Conferences

April 2024 :

**at FarmResort - 5757 S FM 1752, Whitewright, TX 75491**

Jean-Martin Fortier
**Profitable Market Gardening**
April 27, 2024 - April 28, 2024

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Conference Theme

Profitable Market Gardening with an additional focus on Marketing, Managing Successful teams, Adapting to climate changes by growing in Greenhouses/Hoophouses, and best practices for soil management and water optimization.

Cost: $1,250*

Scholarships are available for those for whom paying the full price would be burdensome. Please contact us for additional information. Tickets are limited.

*Save an additional 20 % / $250 With Our Student Discount rate by emailing us for a promo code from your student .edu email address (The name of the ticket purchaser must be the same as the name of the Attendee’s .edu email address). Please send email request to farmresortusa@gmail.com. Tickets are limited. Student Discounts are non-Transferable.

Attendees will receive Discount codes for the Market Gardener Online Masterclass, Jean-Martin’s Books, BCS Tractor supplies, Growers and co., johnny’s Select Seeds, and BootStrap Farmer. More Details to come…

During the Conference there will be a Farm Tour, a Question and answer period with JM, and Live Demonstrations of Techniques, Tools and Equipment

About Jean-Martin:

Jean-Martin Fortier is an Internationally renowned farmer and advocate for small-scale organic farming practices. Jean-Martin’s philosophy centers around the concept of bio-intensive farming, which involves maximizing production on a small plot of land while minimizing external inputs. He is an avid proponent of using crop rotation, cover cropping, and composting to maintain soil health and fertility. Born in Quebec, Canada, he is best known for his influential book "The Market Gardener," which has become a manual for aspiring organic farmers around the world. JM’s farming journey began in 2004 when he co-founded Les Jardins de la Grelinette, a 1.5 acre bio-intensive vegetable farm in Southern Quebec, Canada. Since 2015, JM has been the director of market gardening at Ferme des Quatre-Temps , a large-scale ( Eight acre) experimental farm in Quebec that aspires to demonstrate that small ecological farms can be more profitable and produce food of higher nutritional quality than That Of traditional farms and conventional agriculture. In 2017, he launched The Market Gardener Masterclass , an online expertise course in bio-intensive growing methods with Several hundred students in 33 countries registered, creating a global community of farmers who want to have a positive impact on their communities and the environment. He is Also the founder of Growers & Co., a tool and apparel company which celebrates sustainable, local, and equitable food producers.

FarmResort

1 hour North of Dallas, Texas
142 acres
Vegetable, fruit, and Flower Market Garden. Cows. Bees. Hay Production.

About FarmResort:
Nestled in the scenic countryside of Whitewright, Texas, FarmResort offers a unique escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. This idyllic retreat combines the charm of a traditional farm with the comfort of a resort, offering guests an unforgettable experience. Spread across 142 sprawling acres, FarmResort boasts picturesque landscapes, A tranquil Lake, and lush greenery that create a serene atmosphere for relaxation and exploration.

At FarmResort, guests can immerse themselves in the authentic farm life while getting hands-on experience with various agricultural activities. Our goal is to be an educational Hub for Farmers, Growers, Ranchers, and Homesteaders and to offer hands-On classes to anyone who wants to learn. We offer a variety of classes, conferences, and field Trips. At FarmResort, visitors can connect with nature in a meaningful way. FarmResort offers a range of recreational activities from fishing and Kayaking to Cooking and Farm Classes which allow guests to learn and fully embrace the serene charm of Farm Life and our natural surroundings. With comfortable accommodations and warm hospitality, FarmResort is the perfect destination for those seeking a rejuvenating and immersive farm Retreat.

Day 1 - Breakfast, Lunch, dinner, and a relaxing evening party Included
Day 2- Breakfast provided

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Schedule

Saturday, April 27, 2024

7am: Registration and BreakfasT

8am: Introduction to JM and FarmResort

9am: Farm Tour

10am - Noon: Morning Lectures: Season extension: Adapting to climate changes by growing in greenhouses and quick wins in the Early Season

Description: Starting a new growing season can bring a lot of excitement—but also the fear of repeating past mistakes and ending up in endless cycles of overworking and bottlenecks. Over the past 20 years, JM has discovered simple and effective tricks that allow you to feel prepared, organized, and confident that this new season will be a success! This session will teach:

Life habits you need to adopt to be at your best during the season.
Management practices to improve your crop and harvest planning.
Tips to better mobilize your teams and facilitate daily work on the farm.
Which tools will save you time and increase your efficiency.

Noon: Lunch

1pm: Field Demonstration

2pm - 4pm: Afternoon Lectures: How to Run a Profitable Farm - Keys to Profitability in the Market Garden

Description: Can small farms really be profitable? It's a question that many people ask themselves before getting started, or in the early stages of their farm if they are struggling to make ends meet. The answer is YES, small farms can be profitable. It has been demonstrated by thousands of growers all over the world that you can make a good living growing organic vegetables on a small piece of land. To help improve your bottom line, this session will teach:

· How to set goals to grow your bottom line

· Which clients to focus on to increase sales

· How to set prices to grow your profits

· Which investments to make for long-term growth

4pm: Q and A and Wrap up

4pm - 6pm: Vendor Meet and Greet -

BCS Tractor and attachment Demo (try it out & talk with reps)

Johnny’s Select Seeds

BootStrap Farmer

Also Break / Back to the Hotel to get ready For the Soiree

6pm-9pm Soiree / Mix and Mingle / Food, Snacks, Beer and wine

Sunday, April 28, 2024

7am: Breakfast and Check-In

8am - 10am: Morning lectures:

Crop Planning + demo of Heirloom (screenshots)

Working With Living Soil (and water optimization)

Description: Everyone is talking about soil these days: no-till, no-dig, carbon farming, regenerative agriculture, and so on. What unites all these philosophies is living soils. In this information-packed workshop, JM Fortier will explain his approach to healthy soils and introduce the practices he has been testing and applying on his 2-acre farm for more than 20 years -

How to set up permanent beds
Working with crop rotation and cover crops in an intensive system
Teaming with micro-organism to build a Healthy Soil Food WeB

10am: Field Demonstration

11am: Q and A?

Noon: End of Conference

*Please note: The Specific Details of the Schedule are subject to change. Please call Us for Any questions or clarifications.

For Airport, Hotel, and Nearby City Information - see below

Airports:

DFW International Airport - (DFW) - 1 hour and 20 minutes from FarmResort. Large Airport. Lots of flight options.

Dallas Love Field Airport - (DAL) - 1 Hour and 20 minutes from FarmResort. Smaller Airport than DFW, but still big. Not as many Flight options as DFW.