Reminder: You Can Still Participate in STRONG STARTS: Urban Farming 101

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County offers its Strong Starts program for small-scale agricultural producers wanting practical information and instruction on for-profit farming.  The program will be helpful for both home and small-plot producers, including producers who grow for farmers markets or are involved in sustainable foods efforts or community gardens.

AgriLife Extension specialists join community experts and local growers to teach and advise Strong Starts participants during this program.  Each day of instruction over the five-week period will examine an important aspect of successful for-profit farming, and will offer a robust set of information, resources, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Classes Remaining Include:

· July 23: Cultivation and Methods in Central Texas - Everything you need to know to start your vegetable operation or orchard - learn from Extension Specialists.  Includes on-farm training at Boggy Creek Farm.

· Aug. 6: Local Food System and Farmers’ Resources Showcase - Will show participants how to become informed, inspired and connected through presentations by food system insiders. Presentations by the USDA's NRCS, FARFA, Web Soil Survey, City of Austin, and much more!

· Aug. 13: Sales and Marketing - Sell your harvest at local schools, grocers, and farmers markets - this day will be full of useful tools and information! Explore Texas Market Maker and learn basic social media use for farmers.

Pricing is $65 per day for 1 - 3 days.

To register, call 979-845-2604 or see the full agenda and register online at to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference Services website:  https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/index.cfm/productDetails/productid/1299/.