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Beginner Farmer Training Program

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BFTP Overview

Future Harvest CASA initiated its Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) in 2012, in partnership with Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC). The program is focused on training Chesapeake-region farmers on managing a sustainable family farm operation. There are currently 9 trainees in the program for 2013. 

The BFTP is looking for motivated individuals that have previous farming experience with a plan to start a farming operation along with a passion for growing.  Applicants will be asked to complete the application, send a resume and three business references.  If accepted into the program the training time commitment is worked out with the training farmer, see program details below.

For questions about the Beginner Farmer Training Program, contact program coordinator Cathy Tipper, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Beginner Farmer Training Program 2012 Urban Workshop Series 

April 11, May 9 & June 13. The 2012 Urban Workshop Series focused on skills and resources for getting started, marketing your products, relating to neighbors, testing your soil, and much more. Click here for links to workshop recordings and materials!

Major Sponsors and Partners of the
Beginner Farmer Training Program

 

 abelllogo

mafc      NCP-logo-color

 smadcfarmlink     united way    

umeLogo       USDA-Logo

The slots at our Baltimore County and Harford County training farms are full, however, we will be accepting applications until May 2013 for additional farmers (depending on funding) interested in training at Colchester Farm, our Eastern Shore training farm. We recruit highly motivated individuals, mostly college graduates with some farming experience and a commitment to a career in sustainable and/or organic agriculture. The program is free to participants.

Applications must be submitted online using our BFTP Application Form. Contact Cathy Tipper, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with any questions.

We will announce recruiting specifics for the 2014 program in fall 2013.

Program Structure
Background and Accomplishments
Mentor Farmers
Media Coverage 

 

Program Structure

Future Harvest CASA Conference - The training year begins at the Future Harvest CASA Annual Conference, in mid January, which this year was held on the 18th and 19th at the National Conference Center in Landsdowne, Virginia. We hold a lunch meeting at the conference to meet and discuss the BFTP plan for the year. 

Workshops- University of Maryland Extension Baltimore County coordinates university professionals and other guest speakers to teach aspiring new farmers through a series of classes, one evening per week for 8 weeks, in February and March at the new Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture.  Topics include: Marketing Essentials; Small Farm Business Planning; Soil Fertility and Conservation; Season Extension; Small Farm Business Planning; Pest, Disease, and Weed Management; GAP and Post Handling, and Organic Certification and Integrating Livestock into a Small Farm. These workshops are open to the public for a small fee.  Selected BFTP trainees do not have to pay the fee. The trainees also attend a “Seed” potluck dinner meeting, a “Tools and Supplies” dinner meeting, and a “Chef Needs” dinner meeting, led by Baltimore's renowned sustainable local food restaurant entrepreneur, Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen.  Click here for a the 2012 workshops.

Field Training - BFTP trainees will gain hands-on experience practicing on a weekly basis with either Jack and Becky Gurley from Calvert’s Gift Farm in Baltimore County, MD; Tom Paduano and Sarah Rider from Flying Plow Farm in Harford County, MD; Kristin Carbone from Radix Farm in Prince George's County, MD; Rick Hood of Summer Creek Farm in Frederick County, Maryland; and Theresa Mycek from Colchester Farm in Kent County, MD.   The shoulder to shoulder hands-on training covers a broad range of topics beginning with soil and sowing and ending with harvesting and post handling. Also included are discussions and hands-on experience on the topics listed in #1 above.

Farm Tours/Workshops/Field Days - During the program year, the BFTP group participates in tours and training at various sustainable farms in the region including the new farms of training program graduates.  Previous tours have been held at: One Straw Farm (Baltimore County), Real Food Farm (Baltimore City), Radix Farm (Upper Marlboro), Side By Side Farm (Baltimore County), Love Dove Farm (Howard County), Eco City Farm (DC) and Sunnyside (York County), and Hybridoma Organic Berry Farm (Baltimore County).  Usually the tours end in the evening with a potluck dinner, which enables the BFTP farmers to ask more questions and to develop a sense of camaraderie.  This support network, which continues to develop over the years, is one of the greatest benefits of the program. 

 

Program Background and Accomplishments

Starting in 2012, Future Harvest CASA initiated its Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP), in partnership with Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC).

The Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) is focused on training Chesapeake Region farmers on managing a sustainable family farm operation.

The BFTP is a continuation of the New Farmer Training Program created by Future Harvest CASA members Jack and Beckie Gurley and Cathy Tipper, funded by North County Preservation (NCP), and administered by the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC).

This program has trained 25 farmers to date. Many are currently farming in the Chesapeake Region, some looking for management opportunities, others looking for a land opportunity, while others have moved out of the state to pursue non-farm opportunities. Graduates and trainees currently sell produce at several farmers' markets around the Baltimore and DC-area and offer CSA memberships. Several of the new farmer graduates are actively farming in Baltimore City, nurturing not just the soil, but also their communities. Click here for a full report on the program's and graduates' accomplishments to date.

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Mentor Farmers

This year’s mentor farmers are:

  • Jack and Becky Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm. You can find them at several area markets including Bel Air, Kenilworth Mall, Takoma Park, and the Baltimore County Farmers Market at the fairground entrance off York Road on Wednesdays between 2 and 6 pm.
  • Tom Paduano and Sarah Rider of Flying Plow Farm. They sell CSA shares and at their farm on Old Joppa Road in Harford County, and at their farm stand at Havre de Grace Farmers' Market.
  • Kristin Carbone of Radix Farm. She grows and sells delicious produce to Petworth Community Market (DC) and the Ballston Market (Arlington, VA), as well as to her growing CSA. 
  • Theresa Mycek of Colchester Farm. Theresa manages the sales of fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers to the Chestertown Farmers' Market, Kent Island Farmers' Market, local restaurants, and a large CSA.  
  • Rick Hood of Summer Creek Farm. Rick started Summer Creek Farm in 1992 with a background in engineering and marketing. He grows vegetables, poultry, and grains, and markets these products along with organic growing medium directly through farmers' markets, CSA's, and wholesale accounts. He was awarded Honorable Mention in the USDA's Patrick Madden Award and is a 2004 graduate from Leadership Frederick County.

Media Coverage

Our media partners have assisted in getting the word out to prospective farmers and the general public.