Cultivating the Next Crop of Food Producers

I grew up in the suburbs with no intention of becoming a farmer.  I was so far removed from any agricultural roots, with the closest thing to food production in my family being my grandparent's garden patch in Michigan that they carved out each spring after the last frost.  Without going into the long, winding path I rambled to get to farming, my most transformative experiences were on the 5 different farms I apprenticed on.  From a 10 acre organic vegetable and flower farm in Idaho  to eventually running a 200 acre incubator farm in California, and many stops in between, being trained and supervised by some of the most innovative, ecologically-minded farmers and fellow workers built my capacity to do what I do today.

One of the best, long-standing farm and garden apprenticeship programs in the country is housed at the University of California in Santa Cruz.  Perched on a coastal bluff just above the fogline, the UCSC Farm and Garden is an oasis of biodiversity, energetic minds, and enthusiastic educators.  Every year around 40 folks from around the country (& sometime other countries) are challenged and inspired to grow great things from the 6 months of intensive education, training, and hands-on work.  Over 1,200 people have graduated from this program's 41 year history, doing amazing things like starting prison horticultural therapy programs to urban garden training programs to innovative farming businesses to agricultural sciences and policy.  Even though I did not attend this program, I have used the top-notch curriculum generated from the apprenticeship in another adult farming education program I was involved in.  I also am friends and peers with many of the great farmers that this program has helped to generate.  And I also now work for the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems that runs the apprenticeship program, so it has become near and dear to my heart.

This program has big goals and the Grow A Farmer campaign is essential in reaching them.  First and foremost they must raise funds to build new tent cabins on the farm to adequately house the apprentices.  Beyond that they have many other infrastructure needs, would like to keep their amazing staff employed, and would like to offer more scholarships to apprentices with financial needs.  Please go to this link and see what you can do to contribute to the Grow A Farmer campaign.  Beyond just financial donations, they are also looking for more restaurants and businesses to host dinners and other fundraising events.  Consider attending a dinner held in your own region (the list of dinners will be up soon, they say) and raise money by raising your fork (& glass!).  Our own farm, TLC Ranch, will be contributing .25 cents of each dozen eggs we sell at farmers markets during the month of May to this campaign.  Won't you consider your role in helping to train the next crop of ecological farmers and gardeners?

*Picture by Tana Butler, who also did our fantastic new website.  Go Tana!

Comments

[Farm Supply]

I think that agriculture is an industry of the future. Therefore, farming, if done well, can be a very profitable business.

[Jess]

I also grew up in the most suburban of suburbs -- Orange County, CA. Cheetos, coke, and the odd Togo's chicken salad with fake chicken sustained me through high school. I'm now one month in to my first farm apprenticeship and am pretty sure that I want to have my own farm someday. Thanks for sharing all these great resources. I would love to hear more about how you got to where you are...