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Countryside U is funded in part by the Kent H.Smith Charitable Trust

and with generous support from:

The Number Manager, Inc.

"Countryside U" - the Possibility Path

The Countryside Conservancy offers a wide array of workshops, classes, and seminars In support of our vision to transform Northeast Ohio into a region of thriving community based farming and food entrepreneurs by 2020.  These workshops are intended to inspire, educate and mobilize the next generation of farmers and food producers, and equip Northeast Ohio citizens with the tools they need to put more local food on their families' plates.


Home Cooks and Backyard "Farmers"

Starting Your Own Vegetable Garden
Do you love shopping at the Farmers' Market, and wish you too could grow some fresh tomatoes? Join fellow food lovers in a beginning gardening course.

Preserving Your Bounty

Peak of summer brings a bounty of tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies; this on-farm class will teach you how to preserve some goodies through canning.

Backyard Chickens

Raising a few chickens in your backyard can be fun and rewarding.  Learn the steps necessary for proper care of poultry and a happy flock!

Urban Homesteading - Day Course

Spend the day on an urban farm learning how to design your own urban homestead.

Raised-Bed Sustainable & Organic Gardening

Learn how to grow your own delicious, organic foods in raised beds. No long rows to hoe or till, no large areas needed. Raised-beds are easy, productive and attractive!

Cooking Classes (Youth & Adult)
Junior chefs (ages 7–12) and adults will begin to cultivate and strengthen their culinary skills using the wealth of products available on Saturday mornings at the Countryside Farmers’ Markets' Howe Meadow location.

Countryside Food Swaps

An opportunity to trade homemade products. Swaps take place the third Tuesday of each month at differing locations.


Start Up Farmers

Exploring the Small Farm Dream – Is Starting a Farm Business Right For You?
A self and resource assessment short course, guiding potential farmers through the process of determining their suitability to the rigors of farm life — classroom style with guest speakers and an optional farm tour.

Your Farm Business: An Educational Series for Beginning Food and Farm Entrepreneurs
Topics covered in this series of courses include researching and writing a farm business plan, securing start-up funding for a farm, and finding land to farm.

Poultry Processing - A hands-on workshop

Learn how to process your meat birds.  This workshop is not for the person interested in farming, but for the person already raising meat birds.

Networking Events & Tools
Specific social gatherings organized to introduce farm seekers to farm owners. Initiate dialog, exchange information and ideas, and build relationships. 


Established Farmers

Business Workshop
Workshops and Classes designed for intermediate and advanced level farmers. Topics include: Records & bookkeeping, taxes, insurance, and budgeting

Specialty Crop Production & Marketing Webinars
Through a specialty crop block grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Countryside Conservancy has partnered with Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association to provide webinars on advanced farm management, season extension and marketing.  Past webinars include: Improving Efficiency on Your Organic Farm; Building Mutually Profitable Relationships with Independent Chefs and Restaurateurs; and Advanced Weed Management Techniques

In addition, Blueberry Production, Value Added, and Poultry Processing

Networking Events & Tools
Specific social gatherings organized to introduce farm seekers to farm owners. Initiate dialog, exchange information and ideas, and build relationships. 

Introduction to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
This day-long workshop is designed to acquaint farmers with the ins-and-outs of organizing a CSA on their farm. Topics include benefits and challenges of CSA farming, suggestions for planning and record keeping, member recruiting and education, opportunities for partnering with other farms, and pricing strategies.


Legacy Farmers

FarmLink

A program designed to connect you -the legacy farmer with a start up farmer to take over or transition into your operation.

Transition Resource Database

A database of attorneys and experts in the field of transition - transferring farms to the next generation.