Education Practices

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Sustainable Agriculture, Organic & Regenerative Growing 

Coming soon!

Soil Testing, Remediation, Compaction, Tilth Improvement

Integrated Pest Management (IMP)

Composting & Vermicomposting

Crop rotation & Cover Crops

Seed Saving

Biodiversity & Conservation

Crops (selection, management, harvesting, etc.) 

Selection & Growing

• Using Demographic Information to Identify Specialty Crop Markets
  Links to demographics, crop information, and market research for determining what specialty crops to grow for your market.
• Rutgers SARE Agricultural Market Research App
  New Jersey interactive demographic map for agricultural market research.
• Rutgers Vegetable and Herb Crops fact sheets
  Information on the selection, growth, management, harvesting and storage of a wide variety of vegetable and herb crops, including niche and ethnic crops.
• Rutgers – Ultra Niche Crops
  Information and budgets for high-value niche crops for New Jersey markets. Ideal crops for beginner farmers looking to maximize profit on a few acres.
• List of Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification
  Lists of crop options and links to resources for farmers looking to diversify their operation.
• Rutgers – Ethnic Crops in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic
  Information about exotic peppers, tropical spinach (amaranths), okra, roselle and tigernuts as crops.
• World Crops for Northern United States
  This website provides information on sustainable production and marketing practices for crops popular among the large and growing immigrant populations in the United States.
• Jersey Fresh
  Information on the Jersey Fresh marketing program and guidance on how to participate.
• NJ Farmers Market Guidelines (PDF)
  Guidelines on what can be sold at a NJ farmer’s market and information on what, if any, licenses and conditions apply.
• NJ Community Farmers Markets
  Information and resources for connecting to and participating in New Jersey farmers’ markets.

Production

Coming soon!

Harvesting

• Rutgers – Harvesting and Food Safety for Community Gardens
  Part of the Rutgers Community Gardening Series
• University of Wisconsin – Urban Agriculture Post-Harvest Handling
  Resources on harvesting and post-harvest crop handling

Value Added Products

• ATTRA – Value Added Agriculture
  Overview of the benefits of value added agricultural production
• Oregon State University – Exploring Value Added Agriculture
  Considerations for small farms before embarking on value added production
• NSAC Value-Added Producer Grants
  Financing opportunities for farmers and food entrepreneurs to create and expand value-added products and enterprises
• Rutgers – Food Preservation resources
  Links to information on canning, freezing, drying and other food preservation basics.
• Rutgers – Food Preservation Videos & Webinars
  Videos and webinars on a wide variety of preserving methods for fruit, vegetable and herb crops
• Rutgers – Preserving Tomatoes
  Tomato-specific preservation resources and salsa recipes
• Northwest New Jersey Bee Keepers Association – Value Added Products for Beekeepers
  Webinar recording on how to use products of the hive for honey sales, soaps, lotions, lip balms, and more.

Livestock, Poultry and Beekeeping

General

• University of California – Urban Agriculture Animals and Bees
  Overview of considerations when including animal and bee production in urban agriculture.
• Rutgers – Recommended Guidelines for Domestic Livestock in Residential Areas
  Includes information on a wide range of common livestock, poultry and fowl as well as rabbits, pigeons, alpacas, etc.
• Rutgers – Livestock and Poultry Veterinary Care Services Series, Part 1
  Information What kind of vet do I need and how can I find one. Includes links to Part 2 & 3 also.

Poultry

• Rutgers – Helpful Hints for Small Flock Management fact sheet
  Important information about small chicken flock housing, feeding, care and management.
• Rutgers – Getting Started With Backyard Poultry
  Discusses the basics of getting started with backyard poultry including housing, care, nutrition, breed selection, and raising chicks.
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Defend the Flock program
  Information and resources on poultry health and management.
• University of California – Urban Agriculture Poultry
  Links to resources about poultry care, egg handling, incubating and more.

Goats

• Rutgers Homesteading Academy – Beginner’s Guide to Sheep & Goats
  Overview of feed, water, housing, and space requirements for sheep and goats. Discusses common breeds for meat, dairy, and fiber production and marketing considerations for each enterprise.
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Sheep & Goat Health page
  Information and resources on sheep and goat health and management.

