*Register here for the full program (4 Terms) or register for a single term or a single event by visiting the Ignatius Farm New Farmer Training Program webpage.    **All events are recorded to allow participants to watch on their own time. Recordings will be made available on the course platform (Moodle) within 48 hours of the event.

Full Program Details

Term 1: April 11th – 20th, 9:30am – 11:00am

Term 1 provides foundational knowledge and language for basic farm work. Schedule:

• April 11th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Introduction to Organic Growing
• April 11th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Full-Term Participants Meet-up
• April 12th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Introduction to Soil Health
• April 13th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Language of Ecological Agriculture and Food Systems in Ontario – Part 1
• April 14th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Language of Ecological Agriculture and Food Systems in Ontario – Part 2
• April 17th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
• April 18th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Farm Workers Rights and Responsibilities
• April 19th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Identifying and Controlling Pests and Diseases
• April 20th, 9:30am – 11:00am: Introduction to Indoor Growing
• April 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Full-Term Participants De-brief

Term 2: May to July, Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Term 2 focuses on learning about specialized aspects of farming.   Schedule (may be subject to change):

• April 24th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Full-Term Participants Meet-up
• May 1st, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Field and Bed Preparation
• May 3rd, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Weed Management
• May 8th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Harvest and Post-Harvest Principles
• May 10th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Seedling Production and Greenhouse Management
• May 24th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Cover Crops
• May 31st, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: In-person Field Day (TBA)
• June 5th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Setting up an Urban Farm
• June 7th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Beekeeping
• June 12th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Growing Medicinal Herbs
• June 14th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Keeping Sheep
• June 19th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Artisanal Livestock Production
• June 21st, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Land Regeneration and Reconciliation
• June 24th, time TBA: Identifying Insect Pests and Diseases (in-person workshop)
• June 26th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Irrigation Basics
• July 5th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: In-person Field Day (TBA)
• July 10th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Orchard Care
• July 12th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Flower Production
• July 17th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Mental Health for Farmers
• July 19th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: TBA
• July 24th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Composting
• July 26th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: How to Strengthen and Get Fit for Farming

August break

Term 3: September to October, Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Term 3 expands beyond the basics to build skills for a specialized farm. Schedule coming soon!

• 10 webinars/ virtual field days, such as: Apiculture, Permaculture, Livestock (various), a deeper dive into some terms 1 and 2 topics.
• Online meet-ups for full term participants.

Term 4: November 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 13th and 15th, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Term 4 provides entrepreneurship training for operating a farm business. Schedule coming soon!

• 12 webinars, such as: Farm Design, Business planning, Production system management, Budgets & Record keeping, Marketing and distribution, Financing, and Land access.
• Online meet-ups for full term participants.

Full program (all 4 Terms) participants receive a Certificate for completing the Ignatius New Farmer Training Program.