Alternative Production Systems for Farmers

with Disabilities

Local Food and BeyondLocal Food and Beyond

Kerri Ebert, CoordinatorKansas AgrAbility ProjectAgrAbility Virtual NTW

December 10, 2013

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agrability.org/Online-Training/virtualntw/index.cfm along with resource materials

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• AgrAbility: USDA-sponsored program that assists farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities.– Partners land grant universities with disability

services organizations– Currently 20 projects covering 22 states– National AgrAbility Project: Led by Purdue’s Breaking

New Ground Resource Center. Partners include:• Goodwill of the Finger Lakes• The Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign• Colorado State University

– More information available at www.agrability.org

Alternative Production Systems for Farmers

with Disabilities

Local Food and BeyondLocal Food and Beyond

Kerri Ebert, CoordinatorKansas AgrAbility ProjectAgrAbility Virtual NTW

December 10, 2013

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about small scale and alternative ag production methods

2. See examples of small scale and alternative production methods used in Kansas

3. Discuss possibilities for your states and identify resources

Why this topic at this time?

• United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) Report– January 2013– Food Insecurity Among Households With

Working-Age Adults With Disabilities• There is a strong association between disability and

food insecurity• 33.5% of households with an adult who is not in the

workforce because of disability are food insecure

Why this topic at this time?

• Veterans– Gulf Wars I and II have resulted in 1.6 million veterans who

fought for America and survived.– Approximately 10% of post-9/11 veterans are officially

classified as disabled.– About 45% of veterans are seeking disability benefits from the

Veterans Affairs (VA) Department.– 3.5 million = total number of veterans with a service-

connected disability– The unemployment rate for Gulf War I and II veterans hovers

around 9%; some sources put it closer to 20%

Total population of veterans is >21.5 million; 1.6 million of whom are female.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Why this topic at this time?

Enthusiasm for farming among young adults (college age) and older Americans who “want” to farm.

We Need More Farmers!

• Local Food Movement– Consumer driven– Opens new market opportunities for farmers– Increases demand for new farmers

• Self Employment can be an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities

• Farming can be therapeutic for returning veterans

In Kansas we don’t have enough fresh produce to meet consumer demand at our largest farmer’s markets.

Small Scale Ag & Alternative Crops

• The Worldwatch Institute*: A move from industrial farming towards local food projects is our healthiest, most sustainable choice.

• Food waste – another reason for more local growers. Conservative estimate of food waste in the U.S. is ¼ of all food produced.– Prepared and not eaten– Damaged in transport– Spoilage– Unsold fresh produce in stores

*State of the World Report 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet

We Need More Farmers to Grow Fresh Produce!

• Can we (AgrAbility) help bridge the gaps between:– Americans with disabilities and food security– AgrAbility customers and increased local food

demand– Needs of our returning veterans; many of whom

were raised in rural areas.

?

YES, WE CAN In fact, we’ve already started.

So let’s look at some types of alternative food production and niche markets that can

and do work for people with disabilities.

Because small-scale farming is an excellent self employment option and doesn’t take a

huge start-up investment!

Small Scale/Alternative Options

• Traditional Fruits – Tree fruits (apples, peaches, pears, cherries)– Bramble fruits (blackberries, raspberries)– Small fruits (blueberries, strawberries, grapes)

• Specialty Fruits– Figs (growing zones 6-9)– Elderberries (growing zones 4-8)– Currants (growing zones 3-7)– Kiwi (growing zones 5-8)

• Herbs – culinary and medicinal

Small Scale/Alternative Options

• Traditional Vegetables– Tomatoes– Peppers– Squash

• Specialty Vegetables– Miniature and/or colored anything

• Yellow or purple carrots; 8-ball zucchini; yellow beets

– Ethnic vegetables – varies by location and local ethnic population• Bok Choy and other Choys• Chinese cabbage• Specialty peppers

Source: USDA, Alternative Crops & Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification

Small Scale/Alternative Options

• Animals (protein)– Game-related: buffalo, deer, fish bait,

pheasant, quail– Minor Breeds: goats, sheep, rabbits– Poultry: chickens, ducks, geese– Aquaculture: tilapia, shrimp

Conventional OR Organic?It’s up to the producer and the consumer

Source: USDA, Alternative Crops & Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification

Let’s take a virtual farm tour

for our virtual training workshop

Examples – Niche Markets

Source: Kansas SARE

Green beans in north central

Kansas

Examples – Niche Markets

Source: Kansas SARE

Chestnuts in northeast Kansas

Examples – Niche Markets

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

PoultryLeft: rotationally grazed, heritage bred turkeysRight: Brooder house for chickens made from pickup toppers and straw bales

Examples

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

Mineral tubs and 5-gallon buckets as raised beds with a small hoop

houses for season extension

Examples

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

Garden plot donated to local ILC by a farm implement dealer.

Examples

Source: Kansas SARE

Garden plots on vacant lots in Kansas City, Kansas. Lower left

photo is experimental “slot farming” technique; uses and

edger to create slot for seed and existing crab grass as the mulch.

Examples

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

Recycled totes as raised beds; even winterized

raised beds

with the hoop structure.

Examples

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

Another example

of a raised bed.

Examples

Source: Kansas SARE

Minimal equipment investment: PVC / 2X4 frame, recycled billboard

used as a cover.

Examples

Source: Kansas SARE

High tunnels offer high

potential for planting densely.

Notice how much is

planted in such a small area

and the use of containers with

in-ground planting.

What’s a Hoop House?High tunnels, or hoop houses, are unheated greenhouses that can help extend the growing season and improve the profitability and productivity of their farms.

High tunnels are also an integral part of local food production systems in many parts of the United States. They aid fruit and vegetable crop production by extending the cropping season, providing protection from the elements (wind, storms, heat, etc.), and result in a more-stable production system that poses less risk of crop failure.

High tunnels come in many different shapes, sizes, and structures. Many 4-season tunnels are as small as 1000 sq ft for, and 3-season tunnels (plastic is removed during winter) can span ranges up to 20+ acres.

Examples

Source: Kansas AgrAbility Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1mL8G0iRWc&feature=youtu.be

Hoop houses as therapy – constructing and growing -- Fort Riley, Kansas, mTBI Clinic.

ResourcesUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – www.usda.gov– Alternative Farming Systems Information

Center, http://afsic.nal.usda.gov– National Agricultural Library

• Alternative Crops & Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification, http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/altlist.shtml

– Start2Farm, http://start2farm.gov/– Farm Service Agency, http://www.fsa.usda.gov

ResourcesFor Veterans

– Information for Veterans• http://www.outreach.usda.gov/veterans.htm

– Farmer Veteran Coalition, http://www.farmvetco.org/• Veteran Careers in Agriculture: A Resource Guide,

AgrAbility featured on Page 31– Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots, http://ncta.unl.edu/

• Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis, NE– 100 Beef Cow Advantage Program– 100 Acre Farm Advantage Program

Resources• ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture

Information Center– https://attra.ncat.org/

• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)– http://www.sare.org/

• eXtension (virtual Extension office)– http://www.extension.org/

Local Resources• USDA County Offices– Farm Service Agency (FSA)– Rural Development (RD)– Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• County/Area Extension Offices– Master Gardener Programs– Community Garden Program– Farmers Market Information

Local Resources• State Department of Agriculture• State SARE Coordinator• State Commission/Department of Veterans

Affairs• Small Business Development Centers• State Farm Organizations– Farmers Union– Small / Sustainable Farmers Associations

Kerri EbertKansas AgrAbility Project

kebert@k-state.eduhttp://agrability.bae.ksu.edu