Mrs. Gloria Montaño Greene, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA's Farm Production and
Conservation (FPAC) visits the North-South Institute and Producers.
NGF On-Farm Demonstration |
AgVet Graduation Field Day - 07/28/2023 |
AgVet Graduation Ceremony - 07/29/2023 |
AgVet Cohort 7 Graduates |
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2021 AgVet Program |
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2019 AgVet Program
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Archived Videos
North South Institute at a glance
NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY ONLINE TRAINING
Youth summer program learning in the sun
Success story 2008 southwest broward
Farming with a Plan
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Mrs. Janet Farquharson and Mrs. Paulette Franklin have been friends since high school and enjoy doing things together. Most recently, they have each decided to start their own farming businesses and make it a family affair. Still in the beginning stages, Mrs. Farquharson made an appointment in May with Dr. Scott at the North-South Institute to create a business plan and increase the odds of her success. And of course, she told her longtime friend,
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Mrs. Franklin, to join the meeting so they could go through the experience together and each have their own business plan. Mrs. Farquharson also asked her daughter, Heather Farquharson, to join the meeting and provide additional details. At this first meeting, Mrs. Farquharson and Mrs. Franklin heard a clear understanding of what they needed in their business plans, started their business plan drafts, identified the major objectives for their farms, and had an open discussion about the vision for their own farms and how that applies to their business plan.
Creating a good business plan will take more than one meeting, but the process can be very rewarding. It forces you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your farming enterprise, discuss new ideas, get the details written, and really plan the future of your farm.
Every farming enterprise should have a business plan to help focus the farm’s goals and activities to make the most of their resources. Having a current business plan for your farm can also make it easier to apply for micro loans. Your farm’s business plan should be reviewed and updated each year as the goals and needs of your farm grow.
If you would like to create a business plan or update your existing one, feel free to contact us to help with your farming enterprise. Please call the North South Institute’s office at 954-434-8220.
The upcoming Florida Family Farm Conference hosted by NSI July 17th-18th will provide details about resource management (Soil, Water, & Energy), USDA programs offered, growing high yield specialty crops, and pest control management. Call the office to register. We hope to see you there!!
Creating a good business plan will take more than one meeting, but the process can be very rewarding. It forces you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your farming enterprise, discuss new ideas, get the details written, and really plan the future of your farm.
Every farming enterprise should have a business plan to help focus the farm’s goals and activities to make the most of their resources. Having a current business plan for your farm can also make it easier to apply for micro loans. Your farm’s business plan should be reviewed and updated each year as the goals and needs of your farm grow.
If you would like to create a business plan or update your existing one, feel free to contact us to help with your farming enterprise. Please call the North South Institute’s office at 954-434-8220.
The upcoming Florida Family Farm Conference hosted by NSI July 17th-18th will provide details about resource management (Soil, Water, & Energy), USDA programs offered, growing high yield specialty crops, and pest control management. Call the office to register. We hope to see you there!!
Success story
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As part of our ongoing outreach update, this week we are highlighting a different beginning farmer and woman in agriculture, Mrs. Paulette Franklin who is a retired educator. She was a school principal for many years in New York City. After her retirement, she decided that she wanted to farm and reached out the NSI for help. With the help of NSI she has acquired and is operating her farm in Fort Pierce that is over 20 miles from her home. They helped her with the proper documentation and source to import specialized pumpkin and pepper seeds, registering with USDA as well as a bridge to meet other successful regional farmers.
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Mrs. Franklin has used every bit of the help she received from NSI and is presently finishing up her land preparation including the instillation of an irrigation system. She plans to plant turmeric, scotch bonnet pepper and pumpkin within the next 3-4 weeks. She says it best by saying” Whatever I earn in farming is an addition to what I am earning now and farming is good therapy for all.” Her success so far is a reflection of her strong leadership skills and her ability work well with others. Welcome Mrs. Franklin to our NSI team of farmers!!
The North South Institute (NSI) Hosted a 2-day Educational Tour
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The North South Institute (NSI) hosted a 2-day educational tour on Mack’s Farm in Davie, where students from the Creative Child Learning Center attended with their teachers and parents. Each morning, the children gathered at the welcome station, where Mrs. Scott explained the events for the day. The group then divided in two, so they could rotate between the Walking Plant Education Tour and the Tractor Farm Ride.
Walking Plant Education Tour –Mrs. Scott explained the different parts of a plant, what each part does, how these parts are edible on different plants, and the different ways plants reproduce. As the children walk passed collard greens, pea trees, banana fields, pineapple patches and several herbs, Mrs. Scott taught lessons and asked questions to maintain group interaction. The students were encouraged to use their sense of touch and smell with certain plants to enhance their experience.
Tractor Farm Ride – The second group of children traveled the entire farm on the back of a tractor to see all the different types of plants grown and the layout of the farm. The students enjoyed the Tractor Farm Ride, identifying the different planting beds and taking group photos.
Planting Seeds & Petting Goats – The two morning groups reconnected in the middle of the farm to meet Farmer Mack, learn about the animals on a farm, and plant their own seeds. Farmer Mack welcomed the students and shared her fresh organic bananas for them to taste. The students were enthusiastic about planting their own seeds as they crowded around the planting buckets with their shovels and seeds. Some were pleasantly surprised to feel how soft the goats’ fur was as they pet them. Afterwards, the group divided back in two, and continued their farm tour with the event they had not done.
Peeling Sugar Cane – At the end of the tour, the children gathered around as the farm hands demonstrated how to peel sugar cane before handing out samples to taste. Even one of the parents commented, saying that they had not seen this done since they were a kid.
At each interaction, the students are asked questions to test their knowledge and given samples to re-enforce the lessons learned. Parents were also encouraged to select dinner items to test their children’s memory of the lessons for the day. The students, parents, and teachers were thankful for the experience and the opportunity to meet the farmers who tend the land.
Written By: Claire Elliott
Walking Plant Education Tour –Mrs. Scott explained the different parts of a plant, what each part does, how these parts are edible on different plants, and the different ways plants reproduce. As the children walk passed collard greens, pea trees, banana fields, pineapple patches and several herbs, Mrs. Scott taught lessons and asked questions to maintain group interaction. The students were encouraged to use their sense of touch and smell with certain plants to enhance their experience.
Tractor Farm Ride – The second group of children traveled the entire farm on the back of a tractor to see all the different types of plants grown and the layout of the farm. The students enjoyed the Tractor Farm Ride, identifying the different planting beds and taking group photos.
Planting Seeds & Petting Goats – The two morning groups reconnected in the middle of the farm to meet Farmer Mack, learn about the animals on a farm, and plant their own seeds. Farmer Mack welcomed the students and shared her fresh organic bananas for them to taste. The students were enthusiastic about planting their own seeds as they crowded around the planting buckets with their shovels and seeds. Some were pleasantly surprised to feel how soft the goats’ fur was as they pet them. Afterwards, the group divided back in two, and continued their farm tour with the event they had not done.
Peeling Sugar Cane – At the end of the tour, the children gathered around as the farm hands demonstrated how to peel sugar cane before handing out samples to taste. Even one of the parents commented, saying that they had not seen this done since they were a kid.
At each interaction, the students are asked questions to test their knowledge and given samples to re-enforce the lessons learned. Parents were also encouraged to select dinner items to test their children’s memory of the lessons for the day. The students, parents, and teachers were thankful for the experience and the opportunity to meet the farmers who tend the land.
Written By: Claire Elliott