ONEIDA CO., N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Oneida County, in cooperation with Oneida County, recently received a $39,991 grant from Northeast Extension Risk Management Education (ERME). ERME provides competitive grants, to fund education projects focused on helping farmers and ranchers successfully manage the unique risks associated with production agriculture.
The monies will fund the Oneida County Urban Farm Learning Lab @ Union Station, located in the Railway Express Agency (REA) wing at historic Union Station, in Utica, NY. This Learning Lab will be an experiential training facility for aspiring urban farmers who face business start-up barriers and limited resources. The program will help manage risks in the areas of production, market development, and business/financial planning due to lack of experience, growing space, access to capital, and other resources.
Individuals will learn and work in teams to cultivate and harvest an indoor farm adjacent to the Oneida County Public Market where they will also have an opportunity to engage in direct selling of their fresh produce.
Oneida County urban residents interested in farming for income, including veterans and refugees, may benefit from developing urban farming enterprises. Two educational sessions will run throughout central New York’s growing seasons, one in 2021 and another in 2022.
If you are interested in being part of this learning experience, please contact Maryellen Wiley at mfw73@cornell.edu or by phone at 315.736.3394 ext. 177.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County
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