Farm Beginnings

Farm Beginnings is a year-long educational training and support program designed to help people plan and begin sustainable farm enterprises. Participants begin with 10 winter seminar sessions that focus on goal-setting and planning for profit. They are then offered a variety of hands-on experiences in the spring, summer, and fall, during which they network with successful, innovative farmers through apprenticeships, mentorships, field days and conferences. Farm Beginnings™ also helps beginning farmers create links with experienced farmers through farm partnerships, land and equipment use and/or rental. Instruction is geared towards small-scale operations, the kind needed for strong, local food systems. Small scale producers, like those coming out of the Farm Beginnings™ program are precisely the type of farmer that is likely to participate in developing a local food system. UIUC's involvement, in terms of coordination and speakers, represents an investment in a future local food system in Illinois.

The link address is: http://www.farmbeginnings.uiuc.edu/