WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Landowners wanting to try out their green thumbs and earn extra income are encouraged to attend the Natural Resource Enterprises Workshops on Sept. 2 and 3.
Small-scale biodiesel production is one of the new income avenues that will be showcased at the September 3rd workshop.
“The workshops will help landowners and farmers seek new and innovative ways to earn an extra income to help keep their family farm,” said Brian MacGowan, Purdue University Extension wildlife specialist. “They are designed for landowners interested in learning about developing enterprises from the natural resources on their property or simply learning more about wildlife and business management.”
Attendees will learn how to manage natural resources on their land, ways to market their enterprise, cost-share programs that are available and ways to reduce their liability. The workshops are co-sponsored by Purdue.
“Both of the workshops will allow people to learn everything they need to know about starting a natural resources-based business, and they will have the chance to see examples of successful ventures and speak with the hosts about what they learned,” MacGowan said.
Each of the workshops will feature three field tour stops relating to natural resources enterprises.
The workshop on Sept. 2 will be on the Wilkin’s Farm, located at 1935 W. County Road 1000 N., Linden, and will highlight small-scale lumber production, agritourism and timber management. The Sept. 3 workshop will be at the Woodling’s Farm, located at 7092 N. Shilo Road, Unionville, and will showcase small-scale lumber manufacturing, biodiesel production and hunting.
Registration for each workshop is $25, which includes a 600-page reference notebook, lunch and breaks. For more information about each workshop or to register, visit http://www.wildlifeworkshop.msstate.edu
“By hosting these workshops, we hope this will give landowners and farmers a jump-start to begin their natural resources-based enterprises on their own properties, while giving them the information and contacts to manage their property for wildlife and other resources,” MacGowan said.