Organic Farm School

Mission

As a learning center, the Organic Farm School trains new farmers to develop and manage small farms focused on ecological, economic, and social regeneration - simultaneously offering opportunities for our community and others to learn about their role in strengthening local/regional food systems.

Description

To the point....we are hoping to raise $10K during GiveBIG to support our ongoing programs. Our riding mower recently died, and while a riding mower may seem redundant on a farm with tractors, we really need that piece of equipment because volunteers can use it. And volunteers are able to exchange time at the farm for vegetables to take home. That's important these days, right? We are also working to set up a food waste composting trial to demonstrate to our community how to make their own soil amendments so they can grow their own vegetables. Again, that's important these days, and becoming more important all the time. Having the right tools with a supported Farm Team is huge in these times of rising food costs and existential stress. Your help in getting us to $9K can make a big difference!

But back to our regular description....We train new farmers to not only grow healthy food in regenerative ways, but how to plan for business and marketing success. Simultaneously, we engage our community in cooking classes, farm tours, work parties, and more, in an effort to shorten the distance between those who grow food and those who eat food. Our organizing principle is that in order to shift to more regenerative agricultural systems, we must also seek regenerative practices within our cultural and economic systems. To do this work, each year we offer a paid apprenticeship for 1-3 individuals who are ready to seriously jump into the farming profession, one-month experiences for 4-8 participants who are curious about the work and future of farming, one high school internship, multiple incubator opportunities, and events and activities for more than 1000 visitors. Together, we grow annual vegetables on a 10-acre field, actively participating in our local food system.

Apprentices learn how to follow and create a crop plan, manage crops and labor, set irrigation, produce seed crops, work with farmers markets and direct-to-retail outlets, contribute to food banks, develop their own business & marketing plan, and so much more. As they do all of this, they provide fresh produce for community cooking classes and gatherings, where non-farmers are invited to come learn with our students about how to transform crops into meals. Along the way, eaters and farmers alike are learning about how to best support the kind of agriculture that regenerates soils and people, how to advocate for local/regional farmers and food systems, and how to support new farmers in accessing land.

Our one-month "Summer Block" sessions are intended to inspire as well as to field-test the level of interest an individual might have with respect to farming. It's a great option for those interested in the Apprenticeship, wanting to make sure it's a "fit" for them, or for those who are looking for an experiential break from their regular professional lives. We work to create post-training opportunities, to include paid positions with experienced grads, farm business incubators, and connections to land leases. We just launched a Farm Stay program, giving non-farmers the chance to dive deeply into what it takes to get food from place to plate. And of course we offer workshops and tours throughout the season

Beyond the 10-acre teaching farm, we collaborate with other organizations, agencies, and institutions to explore: small farm grain production; use of cover crops to build healthy soil; and integration of small scale livestock for soil development and vegetation management.