Workshops
Workshops facilitate year round mentorship and knowledge-sharing between seasoned farmers with specialized knowledge and farmers looking to acquire new skills. Each workshop takes place on a farm in King or Snohomish county so participants can experience a wide array of farming operations. Current SVT members receive discounted pricing for these workshops. To become a member, visit our Membership page. For farm business-oriented courses and consultations, please take a look at our Business Center.
Upcoming Workshops
Find information about 2024 workshops below. If you have an idea for a future workshop or would like to teach one, please contact justine@snovalleytilth.org.
Sheep, Lambing and Kidding Workshop
Saturday, April 27, 2024 @ Canfield Farms — Snohomish, WA
Join us for a Sheep, Lambing and Kidding Workshop taught by Michelle Canfield of Canfield Farms in Snohomish on Saturday, April 27 from 12-3pm.
Michelle works full time and (on the side) runs 100 Katahdin Hair Sheep ewes, raising 150 meat lambs and breeding stock each year on 37 acres in the Snohomish River Valley.
We’ll start with a tour of the farm and seeing the sheep flock in their rotational grazing areas, where they lamb on pasture. There will be about 150 lambs on the ground! We’ll talk about portable fencing, livestock guardian dogs, herding dogs, and pasture management. Then we’ll move to the barn to have a deeper discussion on husbandry practices around lambing (and kidding!). There will be opportunity to see and get some hands-on experience with tube and bottle feeding lambs, doing injections (SQ, IM, and IP), blood draws, correcting prolapses, drenching, hoof trimming, doing fecal egg counts with a microscope, parasite management, necropsy, and anything else that comes up in discussion!
There is a suggested donation of $20 for SnoValley Tilth members and $35 for non-members, to be paid at registration. Each individual participant must register for this event. Register here: https://svtsheepworkshop.bpt.me
Location: Canfield Farms, 12320 Old Snohomish Monroe Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290
Small Tool and Equipment Maintenance Workshop
Saturday, May 4, 2024 @ Steel Wheel Farms — Fall City, WA
Join us for an in-person workshop on Small Tool and Equipment Maintenance with Ryan Lichttenegger of Steel Wheel Farm on Saturday, May 4 from 9am -12pm.
This workshop is tailored specifically to the needs of vegetable farmers. Each tool and machine should be meticulously inspected, cleaned, and serviced yearly before it is put to use. Learn how to ensure that the tools and equipment crucial to your vegetable farming operation are always in prime condition for the season ahead.
There is a suggested donation of $20 for SnoValley Tilth members and $35 for non-members, to be paid at registration.
More information on our website and registration page. https://svtequipmentmaintenance.bpt.me
Location: Steel Wheel Farm, 3701 324th Ave SE, Fall City, WA 98024 98290
Past Workshops
High Tunnel Building Workshop
September 26, 2023 @ Frisky Girl Farm — North Bend, WA
Farm owners Ellen and Ashley led participants in a hands-on workshop about building high tunnels. They talked about site selection, reinforcements, the NRCS grant process, insurance and more. They showed participants the variety of high tunnels they currently have and how they have modified them to help them withstand the cruel weather of North Bend. They discussed the mistakes they have made along the way and how their plans and process have changed. Participants worked in teams to assemble two trusses for the new high tunnel at Frisky Girl Farm.
Pest Management Workshop
September 9, 2023 @ Caruso Farms — Snohomish, WA
Dr. Louis Nottingham (“Louie”) is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at Washington State University, located at the Northwestern WA Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Mount Vernon. Louie’s research program aims to improve pest management through sustainable, integrated approaches in order to limit the need for broad spectrum insecticides. Tactics Louie’s lab focuses on include cultural strategies, conservation of natural enemies, physical and mechanical barriers, behavior disruptors, repellents, low-disturbance crop rotations, and rational use of selective biological insecticides.
Louie and members of his technicians and graduate students provide d an overview of integrated pest management (IPM) for mix cropping systems and discussed important pest and beneficial insects with examples from their collection. They talked about their current projects and how university research can lead to real-world solutions for organic and sustainable farmers. The group visited crops on Caruso Farms to observe, capture and identify insects and talked with each other about different ways they address these pests on their farms.
Pizza with a Purpose: Wash Pack Tips and Tricks
June 26, 2023 @ 21Acres Farm — Woodinville, WA
Tilth Alliance, 21Acres and SnoValley Tilth came together to host a free pizza party featuring presentations by local farmers on wash pack stations and food safety practices.
Presenters included:
- Libby Reed of Orange Star Farm
- Rachel Piggot of Island Harvest Farm
- Bonnie Feldberg of Viva Farms
Irrigation Equipment Best Maintenance Practices
June 15, 2023 @ Steel Wheel Farm — Fall City WA
SnoValley Tilth, in partnership with the Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District, held an Irrigation Equipment Best Management Practices Technical Workshop.
This technical workshop focused on irrigation screens, water meters and gas-powered pumps. Technical experts discussed the ins and outs of screens, meters, and pumps and answered questions about how to select, install, troubleshoot, and maintain your equipment. There were also some installation demonstrations to show you how to set up and run your irrigation screen, meter, and pump together.
Presenters included:
Erin Ericson from SV WID–fish screens
Ryan Bartelheimer from Snohomish Conservation District–pumps
Beginning Welding for the Farm Workshop
April 1, 2023 @ Monroe WA
Farm owner and welding instructor Vince Caruso taught participants the basics of using a wire feed welder safely for simple welding projects. He covered welding safety, equipment and supplies needed to get started and then everyone got hands-on experience. After practicing “running beads” with a wire-feed welder, participants worked with Vince and each other to make a simple hoe that they got to take home.
