Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings
Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings® has been developed by farmers for farmers. Aspiring and current farmers, farmers in transition from conventional to sustainable agriculture, second career farm entrepreneurs, and landowners interested in developing farming enterprises on their land are all welcome to attend the various courses and events.
Whole Farm Planning Course
The 2012-13 course is currently full. To be added to the waiting list, please email Caroline.
Due to receipt of a USDA grant, this entire course is now only $50!
The Whole Farm Planning Course has been developed and is taught by sustainable farmers from the Hudson and Pioneer Valleys. The course is tailored to the varying needs of the students each year. The original curriculum was developed by the Land Stewardship Project and Angelic Organics Learning Center and has since been customized to meet the needs of Northeast farmers. Program focus: Goal setting, sound financial management, strategic farm business planning, access to support networks and colleagues. Sliding scale $600 to 1200, includes seven six-hour classroom sessions with lunch, a two-hour mentoring session with an experienced farmer, and participation in four Farm Beginnings Field Days.
Program focus: Goal setting, sound financial management, strategicfarm business planning, access to support networks and colleagues.
Cost: Sliding scale $600 to 1200, includes seven six-hour classroom sessionswith lunch, a two-hour mentoring session with an experienced farmer,and participation in four Farm Beginnings Field Days. Now reduced to $50!
For more information: Please email us or call 518-672-7500 x 232
Classroom Sessions
Participants convene twice monthly from October through the end of January on Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Sessions include various written exercises, discussion, and presentations by local, ecologically-minded livestock and crop farmers, vegetable growers, extension specialists, ecologists, farm business professionals, and others.
- Clarifying your values — setting personal and strategic goals
- Developing your farm enterprises — strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities
- Creating a financial plan
- Developing a strategic timeline for developing your farm
- Marketing your products including distribution options and how to develop pricing strategy
- Land access, tenure, and lease agreements
Mentoring
In addition to the classroom sessions and field days, Whole Farm Planning Course participants receive a two hour mentoring session with an experienced farmer operating an enterprise of relevance.
Field Days
Spend a day on a farm of interest, gain insight into the farm operation, ask questions of an experienced farmer, learn of the challenges and rewards of someone in the business. These workshops are open to the public. Farms chosen are meant to augment and support the class sessions offered in the Farm Beginnings Whole Farm Planning Course.
$40 per person, free for Whole Farm Planning Course participants
Skills Workshops
These workshops are open to the general public and are meant to offer themes and topics to augment and support the class sessions offered in the Farm Beginnings Whole Farm Planning Course.
$45 to 65 sliding scale for each workshop, includes lunch
For more information or to register please email us or call 518-672-7500 x 232