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Beginningfarmers.org Founder Taylor Reid Bids Farewell 1 Jan 2022 4:13 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

Beginningfarmers.org Founder Taylor Reid is Leaving the Site After More Than 13 Years

I started beginningfarmers.org in 2008 while I was a Doctoral student at Michigan State University studying the motivations and learning processes of first generation farmers. My first blog post in 2008 noted that "We are currently witnessing a loss of family farms, an aging population of farmers, and an increasingly global and consolidated food system, all of which create concerns about food security, the health of rural communities, and economic and environmental sustainability. At the same time, an increase in direct marketing, consumer demand for local products, and the number of small farms on the urban fringe offer significant counterpoints to these trends. New, first-generation farmers are important actors in developing and sustaining these trends. The experiences and practices of new farmers may help develop an alternative agricultural model for family farms struggling to compete with large scale and foreign producers, and constitute an important cultural resource for promoting healthy communities, healthy eating habits, environmental sustainability, and social dialogue on food related issues."

While all of this is still true, at the time I found that there was some good information on the internet for beginning and aspiring farmers, but it was scattered and difficult to access. The original purpose of the site was to bring that information together in a central place. Little did I know at the time that the site would be so successful, that it would continue to be a part of my life for more than a decade, or that I would go on to author more than 65oo blog posts over that time.

Beginningfarmers.org continues to be a great resource for information that is useful to aspiring and beginning farmers, and it's fixed pages will remain accessible. But is no longer the only source on the internet for finding these resources. The USDA site https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers, Cornell Small Farms, National Young Farmers Coalition, ATTRA, and many others provide great resources for individuals who are interested an starting a farm. 

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is the role that beginningfarmers.org has had in connecting interns, apprentices, and farm job seekers with farms offering opportunities. I know a lot of farms have come to count on the site and it has helped to place thousands of people in on farms over the years. But there are also lots of other resources for this that provide this service now. I highly recommend the Comfood Jobs List, ATTRA's Internship Listings, and Good Food Jobs.

It has been my pleasure to serve you for the last 13+ years. I wish you all the best of luck, and happy farming!

Beginningfarmers.org Founder Taylor Reid

Beginningfarmers.org Founder Taylor Reid Bids Farewell
Taylor

Assistant Farm Manager Position in Oregon 18 Dec 2021 5:44 AM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

White Oak Farm & Education Center Assistant Farm Manager Position in Oregon - 2022

White Oak Farm is hiring a new Assistant Farm Manager to start work March 1, 2022.  We are an organic farm and environmental education center located on 62 acres in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon.  We are looking for an experienced farmer to join our staff in a leadership position for the season and possibly beyond.  The position will be available early spring of 2022 and include housing on the Farm.  We are looking for folks that are passionate about organic farming, environmental education and homesteading, and bring a hard work ethic, attention to detail, and positive attitude to their work.

Experience for the Assistant Farm Manager position should include living and working on an organic farm for at least two full seasons and competence with most aspects of production.  White Oak is a diverse operation, with annual vegetables, seed crops, fruit trees and berries, animals, a native plant nursery, as well as a robust children’s education program.  The position will have opportunities to be involved in all aspects of our work, with an emphasis on: seeding, transplanting, weeding, irrigation, weed-whacking and mowing, animal care (including goat milking), harvest, seed processing, nursery work, farm carpentry, eco-forestry, and environmental education.  We are looking for an individual (or a couple) with the ability to communicate clearly and maturely; self-motivate; and work efficiently.  Compensation includes a competitive hourly wage based on experience; access to farm fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese and meat; housing in a straw bale cabin; and use of Farm facilities such as ponds, trails and a sauna.  The position has flexible hours ranging from 3/4 to full time.

White Oak Farm is committed to ensuring that our programs and hiring practices are welcoming and accessible to everyone, including women, people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ individuals, low-income individuals and immigrants. To apply for the Assistant Farm Manager position please send a cover letter describing your relevant experiences and interests, along with a resume and references to info@whiteoakfarmcsa.org.  Also check out our website to learn more about our work at: www.whiteoakfarmcsa.org.

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org here.

