Are you building a caterpillar tunnel, but don’t know where to start? Or maybe it would be helpful to see it done before having to do a build on your own? Participate in a caterpillar tunnel build at Hillyndale Road Farm!

We will be working together to build a 30 ft x 14ft Gothic Caterpillar Tunnel with 5 ft bow spacing. Network with other growers just like you who will be building tunnels. Gain insight on properly siting a tunnel, constructing the tunnel, and what to consider along the way.

Bring your questions about site planning, materials, installation, ventilation, maintenance, and more. Lunch will be included.

Date: Sunday, May 31st
Time: 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Location: Hillyndale Road Farm"

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There is a lot to consider when building a chicken tractor and selecting a design to meet your production goals. It can be challenging to balance cost, size, and materials with the everyday practicality of movement and pasture management, access and predator protection. Join us for a hands-on demonstration of building a chicken tractor to learn more about different chicken tractor designs and the advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Bring your designs and questions as you refine your skills and prepare to apply them on your own farm! Dinner will be included.

Date: Wednesday, June 24th
Time: 4PM to 6:30PM
Location: Allard Family Farm - Bolton, CT

Successful cut flower operations are heavily dependent upon the aesthetic quality of the flower – a blemish or scar could make a flower unsellable. Early scouting to monitor pests and diseases and incorporating proactive prevention measures into flower production operations can help minimize risk and increase your yield of beautiful blooms!

Join us for a scouting walk and bring your questions. Participants will help guide the conversation. Topics likely to include (but not limited to) disease symptoms vs. nutrient deficiencies, building soil health for healthy plants and disease mitigation, encouraging beneficial insects, sanitizing and handling of harvesting equipment, low tunnels and other methods of pest protection, record keeping, and more. Dinner will be included.

Date: Wednesday, July 8th
Time: 4PM to 6:30PM
Location: Off Center Farm - Woodbridge, CT

Integrated Pest Management combines multiple, science-based approaches to controlling insects, weeds, plant diseases, and wildlife to keep farms productive while reducing the risks to people, pollinators, and natural resources. This Skill Share will focus on building good scouting habits and identification skills to correctly identify the cause of a problem. Our instructors will guide participants on a scouting walk, illustrating what to look for, frequency of inspections, tools and traps, describing good record keeping, and thresholds for taking action.

Some questions we will answer together include:

• How to identify what’s causing a problem when pest damage, disease, nutrient deficiency, and environmental stress symptoms can look alike?
• How does soil health relate to pest and disease pressure? How does compaction, poor drainage, and low organic matter make disease problems worse?
• How do you manage effective crop rotation on small acreage?
• How do you properly handle and dispose of diseased plant material?
• What beneficial insects should I expect to find, what do they eat, and how do I create habitats that attract and keep them?

Dinner will be included.

Date: Wednesday, July 22nd
Time: 4PM to 6:30PM
Location: Handel Family Farm - East Hartford

Are you installing new livestock fencing or improving upon existing set ups and looking for insight on what you need? Join us for an in-person demonstration of installing high-tensile cattle fencing at Peaceful Valley Farm!

Network with other growers like you as we learn on the job. Heather Gooden from Gallagher Fencing will provide instruction on how to get started, matching supplies to your layout and proper post spacing, factoring in terrain changes, post depths, tensioning, and more. Bring your questions and add to the discussion! Lunch will be included.

Date: Saturday, September 19th
Time: 9AM to 1PM
Location: Peaceful Valley Farm - Dayville, CT