15-Month Program

November 15th Application Deadline

The Journeyperson Program helps farmers expand and improve their farm business, planning smartly and going in deeper to analyze their individual  business needs.

  • The program is designed for beginning farmers who have been independently farming for 3 or more years and are serious about operating their farm business.
  • This program includes a dive into holistic financial planning, revising goals and values, and more detailed enterprise analysis, all based on a solid foundation of their own farm numbers.
  • Farmers will design a responsive, adaptable business plan to achieve long-term farm viability and resilience.

This 15-month program starts in December 2020 and ends in March 2022.

What is unique about this program?

As farmers push into years 4 and 5 in their farming journey, they have a sense of what their business is, what marketing channels they have, and what kinds of income and expenses they experience. In addition, they have a solid foundation in production. Participation will be limited to a small number, to not only allow you to learn from experienced farmers, but also to develop deeper relationships with farmers in a similar business phase. Mentorship, another key element of this program, can address your very specific farm and business needs.

How to Apply

Program Details: December 2020 – March 2022

In response to the need for virtual learning opportunities during the pandemic, we have restructured this program from in-person retreats to a webinar series.

  • 4  Webinars: January & February 2021, 2022
  • Work one-on-one with an Experienced Farmer Mentor
  • WNC CRAFT Farmer Network: Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network
  • Identify & connect with regional resource providers (lenders, small business centers)
  • Every-other-month virtual cohort meetings*
  • Discount Offers to OGS Services: 
    • 15% off of Sustainability Coaching & Consulting program for farm design and systems development
    • 15% off attendance at OGS Spring Conference & Harvest Conference
    • 15% off of any other OGS workshops

Curriculum & Schedule

Journeyperson Course Schedule

JP Orientation: December 9th 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm

Retreat 1: January 9-10th, duration: TBD

Retreat 2: February  6-7th, duration: TBD

Monthly Cohort Meet Ups:

Last Wednesday of each month 6:30 PM or time TBD

*If we can safely meet up in person, we will do so as an optional gathering for participants.

 

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. .