Small Farms Program Newsletter

Cultivating new community online

The Context

Farmers, famously, do their work outside. It’s hard to catch them at their computers, and even harder to get a response. But a new Small Farms Program through Oregon State University Extension needed a way to reach regional farmers in order to promote their work to current and potential stakeholders. 

The Work

Informed by a brief needs assessment of area farmers, I developed a newsletter that combines featured content with a list of timely resources and opportunities. Subscribers can build familiarity with the consistent format and can move easily through the newsletter to find the resources most relevant to them.  The featured content at the top of the newsletter is selected to catch the eye of readers as they scroll down, and promotes upcoming Small Farms Program events.

By focusing newsletter content on resources farmers need, readership has risen steadily, from a few dozen early participants to hundreds of the region’s farmers, community partners, and technical assistance providers.