Bees & Beekeeping

• Rutgers Beekeeping Courses
  Courses for beginner through advanced beekeepers.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Supporting Bees in Your Garden or On Your Farm fact sheet
  Plantings and other ways to support wild bees on your farm.
• NJDA Guidelines for Keeping Bees in Populated Areas (pdf)
• NJ Beekeeping Regulations
• NJ Beekeepers Association
  Provides educational resources, networks, honey and hive products/services, and more.
• Northeast New Jersey Bee Keepers Association – New Beekeepers resources
• Northwest New Jersey Bee Keepers Association – Getting Started in Beekeeping
  Resources and information for beginner beekeepers.
• Northwest New Jersey Bee Keepers Association – Value Added Products for Beekeepers
  Webinar recording on how to use products of the hive for honey sales, soaps, lotions, lip balms, and more.

Raised beds, Hoop houses, Tools & Materials

• Rutgers – Starting a Community Garden
  Information on starting a community garden, including raised beds
• Rutgers – Soil for Raised Beds
  Considerations for selecting and preparing soil for raised beds
• Rutgers – Building Your Garden
  How to construct a variety of garden infrastructure, including raised beds, low tunnels, and more.
• Rutgers – High Tunnels in New Jersey
  Information on high tunnel design, site selection, construction, and interior conditions management. Extensive links to additional high tunnel resources.
• NRCS – Urban Agriculture High Tunnels
  NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to integrate high tunnels into your urban farm.

Aquaponics & Hydroponics 

• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Introduction to Aquaponics Systems fact sheet
  Introduces the concepts, practices, benefits, and challenges of aquaponics for those interested in learning more about the subject or potentially starting an aquaponics farm. Includes links to additional resources.
• University of California – Urban Agriculture Aquaponics
  Links to aquaponics resources.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Indoor Cultivation (includes hydroponics)
• Rutgers EcoComplex – Sustainable Agriculture (includes hydroponics)

School Gardens 

• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Learning Through the Garden fact sheet
  Discusses the many uses and benefits of School Gardens for youth education.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – How to Start a School Garden bulletin
  A wealth of useful information about how to start a school garden: planning checklist, selecting a location, pros and cons of different types of gardens, soil testing, tools & supplies, securing funding, planting, maintaining, and more.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Food Safety, Soil, and Water Testing Recommendations for School and Community Gardens
  Recommendations on food safety, soil, and water testing for school and community gardens in order to meet NJ requirements if serving students the produce grown in community gardens.

Community Gardens

• A Brief History of Urban Garden Programs in the United States presentation
  Presentation slides by Dr. Laura J. Lawson. Includes the role, benefits and challenges of urban community gardens, as well as significant urban gardening movements in US history from the 1800s to the present.
• Rutgers Community Gardening Series
  Resources and videos on a wide range of topics related to starting and running a community garden.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Food Safety, Soil, and Water Testing Recommendations for School and Community Gardens
  Recommendations on food safety, soil, and water testing for school and community gardens in order to meet NJ requirements if serving students the produce grown in community gardens.

Continuing Education 

• Rutgers Beginner Farmer Training Program
  Teaches the fundamentals of farming and business, provides hands-on training in production through delivery, and offers advice as you implement your business plan.
• RU Ready 2 Garden webinars
  View recordings of previous sessions for in-depth information for beginning or advanced gardeners on a wide variety of agriculture topics from growing vegetables to identifying common pests.
• Annie’s Project New Jersey 
  Annie’s Project training gives New Jersey women farmers the tools to help them succeed by focusing on five areas of farm risk – marketing and pricing, production risk, financial management, human and personal risk, and legal risk.  
• Rutgers Master Gardener Training Program
  Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist Rutgers Cooperative Extension in its mission to deliver horticulture programs and information to the general public. Anyone with an interest in gardening and a commitment to volunteer service can become a Rutgers Master Gardener. No previous education or training in horticulture is required.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice (DEIJ) 

Coming soon!