Solid Ground provides educational programming for farmers all year round. Whether you are just getting started or you are looking to refine your skills, we’ve got lots of opportunities to build and refine your skills. Events are organized into the following categories:
Ag Mechanics
Conference
Course
Co-Hosted
Partner Event
Workshop
If you require an accommodation to participate in any of our events, please contact Nicole Davidow, Solid Ground Event Coordinator, at nicole.davidow@uconn.edu at least 5 days in advance of the event or program.
Scroll through the list below to learn more about what events are coming up. We hope to see you soon!
Partner Event
NOV
10, 16, 19
Event Series
Ask the Experts: A November Soil Health Series
Presented by American Farmland Trust and CT RC&D, with support from Connecticut NRCS
November 10th, 16th, and 19th, 6:00pm to 7pm
Virtual Event Series
These are open-format conversations without presentations, and they aren’t recorded, so ask freely. Come to one session or all three, and stay for the whole hour or pop in with one question. While the sessions focus on Connecticut farming conditions, farmers from any state are welcome.
Workshop
NOV
11
Wednesday
Intro to Grants for Farmers
November 11th, 2026, 8:30am to 12pm
UConn Extension Tolland Office, Vernon
Join this 3.5-hour, in-person workshop to learn how to navigate grant opportunities for your farm business. Topics include available grant programs, funding agencies, eligible project types, sources of free technical assistance, and strategies for understanding and responding to grant announcements. The workshop is taught by Jiff Martin and Robert Chang of the UConn Extension Solid Ground team.
Partner Event
NOV
12
Thursday
Agricultural Health & Safety Input Session
Presented by CT RC&D in partnership with the CT Department of Agriculture
November 12th, 2026, 12pm to 1:30pm
Hybrid – Register to attend virtually or in-person at the UConn Extension Middlesex County Office, Haddam
All farm & aquaculture workers, farm & aquaculture owners, agricultural service providers, and partner organizations are welcome to this stakeholder meeting to provide input on ways farms can improve health and safety into their operations for the improvement of rural health in the state. Join in person or virtually to learn more about the project and give your feedback on ways you could benefit from assistance.
Workshop
NOV
13
Friday
Intro to Grants for Farmers
November 13th, 2026, 8:30am to 12pm
Naugatuck Community College, Waterbury
Join this 3.5-hour, in-person workshop to learn how to navigate grant opportunities for your farm business. Topics include available grant programs, funding agencies, eligible project types, sources of free technical assistance, and strategies for understanding and responding to grant announcements. The workshop is taught by Jiff Martin and Robert Chang of the UConn Extension Solid Ground team.
Partner Event
NOV
19
Thursday
WBDC Virtual Orientation: Farming & Agricultural Business
Presented by the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC)
November 19th, 2026, 12pm to 1pm
Virtual Event
Join WBDC’s Laura Blake and Jackie Carter to discover the resources WBDC offers to Connecticut’s agricultural community—most of which are provided at NO COST. They help both male and female-owned operations! Join this webinar to learn more about what they offer, including educational opportunities, advising, funding programs, and community networks.
Co-Hosted
Workshop
NOV
23, 30
DEC
07, 10
Event Series
Plotting the Season: Seed Selection Zoom Series
Presented by New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA) and UConn Extension
Plotting the Season: A Seed Selection and Crop Planning Series kicks off with three interactive discussions focused on seed selection and variety choices. Connect with fellow farmers to share what you grew this season, the seeds you’re saving, and the varieties that performed best. Choose from Zoom sessions centered on vegetables, flowers, or livestock forage, and exchange insights on what thrived, what struggled, and what’s worth planting again. Best of all, these conversations are free to attend and can be joined from the comfort of your home.
November 23rd, 4pm to 5:30pm: Vegetable Seed Variety Discussion
November 30th, 7pm to 8:30pm: Flower Seed Variety Discussion
December 7th, 1pm to 2:30pm: Livestock Forage Seed Variety Discussion
Plotting the Season: Crop Planning Day at the Meriden Public Library
December 10th, 10am to 1:30pm
Meriden Public Library
The series will culminate in an in-person Crop Planning Day on December 10 at the Meriden Public Library. Experienced farmers and UConn Extension specialists will lead a panel discussion on key crop planning considerations, followed by dedicated time to develop, refine, troubleshoot, and share your own crop plan with experts and fellow farmers. Whether you’re building a plan from the ground up or fine-tuning an existing one, you’ll find practical guidance, fresh ideas, and support every step of the way. Lunch will be provided.
