SMALL-SCALE FARMING CLASS

SMALL-SCALE FARMING IS CHANGING THE WORLD.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Program Cost:  $1997.00

Instructor: Ian Calder Piedmonte

Dates of Classes:  Tuesdays, 2-4pm (Total of 10 classes)

  • January 16th, 23rd, 30th
  • February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
  • March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
  • April 2nd

Note: Two of the classes listed above will not be held.  Final dates will be revealed in January.

Time: 2-4PM

Location:

Stony Brook Southampton
39 Tuckahoe Road
Southampton, NY 11968

Welcome to our Small Scale Farming Training Program!

We, at FoodLab, believe that farming on smaller parcels of land in a biointensive way is the future of food production. It’s a different type of farming than conventional farming that can lead to higher yields and higher profits, while respecting the environment. It’s a technique and a practice.

FoodLab’s Small-scale Farming Training Program includes guided instruction through the  Market Garden Institute Masterclass , a course developed by J.M. Fortier and the Garden Market Institute. Fortier developed and tested a biointensive growing method that increases the soil’s biology and works with nature to achieve maximum yields on small surfaces.

Farmer Ian Calder-Piedmonte will be the instructor for the course offering insights into his experience farming at Balsam Farms, which started out as a 10 acre farm on rented property with one tractor. There will be site visits and tutorials on how to use tools of the trade and insights on how to run a farming business.

FoodLab’s Small Scale Farming Training Program will be offered online and in person.  The Garden Market Institute program is offered as a complete program online.  Class meetings will meet  in-person on the Stony Brook Southampton Campus on Tuesdays from  2-4pm.  There is an option to attend the ‘in-person’ classes virtually.

The cost of the program is $1997.  This price includes life-time access to the online course with all of the technical sheets and videos as well as the additional benefit of having an experienced farmer as an instructor and one to two site visits. Our program encourages participants to develop a community network and to learn from each other.

What is the Market Gardener Masterclass?

The Masterclass is an online educational program offered by the Market Gardener Institute that was designed for people who want to make a living from small-scale farming. The program is not suitable for home gardeners who wish to learn more about setting up a domestic garden. The Masterclass combines in-depth video tutorials, details on day-to-day operations, a vibrant digital community, and a comprehensive digital library outlining methods, techniques and tools. This program allows you to master the methodology, tools, and techniques to grow crops successfully in a context of heightened efficiency in the regenerative microfarming model.

The Masterclass provides a thorough roadmap to success. Years of trial and error can really wreak havoc on a farm — many farmers struggle and some give up. Our program is no substitute for hard work and hands-on experience, but it can significantly shorten the learning curve when starting a new farm or taking your farm to a new level of productivity. The Market Gardener’s Masterclass can help to professionalize and standardize the activities of an existing farm, which can lead to greater efficiencies and higher profits.

 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

For more information, please contact Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz at Judiann.Carmack-Fayyaz@StonyBrook.edu