Dig in with On-Farm Learning and Trainings
Join us every summer for on-farm learning at Marbleseed Organic Field Days. Field Days hosted by regenerative and organic farmers across the Upper Midwest who are using innovative organic farming practices and feeding their communities. From small urban farms and midscale silvopasture operations to larger scale row crops, we aim to offer field days for every type of farm. Come connect with community and get fresh ideas to try on your farm.
Marbleseed's Trainings connect farmers with the tools they need for a thriving farm business, supporting the growth of organic acreage, generating more revenue for small-scale farmers, and mitigating the impacts of climate change with farming practices that value land stewardship and whole ecosystem health.
Special Instructions for Visiting Farms with Livestock
Biosecurity is important on all farms, clean shoes and clothes are particularly important at field days where livestock are present. Marbleseed asks that all attendees observe the following biosecurity protocols when visiting farms with livestock.
- Wear clean or disinfected shoes that have not been worn on other farms with livestock or livestock buildings, or around a dense population of wild birds.
- Wear clean clothes that have not been worn around other livestock.
- Upon request of the host or staff during the field day, you may be asked to wear disposable plastic boot covers (provided by Marbleseed) over your shoes.
Current Field Days & Trainings
Check back regularly throughout the season as we add field days and trainings!
Welcoming Communities: Becoming an Ally and Upstander
June 3, 12 - 1 p.m. & June 10, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Online & In person
“When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed, but when we are silent we are still afraid, so it is better to speak.” -Audre Lorde
In response to experiences of racism, discrimination, and lack of safety from farmers of color in our community, Marbleseed is engaging farmers and folks in rural places who recognize that creating a culture of welcome that embraces diversity makes communities vibrant and viable. This training will explore incidents of racism and discrimination in rural communities while providing skills and approaches to address them.
In addition to individual skill building, this training will kick off the formation of a network of ‘upstanders and allies” that are working to create safety and belonging in communities across the Midwest. This is a blended training of an hour virtual then 5 hours in-person with an hour of homework.
COST: $10.00 to defray the cost of lunch and materials. We have limited scholarships available. Please contact Sam at sam.gutierrez@marbleseed.org for more information.
Indigenous Food and Agriculture Apprenticeship Project Webinar
Thursday, June 5 | 4:30 – 6 P.M. | Online
Join Jen Falck to learn about how tribal food sovereignty work on the Oneida Reservaion. Kahulahele Farmstead’s mission is to demonstrate and teach community members how to operate a small-scale farm including livestock, poultry, produce, alternative energy, Indigenous planting, and bartering. Ukwahkwa Farmstead’s mission to help the community learn about traditional Haudenosaunee agricultural methods of planting, growing, harvesting, seedkeeping, food preparation, storage, and tool making. The farms have formed a partnership and collaborated on several projects for the Oneida community and beyond. In 2024, they received a NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant and used the funding to test a model to share an agriculture apprentice. The presenter will share how the project was designed, how it was successful, and the lessons learned.
Organic Orchard Floor Management Field Day
Wednesday, June 11 | 1 - 5 p.m. | Mt. Horeb, Wis.
Join us for an inspiring and educational Field Day at Atoms to Apples! This field day will focus on Organic Orchard Floor Management, exploring innovative and practical ways to reduce weed populations while supporting tree health, soil vitality, and ecological balance.
Host Rami Aburomia of Atoms to Apples and Organic Fruit Growers Association Coordinator Chris McGuire will lead a presentation on management strategies and how weeds work on the orchard floor before touring Atoms to Apples to see the organic orchard floor management in action. Marie Raboin from Dane County Land Conservation will present on cost share programs for orchard floor management. Rami will show results of an organic herbicide trial using OMRI listed herbicides for managing weeds and suckers.
After the Field Day, join us down the road at Brix Cider in downtown Mt Horeb for a social hour to keep talking about organic orcharding! Thanks to Brix Cider for sponsoring this Field Day!
This event is free, but consider making a donation! We greatly appreciate your support (especially during this time of federal funding upheaval). You dollars go directly to help fund our farmer hosts and allow us to continue to offer these events for free or low-cost to our community This event is free but includes a suggested donation… If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to Tay Fatke at 888-906-6737 Ext. 724 or tay.fatke@marbleseed.org any questions about registration can be directed to registration@marbleseed.org
Interpretation is available upon request, please note if you need interpretation in the registration form.
This field day is full! If you would like to add your name to the waitlist, please email Tay Fatke at tay.fatke@marbleseed.org with the subject line “Field Day Waitlist”
Melanin Urban Garden Field Day
Thursday, July 17 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Milwaukee, Wis.
Farming in the city not only possible, it can be done in a small space with assistance from the NRCS. Host Brittney Hutcherson will share her efforts to grow abundant, nutritious food in a city yard utilizing a high tunnel, raised beds, vertical growing and more. Join us to learn from UW Extension, NRCS and Brittney and the Midwest Agriculture Network about the possibilities your yard, incubator space or community garden hold!
Registration coming soon!
Field Day Archives
Missed a field day? Read event recaps and watch recordings of some of our Field Days here: