User talk:Joanne Littlefield

“If you’re green you grow...”

Adrian Card Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Colorado State University Extension in Boulder County

Sent to: Edible Front Range (http://www.ediblefrontrange.com/)

In this exciting era of the local food movement there exists a rather large chasm for those wanting to become a market farmer (those hearty souls growing or raising fresh produce or animal products marketed directly to the eater or end user) – they simply haven’t done it before and don’t know the questions to ask. This knowledge and experience gap is further confounded by the economic barriers for land, equipment, infrastructure, etc. making this entrepreneurship feel like a completely untenable prospect. To be sure a market farm certainly conforms to the adage 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration (or maybe even 5%, 95%) and is not for the pastoral idealist or the flippant wanna-be unwilling to work hard for little to no profit for several years. As with most operations this requires the long-term commitment toward building a sustainable business. Those market farms that are founded on a realistic vision and solid plan built on long hours of experiential (hands on) and traditional (books, classes, conferences, etc.) learning will be those making a supply impact to the local food system.

Putting the challenges aside, there are inroads for those visionary and tenacious persons who will not be detracted from this market farm pursuit. One was launched last year in Boulder County. After exploring new and beginning farmer programs in the US, I formed a steering committee of local farmers and ag professionals to help guide the first version of the Boulder County New Farmer Program. Conceived as an umbrella program that would offer tracks appropriate to various new farmer audiences, the first Market Farm Track was born fall of 2007. The steering committee was adamant that production topics (soils, integrated pest management, etc.) were not as important as helping would-be farmers dial in a sound understanding of what it takes to run a market farm business. The farmers on the steering committee (you may recognize them from the Boulder County farmers’ markets) noted that many new farmer types have approach them very gung-ho about growing produce, but seem to lack a clear understanding of how they will make their future venture pay for itself. Thus the 2007 Market Farm track, sponsored by the Boulder County Farmers’ Markets, featured 6 class sessions devoted to understanding the components of a business plan and hearing from experienced farmers what particular items and expenses should be considered in a business plan. One entire session featured other local resources for market farmers (financing options, farmers’ markets, water, and County ag land). During the final session many presented their ongoing homework for the class – a business plan for their farm.

The program mixed new, intermediate and experienced farmers (32 in all from a competitive application process) in a learning environment charged with mottos such as “If you’re green you grow and if you’re ripe you rot” to ensure that everyone kept a beginners mind and learned something new. Mixing and networking over dinner prior to presentations provided a great opportunity for community building. Survey responses from the program indicated that 100% of the respondents would implement more detailed recordkeeping, create and/or edit a business plan, and recommend the program to others. When asked “What other things will you consider, explore, or implement based in the 2007 New Farmer Program” one participant wrote, “Learning more about handling the business side more effectively and planning.”

On the heels of a successful Market Farm track (3 graduates entered local farmers markets in 2008), the steering committee helped me refine and launch the Market Farm Mentorship Program. With sustainable business plan in hand, new farmers benefit from having a mentor to help smooth out the learning curve for production and marketing. Reinventing the wheel is common with new farmers and a 15-minute phone call can save a full season of headaches (and backaches). Seven mentors were matched to 7 mentees from a competitive application process. Mentors were paid from Colorado State University Extension and Boulder County Parks and Open Space funds. One mentor wrote, “It is nice to be able to help someone with some of the difficulties in starting a farm. We answer fairly simple questions many on sourcing equipment but make a big difference to the mentees needs.”

The 2008 Market Farm track began October 21. I will be exploring funding from 2008 Farm Bill provisions for future New Farmer programs such as mentorships, a CSA track, a Field Crops track, an Alternative Livestock track, etc. While the Boulder County program is the first of its kind in Colorado, there are other New Farmer programs in the works through CSU Extension efforts in other regions of Colorado. For more information see http://www.extension.colostate.edu/boulder/AG/smallfarms.shtml

Joanne Littlefield (talk) 19:05, 26 September 2008 (UTC)