Chesapeake CRAFT

About the Chesapeake CRAFT Program:

2010 will be the first year of Chesapeake CRAFT. Modeled after other CRAFT programs in the United States, Chesapeake CRAFT is organized by farmers interested in improving practical new farmer training and networking in the region. The goal of Chesapeake CRAFT is to coordinate and facilitate learning opportunities for farm apprentices, interns and workers, through a combination of farm visits, classes, and potlucks. The 2010 Chesapeake CRAFT program will consist primarily of visits to farms and farm projects in Virginia and Maryland that emphasize ecological approaches to agriculture, and are within a two-hour drive from Washington D.C. Individuals who are not working with a participating CRAFT farm, but wish to join the program, can join the program independently.

What Does "CRAFT" mean?

"CRAFT" stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training.

The Benefit:

Many farmers are interested in improving the educational aspects of their farm operation, but coordinating field trips and educational opportunities can quickly become time consuming and difficult with the mounting pressures of the growing season.

Chesapeake CRAFT represents a pooling of resources amongst different farm projects that have interest in advancing farm learning opportunities, but in a way that makes the learning manageable and meaningful for all.

Chesapeake CRAFT will strengthen the regional network of farmers, interns, workers and apprentices, who often have little opportunity to meet together during the growing season. And by improving farmer-based training opportunities in the region, Chesapeake CRAFT will help attract and train the next generation of local farmers.

How It Works:

The 2010 Chesapeake CRAFT program will consist of monthly on-farm classes and events, commencing in April and concluding in November. Participants in Chesapeake CRAFT will have the opportunity to visit several different farm projects in Maryland and Virginia, network with other interns/workers/apprentices and farmers, and learn more about diverse approaches to sustainable agriculture in the region. To encourage participation in the program from farms in Virginia and Maryland, we will alternate monthly CRAFT meeting locations between Virginia and Maryland.

Farms and Individuals participating in the Chesapeake CRAFT Program will pay a small annual fee to compensate hosting farm projects.

The Schedule:

All Chesapeake CRAFT events will take place on Wednesday afternoons/evenings throughout the season.

The CRAFT schedule alternates each month between an in-depth class (3-7pm), and regional farm visits & potlucks (5-7pm). The class sessions will feature timely topics such as equipment safety, seed propagation, ecological pest management, as well as broader topics of concern for the beginning farmer. Regional farm visits/ potlucks will emphasize site tours and networking.

Join us for potluck with each class and visit!

April 14, 2010 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Class 1 at Mountain View Farm, Purcellville, VA

May 5, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Good Fortune Farm, Brandywine, MD

May 19, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
The Farm at Sunnyside, Washington, VA

June 16, 2010 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Class 2 at Red Wiggler Farm, Clarksburg, MD

July 14, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Wollam Gardens, Jeffersonton, VA

July 21, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Country Pleasures Farm, Middletown, MD

August 11, 2010 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Class 3 at Moutoux Orchard, Purcellville, VA

September 15, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Ivy Brand Farm, Edgewater, MD

September 29, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Stoney Lonesome Farm, Gainesville, VA

October 13, 2010 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Class 4 at Ecosystem Farm, Accokeek, MD

November 14 (Sunday), 2010
Celebration and Planning for Next Year
Letellier Theater, DC

The Cost:

The cost for a farm to participate in the 2010 Chesapeake CRAFT Program is $150, which covers the costs of compensating farms that serve as hosts for the Program in 2010, as well as basic management costs. For $150, workers/interns/apprentices & farmers from a participating farm project can attend each and every event in the CRAFT program schedule. Individuals can independently join the 2010 CRAFT program for $50. It is understood that most folks will not be able to attend many of the events in the schedule, particularly those events that are several hours away by car. Participants are encouraged to attend CRAFT classes, which are every other month, if at all possible, and a minimum of five total CRAFT events throughout the season.

Please make checks payable to: Accokeek Foundation
Send payment to: 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD 20607

To pay by credit card, you may choose the following options:

Phone: Call 301-283-2113 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Online: Pay online by visiting our secure website here. Click on "Online Donation" and select "Other Amount" from the drop down menu. Please include in the notes section that this payment is for CRAFT.

Chesapeake CRAFT Program Coordinators:

Shawna & Attila Agoston, Mountain View Farm, Purcellville, VA
Sara Colhoun, Ivy Brand Farm, Annapolis, MD
Emily Cook, Sunnyside Farm, Little Washington, VA
Pablo Elliott, The Local Food Project at Airlie, Warrenton, VA
Mike Snow, Ecosystem Farm, Accokeek , MD

To Apply:

To join the 2010 Chesapeake CRAFT program, please contact:
Mike Snow
Ecosystem Farm, Accokeek Foundation
Email Mike Snow