Press release from Organic Growers School:
Asheville, NC: The Organic Growers School will be offering a 2-day workshop, Holistic Financial Planning on January 21st – 22nd, 2019 for farmers at the Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy’s Community Farm. William Lyons from Bluebird Farm, often says when he teaches, “I didn’t get into farming to think about money, but if I want to keep farming, I need to think about money all the time.” Farmers don’t get into farming because they love to manage numbers and money, but in order to be successful, money management skills are crucial. This workshop, taught by Cree Bradley of Chelsea Morning Farm in Minnesota and a trained Holistic Management Instructor, is designed to help farmers navigate the delicate balancing act that all farmers must succeed in balancing – healthy profits with healthy land, a healthy farm family and personal life.
According to a participant from 2018, “The Holistic Financial Planning Workshop was a huge benefit for both our farm and our personal lives- since they usually get mixed up together. The workshop helped to narrow down our farm’s goals. It’s exciting to have solid method to plan and keep track of our finances while keeping aim on our values that are most important. I highly recommend the class to anyone who works with the land.”
Cree Bradley brings 15 years of experience teaching Holistic Management and financial planning to farmers. She has organized programs with the Sustainable Farming Association, Institute for a Sustainable Future, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and the Land Stewardship Project. She has taught Holistic Management trainings in IL, WI, SD and MN, and with the MN Department of Agriculture’s Farm Core program and continues to provide leadership in the development and facilitation of Lake Superior Farm Beginnings®. She shares her own farm experience with financial management and teaches a simple way to make financial decisions toward farm & family values and goals, and how to build profit into your plans up front, rather than hoping there is something left once expenses are subtracted from income.
According to farmer and participant in 2017, Cedar Johnson from Goldfinch Gardens in Yancey County says, “The Holistic business planning has allowed me to feel in control of our business throughout the year, rather than learning what happened at the end of the year. “
The workshop is Monday and Tuesday January 21st and 22nd, at the SAHC Community Farm’s Educational building in Alexander, NC, and is hosted by the Organic Growers School. Funding support from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Farmers in WNC CRAFT networks will receive a discount to attend as well as those that have attended previously. Pre-registration is required. To register and learn more go to: https://organicgrowersschool.org/farmers/holistic-financial-planning/ .
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