August 14th – Atascadero, CA: Today, Vineyard Team released the first 5 of 30 sustainable winegrowing online courses made possible through a Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant.
The suite of online courses being released now through November 2024 gives farmers immediate access to timely education on sustainable winegrowing. Courses will feature experienced farmers, researchers, and UC Extension.
Courses available now include:
- Accelerating Soil Regeneration: The Role of Compost and Biochar
- How Maintenance and Distribution Uniformity Affect System Performance
- Integrating Mechanization
- Investigating Regenerative Practices in a Production Vineyard
- VitisGen2: Using Marker Assisted Selection
With only 24 minutes per week available for professional development (Deloitte), flexibility is key to farmers when it comes to growing their knowledge about sustainable winegrowing management techniques, resource issues, and legislation.
These on-demand courses give farmers and their team FREE access to up-to-date viticulture science, research, and grower-tested practices, without the added expenses of travel and conference fees. By learning online, farmers can quickly and effectively implement sustainable practices that enhance soil and water quality, conserve resources, and maintain wildlife habitat.
Education enhances the quality of life for all farmers and helps businesses grow. According to Forbes, “Every dollar invested in online training results in a $30 increase in productivity. Companies that use eLearning technology achieve an 18% boost in employee engagement.”
Vineyard Team is still accepting grant participants. Participants will have free access to the full library of courses and quizzes. Courses include a train-the-trainer kit to help participants educate their team members. Many courses provide DPR and CCA continuing education hours. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences at two virtual round tables. Visit https://vineyardteam.thinkific.com/bundles/sare to sign up or email hayli@vineyardteam.org.
About Vineyard Team
Vineyard Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit grower group dedicated to sustainable winegrowing since 1994. For nearly 30 years, Vineyard Team has built a network of over 300 local farmers, educating and guiding them toward sustainable vineyard practices.
