Women's Agricultural Enrichment Program

Overview 

To rehabilitate and facilitate women in crisis by introducing them to the world of entrepreneurship through agriculture. To help them learn the basics of soil management, Fertilization, growing, pesticides, weed control, harvesting, sanitary procedures from farmer-to-consumer, packaging, product conversion seminars, marketing seminars, and business advocacy helping one woman at a time to become financially independent and construct their dream through means of agriculture. 

Goals 

1. To help each woman retain her sense of self and uplift their inner confidence by providing a safe and secure place where they can find their strengths, heal, and excel in life doing what they love. 
2. To facilitate women in the community with agricultural programs, and seminars, that can help to encourage and establish women's entrepreneurship within urban agricultural communities. that can help with the quality of life, lifting the poverty barrier and allowing women in urban communities a chance for financial liberty and stability. 
3. To build a sisterhood network of women to support and uplift each other and be able to move forward to become great woman-leader entrepreneurs that will exalt the livelihood of their urban communities. 

Women in Power! 

We want to help encourage women to become mentally, physically, and spiritually renewed by the power of farming, agriculture, and nature. To help them establish confidence in themselves and become healthier by working together as a team on the farm, growing, harvesting, and selling their produce that they have grown. Let them heal through the power of therapy in nature to help heal past trauma and revitalizing their spirit!

9-month Program 

The program consists of a nine-month period in which each individual will learn the basics of agriculture acquiring knowledge by the end of the program to be able to run their own small-farm business. 

The season starts in March and ends in November.

Each person will be taught soil management, fertilization, pest management, and global warming impaction seminars through Nuestra’s Raices UMASS Agriculture Program equipping them with novice farming skills. 

Cisa Organization Can help with labels, uniforms, and marketing to help promote and establish their small-farm business. Cisa also provides seminars on farming irrigation and global warming impacts as well as pest control and farmer networking that will also help each woman on her way to entrepreneurship. 

March 

Collect soil samples to test and check the soil’s Ph levels. 

Learn about fertilizing 

Learn about seed, their packaging, seed health, seed soil, seed equipment, and seed planting for transplanting and seed sowing. 

Farmers almanac- learn the seasons and dates in which to seed, transplant, and grow each plant from seed to plant to vegetable and when to harvest each product at its peak of ripeness. 

Plant seeds for transplants such as peppers, corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, gourds, and watermelons. 

April 

Teach equipment handling and safety 

Get soil samples and learn about chemicals and elements in the soil that make it healthy and enrich the soil. 

Learn weeding practices and weeding equipment. 

pests and pest eradication 

Keep seedlings growing and how to fertilize before transplanting. 

Cleaning and weeding the lot 

Fertilizing - we will fertilize the land using a mixture of worm casting, perlite, peat moss, and seasoned cow manure. 

Making beds- they will use hand tools to create beds according to each plant and growth structure. Learn the distance between foot space and growing space. Identify vegetables that grow well together. 

Mulching- we will use black mulch to help with water absorption and heat retention. But we will teach alternative methods to mulching as no-till, hay, and other organic weed barriers.

May 

Difference between cold crops and warm weather crops and when to plant them. 

Introduction to Marketing and consumer-building strategies to help build a client base. 

Transplanting transplants to the soil - have an idea about what a good transplant looks like and how to avoid transplant shock. 

Identify plant diseases and impacts of global warming- learn different kinds of diseases of the local area and transmigratory diseases that because of global warming have plagued areas in different regions and how to try and adapt to those new plagues and diseases. 

Irrigation- different types of irrigation systems and their uses. 

Setting up irrigation system at the farm. 

Learn water control- how much to water and when so that the plants don't become over-watered and die or lose nutrients. 

June 

The art of weeding- what is weeding and why we weed. 

Weeding equipment- different types of equipment used for weed retrieval. Types of weeds- identify different weeds found in the farm and local area 

Weed maintenance- how to maintain weeds either through weeding, mulching, no-till, or organic tarps. 

July 

harvest-Learn harvest times for vegetables, how to read labels, and how to identify ripeness for a more desirable product. 

fertilizing - learn about DIY compost bins made from the same scraps left from the farm so everything can be recycled and used. Also, organic fertilizers like fish emulsion, chicken fertilizer, and manure as well as ways to administer them without plant damage or over-usage.

4 

safety - teach about pathogens and bacteria, and how to keep and maintain healthy sanitation procedures from farm to farmer's market to the table. Procedures such as hand washing, product washing, and sanitation of the area. 

Kitchen recipes- to create recipes from produce grown from the farm and introduce diet plans to help with their business as well as personal, physical, and mental well-being 

Dietary restrictions and Allergens- a rudimentary awareness of allergies and how to prepare food for people with them. Also people with dietary restrictions such as diabetes, obesity, vegans, vegetarians, and religious practices. 

Head to market! Go to the markets and assist with the setting up and running of the market becoming familiar with people and the ins and outs of a farmers market. 

August 

Harvesting- start to collect and harvest products how to pick products, what gloves to wear, and what pruning shears to use. 

Presenting your product- how to make your products presentable, keep them clean and sanitized 

Transportation of vegetables or products- how to transport your goods so there is no cross-contamination. 

Presenting yourself- how to dress and how to speak with customers so you can keep a recurring relationship with your clients 

Learning of Certifications and licensing- Safe Serve, food handler, or management certification to handle food. City licensing might be needed to obtain Ebt, hip, WIC, or other government program transactions. Permits to make your business legal and registered with the city, state, and federal. 

Equipment you will need for markets- what equipment you will need and what to expect at your first market. 

September 

Networking- how to network between farmers, organizations, clients, and the public to help grow and flourish your business. 

Preserving your products- how to preserve your vegetables or fruits using different techniques such as dehydrating, canning, or fermenting.

5 

Value-added products- jellies jams, salsa, hot sauce, sofrito, sauces, lotions, soaps, candles, liquor, or any other product derived from your grown products. 

Product Conversion- how to take your products and create food, lotions, shampoos, or accessories with them. 

Canning- how to preserve vegetables, fruits, and other items with the process of canning. 

How to use pressure canners. How to find your altitude and why it is important. How to use the National Center for Home Food Preservation website. 

October 

Product labeling- how to pick a label a name for your business, how to pick a logo or create one. 

Product management- how to keep and maintain products. Learn the shelf life of products. And or expiration dates. 

Business management- the basics of record keeping, money management, and employee and client interactions 

Consumer demographics- who are the people you are selling to? Who are your consumers? how to pinpoint a target clientele with specific cultural factors making it easier to market to that specific set of consumers. How to learn where your customers are. 

Cleaning up the farm- picking up any additional garbage left of the year and taking off irrigation systems. 

November 

Business Ein- how to obtain a business EIN.(Employer Identification Number) Business Bank Account- how to obtain a business bank account 

Business Insurance how to obtain insurance for your farm and farmer's market 

Business Accountant- how to find an accountant and other tax or record-keeping services that might be needed to run a small-farm business. 

Social Media- how to start a social media page, website, or app that can help you market and reach your customers as well as make transactions.

6 

Resources to obtain loans, grants, and other incentives that could help with start-up costs and inventory or other financial strains to clear the way for a small-farm business. 

Fertilize for next year