This document summarizes a presentation given at the NOFA-VT Winter Conference on February 15, 2014 about using digital tools for farm and food ventures. The presentation covered various online tools for tasks like budgeting, record keeping, farm management, marketing through websites and social media, and connecting with customers and other farmers. Speakers included farmers from Rockville Market Farm and Tamarack Hollows Farm as well as advisors from UVM Extension and YourFarmStand.com. The presentation provided examples of specific apps and websites for tasks like accounting, note taking, mapping, and selling products online through platforms like Kickstarter, Square, and YourFarmStand.
What’s the difference between Affiliate Marketing and Brand Partnerships?
Essential Digital Tools for Farms
1. Essential Online
for Farm and
Food Ventures
NOFA –VT WINTER CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 15, 2014
Rob Fish
VERMONT DIGITAL ECONOMY PROJECT
HTTP://WWW.VTRURAL.ORG
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2.
Digital Tools Are Game-Changing
Practitioners & Advisors
Eric Rozendall, Rockville Market Farm
Amanda Andrews, Tamarack Hollows
Farm
Carl Russell, Earthwise Farm and Forest
Heather Darby, UVM Extension
& Darby Farm
Suzy Hodgson, YourFarmStand.com
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Websites
Social Media
Other Tools
Using Technology to Network
Q&A
AGENDA
3. 3
“I only started using email in 2007, but . . . “
CARL RUSSELL - EARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
How digital tools have changed his farm and forest
businesses
http://bit.ly/1c1kVGG
4. ERIC ROZENDAAL
ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
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1) Budgeting and Accounting
2) Note Keeping & Staying Organized
3) AgSquared
4) Farmigo
5) Farmers To You
6) Good Eggs
9. ERIC ROZENDAAL
ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
ACCESSING NEW MARKETS
9
A Regional Partnership
Farmers To You creates a
regional partnership by
enabling Boston area families
to reconnect to the land
through the food they eat
and benefit from the delicious
and nutritious bounty of
Vermont. This partnership
supports Vermont area
farmers and producers, who
create superior food, lovingly
steward their land, and enrich
their communities.
http://farmerstoyou.com/
12. AMANDA ANDREWS
TAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
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It’s running a small
business in miniature
Process is very
demanding:
creating the video,
balancing the
rewards with your
financing goals,
really nailing your
https://www.kickstart talking points, lining
er.com/projects/tam up publicity, and
arackhollow/get-this- organizing your
farm-off-thenetwork.
floodplain
KICKSTARTER – CROWD FUNDRAISING
13. AMANDA ANDREWS
TAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
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• Requires networking for months ahead of the campaign.
At every market we've been letting our close friends and core customers know that
we will be running a Kickstarter campaign, and asking if they have any advice, not if
they will donate.
• Folks that are genuinely interested and want to follow through will instantly offer their
help whether that be their social media network, assistance with creating your
rewards after the campaign, creating the video, or reaching out to someone who ran
a successful campaign.
• With most of our immediate network, their words have been more valuable than their
wallets. Sure, some of them have donated, but it's getting to that second or third
ripple out where you're going to make your goal.
14. AMANDA ANDREWS
TAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
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Accept credit cards at markets
Easy Online Payments
http://paypal.com/
http://paypal.com/
https://squareup.com/
ONLINE AND MOBILE SALES
15. http://www.quinciple.com/
AMANDA ANDREWS
TAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
Quinciple is a weekly subscription
service that creates a balanced
box of groceries each week,
including meat, fish, cheese,
bread, produce, eggs and pantry
staples. Every box contains
enough ingredients to make at
least two different dinners for two
people.
CONNECTING WITH NEW CUSTOMERS
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“combine the quality and
seasonality of your local
farmers' market with the
convenience and flexibility of
online ordering to bring fresh,
local produce right to your
door, to your neighborhood
and to your workplace.”
16. CARL RUSSELL
EARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
• Adobe Acrobat and Word to Go
• Hours Keeper App
• Mapping and Soil Apps
CARL RUSSELL - EARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
How digital tools have changed his farm and forest
businesses
http://bit.ly/1oNOGmX
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17. CARL RUSSELL
http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/
EARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
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NRCS Web Soil Survey
http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm
SOIL TYPE
SURVEYS
Hours Keeper - Time Tracking, Timesheet & Billing
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hourskeeper-time-tracking/id563155321?mt=8
http://anrmaps.vermont.gov/websites/anra/
18. CARL RUSSELL
EARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
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GIS Kit by Garafa, LLC
https://itunes.apple.com/us/
app/gis-kit/id429688355?mt=8
GPS Kit HD by Garafa, LLC
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gps-kit-hd/id418662204?mt=8
MAPPING
ArcGIS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arcgis/id379687930?mt=8
Ushahidi by Ushahidi
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ushahidi/id410609585?mt=8
Geo Measure - Map Area / Distance Measurement by ObjectGraph LLC
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geo-measure-map-areadistance/id451326903?mt=8
19. HEATHER DARBY
DARBY FARM & UVM EXTENSION
http://gocrop.com/
Vermont Farming
App available
now in iTunes!
