This eight-part technical course starts from the important details of how pasture management effects grass growth, works through the nitty-gritty details of successful pasture based farms and finishes with how to get your pastured meat processed and marketed. Each month throughout the grazing season there will be an intensive workshop on a different farm highlighting specific topics while also showcasing the unique elements of each farm in respect to their grazing systems. Each farm will give participant’s a different perspective and insight on how to set up their own grazing systems.
Course Schedule: Eight 3-hour sessions on the 3rd Monday of each month, April to November, 5-8PM.
Mon, April 18 — It’s All About the Grass: Understanding how soil, grass, and grazing interact to grow better animals. Wellspring Farm, Mecklenberg, NY
Mon, May 16 — Bale it, Clip it, Graze it? Early season pasture management. Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon NY
Mon, June 20 — Designing and Setting Up Your Grazing System. Benterra Farm, Groton NY.
Mon, July 18 — Permanent and Temporary Fencing and Watering Options. Black Pearl Creamery, Trumansburg, NY.
Mon, August 15 – Hay: An integral part of all pasture farms. Location, TBD.
Mon, September 19 — Multi-Species Management on Pasture: Two (or 3 or 5) can be better than one. Kingbird Farm, Berkshire, NY.
Mon, October 17 — My Grass Stopped Growing! Utilizing stockpiled pasture. Angus Glen Farms, Watkins Glen, NY.
Mon, November 21 — Processing, Marketing and Health Benefits of Pasture-Raised Meats. EcoVilliage, Ithaca, NY.
Location: Diverse small-scale livestock farms in the Ithaca, NY area
Cost: Full tuition is $280 for the series, $45 per session; tuition support available