Welcome to the Field Guide!
There’s currently a movement underfoot! A recent groundswell of young farmers are fostering an agricultural movement with farmers who have worked the land for generations. With this underway, our government is recognizing the need for more young farmers and implementing programs to encourage them, while organizations are offering support networks, training opportunities, and resources to help them get started. The Greenhorns and the Northeast Beginning Farmers Project are two examples of such organizations and have joined together to create the Field Journal. This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-49400-05878.
i. WELCOME TO THE FIELD GUIDE!
1. THIS LAND IS OUR LAND
1.1 Stories from the Field
1.2 Farming Futures
1.3 A Brief History of American Farming
1.4 A Farm Career
2. LEARNING TO FARM
2.1 Move to a New Beat
2.2 Stories from the Field
2.3 Getting a Farm Education
2.4 Learning in the Field
3. STARTING TO FARM
3.1 Stories from the Field
3.2 The Guide: What to Know
3.3 Farming 101
4. GOING TO MARKET
4.1 Marketplaces
4.2 Ways to Market
4,3 Stories from the Field
4.4 Food for All
5. RESOURCES
5.1 A Yong Farmers Story
5.2 On the Way
5.3 Access to Funding
5.4 Alternative Funding
5.5 Business Management
5.6 Business Skills
5.7 Farmer Education Opportunities
5.8 Resources & Tools for Farmers
5.9 Resources for Educators
GLOSSARY
Acknowledgements
Contributing Authors
Hannah Bernhardt, Michelle Podolec, Leonora Zoninsein, Erica Frenay, Christopher Kennedy, Severine von Tscharner Fleming, Jenn Su, Jeff Perry, Dr. Travis Park, Robyn Stewart
Publication Sponsors
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Publication Partners, The Northeast Beginning Farmer Project hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program at Cornell University, The Greenhorns, Illustrations & Design, Ginny Maki, Christopher Kennedy, Laura Cline, Brooke Budner
Project Partners
The Greenhorns is a non-profit organization whose mission is to recruit, support, and promote young and beginning farmers in America. “The Greenhorns” is also the title of their documentary film, which explores the state of the young farmer in America today. They put on events and produce new media and resources for and about young farmers. Projects include a blog, weekly radio show, wiki, guidebook, young farmer mixers, and educational outreach and research in K-12 classrooms. Please visit the website to join the mailing list and keep your ear to the ground: www.thegreenhorns.net
The Northeast Beginning Farmer Project provides support for new and diversifying farmers and is hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program at Cornell University, a land-grant institution. Their mission is to foster the sustainability of diverse, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment. They do this by encouraging small farms-focused research and extension programs and fostering collaboration in support of small farms. They have produced a “Guide to Farming in New York State,” a “Voice of Experience” video series, and an online resource center. Learn, plan, and connect on the website:
nebeginningfarmers.org