Course
DEC 2026 to
MARCH 2027
Asynchronous
Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies for Beginning Farmers
Course enrollment opening soon!
UConn Extension’s Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies course provides new and beginning farmers with a solid foundation in climate smart best practices for small farm operators. There are 14 course modules that cover topics such as soil health, water management, integrated pest management, invasive species, composting on the farm, silvopasture, and more.
Partner Event
DEC
08
Tuesday
Explore Farming in Connecticut
Presented by members of CT Department of Agriculture, UConn Extension, and New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA)
December 8th, 2026, 6pm to 7pm
Virtual
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture along with UConn Extension and New CT Farmer Alliance present Explore Farming, a virtual workshop introducing new and aspiring farmers to Connecticut’s agricultural landscape and available resources.
Upcoming Registration Deadline
DEC
9, 10, 11
3 Day Course
HACCP For Meat & Poultry Processors
Presented by UConn Extension Food Safety Team
December 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2026
Tolland County Extension Center
Deadline to register is November 13th.
UConn Extension in cooperation with University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension is pleased to offer a three-day International HACCP Alliance approved Meat and Poultry course. This course will provide participants with the information they need to prepare a HACCP food safety program and plan for a plant under USDA/FSIS Grant of Inspection.
Partner Event
Conference
DEC
15, 16, 17
New Hampshire
New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference
Presented by growers and Extension offices from across the region
December 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown, Manchester, New Hampshire
Join hundreds of fellow farmers for three days of learning, networking, and innovation featuring 31 educational sessions, daily farmer-to-farmer discussions, a research poster session, and more than 120 trade show exhibitors. Register by November 30 to take advantage of early bird rates.
Course
JAN
2027
Hybrid
Business of Farming
In Person: January 8th, 15th, and 29th, 2027
Virtual: January 13th and 27th, 2027
This is hybrid course is designed for beginning farmers who want to learn how to create and develop a business plan and gain tools and resources to help them with marketing, branding, financial management, filing taxes, legal business formation, insurance, local town and state regulations, and more! Learn more about the course.
Partner Event
Conference
JAN
12
Tuesday
UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Conference
Presented by UConn and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
January 12th, 2027: 9am to 3:30pm
UConn Student Union, Storrs
This full-day event is catered to CT growers and features educational presentations, farmer-to-farmer focus groups, research poster presentations, breakout sessions, and a trade show. Registration will open later this fall.
Conference
JAN
20
Wednesday
Farm Managers Summit
Save the Date! January 20th, 2027
Chrysalis Center, Hartford
This conference provides a great opportunity for farmers to come together with peer farm owners or managers to network and learn together, and ultimately make our farm businesses stronger! Registration will open later this fall.
Course
JAN – APR
2027
Asynchronous
Vegetable Production Certificate Course for Beginning Farmers
Course runs January through April 2027
Enrollment for the course will open in December 2026
UConn Extension’s Vegetable Production Course provides an opportunity for new and beginning farmers to build foundational knowledge and practical skills as it relates to growing healthy food, building a farm business, and becoming part of Connecticut’s local food system. The course modules will highlight important topics related to business planning, soil health, vegetable production, infrastructure, and finding your market.
Workshop
FEB
04, 11
Thursdays
On Farm Food Safety Workshop
Part 1 – Virtual: February 4th
Part 2 – In Person: February 11th
Tolland County Agricultural Center, Vernon
Details and registration link coming later this fall!
Course
FEB
05, 12, 26
Fridays
Land Ownership Readiness Course
February 5th, 12th, and 26th, 2027
In partnership with Connecticut Department of Agriculture, this course is designed to support underserved producers by sharing knowledge and resources that can increase their access to land, capital, and markets. Registration will open later this fall. For now, you learn more about this course on our website.
Partner Event
Conference
FEB
20
Saturday
NCTFA Farmer 2 Farmer Conference
Presented by the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance (NCTFA)
Save the Date! February 20th, 2027: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Eastern CT State University, Windham
This annual event features a full day of workshops and discussions led by and for Connecticut farmers. It’s a great way to network with other growers, and our Solid Ground Team will be there with a table!
Partner Event
Conference
MAR
13
Saturday
CT NOFA’s 45th Annual Winter Conference
Presented by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
Save the Date! March 13th, 2027: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wesleyan University, Middletown
This conference offers a variety of workshops covering topics such as farming, organic land care, government policy, homesteading and gardening, food equity and justice, and more!