DSU Farm School Program

Are you interested in learning how to farm? We can help.

Program Purpose
The purpose of this program, which is being funded by a grant from USDA, is to assist anyone interested in owning and operating successful farming operations as well as participating in USDA programs, with a special emphasis on reaching socially disadvantaged and veterans. DSU Extension staff provides educational opportunities and technical assistance to help new and beginning farmers enhance their skills in farm sustainability. This is accomplished in three phases.

Phase One – New Farmer Training
DSU Farm School’s first phase will start with a class per month. These classes include farm and risk management, production, marketing and much more. May include tours of different style operations or markets. The four different style operations we offer are:

  • Aquaculture
  • Small Flock Poultry
  • Small Ruminant
  • Vegetable Production

Phase Two – Hands-On Learning:
In the second phase, which runs simultaneous with phase one, is a controlled farming demonstration site for the hands-on learning part of the DSU Farm School. By doing this, the participants get experience in farming with both classroom and hands-on activities of the critical events in each enterprise. The farming activities are supervised by our specialists at one of the farm sites and are conducted throughout the production season.

Phase Three – Mentorship
During the third phase, a DSU extension specialist will continue to provide technical assistance to all DSU Farm School participants on their land allowing them another year to work through any issues within their chosen enterprise one-on-one with the DSU Extension team.

Contact Us/Register:

John Clendaniel
jclendaniel@desu.edu or (302) 857-6425

Sign up for 2020 Class—Millsboro, DE https://forms.gle/LvAnZs6evqu5Zri77

Sign up for 2021 Class—Dover, DE https://forms.gle/tvmBienexDEYHctj9

https://cast.desu.edu/cooperative-extension

www.facebook.com/DSUSmallFarms

Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture, Youth Development and Home Economics. Delaware State University, University of Delaware and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating, Dr. Dyremple Marsh, Dean and Administrator. Distributed in furtherance of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.