Assistant Farm Manager Position in Oregon
Taylor

NCAT AgriSolar Clearinghouse and More 17 Dec 2021 5:10 AM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

$50 Million Awarded for Beginning Farmer Training, NCAT's AgriSolar Clearinghouse, New Hires at NSAC, and More News from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Over $50 Million Awarded to Train Next-Generation Farmers and Ranchers

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds all the organizations awarded grants for the critical work they do to support next-generation farmers and ranchers, especially those farmer and community-based organizations who work directly with beginning farmers and ranchers every day. Several NSAC members were among the grantees including Kansas Rural Center, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Land for Good, Georgia Organics, and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. About 69 percent of this year’s awards went to nonprofits or community-based organizations, and 37 percent of projects focused on providing education and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers.

READ MORE

NCAT Launches the AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Editor’s Note: This is a guest blog post authored by Stacie Peterson, PhD, Energy Program Director for the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Solar developments are expected to cover 3 million acres of land in the next ten years. Under traditional solar development, some of these lands could be taken over for energy-only production and this could impact pollinator habitat, food production, soil health, and cultural landscapes. However, there is tremendous opportunity for low-impact solar development that is complementary with sustainable agriculture. This co-location, when designed and managed with best practices, can increase pollinator habitat, promote native species, and include grazing and specialty crop production, all while diversifying revenue streams and increasing public acceptance. To support this, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has developed the Department of Energy (DOE)-funded the AgriSolar Clearinghouse at the website: agrisolarclearinghouse.org

READ MORE about the AgriSolar Clearinghouse Initiative

Welcome Ma'raj Sheikh! NSAC's New Grassroots Director

As NSAC’s Grassroots Director, Ma’raj staffs the Grassroots Council and leads the coalition’s grassroots campaigns. Ma’raj comes from a lineage of liberation leaders and is part of the inaugural Castanea Fellowship cohort, a cross-sectoral group of movers and shakers dedicated to advancing racial equity in the food system. Ma’raj has worked across many areas of food system development including: soil remediation, bioenergy, regional supply chain development, stakeholder relations, and public policy. As a National Science Foundation Fellow, she moved to Iowa from Southern California to learn about industrial agriculture at Iowa State University where she studied Sustainable Agriculture and Community and Regional Planning. Ma’raj comes to NSAC after serving as Systems & Strategy Manager at the Chicago Food Policy Action Council. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from University of California, Riverside and an M.A. in Transformational Leadership and Coaching from Wright Graduate University.

SAY HELLO!

Welcome Madeline Turner! NSAC's New Grassroots Fellow

Building upon a life in the Ohio dairy industry, Madeline is a writer and community-builder who holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Sustainable Food from Smith College. Her work and advocacy seek to situate the political economy of agriculture within its cultural context and are informed by her lived experience as a food-service worker and farmer in addition to her community work. As a researcher and creative writer, she seeks to uplift rural voices with particular attention to issues of climate change-driven land degradation, rural development, and food insecurity. Madeline has extensively taught on issues of food justice and farming and organized food access projects in pursuit of vibrant local and alternative economies. She is the co-author of The Land of Milk and Money: Lessons Learned and Business Earned from Women in Dairy and is currently working on a writing project focused on the relationships between cultural trauma and landscape transformation.

SAY HELLO!

What We're Reading

In this space we share suggested readings that NSAC staff find relevant to the Coalition’s mission and work. The opinions expressed in these readings are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect an official NSAC policy or position. 

Op-Ed: Young Farmers Are Locked Out of the System, and the Asset Economy Is to Blame

Behind the farm succession crisis stands rising asset prices from real estate to retirement funds, which have remade the global economy over the past 50 years. 

Rest in Power, bell hooks—Iconoclastic Writer and Activist Who Reminded Us “Feminism Is for Everybody”

A beloved interview from the Spring 2011 issue of Ms. between bell hooks and Jennifer D. Williams. In this prescient conversation, hooks frankly shares her bold takes on the past, present and future of feminism.

