Want to farm?
12-Month, Farmer-Led Training Program
Virtual for 2020-2021
Note: Applications for 2020-2021 are now closed, use the FAQs & Apply button to get info on 2021-2022.
Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!
Program Details: November 2020 - September 2021
2020-2021 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:
-- _Winter Whole Farm Planning Course – 60 hours (November – March)
-- ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
-- OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
-- Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
-- Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days with regional partners Living Web Farms and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm
-- One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network
Curriculum & Schedule
DRAFT Course Schedule & Descriptions 2020-2021
Location of Winter Sessions
Virtual for 2020-2021
The connections that we have created at New Roots through Farm Beginnings® is what we cherish the most. During this program, many different farmers took the time to share their stories, mistakes, successes and business models with us. These stories helped us in making many of our own first-time decisions. Now, we have a network of dear friends whom we can call on if we ever have a problem, need assistance, or just simply to talk, vent, and relate.
We are so appreciative to the Farmer Programs team [at OGS]! From the beginning and throughout the interactions we’ve had over the course of the program, you have helped us feel so supported and confident. Thank you!
Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is approved by the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) as an Education Vendor. As a Farm Beginnings® Graduate, your training counts as a year of farm management experience when you apply for a farmland loan through the Farm Service Agency.
For questions, please contact our Director of Programs & Human Resources, Nicole DelCogliano, at nicole@organicgrowersschool.org
OGS Farmer Programs are made possible by our farmer network and our funding partners: CLIF bar Family Foundation, Southern Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education UNFI Foundation, WNC Bridge Foundation, Harry Chapin Foundation, Walnut Cove, New Visions, and USDA Rural Development. Our Growth Partners (year-round program support) are: Carolina Farm Credit, Earth Tools, Buchi, Living Web Farms, Gaia Herbs and Chelsea Green Publishing. Our Media Sponsors are WNCW, Asheville FM and BPR. .