Seminars & Workshops
Diane Green is a well-known presenter and workshop leader in the Northwest. Her work as a market gardener and co-owner of Greentree Naturals with husband Thom Sadoski has brought her a wealth of information and experience to share with all types of audiences. She has offered presentations, seminars and workshops to groups ranging in size from ten to 500 in attendance.
You can see a list of current on-farm classes and workshops on the "What's Happening on the Farm?" page. This page includes:
Topics for training and presentations include all aspects of Small Farm & Market Gardening, Selling Direct to the Consumer, Farmers Markets, Restaurants, Community Supported Agriculture, Organic Gardening, & Developing a Growers Collective.
If you are interested in being informed of upcoming seminars or workshops, contact us to get on our mailing list. Also, check out the Newsletters & More page on the website for current events and listings of our on-farm workshops and farm tours.
"The future belongs to those who give the next generation reasons to hope."
Quotable Quotes
From evaluations and summary of past sessions and workshops:
- "She really makes a person want to start a small farm production of their own!"
- "Diane's sense of humor added a lot to the presentation."
- After a three hour organic gardening session - "She covered all of her subjects so well; would be nice to have two classes on this subject."
Current Presentations
![2008 grads](images/2008grads.jpg) Graduation Day for students
who took the Sustainable Small
Acreage Farming & Ranching
Course
in 2007-2008.
We had a pot luck lunch
at our farm in May to celebrate.
Students received a Cultivating
Success Sustainable Small Farms
Education certificate of course
completion and for creating
a farm plan.
Fall / Winter 2008-2009 Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Course
This 12 week course combines classroom and on-farm experience to give students lessons in technical aspects of farming along with practical whole farm management skills. Cost is $165, which includes a handbook. Classes are held Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm to 8:30 pm at the Bonner County Extension office beginning October 21 through December 9, break for holidays, resume January 6 - January 27. The course is designed for beginning farmers and for current producers who are interested in taking their farm in a new direction. The class size is limited to 24 participants and fills up fast. If interested in reserving a space, contact the Bonner County Extension Office at 263-8511. For more information, contact Diane, Course instructor at 208-263-8957 or greentree@coldreams.com
Producer Workshops
Food Safety from Farm to Table: Good Agricultural Practices for Direct Marketing Farms and Ranches – Between spinach scares and product recalls, it isn’t surprising that food safety has become an issue at the front of everyone’s mind. Held in nine locations across the Inland Northwest, these workshops will help demystify rules and regulations surrounding the selling of produce, meat, wild-crafted items and value-added products through direct markets in your region. Diane will be presenting at a number of these locations along with representatives from UI, the Department of Health and Welfare and other agencies. February 8: Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Caldwell (with the UI Extension 2008 Small Acreage Conference); March 7: Enterprise, Oregon; March 19: Kamiah, Idaho; March 28: Spokane, Washington. For details and registrations visit www.ruralroots.org or call (208) 883-3462
Protecting your Farm and Ranch Assets: Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Farm Liability, but Were Afraid to Ask – This workshop series will educate and equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to limit farm liabilities and related financial risks as you engage in direct marketing. Diane will be presenting and facilitating pieces of these workshops across the region. Seven workshops will be held across the state of Idaho in February and March 2008. Dates to be announced. Visit www.ruralroots.org for details.