"Farm Advocates Call for DOJ Investigation into Suspicious Spike in Fertilizer Prices"

Recent record-breaking fertilizer prices suspiciously coincide with an increase in income farmers are earning from commodity crops like soybeans and corn. While fertilizer corporations claim these prices are the result of shortages and high natural gas prices, their own annual and quarterly reports refute these claims and reveal they have additional capacity they’re not utilizing. 

"After a Year-Long Strike, Indian Farmers Score a Big Win"

The country's prime minister has agreed to roll back laws that threatened to corporatize agriculture, jeopardizing the food security of more than 800 million people and further enriching the ultra-rich.

• Get More Information About Farm Policy and Agricultural Politics Here.

• Find Tons of Other Useful Farming Resources Here.

NCAT AgriSolar Clearinghouse and More
Taylor

Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Training 15 Dec 2021 8:28 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Training Membership 2022

Upper Midwest CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) is a farmer-led training alliance organized by alternative agriculture farmers in the Stateline region: northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Chicagoland. 

​We welcome all levels of experience, whether you’ve never farmed before, you seek advanced training, or you’re transitioning to sustainable agriculture. Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Training is built upon the practice of farmer-to-farmer training, where shared farmer experiences, wisdom, methodology, discussion, and place-based knowledge strengthen the community of regional growers at any and all levels of skill and experience. 

Farm Directory

To read more about Upper Midwest CRAFT, click here.

 

If you are a veteran

and are interested in signing up for

Upper Midwest CRAFT for FREE, please contact us directly at craft@learngrowconnect.org.

Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Training
Taylor

2022 Young Farmer Grant Program 14 Dec 2021 8:39 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

2022 Young Farmer Grant Program
Taylor

USDA Loan Guarantee Program – Meat and Poultry 13 Dec 2021 8:04 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

USDA Loan Guarantee Program – Meat and Poultry
Taylor

Slice of Heaven Farm Internship in Oregon 13 Dec 2021 5:00 AM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

2022 Internship with housing at Slice of Heaven Farm in Sandy, Oregon.

Do you want to reconnect with nature and learn the crucial skills of growing your own food? Think you want to be a farmer? Experience a full season on our farm and truly see what it takes to be a market farmer and run a farm. A season at Slice of Heaven Farm is a unique and memorable experience.

Position dates: April 1^st, 2022 to October 31^st, 2022

Small farming is revolutionary work. If that statement doesn’t speak to you in some way, our internship is not for you.

Compensation: A private room on our farm with a communal kitchen and bathroom. A monthly stipend of $800. Home cooked lunch/dinner provided for you on most farm workdays. Fresh weekly vegetables from the farm.

Slice of Heaven Farm: We are a husband and wife team here at Slice of Heaven Farm in beautiful Sandy, Oregon. We are entering our 10^th farming season. We chose to become farmers as an active protest against Big Ag and to counteract the continuous flood of toxins in our food supply. We use sustainable organic farming practices to grow our vegetables and are on a mission to help bring healthy, safe, and delicious food to our mountain community. Our goal is to have the most nutritious and beautiful vegetables around and continuously please our loyal customers. We run a 130-member CSA and do two local farmers markets. Farming is our way of life and while it is a constant challenge and grueling work, it is endlessly rewarding to grow the best vegetables around and feed families in our community!

Internship description: Work on the farm 5 days a week. Tasks will include seeding, field prep, transplanting, harvesting, cultivating and weeding, processing vegetables, packing vegetables and setting up and selling at farmers’ market.

We consider our internship to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our internship is better than going to school for farming because it is a fully hands-on experience, and you will be 100% immersed in the daily and seasonal workings of a real farm. We have a demanding high energy working environment that is also extremely fun, enlightening and rewarding. We work very hard throughout the season but we also enjoy many meaningful homegrown meals and celebrations together. You will leave our farm with a great appreciation for the work that farmers do and lifelong memories.

