Journeyperson

Eligible applicants have:

• A minimum of three years of farming independently

• A demonstrated commitment to farming in the Southern Appalachian region

• Production goals of benefiting their community and region

• A demonstrated commitment to sustainable farming practices

Although not required, the Journeyperson program is best suited for applicants who have the following: 

• Secure medium- to long-term land tenure (such as owned land or a lease contract)

• A focus on annual or perennial crop production/and or livestock for direct-to-consumer and/or wholesale markets

• Some prior business training or education like Farm Beginnings or comparable program. 

• An established farm business that needs support to refine its vision, apply whole-farm planning practices, and farmers with a willingness to utilize the resources of the program fully

Not you? Don’t fret! We have programs applicable to all stages of farming education. Check out our full list of farmer programs.

The course fee is a sliding scale from $500- $1200 and applies to a farm unit (1–2 individuals who are business partners, family members, or life partners). The course costs OGS at least $1500/ farm to run. The program allows two partners who apply and are accepted together to benefit from dual enrollment.

A sliding scale is an option we are offering to make the course more accessible. Please do not be deterred! In addition, we offer scholarships and payment plans, and we encourage you to apply. Both farm partners must apply if they are requesting a scholarship.

If accepted, the full course fee or first payment must be paid to secure your spot in the course. Payments can be made via credit card or check. We will provide further instructions for making payment following acceptance into the program.If you are applying with a farm partner, they must also complete the entire application. Space is limited to 10 farm applicants.

The program runs for one year starting in November. The cohort meets monthly for 2-hour virtual or in-person meetups.

Workshops take place during the winter months and last between 4 and 6 hours each, primarily held virtually. 

Mentorship with an experienced mentor is 15 hours and starts once you are matched.

Overall, we are sensitive to the irregular, sometimes unbalanced hours of farming and plan our programming accordingly. Our goal is to be effective and present in the time we set aside for Journeyperson, and we expect participants to do the same.

You can apply using the online application linked on this page. Please read over this information before beginning your application!

Submit:

• Your application

• Your farm partner’s application (if applicable; a farm partner is a business partner, family member, or life partner)

• 2 professional references for each person applying (at the end of the application form)

• Scholarship application alongside your application, if you would like to be considered

Tips:

• Be sure to review all application requirements before submitting.

• Ensure that all required parts are submitted simultaneously. Only completed applications will be reviewed.

• If you are applying with a farm partner, they must also complete the entire application.

• You will be notified via email regarding the acceptance or denial of your course once we have reviewed your application.

• We may contact you by phone for any follow-up questions regarding your application.

• Scholarship awards will be sent via email.

• Correspondence will be sent to both applicants.

• Space is limited to 10 farms per cohort.

Applications will be reviewed by the OGS Farmer Programs team and accepted on the basis of applicant experience, farmer and farm readiness, and your stage in The Farming Journey. Each applicant may be asked to participate in an informal interview—either in person or by phone—to discuss the program and determine if Journeyperson is a good fit for the potential participant’s needs.

Once you accept admission into the program and begin attending, tuition is due in whole or in part. If you need to withdraw from the course for any reason, refunds cannot be issued.

If you are unable to attend the current course, we are happy to send you documentation so that your tuition fee can be recorded as a tax-deductible contribution to the ongoing work of the Organic Growers School.

Sliding Scale and Affordability
Organic Growers School aims to create affordable, widely accessible programs while providing fair wages to our farmer instructors and dedicated staff. Financial Aid for Journeyperson is limited, and priority is given to Black, Indigenous, and beginning farmers of color, LGBTQ+, and other socially disadvantaged individuals.

Consider a payment plan as your first choice for financial support. If you are requesting funding from OGS, we ask that you consider what would be manageable but not overly burdensome for you to invest in your education. We will assess the applicant’s level of community involvement and engagement in work related to social justice and sustainable agriculture in the Southern Appalachia region.

Eligibility Guidelines

• Financial need

• Passion and capacity for farming

• Ability and willingness to give back to the program

• Understanding the value of this farmer training education
  

Applying for a Scholarship
Submit a scholarship application simultaneously with your Journeyperson application. If you submit your application online, follow the link at the end of your application to apply for a scholarship. You will then be prompted to submit the scholarship application questions. If farm partners reside together and share financial responsibilities, both parties must submit financial information.

Payment Plans
Payment plans are available, allowing participants to pay the fee in four installments. The first payment is due upon receipt of your letter of acceptance to secure your spot in the class. Please let us know if you are interested, and we will arrange for you to pay via check or set up an online automatic withdrawal. Contact mike@organicgrowersschool.org for more information. 

Savings Incentive Program
One of the main challenges for beginning farmers is affording the infrastructure and equipment necessary to make farming more efficient and profitable. We want to help you capitalize on your farm. Your farm may be eligible to receive matched funds through the Savings Incentive Program. These savings can be used towards the purchase of a farm asset.

For instance, if you save $1000 during the course, you will receive matching funds of $1000 from Organic Growers School, giving you a total of $2000 to purchase a farm asset.

Journeyperson brings in experienced farmers, teachers, mentors, and regional resource providers, as well as YOUR contributions and insights as a beginning farmer.

Nicole DelCogliano, Programs Director at Organic Growers School, leads the Journeyperson program. She and her husband have been farming at Green Toe Ground Farm in Yancey County since 2001. Nicole says: “As farmers push into years four and five, they have solid production experience as well as a sense of what their business is, what marketing channels they have, and what kinds of income and expenses they experience. The Journeyperson program helps farmers take the next step and delve deeper into analyzing their farm business to plan for its expansion and improvement. We delve into holistic financial planning, revising goals and values, and a detailed enterprise analysis, all based on a solid foundation of their farm numbers.”

“OGS's Journeyperson program has been helpful for me in many ways but I must say that my favorite part has been connecting with, learning from, and laughing with farmers working through similar challenges.” -Liz Elmore, Thatchmore Farm

“We’ve talked a lot about pricing. I think these frank discussions with my peers have made us feel less alone as small business people struggling to balance these concerns and to find an equitable pricing structure.” -Gwen and Jay, Black Trumpet Farm

“Starting out, you have a million questions and having someone you can call is invaluable . . . what I really needed was advice for managing soil fertility and weeds on my farm. It's tempting to spend money on shiny new equipment and it can also be intimidating, but Eileen (my mentor) helped me identify the essentials to make it work.” -Ed Graves, Tiny Bridge Farm