Recent Presentations
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Farm Liability, but were afraid to Ask –Caldwell, Idaho at Albertson College January 12, 2007 and Moscow, Idaho, and University of Idaho Commons, February 9, 2007. Consistently, producers and agriculture professionals tell us they are seeking information and resources on liability issues, and direct marketing their products or services. Diane developed a resource manual for Farm Liability for these sessions and will be presenting on a number of liability topics. Workshops sponsored by Rural roots, in partnership with UI Extension, USDA Risk Management Agency and the Western Center for Risk Management Education. For details visit www.ruralroots.org
Taking Sales to the Next Level: A Workshop to Increase Your Marketing Skills –
Pocatello, Idaho (location to be announced) March 24th, 2007 and Post Falls, University of Idaho Post Falls Research & Technology Park, March 30th, 2007. Diane will present with a number of ag professionals on all aspects of direct marketing; from post-harvest handling to farmers market sales. Workshops sponsored by Rural roots, in partnership with UI Extension, USDA Risk Management Agency and the Western Center for Risk Management Education. For details visit www.ruralroots.org
Reclaiming Our Local Food and Farms - 2006 Rural Roots Annual Conference & Farmers' Market Coalition Regional Workshop February 2 - 5, 2006 Basque Center 6th & Grove Street, Boise, ID. Diane will be featured as one of the keynote speakers for this regional conference. Diane will talk, with years of experience behind her, about the importance of reclaiming local food in your community. For more information about this conference, visit www.ruralroots.org
Direct Marketing Workshop Series - Making Money on Your Small Acreage Farm, Market Garden or Ranch Success in direct market sales, whether at a farmers market, through a CSA, on-farm, you name it, is largely dependent on product quality, presentation and timeliness. Workshop offers ideas for season extension, post-harvest handling, packaging and display and will help you develop a plan for increasing the success of your direct marketing efforts. This is a three workshop series held in St. Maries and Kamiah, ID sponsored by Rural Roots, UI and the Western Center for Risk Management Education. February, March, April 2005. A two day workshop on this same subject was also held at the Eighth Street Center in Buhl, Idaho on December 2 & 3, 2005.
Organizing and Hosting On-Farm Events Overview of how to organize and host farm tours, on-farm workshops, school children activities / visits, and Sunday Brunches; why should farmers consider having these events? Advertising, pricing, conveying appropriate on-farm etiquette, liability and legal issues as appropriate.
Making the Local Connections : Direct Marketing in the Inland Northwest Conference University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho March 2005
Developing a Marketing Collective Identify why and how to develop a marketing collective including factors contributing to both the success and failures, advantages and disadvantages of working with a collective. Making the Local Connections : Direct Marketing in the Inland Northwest Conference University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho March 2005
Growing Cut Flowers Growing flowers for a cutting garden, what do you need for fresh flower bouquets, annuals vs. perennials, colors, succession planting more. Cultivating the Harvest II Conference \ Coeur d'Alene, Idaho November 2003 ![diane green](images/dianepeas.jpg)
Sustainability; Growing a Community Food System How can you help promote a local community food system? Farming is a perishable product; what does farm fresh mean? Food facts and how the future of family farms is in your hands as a consumer. Public Forum On Sustainability PBS Program \ Sandpoint, Idaho February 2003
Working with a Growers Collective By working with a Collective of growers, we eliminate the competition with each other, extend the varieties of produce, lengthen the growing season and are able to provide the quantities to keep our customers satisfied. Growing A Community - A Sustainable Agriculture Conference Creston, British Columbia, Canada February 2004 Diversity in the Desert \ North American Farmers Direct Marketing Conference Mesa, AZ January, 2001
Selling to Restaurants - Effective Farmers Markets - Where to begin, what to grow, how to present your product, how to approach the chefs, orders, deliveries, quality control. Farmers, Friends and the Land – Nurturing Connections \ Conference on Organic Farming and Direct Marketing. Sponsored by USDA – SARE Program, ID Dept of AG, Idaho Rural Council. Twin Falls, Idaho December 2000
Direct Marketing for the Small Farm Small Farms need to be diverse with their marketing to survive. We don't do mono-cropping anymore than we should be doing mono-marketing = consumer education, community presence, media, advertising, and finding your niche. Growing a Future for Family Farms Conference , Sponsored by WA Tilth Producers Association. Chelan, Washington November 2000
Marketing for Small Businesses : Niches and Diversity Speaker Forum Marketing diversity for the small farm. Sponsored by The Methow Food Alliance and Sustainable Northwest. Twisp, Washington May 2000
Diverse Strategies for Marketing the Small Farm Workshop Community presence, media, advertising & niches. Sponsored by Western SARE Conference on Sustainable Agriculture \ Farming and Ranching for Profit, Stewardship and Community. Portland, Oregon March 2000
Organic Certification - To Certify or Not to Certify, That is the Question! Selling Produce to Restaurants. Cultivating the Harvest Small Acreage Farming Conference / Moscow, Idaho March 1999
Small Acreage Farming - Market Gardening short course What, where, when and how to grow a market garden. Sponsored by University of Idaho, Small Farms Extension & Education. / Coeur d`Alene, ID November 1999
Connecting with Your Roots Summer Farm Tours Consumer education - Where does your food come from? Sponsored by University of Idaho Extension, Rural Roots, and Washington State University Extension. / Sandpoint, ID 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.
