Permaculture Intensive, How to Run a CSA, Accepting Federal Nutritional Benefits, and Tractor and Machinery Trainings! Scholarships and translation services are available upon request. Go to Accokeek's calendar to register. Pre-registration is required for all classes.
Running a Successful CSA
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00noon
As the new food movement gains momentum, Community Supported Agriculture has become a popular and successful sales model for fresh and local food. The arrangement allows consumers to purchase their produce directly from the source and can give farmers a solid sales base before planting season even begins. For those farmers interested in starting a CSA or refining their current program, the Accokeek Foundation is proud to present a Community Supported Agriculture workshop. The workshop will feature a panel of experienced farmers who will discuss the “how to” details of operating a CSA—from finding a customer base and setting up a planting schedule to packaging produce and communicating with shareholders.
Introduction to Permaculture Intensive
Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11, 2012 from 8:30 to 4:30pm Permaculture is about whole systems, not about separate components. Paying attention to all details — from topography, climate, and water to the waste stream, plants, and animals — enables us to make best use of what is already on the ground and what we intend to put there. With a dynamic interaction of elements in process and an assessment of both spatial and temporal attributes–organized around sound ecological principles– we can maximize yields and balance the landscape.
This workshop will explore the practice of Permaculture as it pertains to sustainable land use design based on ecological and biological principles, and often using patterns that occur in nature to maximize effect while minimizing wasted energy.
Topics of this two-day intensive study of Permaculture include:
Permaculture Ethics and Principles
The Local Ecosystem
Planning the homestead
Pattern Understanding
Concepts, Themes, and Methods of Design
Water, Soils, Earth-Working, and Earth Resources
Gardening and Farming Systems
Plants and Trees
Healthy Use of Animals in Permaculture Systems
Plants and Trees and Their Energy Interactions
Climate and Micro-Climate
Soils, Aquaculture, and Aquaponics
Invisible Structures
About the Instructor
Wayne Weiseman is certified by The Permaculture Institute of Australia as an instructor of the Permaculture Design Certificate Course. He is also certified by the American Institute of Architecture and the American Society of Landscape Architects to teach continuing education in Permaculture. He has worked as a builder and contractor, herbalist, renewable energy expert and farmer for 25 years. For many years he managed a land-based, self-reliant community project combining organic crop/food production, ecologically built shelter and renewable energy. Learn more about Wayne Weiseman and his work at www.permacultureproject.com.
Accepting Federal Nutritional Benefits in DC and Maryland  Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 9:00am to 12:00
To help farmers understand the recent changes and addition of new federal nutrition programs that can be accepted at farmers’ markets, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, and the District of Columbia Department of Health are partnering with the Accokeek Foundation to offer a free training for the Maryland and DC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP – WIC and Seniors), the Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Check (FVC) Program and the DC Cash Value Voucher Program (CVV) . This training is mandatory for farmers who want to accept checks from participants at authorized farmers’ markets in Maryland and DC - and is free and open to all producers who sell in both Maryland and DC and want to accept Federal Nutritional Benefits. 
Training participants will learn about the different federal nutrition benefit programs, be provided with the policies and procedures for both the FMNP and the FVC program, and upon completion of the training will receive new signs to display at their market stands.
Tractor Operation and Maintenance
Saturday, April 14 – Sunday, April 15, 2012
This two-day, hands-on workshop demystifies tractors and empowers their users to operate and maintain their machines more safely, and with greater skill and confidence. Day one focuses on the fundamentals of tractor operation; reviewing everything from the historical purpose and use of tractors to the functions and safe use of all of the pedals and levers, the drawbar, power take-off (PTO), and the front-end loader.  We will end the first day with tractor driving practice for the novices in the class.
The second day is a hands-on lesson in do-it-yourself tractor maintenance, performing a variety of routine tractor maintenance chores including oil and filter change, coolant change, hydraulic-transmission fluid and filter change, air filter replacement, fuel filter replacement, belt tension adjustment, battery care, and a range of other do-it-yourself tasks that are typically performed at regularly scheduled intervals. Workshop materials including a tractor user’s resource list will be provided.
There will be one-hour breaks for lunch each day. Participants should bring lunches, snacks, and water bottles each day.
Please note that this workshop is meant to be hands-on, and portions of it will be conducted outside. Participants must wear appropriate clothing and footwear, i.e., clothing that can be dirtied with oil and grease stains, and that is adequate for the forecast weather conditions. Please no sandals or open-toed shoes.
About the Instructor
Shane J. Labrake is an Agricultural Consultant and a trainer/teacher of various agricultural skills. He managed the Accokeek Foundation’s Ecosystem Farm between 1994 and 2007, where he was deeply involved in developing methods and curriculum in new and beginner farmer training. Since 2006, he has presented variations on this two-day workshop over twenty times in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. These workshops have always garnered rave reviews, and Shane is continuously tweaking the workshop material to better serve a new generation of tractor jockeys