Arcadia Veteran Farmer Reserve Training Program

ARCADIA VETERAN FARMER RESERVE TRAINING PROGRAM

2016 APPLICATION

ARCADIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD & AGRICULTURE

9000 RICHMOND HIGHWAY

ALEXANDRIA VA 22309

The Veteran Farmer Reserve Program is a tuition-based training program that will take place one weekend a month for 12 months beginning in January 2016, with an additional 80 hours of on-farm practical training to be completed before the end of the year. Based at Arcadia Farm at Woodlawn, but extending into the rural areas surrounding the national capital region, this training requires that participants have a commitment to learning about both growing food and planning a successful farm business operation. Farmer Reserves will experience both classroom and hands-on practical training on our sustainable farm, and will visit diverse farming operations to see other specialties and approaches to farming. Reservists will also have homework and reading assignments to complete between their monthly workshops. A major emphasis of this program is developing familiarity with required business skills to run a successful farm operation, includingbusiness planning, basic accounting, and marketing. Reserve Farmers are required to pay attention to detail, complete assigned tasks, readings, and records; to report directly to Arcadia farmers for instruction, observation, and direction; and to articulate observations, questions, and needs. Reservists must also have access to reliable transportation. Above all, Reservists need to enjoy what we do, and keep a positive attitude, a sense of humor, curiosity, and goodwill.

Programtuition is $1,995 for the 12 weekend sessions, with some scholarships available. Tuition includes lunch and other meals as appropriate, transportation costs when traveling as a group, and instruction and course materials.

Anticipated Workshop Dates

DRAFT 2016 Training Curriculum Summary

The Veteran Farmer Program is intended to ground veterans in the science and art of cultivation; help them develop growing skills; expose them to the multitude of opportunities in sustainable agriculture; and emerge from the program with a business plan for their current or future operation.

Each monthly seminar will include:

• Classroom time is structured around farm and business practices and a focused plant family
• Practical cultivation skills and hands-on work on the farm or in the greenhouse
• Field visits to other farms or agricultural operations
• Independent reading to be completed before the seminar

The curriculum will be adjusted as necessary to respond to what is growing on Arcadia farm, the weather, newly published works, and the schedules of guest instructors and partner farms.

JANUARY:

Classroom: Introduction to principles of sustainable agriculture

Crop planning/rotation

Basic plant botany

Plant Family Theme: Brassicaceae (broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnip, radish)

FEBRUARY:

Classroom: Propagation/Greenhouse techniques

Soil properties, health, fertility

Plant Family Theme: Fabaceae (beans, peas, vetch)

MARCH:

Classroom: Tractor operation/maintenance

Soil preparation (till vs. no till), soil testing, interpreting results

Planting calendars - zone

Plant Family Theme: Apiaceae (carrots, fennel, celery, cilantro, parsley)

APRIL:

Classroom: Pest and disease management (weeds, vertebrate and invertebrate pests, plant pathogens)

Farm irrigation - drip tape, drilling for wells, water needs of crops

Plant Family Theme: Chenopodiaceae (spinach, beets, chard)

MAY:

Classroom: Beekeeping/importance of pollinators

Growing specialty crops (heirlooms, salad mix, ginger)

Plant Family Theme: Cucurbitaceae (cucumber, pumpkins, melons, summer squash)

JUNE:

Classroom: Marketing and moving produce (farmers’ market, mobile market, restaurant wholesale, CSA)

Farm business planning, insurance, legal issues, farm loans

Farm labels - VA grown, naturally grown, organic

Plant Family Theme: Solanaceae (peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes)

JULY:

Classroom: Goats, pigs, chickens - livestock on farm

Fruit production (IPM, Organic)

Plant Family Theme: Rosaceae (peaches, apples, apricots, blackberries)

AUGUST:

Classroom: Setting up for year round growing (hoop houses)

Compost management

Plant Family Theme: Asteraceae (sunflower, lettuce, endive, escarole)
SEPTEMBER:

Classroom: Covercrops

Seed saving

Caring for herbs (medicinal and culinary)

Plant Family Theme: Lamiaceae (lavender, basil, oregano, marjoram)

OCTOBER:

Classroom: Environmental & Social issues in Agriculture (modern agriculture’s effect on environment, social and political issues with food system)

Farm labor issues

Growing grains

Plant Family Theme: Poaceae (corn, barley, rice, sorgum)

NOVEMBER:

Classroom: Land access, land trusts

Value added - jams, jellies, fermentation, pickles

Cut flowers

Plant Family Theme: Liliaceae (chives, garlic, asparagus, onions)

DECEMBER:

Classroom: Farm planning (crop planning, business plan, seed ordering, soil considerations, labor, produce outlets)

Plant Family Theme: Polygonaceae (buckwheat, rhubarb)/Ericaceae (blueberries, cranberries)

Personal Information

Name: / Date of Birth:
Current Address: / City: / State:
/ ZIP:
Permanent Address (if different from current): / City: / State: / ZIP:
Email: / Phone: / Best time to call:
Current position (school, employment, or seeking employment):
Em
Date of separation from military: / Type of discharge (general, honorable, dishonorable):

Education & Training

Name of High School
/ Location (City & State)
/ Dates Attended
Did you graduate or receive a GED?
Name of School or Program
/ Location (City & State)
/ Dates Attended
Subjects Studied / Degrees or Certificates Obtained (if any)
Name of School or Program / Location (City & State) / Dates Attended
Subjects Studied / Degrees or Certificates Obtained (if any)
Please list any other skills that you have learned through work, military service or other ways that you will apply to a career in agriculture.

Military Background

Branch Service & Highest Rank achieved
/ Dates of Service / Job Specialty (MOS, rating, occupation)
While serving did you command personnel, and/or were you responsible for equipment and supplies other than your personal gear? Please describe.

Other Work History

Please list any non-military employment, beginning with the most recent work experience.
Name of Employer / Employer’s Address City/State/Zip
Is it ok to contact this employer?
/ Employer’s Email or Phone / Dates of Employment
Position Title
/ Job Description
Why did you leave the job?
Additional Work Experience
Name of Employer / Employer’s Address City/State/Zip
Is it ok to contact this employer?
/ Employer’s Email or Phone / Dates of Employment
Position Title
/ Job Description
Why did you leave the job?

Attach additional Work Experience as a separate document as needed.

Farming is physically rigorous work. By initialing each box below, you acknowledge your understanding that these are essential functions or requirements of this training program.
Lifting & carrying weights of 50 lbs on a regular basis.
Working out of doors for long periods of time in hot, cold or wet weather.
Bending or squatting for long periods of time.
Rate your physical condition:Excellent Good Fair Poor
Do you have any allergies? Asthma?
If yes, what are you allergic to?
(Note: There is poison ivy as well as stinging and biting insects around the Farm.)
Do you have a valid and current driver’s license?
Can you drive a vehicle with standard (manual) transmission?

Interests & Goals

Answer these questions with up to a few paragraphs per question. The text box will expand.
Why are you interested in learning to farm?
What are your goals for a career in agriculture (own a farm, work on a ranch, be a tenant farmer etc)?
What do you think your military service will bring to a new career in farming?
What do you hope to gain from this training experience?
Will you require a full or partial scholarship to participate? We require that full scholarship recipients make a refundable deposit of $500 to participate in the program. The deposit will be returned at completion of the program.
Please indicate your interest in the following. Your response will shape field trips and classroom lessons. / Not very interested / Somewhat interested / Very interested / Don’t know
Growing vegetables & herbs
Growing tree fruits & nuts
Berry crops
Raising cows (meat & dairy)
Raising sheep or goats (meat, dairy or wool)
Raising pigs
Raising chickens
Beekeeping
Greenhouse production
Organic / ecological growing methods
Tree syrupping
Commercial food preparation:
jams & sauces
cheese making
butchering/sausage making
Pickling
beer and wine production
distribution (specify)
Growing flowers and ornamentals (horticulture)
Sustainable energy (solar, etc.)
Please indicate if you have experience in the following. This is for our information only. Lack of experience will not preclude you from being selected, and experience will not guarantee your selection.
SKILL / NONE / LESS THAN 10 HRS / MORE THAN 10 HRS
gardening hand tools
(spades, forks, rakes, shovels, hoes, etc.)
lawn and garden power equipment
(lawn mowers, rototillers, garden tractors)
carpentry hand tools
(hammers, saws, squares, etc.)
carpentry power tools
(cordless drills, electric saws, etc.)
chain saw
auto and machinery mechanics and maintenance
small tractor operation (up to 30 hp)
Larger tractor operation (over 30 hp)
pest control
(chemical/organic sprays, cultural practices)
gardening and/or field crop planning
seed orders
Seed starting
weed control
(hand, tractor)
compost making
use of farm machinery
--moldboard plow
--disc harrow
--spader
--rototiller
--cultivators
--transplanter
--haying equipment
--compost/manure spreader
irrigation systems
--installation and set-up
--maintenance
--trickle
--overhead
greenhouse operations
seed saving
harvest experience
Markets
Animal care
Tree fruit production
Forestry
Bookkeeping
Permaculture
Are there any other things that you would like us to know about you, or anything else that you wish to comment on?
This is obviously a detailed application, thank you for completing it. We strongly believe that military veterans are among the rare population with the grit and resilience to build a successful career in agriculture.

Other Information

We do not provide housing. Do you have a place to live locally that will be accessible to the farm?
We do not provide transportation to the farm. Do you have access to a car or other vehicle?

References

Please provide 3 references. At least two must be work references (military or civilian).
#1: Name of Reference / Address City/State/Zip
Relationship
/ Email / Phone
#2: Name of Reference / Address City/State/Zip
Relationship
/ Email / Relationship
#3: Name of Reference / Address City/State/Zip
Relationship
/ Email / Relationship

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