accommodate the interest.
Whatever your interest in local food, the Growing Local Workshop Series has something for everyone. If you have questions about these workshops, call (505) 369-6758 or email info@abqmarkets.org or localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov.