Fronk led the drip irrigation training, showing participants how to assemble and connect tubing, fittings and other components of an irrigation system.
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, conserving water and supporting crop growth. Participants practiced assembling the systems and learned how to use them to improve water efficiency.
Gorgo-Simcox led the farm food safety portion, covering practices to prevent produce contamination, including agricultural water management, worker hygiene, and pre- and post-harvest water testing. Participants also learned about relevant requirements and recommendations under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.
“The combination of irrigation management and produce safety education provided growers with a comprehensive understanding of how water management decisions can affect both crop production and food safety,” Gorgo-Simcox said.
Ramsey said the workshop addressed real-world challenges facing urban growers.
“This workshop connected practical water-saving and food-safety skills with the everyday realities of growing food in the city,” she said. “Using water efficiently helps urban growers conserve resources and keep crops healthy, while safe growing and handling practices protect the people we feed. Learning together also strengthens our ability to share knowledge and support one another.”
Gorgo-Simcox noted that the interactive format encouraged questions, discussion and opportunities for growers to learn from one another.
In post-workshop evaluations, 88% of respondents identified “listening to questions and discussion from other farmers” as one of the most beneficial aspects of the program, while 77% cited “meeting other organic farmers” as particularly valuable.
Participants said the hands-on activities provided practical information and skills they could apply immediately on their farms. All respondents indicated they would recommend the workshop to others.
“Notably, 66% of respondents reported that they had never attended a Penn State Extension program before, demonstrating the workshop’s success in reaching new audiences,” Fronk said.
Live Spanish interpretation also helped make the training accessible to participants.
“As a Spanish speaker, having live interpretation made it much easier for me to follow the presentations and ask questions,” one participant said. “I especially appreciated learning more about drip irrigation and water quality practices and how they relate to food safety on my farm.”
Fronk said participant feedback helped identify topics for future educational programming, including water quality testing and interpretation, managing cats and rodents on urban farms, and designing drip irrigation systems.