Duck Management Workshop
September 17, 2022 @ Orange Star Farm — Monroe WA
Farm owner Libby Reed taught participants about managing ducks on a diversified small farm. She addressed managing optimum health throughout their life, maximizing egg production, pasture management and permanent housing/bedding management. There was discussion about how waterfowl differ from land fowl and the importance of effective breed selection for egg laying or meat production. She also covered egg washing and some basic food safety strategies for managing poultry and vegetable production safely together and what scaling up looks like on a small farm selling a specialty product.
No-Till Farming Workshop
May 21, 2022 @ Radicle Roots Farm – Snohomish, WA
In this workshop James Bernston taught participants about No-Till farming regenerative methods through: touring the two greenhouses, outside permanent vegetable beds and wash/pack shed; discussing the transition to no-till methods, how to flip beds, relevant tools and managing fertility; and leading a hands-on demonstration of bed preparation and planting with the paperpot transplanter. James also shared the challenges of sourcing quality compost, dealing with perennial weeds and adjusting irrigation requirements.
Early Season High Tunnel Growing Workshop
April 30, 2022 @ Lowlands Farm – Snohomish, WA
In this workshop, Alice VanderHaak of Lowlands Farm taught participants about early season vegetable and flower growing in high tunnels. Participants toured the farm, the propagation greenhouse, and the high tunnels, discussing crops and methods along the way. Alice also covered seeding, propagation methods and timing for early season flowers.
Introduction to Irrigation Systems Workshop
March 5, 2022 @ Steel Wheel Farm – Carnation, WA
Farm owner Ryan Lichttenegger walked participants through the process of irrigating a farm from the source to the field. Topics covered included getting water from the river, cisterns and municipal water; water volume, pressure and flow rate; and how that information, along with a lot of experimentation, has helped him choose what irrigation systems to use throughout the farm. Participants will have a chance to assemble wobbler heads, and (if timing works out with planting and weather) setup and install a sprinkler line. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions, troubleshoot irrigation issues with other farmers, and leave with some irrigation ideas and resources.
Lambing Workshop
Discover the basics of lambing with Bruce Ford of Mollie Bear Farm and Gardens. In this video you’ll Bruce discusses the supplies needed and general processes of lambing, and you’ll see a lamb being born!
Greenhouse Management Series
Our Greenhouse Management Series gave participants a four-season view of how to most effectively utilize and manage greenhouses. The series was divided into four workshops, each tackling a specific topic through hands-on demonstrations with farmer teachers. Participants had opportunities to ask questions and left with a variety of resources for their own growing.
Greenhouse Management I: Building a High Tunnel
@ Hearth Farm – Duvall, WA
With the mentorship of Luke Woodward of Hearth Farm, participants learned all about different hoophouse types, materials, and how to assess what is right for their operation. Participants put together a hoophouse on site as hands-on practice.
Greenhouse Management II: Growing, Trellising and Vining Crops in a Greenhouse
@ Whistling Train Farm – Kent, WA
Expert grower, Shelley Pasco of Whistling Train Farm, led participants through hands-on techniques for efficiently growing vining and trellising crops, like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and other specialty items, in the hoophouse.
Greenhouse Management III: Winter Growing and Long-Term Soil Health
@ Present Tense Farm – Monroe, WA
Present Tense Farm owners, Neil and Jayme, showed participants techniques for maintaining greenhouse health throughout the season and shared tips for growing year round.
Greenhouse Management IV: Propagation Houses
@ Local Roots Farm – Duvall, WA
During this workshop, farmer Siri Erickson-Brown of Local Roots Farm shared how Local Roots Farm designs and manages their propagation houses for the best plant health and efficiency; the evolution of Local Roots Farm’s propagation systems; lessons learned/highs and lows of managing propagation houses; and techniques and ideas for propagation houses at different scales.
Weed Management Series
Our Weed Management Series gave participants a three-season view of weed management at multiple scales and techniques ranging from hand cultivation to tractor cultivation. The series was divided into three workshops, each tackling a specific topic through hands-on demonstrations with farmer teachers. Participants had opportunities to ask questions and left with a variety of resources for their own growing.
Weed Management I: Early Spring Weed Management
@ Steel Wheel Farm – Fall City, WA
Ryan Lichttenegger of Steel Wheel Farm did some hands-on demonstrations of flame weeding, stale seed bedding, using implements such as basket weeders, and laying plastic mulch.
Weed Management II: People-Scale Weed Management
@ Radicle Roots Farm – Snohomish, WA
Farmer James Berntson of Radicle Roots Farm demonstrated the strategies that he uses for weed management on his small market garden-style farm. Management techniques, included how he uses wheel hoes, collinear hoes, silage tarps, and low-till techniques for his small-scale system.
Weed Management III: Cover Cropping for Effective Weed Management
@ One Leaf Farm – Snohomish, WA
Farmer Rand Rasheed of One Leaf Farm demonstrated the tools strategies that she uses for fall cover cropping and how to effectively use it for weed control.
Hog Slaughter and Butchery Workshop
Darron Marzolf of Falling River Meats provided complete instruction on nose-to-tail on-farm slaughter, scald, scrape, and cleaning at Regeneration Farm in Woodinville. This was followed by a whole hog breakdown and butchering class at his shop in Carnation. There were demonstrations of smoking, sausage making, and curing techniques as well as a discussion on how to use every part of the animal and pay it the respect that living beings and healthy humanely raised food deserves.