Field and Online Activities

About 20 farmers working with trays of young transplants — New farmers in the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program learn how to grow transplants at Keep Growing Detroit

In the Field

Seeing the progress of crops in fields and hoophouses can lead to lots of discussions. Often, we split the OFTP group into 2 or 3 groups for hands-on activities, so each participant gets an opportunity to try out a new tool or skill. Some hands-on activities or farm demonstrations work well as a full group. Farm walks are an opportunity to see everything progress through the growing season. You will choose one of the following farmsites for hands-on learning.

Keep Growing Detroit Farm

Learn how to grow vegetable, herb and native perennial transplants, seed garlic and produce at the Keep Growing Detroit Farm. You will learn in-depth production techniques from the four farmers at KGD, Akello Karamoko, Kido Pielack, Molly Hubbell and Rosebud Schneider. KGD is a model for community engagement, partnering with over 2,000 farmers, gardeners and garden educators through their Garden Resource Program and leading the collaborative marketing program Grown in Detroit, and hosting dozens of workshops and youth programs each year. This is a great hands-on farmsite for urban farmers, intensive production techniques and anyone near Detroit. Keep Growing Detroit began hosting OFTP in 2023.

MSU Student Organic Farm

Learn how to grow vegetables in the field with tractor power, in the hoophouses with human power and in the Edible Forest Garden with the power of permaculture. The Student Organic Farm has hosted the Organic Farmer Training Program for over a decade and you will have the opportunity to learn from long-time farmer and farm educator Katie Brandt and from Student Organic Farm Manager Darby Anderson. This is a great learning site for production farmers, anyone planning for over 2 acres of vegetables, permaculturists and those able to drive to East Lansing 9 times over the growing season. The MSU Student Organic Farm has hosted various versions of the OFTP since 2006.

New City Urban Farm in Grand Rapids

New City Farm has 3 farm sites, including a farm and café on Leonard St. and a new 5-acre site on Ball Ave. on Grand Rapid's Northeast side. They also grow on land at the Allendale GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project farm. New City is a productive CSA farm that is focused on training youth and young adults through internships, apprenticeships that build up to the opportunity to manage your own field and hoophouse at their new incubator farm. This is a great site for urban and rural farmers in West Michigan. New City will host OFTP for the first time in 2026.

Online

Group discussions, vision sharing and Farm Plan Presentations allow the cohort to learn from each other. We also split into online breakout rooms to brainstorm ideas for a participant's farm or to get feedback on assignments or class activites. The OFTP workbook allows a space to think through your farm plan and class topics.

Zoom screen showing a slide presentation, guest speaker and 3 other participants. — Detroit Public Schools teacher Jackie Lindsey (top right) describes how she teaches math, science and reading through schoolyard gardening, classroom aquaculture and garden-based summer camps

Field Trips

We will visit 20+ sustainable farms in Michigan and Chicago as part of the OFTP! This is the place to see real-life examples for how to make your farm vision a reality.

about 20 farmers looking at a vibrant garden with tall Chicago buildings in the background — OFTP brings farmers from Detroit and throughout Michigan to to Chicago farms, including Chicago Lights Farm on a former Cabrini Green basketball court

Videos and Readings at your own pace

Videos by OFTP instructor Katie Brandt and curated YouTube videos are available online to ensure plenty of class time for hands-on activities, farm walks, group discussions and guest speakers.

While everyone reads the three books below, you will choose one book to read based on your farm goals.

Three farming books — Everyone in OFTP reads "The Market Gardener", "Farming While Black" and "The Edible Schoolyard"

Then you choose a final book that aligns with your farm goals, perhaps one of the books below....

Farm Plans & Practical Farm Assignments

Everyone writes a plan for their farm, which can be a Farm Business Plan, a Community Farm Plan, a Homestead Plan or a plan unique to your farm vision. These are built throughout the course of the program, starting with solo visioning and group discussions around Values & Goals of the 1st class day, then building to the full plan. The parts of the plan you'll create, with insights from the class and the group, include:

Values & Goals
Farm Plan Outline draft
Soil Management Plan
Site Plan
Crop & Production Plan
Outreach Plan (Marketing OR Engagement OR Self-Sufficiency)
Labor Plan
Startup Budget & Resource List
Financial Plan/Sustainability Plan
Farm Plan!!!
Farm Plan Presentation

Photos of the cover of Four Farm Plans — Create a complete Farm Plan to make your farm dreams a reality!

Site Visits

OFTP coordinator & farm guide Katie Brandt loves to visit farm sites each year! This is optional, but could be a visit to your backyard garden, the farm where you work, your farm startup or a site that you're considering for your farm.