Care Farming Network hosted a 4-session series in September 2023. Each session focused on a specific topic that aspiring care farmers must consider as they begin their journey. The recorded sessions are available to view below, and each session includes a resource page with helpful information.

Session One: Want to Start a Care Farm: Where To Begin?

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So you’re thinking about starting a care farm? Join us for a dive into the history and definition of care farming as we share various examples of care farms across the U.S. We explore how to connect with other care farmers, focusing on setting a strategy and tapping into resources to craft your vision. 

LINK TO RESOURCES SHARED DURING PRESENTATION

Session Two: Exploring Business Models: Nonprofit, For-Profit, or Partnership?

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There are several ways a care farm can be structured. Understanding the various models- and their pros and cons- will help you identify which makes the most sense as you begin your care farming journey. We highlight the models using existing care farms as examples. 

LINK TO RESOURCES SHARED DURING PRESENTATION

Session Three: Facility and Land Options: What’s Right for You?

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Whether you have land available for a care farm or are in the early stages of searching for land, this session will explore how to get you started. We cover zoning and insurance issues, walk through how you develop a list of needs for your land and facilities, and provide resources to help you navigate the process.  

LINK TO RESOURCES SHARED DURING PRESENTATION

Session Four: How Do I Fund A Care Farm?

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A perennial question for all care farmers is “how do I raise money to launch and sustain a care farm?” We’ll share the importance of learning how to tell your story, walk through business plan development, and explore ways to access resources for both a nonprofit and for-profit entity. We’ll also share examples of successful fundraising strategies from care farms throughout our network.

LINK TO RESOURCES SHARED DURING PRESENTATION

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub-award number LNE23-467.

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Care Farming Network hosted a 3-session series in September 2024. Each session focused on a specific topic that aspiring care farmers must consider as they begin their journey. The recorded sessions are available to view below, and each session includes a resource page with helpful information.

Session One: Want to Start A Care Farm: Planning & Funding Your Care Farm

Watch Here

Links to resources shared during the webinar

Are you an aspiring care farm with the dream of starting your own farm? This webinar shows how to get started and shares various examples of care farms across the U.S. We explore how to connect with other care farmers, focus on setting a strategy,  and tap into resources to craft your vision to get you started! This discussion also includes various funding opportunities available for new care farmers.

Session Two: Exploring Business Models and Facility & Land Options for Your Care Farm

Watch Here

Links to resources shared during the webinar

A Care Farm can be structured in several ways. Understanding the various models- and their pros and cons- will help you identify which makes the most sense as you begin your care farming journey.  We also cover zoning and insurance issues, walk through how you develop a list of needs for your land and facilities, and provide resources to help you navigate the process.

Session Three: Care Farming Network’s Mentorship Program

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CFN presented an overview of our new Mentorship Program, which we are excited to be piloting in 2024-2025. CFN’s Mentorship Program will provide an opportunity for beginning care farmers in the Northeast who are working with or seeking to work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to advance their businesses and their care farming practices, with the overall goal of employing more people with IDD on care farms.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub-award number LNE23-467.

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Many producers take on the business and lifestyle of farming because they want to serve their community. From healthy food to environmental benefits, the social values are clear. But does this mean the farm should be organized as a nonprofit? What about other social benefit entities like benefit corporations?

This 90-minute webinar recording gives viewers the chance to work through the pros and cons of each option to make an effective choice for individual operations, including attention to funding sources and regulations. Folks who already have chosen a social benefit entity will get tips on the legal implications and best practices for the various options.

This program will also touch on how to optimize donations or sponsorships rather than forming a social benefit business structure. Presented by Farm Commons Executive Director and Attorney Rachel Armstrong, Esq., this webinar will be full of practical information.

Webinar Recording Link

Guide Links

• Basic Considerations for Choosing a Nonprofit Farm: Access the English Guide here and the Spanish Guide here.
• Exploring Qualifications for a Nonprofit Farm: Access the English Guide here and the Spanish Guide here.
• Exploring Social Purpose Business Structures: Access the English Guide here and the Spanish Guide here.
• Basics of Food Donations and Bartering as a Farm: Access the English Guide here and the Spanish Guide here.

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Presenters

Gayle Dillon of Full Pocket Farm (VA) View Presentation Here!

Brittany Wiitala of 21 Roots Farm (MN) View Presentation Here!

Jennyrae Brongo of Homesteads for Hope (NY) View Presentation Here!

View the recorded session:

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This is the third session in our three-part Beginning Care Farming Virtual Series, scheduled throughout September. Each session focuses on a specific topic that aspiring care farmers should consider as they begin their journey.

The post Care Farming Network’s Mentorship Program appeared first on Care Farming Network.

LINK TO SHARED RESOURCE

This is the second session in our 3-Part Beginning Care Farming Virtual Series, scheduled throughout the month of September. Each session focuses on a specific topic that aspiring care farmers should consider as they begin their journey.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LNE23-467

The post Exploring Business Models and Facility/Land Options for Your Care Farm (2024) appeared first on Care Farming Network.

LINK TO RESOURCES SHARED DURING PRESENTATION

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LNE23-467.

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The Good Food Funding Guide is published by New Venture Advisors, and lists grants, loans, and equity for businesses and programs promoting sustainable food and agriculture and local economies. It is arranged alphabetically into four sections: Government Grants, Private Grants, Loans, and Equity.

Community Food Funders (CFF) is a philanthropic organizing project that provides information, resources, and networking opportunities for funders in the NY-NJ-CT region.  They publish the Community Food Funder Directory.

A Chronicle of Philanthropy subscription (paid) offers full access to GrantStation’s extensive and regularly updated information about private and government funds that can help your organization advance its mission. (includes private grant makers, international grant makers, federal deadlines for grants, and state funding agencies)

More opportunities

• The Educational Foundation of America
• Candid– Foundation Directory
• Disability Opportunity Fund
• Growing Spaces: Regularly updated links to funding opportunities
• The Awesome Foundation
• Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
• Kubota Community Revitalization Grant Program
• SeedGrants- Grassroots funding
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
• Kiva Microloans
• Center for Rural Affairs-Includes lending resources and farm startup support 
• Beginning Farmer.org– Farm startup and lending resources galore!
• Through the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) farmers and ranchers can apply for grants that typically run between $500 and $15,000 for various projects.
• SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) offers competitive grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the United States. 

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