HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College’s Small Farmer Training program is offering an exciting variety of courses beginning in April and continuing into the fall semester.
Offerings include online courses, one-day classes and specialized summer camps. A spring plant sale will also be conducted between April 5-30. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
Interested individuals can register here https://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/technical-division/farmer-training/small-farmer-training-courses#
Travis Kress, Wallace State’s Small Farmer Training Manager, will first offer a free online Open House session on Tuesday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for those interested in Small Farmer Training.
Small Farmer Training class sessions begin in April and continue through October, featuring online class options on Mondays and live campus classes on Tuesdays. Labs will be conducted on Tuesday, covering the same material as the Monday online classes.
Mondays Online – 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Part I: April 5-May 10; $150
Part II: May 24-June 28; $150
Part III A: July 12-Aug 2; $100
Part III B: Aug 16-Aug 23; $50
Part IV: Sept 13-Oct 18; $150
Tuesdays On Campus – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Part I: April 6-May 11; $250
Part II: May 25-June 29; $250
Part III A: July 13-Aug 3; $165
Part III B: Aug. 17-Aug 24; $85
Part IV: Sept 14-Oct 19; $250
One-day classes will also be held beginning in April, mainly on Wednesdays. Each class is from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $40.
Wednesday, April 7: Transplant Production
Wednesday, April 14: Fertilizer Calculation and Application
Wednesday, April 21: Intro to Soil and Soil Preparation
Wednesday, April 28: Plasticulture System Installation
Wednesday, May 5: Farm Equipment Operation and Safety
Wednesday, May 12: Pesticide Usage and Safety
Thursday, May 27: Farm Marketing and Sales
Wednesday, June 2: Sprayer Calculation and Calibration
Wednesday, June 9: Plant Nutrient Management
Wednesday, June 16: Soil Testing and Results Interpretation
Wednesday, June 23: Conservation in Agriculture
Wednesday, July 7: Irrigation Systems
Wednesday, July 14: Pest ID and Management
Wednesday, July 21: Vegetable Harvest and Storage
Wednesday, July 28: Trap Cropping and Pollinator Habitat
Wednesday, Aug 4: Intro to Greenhouses
Wednesday, Aug 18: Intro to Agriculture Assistance Agencies and Programs
Wednesday, Aug 25: Seasonal High Tunnel Production
Summer camps will be offered for women, young farmers and veterans interested in agriculture.
- Women’s Camp: May 17-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and May 20 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.
- Young Farmer’s Camp (Ages 16+): June 28-30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and July 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.
- Veterans Camp: Aug 9-11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Aug 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.
Gardening continues to grow in popularity and is among the outdoor activities and hobbies many individuals have adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kress is a fifth-generation farmer, and through each class, helps participants appreciate the benefits of growing one’s produce: including saving money, eating healthy, relieving stress, staying active and enjoying the satisfaction of the end products.
For more information, contact Kress at 256.352.8115 or by email at travis.kress@wallacestate.edu
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
