This workshop will be rescheduled!
Participants will learn how to build a rain catchment barrel, install rain gutters on farm structure, and install downspouts to rain barrel. Engage in rain catchment options available in the marketplace from a rain catchment installation professional.
Teachers:
Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co – Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Kathie Hitt, Owner, Rain Drop Rainwater Harevesting
Skills Taught:
- Hand tool use and maintenance
- Sourcing equipment
- Other power equipment safety/emergency procedures
- Routine maintenance
- Determining equipment needs
- Equipment repair
- Understanding irrigation systems
- Planning irrigation systems
- Water source and quality
- System maintenance
- Winter preparation
- Good Personal Hygiene
- Cross Contamination
- Time and Temperature abuse
REGISTER HERE
Join Mesquite Field Farm for a tour of a USDA beef processing facility and learn about beef labelling and requirements.
Skills Taught:
- USDA Processing Facility Tour
- Product label requirements and development
- Developing a cut list
- Beef cattle processing requirements
- Developing relationships with your processor
- Product labels and marketing
Join Mesquite Field Farm for mobile chicken tractor building workshop
Participants will
- Learn the Suscovich design of mobile chicken tractors
- Learn how to build a mobile chicken tractor
- Construct 4 Suscovich style mobile chicken tractors
Lunch is provided by Pioneer BBQ
RSVP by October 18, 2018
REGISTER HERE
In order to improve our pastures and the quality of our livestock we need to understand alternative technologies that may reduce our spending thereby improving our bottom line.
Rotational grazing of livestock and poultry improve our soil while fodder systems offer an additional methodology to supplemental feed our livestock and poultry during times of decreased native forage or weather extremes.
In this day and age one method of retaining profits on the farm is to reduce expenses or cost avoidance. One of the large expenses on a farm is the cost of supplemental feed. Additionally, supplemental feeds such as cubes do not provide all of the nutrition we are looking to provide our animals. One method of reducing our supplemental feed costs is to produce fodder. Fodder in this case is sprouted grains. These grains when sprouted for 7 to 10 days are actually a grass and no longer a seed. This fodder produces a well rounded feed full of nutrients, micro-nutrients, and energy for our animals. This class will provide instruction on types of seed that can be sprouted, a small scale fodder system example, and a medium scale fodder system example. If you are a “do it yourself-er” and wish to grow your own feed then this class is for you.
Instructors:
- Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co – Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Skills Taught:
- Basic construction
- Basic fabrication
- Farm tool safety
- Build and install infrastructure
- Material supply calculations
- Infrastructure damage prevention
- Farm safety
- Farm infrastructure development planning
- Crop planning
- Supplemental Feed Nutrition
Click here to download the flyer – Regenerative Pasture Fodder HOL – MFF
REGISTER HERE
As we all move to improve our soil quality we have found that conventional no-till methods work however, we have the ability to improve this process by reducing chemical usage and introducing cover crops into our processes.
This class will provide a discussion of the benefits of cover crops, which crops to plant, when to plant them, and a planting demonstration.
Instructors:
- Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co – Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
- Melissa Havemann, Co-Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Skills Taught:
- Farm tool safety
- Crop planning
- Seed Supply calculations
- Material supply calculations
- Farm Tractor Usage
- Farm implement usage (no-till drill)
- Seed Characteristics
- USDA planting zones and cover crop recommendations
- Seed suppliers and recommendations
- Crop Planting techniques
Cover Crop Planning and Planting Flyer
REGISTER HERE
A one-day workshop on the Texas Cottage Food Law, State Farmers’ Market Regulations, Selling Yard Eggs, GAPs for Gardens/Small Producers, Food Preservation Basics, and Food Safety training.
The workshop will be held on Monday, April 22, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Food Handlers class will be conducted from 2:15 p.m. until 4:15 p.m. The cost is $12.00 and includes lunch. There is an extra $20.00 fee for the Food Handlers class.
To attend the class, please register through the Brazos County Extension office by April 15, 2019.
As we move toward the development of our market gardens to meet our customer needs it is important that we prepare our soil, prepare our planting spaces, plant the appropriate crops, plant companion crops to reduce insect stress and maximize our garden space for successive plantings and profit.
This class will provide a discussion of the benefits of cover crops, which crops to plant, when to plant them, and a planting demonstration.
Instructors:
- Koen Stokes – Horticulturist, Veg’d Out Urban Farms
- Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co-Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
- Melissa Havemann, Co-Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Skills Taught:
- Farm tool safety
- Crop planning
- Seed supply calculations
- Compost development
- Soil amendment requirements
- Farm implement usage (small scale planters)
- Soil preparation
- Planting bed preparation
- Watering methods
REGISTER HERE
When all of your perfect produce has been sold, what do you do with the rest? Or do you just have an abundance of produce from your garden this year?
How about creating Value Added Products and generate more revenue!!
In Texas, the Cottage Food Bill allows individuals to create canned goods for sale up to a certain amount without the use of a commercial kitchen. This could be a new revenue stream for you!!
Topics Covered:
- Cottage Food Law Requirements
- Food Safety
- Canning Safety
- Strawberry Jam Making
- Pickling Making
Cost is $30: this includes a handy reference handout, lunch AND students will get to take home jars of jam and pickles they create during the class!!