Farmer Campus Online Course
Helping farmers and ranchers face a future of fire
Farmers Build Wildfire Resilience
Self-led Online Course | Open Enrollment
Prepare your farm and community for fire
Drawing on decades of training small-farmers amidst climate change, Farmer Campus in collaboration with Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), brings you an interactive self-led course that will give you the toolkit needed to reduce the human, production, financial and legal risks from wildfires. You’ll access an engaging online curriculum combined with hands-on activities and a live network of fellow producers. Garner actionable solutions, deepen your understanding and leave with a practical Wildfire Resilience plan to help you, your farm and your community face a future of fire.
The unpredictability and sheer magnitude of fires can leave you feeling threatened and helpless.
The size, longevity and intensity of wildfires is rapidly increasing in the Western region, with record breaking fire seasons every year. This trend is expected to increase as the region gets warmer and drier due to climate change. As a result, agricultural producers are faced with severe property, crop, livestock, labor and market losses and uncertainty. This course addresses producers’ increasing need for resources, support systems and enlivening networks to build resilience for fire response, so you don’t have to face fires alone.
Key Topic Areas
Land Management for Fire Preparedness and Mitigation
Emergency Response, Preparing Your Home, Family and Livestock
Understanding Fire Ecology and Reading your Land
Community Preparedness and Organizing for Recovery
Insurance and Finances
Health and Food Safety: During and After Fire
By taking this course you will:
Assess your farm or ranch and community's unique risks to fires
Create and implement a Fire Resilience Plan to reduce fire related risk on your farm
Connect with experts and peers in-person and online to form strong regional prevention and response networks
Connect with a multigenerational network of farmers, educators and experts
Understand insurance programs and government assistance
Gain an overview of fire ecology and cultural burning
Now that I have taken this course, I feel less afraid of fire and more respectful of it. I feel more confident on how to co-exist with it, how to prepare, how to recover, and how to work with the community.
Course Alumni 2020
How learning happens
Online Lessons
Starting learning without leaving your farm. Combines community-driven practical, and scientific knowledge in 9 online modules featuring videos, podcasts and activities.
Farmer Networks
Learn alongside farmer-to-farmer private forums, compare ideas and co-create solutions with fellow producers in fire prone regions.
Community Educators
All materials were made just for you and include experts from the field as well as stories from farmers who have overcome fire related disasters.
Resilience Plan
Assess your farm's vulnerabilities, risks and strengths to create an actionable plan to improve your farm, family, and community's preparedness.
Applied Activities
Each module includes an on-farm Applied Activity, helping you analyze and apply new principles and practices while reflecting how different concepts relate to your own farm and/or community.
Personalized
You set the pace to shape learning around your busy schedule. Offering video, podcasts, discussion forums, readings and multimedia, this course is designed for all learning styles.
Course FAQ
This course is now a “Self-Led” Course, so you’ll set your timeframe, workload and the pace. There will be occasional live workshops you can attend in person and online, but you can complete course content when it is most convenient for you.
We have made special pre-recorded materials for each of the 9 modules, such as podcasts and videos, totaling no more than an hour of material. In addition, you’ll have hands-on Applied Activities that can be put in practice right away and combine to make your Resilience Plan.
A computer & high speed internet connection to watch videos; a farm or land suitable for doing the practical Applied Activities; self-motivation to structure your time and complete lessons. You must also have a strong interest and desire to practice fire resilient farming/ranching
Course materials are highly applicable for farmers, interns, apprentices, agricultural professionals, educators, students, and anyone with an interest in fire resilience in an agricultural context.
While the content is accessible for many different learning backgrounds and styles, this course is currently tailored for those with a minimum of basic English reading and comprehension.
Note: There is no scale requirement for your operation. Prior experience with fire resilient farming not required. Background in organic/sustainable farming and ranching also not required.
This course is free. All course materials are freely accessible for farmers and ranchers.
Non-farmers and those that are able are encouraged to submit a donation as this course is being subsidized intentionally for farmers. But no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
The course content is tailored for people currently farming or ranching in California and the West coast, but anyone regardless of region or profession are encouraged to join.
So glad you asked! Click the “Enroll” button at the top to register for the course. This will take you to an application form.
You will then get a link to the Farmer Campus Online Learning Platform which houses our curriculum, network and classroom, where you’ll make a profile and then be taken to your course.
If you’d like to get in touch, email <contact@farmercampus.com>. Please note we are part-time staff. Thank you for your patience with a response!
We look forward to learning with you.
Testimonials
Created in Community
Our Network
Enriched by contributions and resources from our network of farmers, ranchers, scientists, and community field experts across the country.
Farmers & Field Experts
With deep appreciation for contributions from the farming and ranching community, and for sharing your stories of disaster, community, and resilience.
Sponsors & Contributors
Made possible by generous support from our sponsors and contributing University Extensions, Academics, Nonprofits, Disaster Relief Agents and Professionals.
Start Preparing for Wildfire Today
Join a cohort of farmers working to build fire resilience
Let us know you're interested
Email us at contact@farmercampus.com
