Soil Sisters Share: Resources for Women Farmers

Are you a woman ready to explore taking the first steps toward your dream of starting a farm?

Are you already up and running on your farm and looking to connect with other women committed to sustainability, local food and community building?

Come for this Soil Sisters educational tradition:  

Soil Sisters Share: A buffet of resources, support and inspiration for women farmers

An inspiring day of advice, ideas and seasoned perspectives from the Wisconsin Soil Sisters, an innovative network of local women championing organic and sustainable agriculture in their community. The day will include opportunities to personally connect with women experts from a range of organizational resources as well as an in-depth farm tour with our host, Chelsea Chandler of Plowshares & Prairie Farm. 

Workshop fee: Special Educational Price of $40

Scholarships available for anyone who needs one! Please email Lisa Kivirist (lisakivirist@gmail.com)

Locally-source lunch provided by North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research Education)

BONUS: 

Registration includes a locally-sourced lunch and a free copy of the book Renewing the Countryside: WISCONSIN Stories of Sustainable Living, Working & Playing (a $26.95 value).

Topics covered include:

• Running a evolving farm operation, including vegetable production & running a CSA
• Ergonomic advice and resources
• Farm start-up advice, including funding & resources from NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) & FSA (Farm Service Agency)
• Balancing farming with raising kids and family
• Farm diversification: Value-added products in your home kitchen through cottage food law
• Farm stays & hosting on-farm food events, including barn weddings at Plowshares & Prairie

Personally connect with a buffet of resources sharing information and opportunities to ask your questions:

• Renewing the Countryside
• Wisconsin Women in Conservation/WiWiC
• The Farm Labor Dashboard (University of Vermont)
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
• Midwest GRIT (Grains Resource & Immersive Training)
• Artisan Grains Collaborative
• Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
• Heartland Threads Fibershed
• North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education)
• Wisconsin Farmers Union
• Green County Soil & Water Conservation

Meet the Soil sisters hosting & ask questions:

• Chelsea Chandler, Plowshare & Prairie
• Ashley Wegmueller, Wegmueller Dairy
• Heather Lynch, Green Haven Gardens
• April Prusia, Dorothy's Range
• LindaDee Derrickson, Bluffwood Landing & Heartland Threads Fibershed
• Betty Anderson, The Old Smith Place
• Lisa Kivirist, Inn Serendipity Farm

Farm Tour Details

On the tour of Plowshare & Prairie Farm, Chelsea will share her vegetable and CSA operation she and her husband, Scott Laeser, run. Learn how they run the farm on solar power along with farm diversification through converting a barn into a wedding rental venue.