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[Rachel Firak <rachel AT groundswellcenter.org>]

It is my sincere pleasure to announce an upcoming full-day workshop for farmers and farm educators.

Mapping the Mentor's Journey: A Workshop for Farmers and Farm Educators

Sunday, February 10

9 am - 5 pm

EcoVillage at Ithaca

Potluck lunch- bring a dish to pass
Dress for indoor and outdoor activity

$25; scholarships available

• Are you a farmer, farm manager or farm educator with a passion for cultivating new farmers?
• Do you care deeply about building intern and employee relationships that go "beyond teaching" to a place of mutual support and growth?
• Are you ready to take your mentorship skills to the next level to become a truly inspirational on-farm educator?

Join leading nature awareness educators and experienced mentors Tim Drake and Jed Jordan and leadership coach Corinne Eisenman (Primitive Pursuits) for an exciting and transformative day-long experience on the farm mentor's journey.

From hands-on exercises to co-created conversations, and even the occasional download, we'll take a look at farm education through the eyes of a mentor. Farmer folks will leave with new tools and renewed passion for educating aspiring farmers and managing farm staff.

What is a farmer mentor? Good mentors...*

• Foster trainees' personal growth
• Have and demonstrate strong social and teaching skills
• Are inspirational
• Set aside time to check in and debrief trainees
• Foster a collaborative, team approach to farm work
• Are reflective and self-aware
• Manage stress effectively
• Encourage respect for nature
• Encourage respect for work
• Model and teach others to work hard and effectively
• Model and teach others the principles of stewardship and cooperation
• Convey a sense of process, both natural and economic
• Honestly convey the realities (satisfactions and frustrations) of farming as a vocation or career

Intrigued and inspired by the mentoring model, but not sure how it can fit with your farm? Or are you an experienced or beginning farmer mentor wanting to brush up on your skills? We'll discuss relationship building and growing new farmers as well as profitability and logistics.

Space is limited. RSVP required. To RSVP, please send an email to rachel AT groundswellcenter.org. In your RSVP, please answer two of these three questions:

• What skills would you like to share with other individuals wanting to start a farm?
• What experiences inspired you to pursue your farming dreams?
• How do you believe you can contribute lasting change to your community as a farmer?

This workshop is a collaborative effort between Primitive Pursuits, which offers skills and experiences that create life-long connections with nature, and Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of farmers through hands-on education and community building.

Groundswell is an initiative of the EcoVillage Center for Sustainability Education, a project of the Center for Transformative Action.

* from The On-Farm Mentor's Guide: Practical Approaches to Teaching On the Farm by the New England Small Farm Institute

-- 
Rachel Firak
New Farmer Training Coordinator
Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming
PO Box 6679
Ithaca, NY  14851
www.groundswellcenter.org

*Helping diverse learners develop the skills, knowledge and access to 
resources they need to build more equitable and sustainable local food 
systems*