Applicant requirements:

• NO COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENT-
• You don’t need previous farming experience for this position, but you do need to want to learn, work hard and want to fully experience farm life.
• 21+ years old
• No tobacco use of any kind
• Have a reliable vehicle
• Physical ability to work hard
• BE A HARD WORKER. That is number one. If you don’t have stamina, can’t work long or early hours, can’t work in the cold, the rain, the heat or the mud, you won’t be the right fit for our farm.
• HAVE GRIT AND PASSION. We are looking for someone with a true passion for learning how to grow vegetables and who may one day start their own farm. Someone who is willing to dive in head-first to see what farming is all about. Someone with the mental fortitude to tough it out during difficult times.
• BE ADAPTABLE. Be able to follow directions, willing and open to learning, and once trained, be able to be self-directed.
• BE DYNAMIC AND FRIENDLY. Have a kind and respectful disposition towards customers. Our customers are the reason we farm. We aim to make a positive lasting impression on all our customers and exceed their expectations.
• BE PHYSICALLY ABLE. The applicant must be able to lift 50 lbs easily and be able to squat/crouch/bend over for periods of harvesting.
• BE PART OF THE TEAM AND VISION. We are a tight-knit family on our farm and besides working hard together, we enjoy each other’s companionship and sit down together for bountiful meals. We strive towards the common goal of having the BEST vegetables in our area and pleasing our customers.
• If you do not like cats or children, our farm will not be the right fit for you.

Note: we cannot accommodate your pet on our farm unfortunately.

Application process

If interested, please visit our website www.sliceofheavenfarm.com/joinourteam2022.  

The Slice of Heaven Farm internship application period will close January 31^st, 2022. This is a rolling application period. The position may be filled before the application period ends.

Based on your application, we will make a preliminary determination if you are a fit for our farm and then award interviews. Please complete your application as thoroughly as possible. We aim to select the best fit for our small farm: someone who seems to have the ability and grit for the position and someone who will transition well into our family environment.

If you seem like a good fit, we will contact you to schedule a zoom interview. 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org here.

Slice of Heaven Farm Internship in Oregon
Taylor

Intensive Organic Courses in Michigan 12 Dec 2021 4:36 AM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

Intensive Organic Courses in Michigan - January 2022 from the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA)

MOFFA Organic Intensives is a day-long concentrated learning experience for farmers, serious gardeners and anyone passionate about what they eat.

For 2022, we are proud to host a mix of local experts, farmers and growers presenting the following frequently requested topics for out intensive organic courses : 

     The Farm Ecosystem:  Managing for Pollinators, Beneficials, and Pests

 

     In-Row Weed Control Strategies:  Fine Tuning Equipment . . . The Details for Success

 

     Organic Mushroom Cultivation and Management

Standard COVID protocols will be practiced. Masks must be worn except when eating or drinking.

When: Saturday, January 8, 2022. 
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Sessions from 9 a.m. EST - 5 p.m. EST. Lunch will be served. 
Where: Plant and Soil Sciences Building, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 
Lunch: Catered by Teff-riffic of Lansing

Scholarships for intensive organic courses are still available. Please contact us if the cost of registration is a barrier to your attendance.

The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) was organized in 1992 as a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting organic agriculture and the development and support of food systems that revitalize and sustain local communities.  MOFFA was one of the first organizations in Michigan and the nation to actively promote these principles. 

MOFFA's Organic Intensives, and our other educational activities, are made possible by our members. Half of us are farmers, and just over half of the farmers are certified organic. The rest are people who are involved with the food system through their employment (30%), and people who just plain care about what they eat (20%). If you are not already a member, we invite you to join us in working to achieve our vision of a vibrant and diverse community working together for healthy food that is available to everyone and for agricultural practices that support the long-term viability of our ecosystem.

• Find more events for farmers online and in person in our Farming Resources thread HERE.

• Find tons of other useful farming resources HERE.

Intensive Organic Courses in Michigan
Taylor

Farmer Study Circles from Future Harvest 10 Dec 2021 8:50 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

FUTURE HARVEST CASA IS NOW ACCEPTING SIGN-UPS FOR THREE NEW FARMER STUDY CIRCLES

Future Harvest Study Circles are intimate gatherings of 5-10 farmers, in-person and/or online, where like-minded and like-scaled farmers share experiences and challenges and engage in group oriented problem-solving. These farmer study circles are supported by a skilled farmer facilitator. Deadline for sign-ups is Friday, January 7th, 2021 at 5pmIn 2022 we are offering the following three new study circles for farmers in our network: 

1. Urban Farmers in DC & PG County. This group will be facilitated by Myeasha Taylor, Farm Production Manager at Black Yield Institute.
2. Employee Management. This group will be facilitated by Ellen Polishuk, Farm Consultant at Plant to Profit.
3. Improving Pest Management in Times of Climate Change. This group will be facilitated by Ellen Polishuk.

Visit our website for more information including how to sign-up. Space is limited to keep the groups small.

Benefits of the Farmer Study Circles for participating farmers:

• Build a close community of farm peers.
• Create a safe space to troubleshoot, problem solve, and celebrate.
• Have reliable contact with an experienced farmer consultant who will share hard-earned insights and offer strategic guidance as you make big decisions for your farm.
• Tap into the greater Future Harvest community for resources, contacts, and assistance.
• Get support for your farm beyond the start-up years.

“We have participated in a study circle for two years now and it has been invaluable!  We look forward to this monthly hour: some months it is filled with mentorship, problem-solving or education and other months it is filled with support, empathy and words of encouragement.  Farmers live a very unique lifestyle that others simply cannot relate to. Having a small cohort of other farmers that we check in with regularly as a sounding board, source of inspiration and pool of knowledge has made a huge difference for us personally as well as for our business.”

– Brian Knox and Jennifer Vaccaro, Where Pigs Fly Farm

STUDY CIRCLE SIGN-UP

• Learn More about other Beginning Farmer Training Programs Here.

• Find Recent Posts about Farmer Training Programs, Internships, and Apprenticeship Opportunities Here.

• Find All Sorts of Other Useful Farming Resources Here.

Farmer Study Circles from Future Harvest
Taylor

Job on a Heritage Farm in Virginia 10 Dec 2021 12:32 PM (3 years ago)

Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming

Full Time Job on a Heritage Farm in Virginia - 2022

Mount Pleasant Foundation is seeking a farmer with experience in pasture-based animal husbandry and/or market garden scale vegetable production.

Mount Pleasant is a private, historic plantation located in Surry County, Virginia, a ferry ride from Colonial Williamsburg. The mission of the foundation is to maintain a highly diverse, sustainable agricultural operation that preserves and promotes the heritage breeds of livestock that were endemic to early American life in the lower Chesapeake.

When fully staffed, the farm crew consists of three full time farmers who manage breeding and grazing programs for our livestock on 70 acres. The farm raises American Milking Devon cattle, Leicester Longwool sheep, Hog Island sheep, pastured broilers, turkeys and layers, and hogs. On average, they calve out 10+ cows a year and 20 ewes. The farm is looking to expand the wood lot pork finishing operation into a breeding program, so a candidate with a background in pastured hog breeding or wood lot finishing would be a plus. The farm also includes a one-acre kitchen garden that grows annual and perennial fruits and vegetables, herbs, and a small orchard.

The diversity of farm operations mean that the daily work and responsibilities of this position will vary greatly according to skillset and experience of the candidate. Regardless, all the members of the farm team help each other on large projects, and everyone shares the responsibility for the maintenance feeding of livestock. Even a new hire with mostly vegetable experience will be trained in handling and feeding livestock.

Compensation:

Hourly, with overtime. Rate commensurate with experience. Health insurance included.

Work Schedule/Season:

Year round, mostly a standard work week with alternating work weekends, and busy and slow seasons.

Housing:

Available to qualified candidates, upon request

Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years of farm experience in vegetable or pastured livestock production
• A valid driver’s license
• Physical ability to lift 75lbs
• Willingness to work in inclement weather
• Strong work ethic and ability to self-direct
• Tractor, implement, equipment, and trailering experience preferred

The ideal candidate for this job on a heritage farm will have the initiative and skillset to run an existing or develop a new program within farm operations. A preference will be given to those with heritage livestock experience.

For more information about this job on a heritage farm in Virginia, visit our website, https://mountpleasantplantation.weebly.com/

If interested, please send a letter of interest and a resume to Dea Keen at dkeen@mountpleasantplantation.com

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org here.

Job on a Heritage Farm in Virginia
Taylor