Are you thinking about becoming a grower? SproUTing Growers is a 6-part workshop series to provide potential growers with the business planning and management, vegetable and small fruit planning and production and direct marketing skills that they need to properly plan and carryout a farming venture.

Workshops will be hands-on and several will take place at the UT Organic Crops Unit. Registration is $50 per person for all 6 workshops prior to Feb. 21 or $10 per person for individual workshops thereafter. Click here to view the SproUTing Growers brochure for more information on how to register by mail or online.

Parking - For workshops taking place on campus, participants must be pre-registered to ensure that we can get you a parking pass in advance for Lot 66 on the Agriculture campus (make sure you display your visitor parking permit in your windshield!). Parking at the Organic Crops Unit on Government Farm Rd. will be plentiful and parking permits will not be needed.

These half-day workshops, planned from 1-4 PM EST on the final Monday of the month, will be offered in Knoxville throughout the spring and summer

Business Planning - February 28

Taught by Alice Rhea, UT Area Farm Specialist

This workshop will help participants to think about the description of their business (products they will offer, location, legal structure, operation procedures, personnel, accounting and legal, and insurance), as well as help them decipher financial data.

Location: Room 124 South Greenhouse, UT Knoxville Ag Campus. Click here for Driving Directions.

Production Planning - March 28

Taught by Annette Wszelaki, Vegetable Extension Specialist, UT Department of Plant Sciences

This workshop will cover crop scheduling, seed selection, and farm design.

Location: UT Organic Crops Unit. Click here for Driving Directions.

Transplant Production - April 25

Taught by Mary Rogers, Organic Research Associate, UT Department of Plant Sciences

We will cover choosing your supplies, fertility, light requirements, and potential challenges.

Location: UT Organic Crops Unit. Click here for Driving Directions.

Marketing Strategies - May 23

Taught by Megan Bruch, Marketing Specialist, Center for Profitable Agriculture

This workshop will introduce participants to direct marketing options (farm market, farmers market, coops, and CSA), help them develop a marketing plan (strategy, market analysis, and customer service) and provide tips for marketing their farm image.

Location: Room 124 South Greenhouse, UT Knoxville Ag Campus. Click here for Driving Directions.

Market Gardening Planting & Maintenance - June 27

Taught by Mary Rogers, Organic Research Associate, UT Department of Plant Sciences

We will cover planting tips, soil building and pest, disease and weed management.

Location: UT Organic Crops Unit. Click here for Driving Directions.

Harvest & Handling - July 25

Taught by Annette Wszelaki, Vegetable Extension Specialist, UT Department of Plant Sciences

We will cover harvesting tips and postharvest handling (cooling, washing, storing and packaging) to maintain the highest quality product fresh from the farm.

Location: Room 124 South Greenhouse, UT Knoxville Ag Campus. Click here for Driving Directions.

Please contact Heather Toler at (865) 974-7429 or htoler@utk.edu for more information. Additionally, contact Heather if you would like to sign-up to receive email reminders and updates about the workshop series each month.

This workshop series is made possible thanks to the support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.