Future Harvest is now accepting applications for its 2021 Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) which provides free, year-long training in sustainable agriculture to the next generation of Chesapeake region farmers.
The Beginner Farmer Training Program combines a comprehensive classroom curriculum with hands-on learning at some of the region’s most successful farms that employ practices that are profitable, protect land and water, and build healthy communities. It offers three tailored levels of training designed to meet the needs of beginning farmers at different stages in their careers, from entry-level to advanced. Each level is designed with scheduling flexibility to allow new farmers to further their training while maintaining their own farms or other work, and to facilitate the need for one-on-one guidance and mentorship. The program serves new farmers in urban, suburban, and rural settings, across the Chesapeake region: MD, VA, DC, WV, and DE.
To make the program accessible to a broad range of aspiring farmers, enrollment in the BFTP is free. Trainees receive a host of additional benefits: a complimentary annual Future Harvest membership and free access to field days throughout the year, online and in-person classroom series, and admission to the organization’s annual winter conference.
The deadline for applications is Friday, October 16, 2020. There are a limited number of spots available (due to 2020 trainees returning to complete programming that was interrupted by Covid), so applicants are encouraged to include as much detailed information about themselves and their farming interests and experiences as possible.
Further application information can be found at www.futureharvestcasa.org. For questions about the program or application process, please contact BFTP Director, Sarah Sohn: sarah@futureharvestcasa.org