Educating women farmers about certified organic production

Coordinator: Melissa Matthewson, Southern Oregon Research and Experiment Station, Central Point, OR
Project location: southwestern Oregon

Objectives summary:
Certified organic farming is increasing in southwestern Oregon as many new farmers transition to organic production with the knowledge that they will see increased returns and marketing opportunities. Currently there is no education on organic production principles or certification occurring in southwestern Oregon, although there is an increasing need for this type of education among small-scale women farmers. This project will design and implement four on-farm field days for women producers to increase peer-to-peer networking and mentoring between farmers as well as augment educational opportunities and problem solving related to certified organic production.

Our first field day that took place on June 14th, 2009 at Whistling Duck Farm in Applegate, Oregon.

Project objectives are:

1. Develop networking opportunities and new relationships between certified organic small-scale women farmers and other women farmers who would like to certify in southwestern Oregon;
2. Educate local women farmers about organic production principles related to various production systems including flowers, mixed vegetables, poultry, livestock production and organic seed;
3. Brainstorm challenges to certifying organic for local farms.

The four field days will address specific topics related to organic farming including soil fertility, organic farm plans, organic certification, organic marketing and pricing, organic livestock health and feed, season extension, and organic seed production and quality. An estimated twenty women  producers will be reached at each field day with impact measured by evaluation surveys filled out at each field day. The four farmers hosting the field days will work in conjunction with OSU Extension Small Farms to design and implement the agenda for each field day to ensure the quality and relevancy of programming to small-scale farmers. This project will further the widespread adoption of organic farming systems through experiential, hands-on education about organic farming production principles and the challenges to achieving organic certification in southwestern Oregon.

A final report describing the results of this project is expected in July 2010.