Skip to Content

Workshops

Upcoming

April 12, 2024 | Monitoring for Ecosystem Function

Cows grazing in an open field with a background of trees

The Small Producers Initiative (SPI) is pleased to co-host a hands-on workshop at The Regen Ranch in Oakwood, TX on Friday, April 12 from 9a.m. to 3p.m., where you will learn how to read your land to help you select and tailor the best management practices for your farm or ranch!

We will consider real-world scenarios and practical tools for maximum impact:

  • We'll review the four fundamental ecosystem functions.
  • Out in the pasture, we'll look at indicators to determine the health of the ecosystem functions using the “Bullseye analysis”. 
  • We will also take an in-depth look at the importance of soil health in a productive water cycle (using a rainfall simulator, slake test, infiltration rates, etc.).

Registration for this workshop is $20. Lunch will be provided, and directions will be emailed to those who register prior to the event.

Please make sure to register for this event by noon, April 11, 2024. To register, click here.

To download a flyer for this event, please click here.

*Note: This workshop is an optional follow-up to the Regenerative Grazing for Soil Health event that The Regen Ranch will host in March 14-15, which will provide participants with a solid introduction to regenerative ranching. (Enrollment is managed separately by the ranch itself.) For more information, please visit their website.

 

Online Beekeeping Course with Two Hives Honey

Small Producers Initiative at Texas State University has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture 2501 grant to support participants receiving Two Hives Honey's online beekeeping course (for eligibility, see here: USDA - Frequently Asked Questions 2501 Program). The online course will help you prepare and better understand if beekeeping is right for you.
 
To receive access to the course you must complete the following:
1. Complete the application (see the link at the end of this post).
2. Complete a pre-test to assess your knowledge of bees and beekeeping.
3. Pay a $20 invoice provided by Two Hives Honey (the USDA grant requires participants to pay a portion of the total course cost.  The regular cost of this program is  $75.)
 
You will also receive a post-test after completion of the course to assess your knowledge gained from the course.
 
Applications are available here.
 
Download a flyer for the event here.

Past Workshops

  • Soil Building for Resilience on Diversified Farms, March 1 2024
  • Urban Farming Field Day in Houston, TX, January 11, 2024
  • Community Ag Field Day in Freeport, TX, December 8, 2023
  • Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture, Virtual, October 17, 2023
  • Soil Health Demo Day, Farmshare Austin, TX, September 21, 2023
  • Soil Health and Agri-System Resilience, Fentress TX, June 15, 2023
  • Feed Your Soil Urban Farming Workshop at San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio, TX, February 15, 2023
  • Cover Cropping for Organic Vegetable Growers at Farmshare Austin, October 27, 2022
  • 5 Essentials for Marketing Your Small Farm w/ Zoe Schaeffer, October 13, 2022
  • Making the Most of Online Platforms, October 10, 2022
  • Info Session on Grants & Loans with National Young Farmers Coalition, October 5, 2022
  • Talking Urban Soil Health, September 10, 2022 at Garcia Street Urban Farm in San Antonio, TX
  • Conscious Conservation & Cover Cropping Workshop, June 4, 2022 at S3 Legacy Ranch in Luling, TX
  • Summer Cover Cropping Class, May 14, 2022 at Mesquite Field Farm in Nixon, TX
  • Small Farm "DIY" Marketing Workshop, November 10, 2021 w/ Dr. Taewon Suh & EIG
  • Small Farm Marketing Strategies & Tools, August 8, 2021
  • FSA Loans, January 18, 2020
  • Parasite Detection in Small Ruminants, January 18, 2020 & November 2, 2019
  • Optimizing Your Land's Relationship to Water, August 11, 2019
  • Implementing SNAP Incentive Programs at Farmers Markets, August 11, 2019
  • From Books to Banks: Maximizing Your Farm Capital, August 11, 2019
  • FSMA/Food Safety Workshops, August 11, 2019