Participants will learn basic knowledge and skills of suicide prevention including societal myths and attitudes, use of sensitive language, risk factors and warning signs, protective factors, considerations for populations at risk, examples of what to say and do, and local and national resources for help. Participants use behavioral practice techniques to apply a three-step process for talking with someone who presents suicide risk. This Farm First adapted version focuses on the agricultural community.

In this day-long workshop, participants will learn about and have an opportunity to practice using and teaching ergonomic practices to prevent injuries and support season-long productivity. Topics that will be covered include:

Dr. Allen Williams and his colleagues at Understanding Ag. have been leaders in working with farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and around the world to increase their understanding of soil health practices and how they can make any farming operation more successful.

Dr. Allen Williams and his colleagues at Understanding Ag. have been leaders in working with farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and around the world to increase their understanding of soil health practices and how they can make any farming operation more successful.

Cool spring temperatures are ideal for growing many beloved crops, while others will need a little extra warmth and protection from potential frost. Join us for an exploration of row cover thicknesses, plastic and biodegradable mulch to warm up soil, tarping techniques to eliminate weeds, and peek inside our DIY low tunnel. These simple season extension techniques require minimal investment in materials to achieve a gardener's dream of harvesting luscious spring greens, getting an early start on brassicas, and prepping soil to welcome warm season crops in a few weeks.

Its time to begin thinking about the growing season and what better way to begin than with seeds. Join Nathan Lake in this workshop to learn the basics of starting seeds. We will cover strategies for having success starting vegetable seeds with common materials you can find at home or with materials used on farms. Bring any seeds you hope to grow this year or questions you have on how to start seeds.

Join us for the Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop where you will learn the basics of fruit tree and shrub pruning with Jacob Holzberg-Pill. Proper pruning of fruit trees helps to ensure that your fruit trees stay healthy and produce the highest quality fruit. Whether you're taking care of young trees, wrangling in that grandmother apple tree in your backyard, or cleaning up berry bushes, this class will teach and demonstrate tools and techniques to meet the goals of the trees, shrubs and the people in your orchard.

The ACORN Food Hub invites you to celebrate and discover local food produced in Vermont's Champlain Valley. Join us at the Kirk Alumni Center on the campus of Middlebury College from 9:30am-12:00pm on Thursday, April 6.

This food fair brings together local food producers and buyers interested in local products. Enjoy light local fare, connect with the local food community, sample delicious products from Vermont's Champlain Valley, and learn about ACORN's Food Hub.

Registration is required.