The Basics of Organic Gardening Three hour workshop on the basics of organic gardening. Sponsored by University of Idaho, Master Gardener Extension Program Sandpoint, ID February 1997 through 2006.
References
Cinda Williams, Sustainable Ag Support Scientist, Univ. of ID (208) 885-7499
E-Mail: cindaw@uidaho.edu
Colette DePhelps , Executive Director Rural Roots (208) 883-3462
E-mail: colette@ruralroots.org
Vickie Parker-Clark, District Director E-4 WSU Extension, (509)-358-7867
E mail: vickiepc@wsu.edu
Diane Green with Dr. Vicki Luther/ Co-director of Heartland Center for Leadership Development
Recent Projects
Rural Roots The Inland Northwest Community Food Systems Association
President/Chair of the Board of Directors working towards a multi-goal effort to improve the economic viability of small acreage farms and communities in eastern Washington and Northern Idaho 1999 - 2006.
University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Plant, Soil and Entomology Sciences Advisory Board currently representing small acreage farmers for the State of Idaho 2001-2005; 2006-2010.
Sustainable Agriculture On-Farm Education Program Working with Rural Roots, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University to explore the potential of developing a year-long on-farm educational program in the Inland Northwest. Components of the program include a farmer\teacher certification, University and High School Accreditation for students, and a Non-degree Small Acreage Farming and Ranching Certification. Diane is currently providing professional services as a consultant for Washington and Idaho Partnership 2020 project funded through subcontract with Washington State University. 2004 Developed a Farmer Mentor Handbook for the Cultivating Success program at UI and WSU to help teach farmers how to create an on-farm curriculum.
11/30/2006 FARMER MENTOR HANDBOOK Review: Thank you for your time and sharing of information. The Farmer Mentor Handbook is one of the best manuals I have found in my research for training farmers to teach and I hope we can put it to good use here in Ohio. As I mentioned, we are preparing to pilot a Growing Growers program here for Northeast Ohio (Cleveland-Akron) Foodshed. To start, I am drafting a letter to the growers at our farmers markets and in our Countryside Initiative program. The hope is that we can improve the existing internships and apprenticeships in NEO and achieve a net gain in farmers supplying our region. I do not know what combination of materials we will use for training participating farmers, but hearing of your experiences will help the program be successful. As we come across obstacles and ways to remove them, we will share. It was great to speak with you. Thanks again, Christopher Norman / Farmer Incubator Coordinator / Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy
Idaho Organic Food Advisory Council Appointment with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture , which is responsible for establishing rules and regulations under the law and setting standards for the production and handling of organic food products in Idaho. Presently serving on the Council representing the northern five counties of Idaho. Appointment with Council 1999 – 2001, 2001- 2004, 2004-2006.
Farmers Market at Sandpoint Serving on the Board of Directors 1990 – 2000 President 1993 – 1996; selling at the market since 1992.
Heartland Center for Leadership Development Completed Helping Small Towns Succeed training program for building community capacity for sustainable development. October 2000
MIRA \ Managing Information in Rural America Worked as consultant for the Heartland Center to interview Rural Communities in northern Idaho.
Idaho Ag In the Classroom Association Workshop & summer tour in August 2000 was developed to help communicate the importance of organic agriculture to teachers in Idaho.
Publications
Selling Produce to Restaurants: A Marketing Guide for Small Growers Published 1999 Newly Revised Edition reprint 2003
Bringing Home the Harvest - Rural Roots Newsletter (Write for the quarterly Newsletter)
Awards
Steward of Sustainable Agriculture Award - Received Winter 2006 from Rural Roots and Idaho Organic Alliance membership
Sustainable Northwest developed the Founders of a New Northwest program to identify, recognize and network individuals, communities and businesses in the Pacific Northwest and beyond that have found ways to reconcile economic progress with environmental health and social equity. Diane has been selected as a Founder of a New Northwest for 2000. info@sustainablenorthwest.org
Outstanding Woman Leader Award Certificate of Recognition March 4, 2005 for the 7th annual Spokane Area Women's Leadership Conference.
Fee Schedule
Fees for Presentations range from $100-$500, depending on preparation time, travel time and complexity of the topic. Travel expenses are not included in fees. Additional costs may be involved for handouts and publications and are charged on a per-person basis.
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