Farmer Short Courses are workshops that focus on the topics our farmers identify as most needed. Covering both technical and business skills, these have included small engine repair, tool sharpening and welding, soil science, farmland access, farm finances, profitability, seed sovereignty, and federal food safety regulations.


Short Courses typically run during the winter months (but we have some skill shares in the summer) when most growers have more flexible time. Courses can be one-day workshops or run for a series of weeks, taught in collaboration with various partners and organizations including but not limited to University of RI Co-op Extension, The Carrot Project, NOFA/RI, NOFA/MA, Ground Work, Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT), Freed Seed Federation, RI Food Policy Council, and others.

Winter Short Courses of 2025!

  • Welding for Farmers

    • Welding for Farmers is a collaboration between Young Farmers of Southeast New England and The Steel Yard.  In this course, students will learn both MIG and stick welding in application to farming practices.  Both techniques are helpful for tool repair and ergonomic adaptation, building infrastructure and machine repair/adjustment.   Shop protocols and guidelines will also be covered during this course.

      Welding for Farmers will take place over 2 consecutive Mondays or Sundays in 3 hour sessions, giving 6 hours total of instructional time.

      Questions regarding Welding for Farmers can be directed to nyala@thesteelyard.org

    • Location: The Steel Yard - Providence RI

    • Welding for Farmers will be a 2 day course, for 3 hours a day.  These dates are on Mondays and Sundays to accommodate market and harvest scheduling.  

Previous short courses that we’ve organized in the past are:

  • Farmers First Aid Training

  • Seed Sovereignty Day with Freed Seed Federation

  • Welding for Farmers at the Steel Yard

  • Sharpening Tools with Wright Deter

  • Sewing to Repair Your Battered Workwear

  • Flowering Together: the ins and outs of growing and designing local flowers with Anna Jane Kocon & Jill Rizzo

  • Wash Station Design within and outside of FSMA Produce-Safety Regulations

  • Farm Finances

  • Vegetable Pest ID and Management

  • Small Engine Mechanics with Carl Sawyer (URI)

  • Tractor Basics with Freedom Food Farm

  • Soil Science and Fertility Management

  • Assessing & Preparing Land for Farming

  • Composting to Build Fertility on your Scale

  • Infrastructure Development

  • Irrigation and Water Systems

We are always open to suggestions - submit the form to the left to give us some insight on Short Courses you’d like to see in the future!