This was a 10-part monthly workshop series that started in February and ran through November.  The workshop series targeted commercial producers and agriculture professionals interested in learning about organic crop production practices. 

Workshops were scheduled for one Monday afternoon a month and the 3-hour session consisted of presentations by Extension specialists accompanied by discussions and hands-on activities. 

The workshop series was broadcast using ITV technology to three locations across the state including Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson. 

2009 workshop dates and topics included the following:

1. Introduction to Organics - February 9

Resources from workshop:

Introduction to Organic Production (PDF)

Organic Web Quick Reference List (PDF)

2. Building Soils & Managing Soil Fertility - March 9

Resources from workshop:

Soils 101: Don't treat your soil like dirt! (PDF)

Compost for Organic Systems (PDF)

Managing Soil Fertility in Organic Systems (PDF)

Organic and Sustainable Soil Management Web Resources (PDF)

3. Crop Rotations & Cover Crops - April 13

Resources from workshop:

Cover Crops for Organic Production (PDF)

Crop Rotation (PDF)

PB378 Forage & Field Crop Seeding Guide for Tennessee (PDF)

VABF Cover Crops for All Seasons (PDF)

Cornell Cooperative Extension Companion Planting (PDF)

Crop Rotation and Cover Crop Web Resources (PDF)

4. Planting: Seed Sources & Transplants - May 11

Resources from workshop:

Organic Fruit Production: What to Grow (PDF)

Organic Seed Sources and Transplant Production (PDF)

List of Organic/Untreated Seed Sources (PDF)

Resources for Organic Seed Treatments and Transplant Production (PDF)

5. Identifying & Managing Weeds - June 8

Resources from workshop:

Weed Control in Organic Systems: What would you do without herbicides? (PDF)

Cultivation Equipment for Organic Weed Management (PDF)

Identifying and Managing Weeds Resources (PDF)

6. Identifying & Managing Pests - July 13

Resources from workshop:

Using beneficial insects for pest management in organic systems (PDF)

Insect Control and Scouting for Organic Producers (PDF)

Pollination on Organic Farms in Tennessee (PDF)

Identifying & Managing Insects Resources (PDF)

7. High Tunnel Production - August 10

Resources from workshop:

UT High Tunnel Research (PDF)

High Tunnel Production Resources (PDF)

8. Identifying & Managing Diseases - September 14

Resources from workshop:

Soil Solarization for Control of Soilborne Diseases (And Weeds Too) (PDF)

Vegetable Disease Control for the Organic Farmer/Gardener (PDF)

Twelve Steps for Successful Soil Solarization (PDF)

Identifying & Managing Diseases Resources (PDF)

9. Putting It All Together: Developing an Organic Plan - October 12

Resources from workshop:

Developing an Organic Plan: An Overview (PDF)

Tips on Organic Certification (PDF)

TN Department of Ag and Opportunities for Organic Growers (PDF)

NRCS Organic and Sustainable Funding Opportunities (PDF)

Developing an Organic Plan Resources (PDF)

10. Marketing Organic - November 9

Marketing Organic (PDF)

TN Farm Fresh Program (PDF)

Marketing Organics Resources (PDF)

There is no fee for participating in the workshops, but registration is required. Please contact Heather Toler at (865) 974-7429 or htoler@utk.edu for more information or to register for a 2009 workshop. 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 Tennessee Department of Agriculture.