Solid Ground Newsletter
April 2026
This Month’s Issue
Farmland Seeking Skill Share
Join us on April 29th as we kick off the 2026 Skill Share Series at Ives Farm in Cheshire, CT! This event will be a great an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of land evaluation. Join Kip Kolesinskas, Solid Ground Professional Soil, Conservation, and Land Use Consultant, as he reviews everything that goes into doing your homework on a piece of property, assessing various aspects of farm land including water sources, infrastructure, soil types, animal habitats, and more. There will also be an opportunity to meet different agricultural service providers interested in helping you take this next step. If you are looking to lease or purchase land, this event is for you!
(Registration has ended for this event)
See below for an overview of our full 2026 Skill Share Series:
- April: Farmland Seeker Demo
- May: Caterpillar Tunnel Build
- June: Chicken Tractor Build
- July: Pest & Diseases: Flowers
- September: Farm Fencing for Livestock
April Farm Tasks: Setting Yourself Up For Success
There is no doubt April is a busy time on the farm. Whether you’re breaking ground on new field, busy seeding in the greenhouse, starting a new flock, caring for new lambs, kids, calves, or piglets, or checking other items off your growing to-do list… there’s no shortage of spring activities.
Each season brings with it a unique set of opportunities and challenges, and our team at Solid Ground wants to make sure you feel supported.
- Ask Us Questions: Commercial farmers and businesses can reach out for a free consultation, offered either in person or virtually. Meet our consultants and submit a request to connect.
- Join Us In Person: Our 2026 Skill Share Series kicks off this April. For a full list of upcoming events and training opportunities, check out the Upcoming Trainings page on our website.
- Keep In Touch: Many of our Educators publish regular updates including pest alert messages, growing considerations, and season-specific information related to crops, diseases, and other important factors. Stay connected with UConn Extension’s team of professionals across service areas by joining a mailing list!
As the season progresses, please remember to use the Solid Ground network as a resource. Farming has always involved resilience, community, and shared strength. Behind every early morning and long day in the field is a team standing with you and eager to support your success.
Happy Farming!
– The Solid Ground Team
Are You a Good Fit for the Farm To School Directory?
Since 2018, the UConn Extension CT Farm to School Directory has been a first stop for School Food Service Directors seeking farms to participate in farm to school sales.
The farm to school procurement landscape has evolved and grown significantly in the past 8 years! As a result, we are updating the Directory to better reflect the changing needs of both farmers and school food buyers and to increase the effectiveness of this directory. Farms currently listed will need to UPDATE their listing by May 31st.
New farms listed on the Directory must demonstrate ability and willingness to connect with schools.
Are you a good fit?!? Fill out the form to help determine if your farm is a good fit for this directory.
Please reach out to Shannon Raider-Ginsburg with any questions at shannon.raider@uconn.edu.
CT Grown Organic Corner
You’ve earned your USDA Organic certification—now what?
Certification is more than a seal on your label; it’s a powerful marketing asset that builds trust, supports price premiums, and opens new market channels.
Join Dave Tschiegg, UConn Extension’s Organic Outreach Specialist, for a one-hour workshop on Monday, April 27th at 6pm to help certified and transitioning organic farmers strategically leverage their certification to strengthen their brand, clarify messaging, and grow sales. Participants will learn organic marketing best practices and gain access to new, free marketing tools developed specifically for Connecticut’s organic farmers.
This workshop is designed for anyone interested in learning marketing techniques, though the models presented will be through the lens of a Certified Organic farm. Key insights will include:
- How to make the most of the USDA Organic seal and approved organic language in your marketing
- Learn simple, proven marketing practices to help you stand out and justify your organic price
- Turn your organic farming practices into clear, relatable stories for customers—online and in person
- Access new free marketing resources created for Connecticut organic farmers
Register for the workshop to receive the meeting link. This workshop will be recorded and posted to the CT Grown organic producer resource website.
Video Highlight: Soil Health
Our soil is the foundation of all that we do in farming, so it is integral that we understand our own soils, how soil is tested, and how soil reacts to different conditions. If you’re looking to broaden your understanding of soil, here are some videos to guide you!
View Video: Using Web Soil Survey to Identify Your Soils
View Video: How to Take a Soil Test
View a series videos featuring recorded trainings, highlights of how local farms are developing their business, and more on our Solid Ground YouTube Channel.
Partner Highlight: Financial and Technical Support
For Small Farm Innovation Projects
Submit Your Infrastructure Project Idea Here!
Submission Due May 31st
UConn students in the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture, Health and Natural resources are partnering with CT RC&D and NCTFA for the THIRD YEAR to offer farmers an opportunity to prototype their innovative farm ideas!
Do you have a new or existing tool to re/design? Are you considering infrastructure improvements? Would you like to incorporate more data analytics into how you manage your farm? This opportunity might be right for you!
They are looking for the following types of ideas:
- Farm infrastructure: water, wastewater, roadways, culverts, stormwater management
- Farm store related: site design, parking, traffic flow, drainage
- Environmental impacts: air pollution issues, composting, lagoons, other wastewater management
- Brownfield remediation: for urban agriculture
- Energy siting: possibly for solar or wind
Other ideas welcome! If it needs an engineer’s stamp to get approved, it’s a viable idea. Submit your idea here.
A participant stipend, technical assistance, and up to $2,000 in supplies will be provided to support projects starting in Fall 2026. Small Farm Innovations Projects are funded by the USDA.
Events & Info
Job Opening
Job Opening: Food Systems Communications & Outreach Assistant
UConn Extension is looking to hire a communications outreach assistant to help support a wide-range of food systems programming, including our Farm to School activities and Solid Ground Farmer Training Program.
This is a part time position of 26 hours/week, with a salary of $38,508 – $41,250. Full benefits available.
Job Posting at UConn Careers.
Upcoming Events
- Farmland Seeking Skill Share
Date: Apr 29, 4PM to 6:30PM
Location: Ives Farm, Cheshire - Caterpillar Tunnel Build Skill Share
Date: May 31, 9AM to 1PM
Location: Hillyndale Road Farm, Mansfield
And more 2026 Skill Shares coming soon!
Community Events
- How to Become a CT Farmer – Apr 25, hybrid- 1PM to 5PM
- Growing Power 2026: Learn, Connect, Build Power – Apr 26, CNTR Middletown, 12:30PM to 5PM
- New CT Farmers Alliance (NCTFA)
Spring Shindig – Apr 26, Sub Edge Farm in Farmington, 4PM to 7PM - So You’re Organic – Leveraging Your Certification in Marketing – Apr 27, virtual- 6PM to 7PM
- Ground Covers and Mulches for Small Scale Urban Producers – Apr 30, virtual- 6:30PM to 7:30PM
- Eastern CT CRAFT Gathering,
Topic: Starting A New Farm – May 11, Beets & Blooms Farm in East Hampton, 4PM to 6PM - UConn Extension Diversified Livestock Conference – May 21, Tolland Agricultural Center, 9AM to 3PM
- Small Farm Innovation Project
Ideas due May 31st! - Tolland County Ag Day – June 13, Tolland Agricultural Center, 10AM to 3PM
Save the Date
- 2026 New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference – Dec 15-17, 2027 Manchester, NH
- UConn Extension Annual Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference – Jan 12, 2027 Storrs, CT
For questions about items listed in this newsletter, please reach out to nicole.davidow@uconn.edu.