Women Farm is passionately committed to introducing and training women in the use of farm tools, equipment and machinery suitable to food farms whether small vegetable and fruit, field vegetable, or grains and legumes.

Farms seem to have unique mixes of tools-of-the-trade that fit with their unique production systems. Women Farm sees great value in having women farmers who are skilled in the use of their tools, equipment and machinery as direct experience instructors for those women who want to develop such skills.

Whether the focus is field equipment and machinery, planting, cultivation and harvesting tools, equipment and machinery, irrigation systems, propagation equipment, packaging, storing and delivery equipment women want and need to learn how to:

1. buy used or new items,
2. select and customize pieces for their particular physical requirements,
3. efficiently and effectively use and operate these tools-of-the-trade, and
4. how to manage these depreciable assets that require routine and troubleshooting maintenance.

There are many Ohio women farmers who efficiently and effectively use these tools-of-the-trade in their production and marketing practices.

Significant barriers to providing direct experience instruction in the use of farm tools, equipment and machinery for women who are unfamiliar with and inexperienced in their use or operation exist. First, is liability insurance; second is access to such tools, equipment and machinery for learning purposes; and third, is the presumed small number of women wanting to develop skills in a particular tools or piece of equipment or machinery.

Safety during training and on-farm use is of utmost importance, as the use of farm tools, equipment and machinery can result in severe and deadly accidents. Skill development comes through direct experience, and the risks of injury must be well managed. Reading about, observing others, role-playing use are all valuable preparation for the real thing. These low risk opportunities to learn are offered on-line, on site at dealers, and at conference trade shows and workshops.

Women Farm routinely offers direct experience instruction in the use of manual tools and indirect instruction in the use of power tools, equipment and machinery, a restriction that results from affordable liability insurance.

Women Farm pledges to work diligently to expand the options women have to learn all that they want to about the tools, equipment and machinery essential to their success as a food farmer. We invite prospective partners to contact us!

Select Resources

• Decision Guide for First-time (or Smarter) Tractor Buying
• pdfs/WF_Decision Guide_Tractor Buying_T03.06.13.pdf