FARM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
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21. SUZY HODGSON
YOURFARMSTAND.COM
Farmers
list produce
for sale
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A network of
interlinked locally
managed on-line
local food markets
Customers
pick up
produce in
one bag
Local
coordinator
promotes the market.
Yourfarmstand
manages the website
and all
transactions.
Suzy@yourfarmstand.com
NOFA Winter Conference 2014
Customers
buy on-line
whenever
they like
Farmers deliver
produce once
a week
How it works
22. People can
Buy what they want,
when they want
Avoid long term contract
or commitments
Move between markets
See transparency in
pricing
Understand farming
practices
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23. Farmers/Vendors can
Use a new channel to
complement farmers’ markets,
CSAs and farmstands
Update inventory and prices at
any time
Sell in multiple markets
Withdraw money electronically
Have access to historical
transactions and reports
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24. Yourfarmstand Innovations
Real
time ordering & inventory management
Historical
One
Records
account - multiple markets
Different
payment options – credit/debit
Automated
Local
transactions & labels
market customization
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28. WEBSITE BASICS
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Be able to manage it
yourself
Contact information
Hours and Locations
Simple, Intuitive Navigation
Integrate Social Media
Images
Responsive – works on
smartphones and desktop
web browsers
http://wordpress.org/
http://rockvillemarketfarm.com/
29. SOCIAL MEDIA
• Social media is “the next generation of word-ofmouth marketing,” - gateway for their friends or
family to get to know more about your farm.
• Farmers can use social media to inform people
about agricultural issues that matter to them.
• Social media also is used to keep farmers
engaged with other farmers – sharing ideas about
crops, pest control and marketing strategies.
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• Social media aids customer service.
• Social media opens up
conversation. The users of your farm
or experience are the best people
to learn from when it comes to
making things better.
30. Components of a social media strategy
IDENTITY: Define who you are, what you stand for, and what
you do best.
VALUES and MISSION: Communicate your values in a way
that is meaningful and relevant to your audience.
AUDIENCE: Identify your audience(s).
SOCIAL MEDIA OBJECTIVES: What do they gain from
engaging with you? What do you have to gain from
engaging with them?
Entertain
Educate/Inform/Alert
To be a part of something bigger
To make human connections
Express feelings or beliefs
Have a voice
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Don’t try to do
everything
Remember it is
not all about
you.
Planning is
the key to
success
31. Funny and Thematic
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Photos & Video
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
• Facebook Events
• Tag other producers (@)
• Complete “about”
• Contests
• Crowd-source info – recipes
• Ask Questions
FACEBOOK CONTENT
Interact: Respond to
comments.
Share info from other
sources
32. Schedule posts
Unique Facebook Address
Build your audience
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Facilitate sharing of content
“Like or “Follow” from website
Make use of Facebook Insights – Know Your Audience
Using Apps, integrate MailChimp,
Instagram, Twitter, Maps, etc into your Tabs.
Like and then Tag (@__)
other organizations, farms or
businesses)
33. NEWSLETTERS, ETC
Dropbox.com
Cloud
Backup and 33
sharing big
files
https://www.dropbox.com/home
Google Places – aka Google Plus Local
Farms will appear on google maps and
be searchable on google map by
name. Also enhances search listings
https://www.google.com/business/placesforbusiness/
Front Porch Forum
Reach your neighbors
http://frontporchforum.com/
Email Newsletters
Keep in touch with
consumers or CSA
members
http://mailchimp.com/
34. NETWORKING
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NekFarmSwap/
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Looking to put Farmers and
Homesteaders in touch with one
another for the purpose of selling
or trading livestock, farm equipment,
and supplies. Likewise, you can use
this group to post Wanted Ads too!
Using Facebook, over Craigslist
removes anonymity, provides a live
feed so you have better chances of
finding what you're looking for
without having to search, and
removes the Nigerian scams and
email phishers. No more SCAMS!
USING FACEBOOK TO CONNECT
36. Essential Online
for Farm and
Food Ventures
NOFA –VT WINTER CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 15, 2014
ROBERT FISH
VERMONT COUNCIL ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VERMONT DIGITAL ECONOMY PROJECT
HTTP://WWW.VTRURAL.ORG
ROB@VTRURAL.ORG
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