Media Contact: Eric Hatling, MOSES
715-778-5775 ● eric@mosesorganic.org
NEWS RELEASE
July 22, 2013
In Her Boots Training Supports Women Farmers in Sustainable Agriculture
SPRING VALLEY, WI – While the number of farms has been on the decline for many years, the number owned and operated by women is on the rise – up nearly 30 percent according to the last USDA Census of Agriculture. The Rural Women’s Project, a venture of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), supports these new women farmers through its In Her Boots: Sustainable Farming For Women, By Women, workshops.
These day-long, on-farm workshops provide women farmers and food-focused business owners with an inspiring blend of practical information, skill-building, farm tours, resource connections and networking opportunities to encourage and support this growing segment of organic farmers, entrepreneurs and agricultural leaders.
The In Her Boots workshops for 2013 are:
Aug. 4 – Decorah, Iowa (Canoe Creek Produce)
Aug. 8 – Kenyon, Minn. (Dancing Winds Farm)
Aug. 18 – Brodhead, Wis. (Scotch Hill Farm)
Workshops run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and include lunch and a farm tour. Each workshop is on a woman-owned farm and covers different topics, so women are welcome to attend more than one.
“These In Her Boots workshops are based on the idea that women learn best from each other in a format where we can ask questions and mentor and inspire one another,” explains Lisa Kivirist, director of the MOSES Rural Women’s Project. She and her family run Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B outside Monroe, Wis. “Each workshop offers an inspiring lineup of women farmers who share their knowledge and experiences, enabling participants to dive into the practicalities of successfully running farm and food-based enterprises, including value-added enterprises, land stewardship, risk management through income diversification, and integrating children and family.”
Each In Her Boots workshop is $35 with advance registration. Scholarships are available. Cost is $50 at the event. To register, see http://mosesorganic.org/womensprojectinherboots.html, or call the MOSES office at 715-778-5775. To get answers to questions about the workshops, contact Lisa Kivirist, MOSES Rural Women’s Project Director, lisa@innserendipity.com or 608-329-7056 (home office).
MOSES is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and education to farmers to encourage sustainable and organic agriculture. The Rural Women’s Project is supported by the USDA Risk Management Agency. MOSES’s Organic Farming Conference, Field Days, Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring Program, and print and web-based resources help farmers grow organic successfully. To learn more, visit http://www.mosesorganic.org/.
