‘Tools For a Healthy Farm Partnership’ Workshop Feb. 4 in Minneapolis

CONTACT: Parker Forsell, LSP, 507-523-3366; parker@landstewardshipproject.org

1/5/12
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Land Stewardship Project (LSP) workshop on “Tools For a Healthy Farm Partnership” will be held Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Eastside Food Co-op in Minneapolis. The fee is $25 for LSP members and $60 for non-members. To reserve a spot, pre-register by Jan. 28. To register or for more information, contact LSP’s Parker Forsell at 507-523-3366 or parker@landstewardshipproject.org.

A farm business partnership can be a relationship disaster or a positive and productive experience. Participants in this workshop will learn communication skills and systems to balance family, farm, relationships and self.

Featured will be vegetable farmer and consultant Atina Diffley of Organic FarmingWorks. Atina is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops throughout the Midwest. She consults and coaches farmers on both production practices and quality of life issues. The Feb. 4 workshop was inspired by common themes that have challenged many of Diffley’s clients as well as her own experiences running Gardens of Eagan with her husband Martin Diffley for over 20 years.

This workshop will be geared toward couples and farming partners, and it will include many exercises aimed at the initial creation of systems and communication tools to help improve existing farming operations. Key components covered in the class include:

• Having the same vision for a partnership to be successful.
• Defining business roles.
• Creating weekly and monthly work plans.
• Practicing good communication skills.
• Staying in reality — recognizing projection.

This workshop is presented by LSP’s Farm Beginnings program. To learn more about this farmer-led beginning farmer training initiative, visit www.farmbeginnings.org.

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