The Crop Plan Accelerator
Master the art of crop planning to achieve outstanding results on your farm
The Crop Plan Accelerator
Master the art of crop planning to achieve outstanding results on your farm
Grow your farm with confidence and precision through strategic crop planning
Crop planning is often the most intimidating task when managing a small farm, yet it’s the secret to running a successful and efficient operation.
This brand-new, 4-week LIVE program allows you to tackle this crucial task alongside other farm managers just like you.
By the end of the program, once you’ll have completed your homework, you’ll have a comprehensive crop plan in hand, ready to be executed using our powerful software, Heirloom. This plan will equip you with the confidence and precision to tackle the next growing season.
Success begins with a great crop plan
GROW CONSISTENT VEGGIES
Increase your production efficiency
GET HIGHER
YIELDS
Achieve higher yields and more consistent quality
INCREASE
YOUR REVENUES
Maximize revenue per bed with succession planting
FEED
YOUR COMMUNITY
Build a loyal customer base by offering veggies all season long
Who is this course for?
New farm owners who need guidance on the fundamentals and practical application of crop planning.
Experienced growers who find crop planning challenging and want expert guidance.
Farm managers who need a structured crop plan to meet business goals and streamline team workflows.
How does it work?
Starting on November 19, join Luke Sheldrick for weekly, 90-minute live sessions over four weeks.
You’ll learn the principles of crop planning and how to use the Heirloom software to complete your crop plan. The sessions are interactive, allowing you to ask questions in real-time. Between sessions, you’ll have access to Luke and the group for support as you work on your plan.
Use a Crop planning software
ask questions in real-time
Engage with peer growers
hand-on experience through homework
one-on-one feedback
replay access
DON’T MISS THE NEXT cohort starting in november 2024!
JOIN THE FIRST COHORT OF THE Crop Plan Accelerator
This course will help you
Set realistic business goals based on previous seasons, laying the foundation for your crop plan.
Establish clear objectives for each sales channel, giving you a precise picture of your production needs.
Learn to use Heirloom, so you can easily map your farm and create your crop plan.
Share your plan with the group to stay accountable and advance toward your goals.
Meet your teacher
Luke Sheldrick
Luke Sheldrick is a prominent figure in sustainable agriculture, recognized for his expertise and dynamic presence. His journey began in 2013 on his family farm in White Lake, and by 2015, he and his wife Dana had founded Terramor Farm. What started as a small CSA program has grown to serve top restaurants, retail locations, and farmers markets in Ottawa.
Under Luke’s leadership, Terramor Farm spans 2.5 acres of vegetables and 0.5 acres of flowers, with a team of eight seasonal staff. His skills in cost-effective farm management, restaurant sales, and marketing have driven the farm’s success. Known for his strong leadership and commitment to sustainability, Luke ensures the farm benefits both the environment and the community.
About the software
Heirloom
Heirloom is a software tool designed to help small-scale, diversified growers plan, manage, and operate their farming businesses with ease and precision.
Built by growers for growers, Heirloom is a platform that reduces complexity to help growers to grow more and better crops, be more efficient, make more profit and have a better quality of life, all without scaling up or working more hours.
What’s included?
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4 x 90-minute live sessions Value of $1500 USD
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1-year subscription to Heirloom software Value of $310 USD
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On going support from teacher (4 x 90 minutes) Value of $1500 USD
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Access to a student community for peer support and discussion Priceless
-
*Note that, you need a computer to follow this course
Invest in yourself today for
Safe payment with Stripe or Paypal
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See what other farmers say about crop planning:
When you do the work and stay committed, the results you can create are extraordinary. Just imagine the growth you’ll experience with the right training, guidance, and support.
Don’t just take our word for it.
“Thanks to my crop planning strategy, I’m adding new veggies to my repertoire to offer more variety to my clients.”
— Mathew Levinson, Slow Roots Farm
“Crop planning has made me more efficient and boosted my sales. I now grow three times as much food on the same acreage compared to my first year, thanks to what I learned from the program.”
— Sofia Maria Bang Elm, Avdem Gardsgrønt
“The crop planning tool has been a huge help. I’ve seen yearly improvements in my growing practices, all thanks to the planning tool.”
— Phil Tester, Wandie Farm
Course Outline
Building the Blueprint: Crafting Your Pre-Crop Plan Strategy
In this session, we’ll cover the importance of crop planning for small-scale farming. You’ll learn how to set business goals and production targets, and we’ll explore how these factors inform your crop plan. We’ll also discuss the information needed to make better decisions in future seasons.
Topics covered
- Complete goals and vision
- Set personal & financial goals
- Calculate planting volumes to meet production goals
Homework
- Define sales goals and assign production targets for each sales avenue
- Chart weekly sales and production needs over a 20-week season
- Calculate planting volumes to meet production goals
How to Use Heirloom
A hands-on walkthrough of the Heirloom crop planning software. We’ll cover setting up your farm, mapping crops, and creating your game plan. You’ll also have homework to work on your crop map and select your crops.
Topics covered
- Mapping your Farm
- Selecting your Crops
- Crop Map
- Create Your Game Plan
- Crop/Nursery Details
Homework
- Complete your crop map and select crops
- Be well underway with your crop planning before Week 3
- Edit your specific Nursery and Crop details
Maximizing Your Crop Plan
Building off Week 2, we’ll complete your crop plan and discuss how it can improve decision-making, efficiency, and farm sales. We’ll also address questions from Week 2’s homework.
Topics covered
- Financial Projections
- Manage Work Flow
- How to order your seeds
Homework
- Complete your crop plan and return with questions on how to utilize the data
Putting It into Practice and Keeping Records
In this session, we’ll focus on turning your crop plan into real-world success. We’ll discuss integrating your plan with fieldwork, record keeping, and how to adjust based on real-time farm data.
Topics covered
- How we use crop plans with our team
- Nursery and Direct Seeding Plans
- Field planting and syncing plans
- Maintaining detailed records for future planning
Homework
- Post about your crop plan and what you learned throughout the program
Session Calendar:
| Schedule | Teaching Session | Q&A Session |
|---|---|---|
|
1st week |
Tuesday, November 19, 2:30 pm EST |
Friday, November 22, 2:30 EST |
|
2nd week |
Tuesday, November 26, 2:30 pm EST |
Friday, November 29, 2:30pm EST |
|
3rd week |
Tuesday, December, 2:30 pm EST |
Friday, December 6, 2:30 PM EST |
|
4th week |
Tuesday, December 10, 2:30 pm EST |
Friday, December 13, 2:30 PM EST |
“Crop planning is the number-one factor
in achieving success for your farm.”
— Luke Sheldrick
Hurry up, places are limited!
Secure payment with Stripe or Paypal
“Crop planning is the number-one factor in achieving success for your farm.”
— Luke Sheldrick
Be on the lookout for the next cohort!
Registration for The Crop Plan Accelerator is open twice a year.
The next cohort will be in Fall 2024.
Stay in the loop!
Join our mailing list to get exclusive content and invitations from the Market Gardener Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE COURSE
How much time do I need to commit?
We recommend setting aside 7-10 hours per week. This includes 1.5 hours for the weekly lesson, 1.5 hours for homework, and 1.5 hours for office hours, with additional time allocated for completing tasks and engaging with the material.
How much time do I need to commit?
We recommend setting aside 7-10 hours per week. This includes 1.5 hours for the weekly lesson, 1.5 hours for homework, and 1.5 hours for office hours, with additional time allocated for completing tasks and engaging with the material.
What will I learn during the course?
By the end of the course, you’ll have a complete crop plan tailored to your farm’s needs. You’ll learn how to set sales goals, calculate planting volumes, map your farm, use the Heirloom software, and turn your crop plan into practical, real-world strategies. Additionally, you’ll develop skills to refine and adapt your planning process for future seasons.
What if I can’t attend the live sessions?
All lessons will be recorded and available for you to watch at your convenience. However, we strongly encourage attending live sessions to engage in the Q&A and get the most out of the course.
How do the office hours work?
Office hours take place every Friday, via a zoom call, providing a space for you to ask questions and get feedback on your homework. It’s an opportunity to clarify concepts and address any challenges you may have with your crop plan.
Will the course cover individual farm scenarios?
While we can’t cover in-depth, personalized scenarios during the lessons, office hours are designed to answer individual questions.
What is the Heirloom Crop Planning App?
Heirloom is a comprehensive software designed to help farmers with crop planning, scheduling, and data management. During the course, you’ll learn how to navigate the app, set up your farm, and use its features to create an efficient crop plan.
Do I need any specific tools or equipment for this course?
It’s recommended that you have access to two screens, especially during the Heirloom software training, so you can follow along more easily. Beyond that, a computer with internet access and basic spreadsheet skills will be sufficient.
What happens after the course ends?
By the end of the course, you will have a complete, actionable crop plan for the upcoming season. You’ll also have a solid understanding of crop planning principles that will help you continuously improve your processes. Additionally, we encourage you to share your completed plan as part of a final activity, with a prize awarded for the best submission!
After the course concludes, you will still have access to all lesson replays and the community for a period of 1 year. This allows you to revisit the content and connect with other participants as you continue to refine your crop planning skills. However, please note that Luke will not be available to answer questions during this period.
Do I have to pay additional fees to subscribe to the software?
The price of a yearly subscription is included in the price of the course! You will be onboarded to the platform one week prior to the beginning of the course.
Does the course include discounts on other products?
Yes! Once you register to the course, you will gain access to discounts on The Market Gardener Institute course library.
What kind of payments do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. For the one-time payment, we also accept PayPal. We are currently unable to accept checks or invoices.
