Boots to Bushels – Market Garden Training for New England
University of Rhode Island (URI) Cooperative Extension 2025 Program Announcement — Boots to Bushels (B2B)
The University of Rhode Island Boots to Bushel – Market Garden Training for New England is a comprehensive 9 – month market garden training program for beginning farmers, military veterans, and their family members. The course begins with 10 weeks of online instruction by subject matter experts. In the spring and summer there will be optional opportunities for farm tours across Rhode Island and Maine. The final stage of the program includes optional summer workshops at the URI Kingston campus.
Using the “5 F’s” of farming risk (Farming, Family, Finances, Fitness, Future) as a guide, participants will acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully grow produce for small-scale private or commercial fruit and vegetable production. All participants will receive classes and training on soil health, crop planning, fruit and vegetable production, integrated pest management, no-till production, harvest and storage, safe food handling, marketing/branding, farm business/economics, and tool and equipment maintenance and safety.
Phase 1:
10 weeks of online instruction from January 21, 2025 to March 27, 2025
Classes will be held Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
Phase 2:
Further instruction will be provided through monthly farm visits. If you are from Maine, or live nearby, you can attend the Maine farm visits (2025 farm visit info will be updated soon) at no extra cost. Each farm visit will highlight techniques and methods learned during classroom instruction. URI is also offering farm visits in Rhode Island, see their website for more info.
Registration Ends December 31, 2024
— Maine participants please inquire about scholarships! For more information, check out University of Rhode Island Boots to Bushel page.
UMaine Cooperative Extension is hosting these farm visits with funding from USDA NIFA Grant #2021-70033-35716.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).