About Michael O’Gorman:
In the organic farming movement, Michael is recognized as a legendary figure. His sixty-year career in agriculture and activism is part of a broader narrative of resistance and community building.
He has been out front on every progressive part of agriculture: studying organics in the 1960’s, practicing regenerative agriculture in the 1970’s, pioneering the locavore movement in the 1980’s, taking organics mainstream in the 1990’s, and founding the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Introducing new crops, new ways to grow, always striving to be a good labor manager, and never, ever compromising his ideals.
Read Michael’s Full Bio here.
Hilo, Hawaiʻi- President’s Day Weekend: Saturday Feb 17th – Monday February 19th
Three classes for beginning and growing farmers, including hands-on trainings and farm tours, presented by Michael O’Gorman.
So, You Want to be a Farmer? – Saturday 2/17/2024 (1:00pm-4:00pm HST)
This class is geared to those just starting out, or looking at their options in farming. There is nothing more important than understanding the range of farming opportunities. Subjects covered include:
- Where and how to get the best training prior to starting.
- Looking at land.
- What to research before taking on a piece of farmland.
- Picking your crops.
- Picking your markets.
Mathematics of Vegetable Production – Sunday 2/18/2024 (1:00pm-4:00pm HST):
During this class, Michael will share the mathematical components to making a vegetable farm of any size succeed. He went from a small family farm to as many as 20 or 30 farms that he was in charge of in one year. Each of them had to be profitable. Subjects include:
- Looking at yield and productivity.
- Understanding optimum plant population.
- Keeping your farm in production.
- Streamlining your operation while diversifying your products.
- Critical record keeping that can make you farm better.
Scaling Your Farm – Monday 2/19/2024 (9:00am-4:00pm HST)
This class looks at the strategies, key factors and pitfalls of growth. We will be visiting three different East Hawai’i farms, and Michael will be using examples from three farm operations he managed through massive growth during the boom years of organics. What he learned is that opportunities for expanded markets exist all over the country, even today. Subjects include:
- Working with wholesale buyers.
- Matching production with your markets.
- The risks of expanding too fast or too slow.
- The defensive and offensive strategies of growth.
- The little things that get overlooked.
Price – 99$
Veteran Scholarships available.
Funding made possible by North Shore NVP USDA 2501 grant “Building Relationships with Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers through USDA Program Engagement, Technical Assistance and Business Training.”
Sign Up for Groundwork to Grow - Michael O'Gorman Series - February 17th-19th 2024
Aloha, please complete this short form to sign up for our three-day Michael O'Gorman workshop series in Hilo, Feb 17th-19th
Funding for these programs is made possible by North Shore EVP USDA 2501 grant “Building Relationships with Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers through USDA Program Engagement, Technical Assistance and Business Training.”
And Section 760 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 244) Enhancing Agriculture Opportunities for Military Veterans.
