*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.

Participants who complete all four terms receive an Ignatius Farm New Farmer Training Program Certificate.

Full Program Details

Term 1: April 8th – April 18th, 2024

Term 1 provides foundational knowledge and language for basic farm work. All zoom meeting links can be found on the Moodle course platform. 

Schedule:

• April 8th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Full-Term Participants Meet-up
• April 9th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Introduction to Organic Growing
• April 10th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: The Language of Ecological Agriculture
• April 11th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
• April 12th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Identifying and Controlling Pests and Diseases
• April 15th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Farm Worker Rights & Responsibilities
• April 16th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Introduction to Soil Health
• April 17th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Introduction to Indoor Growing
• April 18th, 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Introduction to Seedling Production & Greenhouse Management 
• April 18th, 4:45pm – 5:45pm: Full-Term Participants De-brief

Term 2: April 22nd – July 31st, 2024

Term 2 focuses on learning about specialized aspects of farming. All zoom meeting links can be found on the Moodle course platform.  

Schedule:

• April 22nd, 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Full-Term Participants Meet-up
• April 24th, 9:30am – 11:30am: Optional Field Trip – Small plot agriculture at Ignatius Farm, Guelph
• April 29th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Field and Bed Preparation
• May 1st, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Vegetable Disease Management
• May 6th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Weed Management
• May 8th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Cover Crops 
• May 13th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Farmer Yoga – Warming up for the season
• May 15th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Irrigation Principles
• May 27th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Harvest and Post-Harvest Principles
• May 29th: Optional In-person Workshop: Composting at the Huron St Community Garden, Guelph
• June 5th: Optional Field Trip – TBA
• June 10th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: TBA
• June 12th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Urban Farming
• June 17th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Ecology of Pasture-raised Meats
• June 19th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Bee Keeping (in-person & online)
• June 24th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Keeping Sheep
• June 26th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: In-person Workshop – TBA
• July 10th, 9:30am – 3:00pm: Optional In-person Field Trip – Crosby Gitigaan & County Left Farm
• July 15th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Orchard Care (in-person & online)
• July 17th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Farmer Mental Health
• July 22nd, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: TBA
• July 24th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: TBA
• July 29th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm: Intercropping in Market Gardens
• July 31st: Optional In-person workshop- Get your hands dirty, soil health workshop

August break

Term 3: August 26th – October 30th, 2024

Term 3 expands beyond basics to build skills for a specialized farm. All zoom meeting links can be found on the Moodle course platform. 

• Full-term participants meet-up: August 16th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
• Webinar dates are: September 9th, 16th, 23rd, October 14th, 21st, 28th, and 30th, 2:30pm – 4:00pm
• Optional in-person workshops and mini field trips will be: September 11th, 18th, 25th, October 16th, and 23rd.
• Optional in-person full day field trips will be: August 28th and October 2nd.
• Full-term participants de-brief: October 30th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Term 4: October 30th – November 20th, 2024

Term 4 provides entrepreneurship training for operating a farm business. All zoom meeting links can be found on the Moodle course platform.

• Full-term participants meet-up: October 30th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
• Webinar dates are:
  • • Nov 4, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
    • Nov 6, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
    • Nov 11, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
    • Nov 13, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
    • Nov 18, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
    • Nov 20, 9:30am – 11:00am & 2:30pm – 4:00pm
• Full-term participants debrief (and certificate sharing): November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm