{"id":58380,"date":"2014-02-24T21:40:46","date_gmt":"2014-02-24T11:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=58380"},"modified":"2020-12-07T10:12:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T00:12:50","slug":"last-chance-for-small-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/02\/24\/last-chance-for-small-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"Last Chance For Small Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Terry Rayment and Liam Yewdall, from Kingaroy, surrounded by kale and broccolini at Red Earth Meadows; both men graduated from the farm’s last training course<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 24, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

People who’d like to learn more about small acreage farming and receive a Certificate III in Rural Operations or training in food handling or post-harvest operations – all at no charge – only have until this Friday to act.<\/p>\n

Growing The Burnett (GTB) still have a few vacancies for an eight-week course being funded by the Federal Government through the Local Employment Co-Ordinator Flexible Funding Pool.<\/p>\n

GTB operate the Red Earth Meadows farm at Memerambi and the new Thursday Fresh Food Markets in Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

Their aim is to train South Burnett residents in small acreage farming so that locals can obtain genuinely fresh, locally grown foods, and people who want to take up horticulture as a career can make a living from it.<\/p>\n

GTB’s new course is the last one the Federal Government will fund under current arrangements.<\/p>\n

Course students will receive eight weeks full-time training through the Australian Agricultural College Corporation at the Memerambi farm.<\/p>\n

Graduates will earn a nationally recognised Certificate III in Rural Operations. But there will also be shorter courses available for food handling and post-harvest operations.<\/p>\n

The Certificate III students will spend two a days a week in classroom-style learning at Memerambi while the rest will gain hands-on experience in the paddock.<\/p>\n

Some of the food handling training will be carried out in fruit packing sheds in the North Burnett while food safety will be taught in Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

“The best part of this is that the courses are fully funded,” Project leader Brian Jarvis said.<\/p>\n

“This course is designed for people who are unemployed or underemployed.<\/p>\n

However final course bookings need to be settled by this Friday, February 28.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brian said people interested in doing the courses should contact him as soon as possible on 0417-756-528.<\/p>\n

[UPDATED with correction February 26]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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