Federal programs can be complex to navigate, especially for beginning farmers or individuals who have not established a relationship with the sponsoring agency. “Cultivating Conservation for Maryland and Delaware’s Small and Historically Underserved Farmers” will target historically underserved groups to increase their knowledge of conservation practices and programs. The course will cover an overview of conservation practices, available conservation programs provided by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies, understanding of application processes, eligibility, and contractual agreements, and how conservation projects can fit into an overall farm plan.
The University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative team, in cooperation with University of Delaware Extension, Maryland and Delaware NRCS, and Soil Conservation District field offices, will deliver education and outreach through classroom and hands-on experiences and tours of conservation offices.
The program will provide six hours of classroom instruction and will occur during evenings or weekends. It is free and open to anyone interested in adopting conservation practices on their farm. Meals and handouts are included. To register visit https://go.umd.edu/bfsconservation.
LOCATIONS
Lower Eastern Shore Maryland
January 25 and February 1, 2022
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Somerset Extension Office, 30730 Park Dr, Princess Anne, MD 21853
Children welcome, activities for ages 5+
Baltimore City
March 12, 2022
9:00am – 3:00pm
Baltimore City Extension Office, 6615 Reisterstown Road, Suite 201, Baltimore, MD 21215
New Castle County, Delaware
March 22 and 24, 2022
5:30pm – 8:30pm
New Castle County Extension Office, 461 Wyoming Road, Newark, DE 19716
Southern Maryland
June 9 and 23, 2022
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Charles Soil Conservation District Office, 4200 Gardiner Rd, Waldorf, MD 20601
This project is funded through the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. The program is open to all if you need special accommodations.