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at Maggie's Farm
Skills Taught | Farm Life | Farm Instructors | Costs & Financial Aid
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Farming is best learned by doing. With our rich heritage in small family farming and a growing demand for local produce, there is no better time than the present and no better place than New England to begin to learn to farm. In the past farming was an art passed from one generation to the next in the context of working the family farm. Our Practical Farm Training Program recreates this model by bringing together a diverse group of adults who share a common interest in engaging in the rhythms of agriculture to develop a professional skill set or establish a farming lifestyle. Our program is modeled on the tradition of carefully mentored hands-on experience with the addition of more formal instruction and career support.
Student farmers gain practical skills and direct farming experience that enables them to take a next step toward establishing their own farming enterprise, join a working farm as a manager or assistant, teach at a farm eduction program, manage conservation lands, run a community garden, work in a farm advocacy organization or supplement a professional career.
Our Practical Farm Training Program is designed for beginning farmers. Hands-on skills are learned within the context of a working farm, building confidence, expertise and a deeper understanding of farming practices. Your classroom is our 160-acre farm with organic market gardens, farm animals, forest, pasture, barns and field equipment. Learning is grounded in the practical realities of meticulous planning, rigorous work and direct marketing to restaurants, through a vibrant Boston farmer's market and managing our CSA program.
We welcome you to our fertile learning ground for those individuals willing to work hard in all ways with enthusiasm and a vital interest in what it takes to be a successful farmer.
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Curriculum
Daily farm work is the mainstay of the program. In addition you can expect:
* Small group instruction sessions and mentoring in the field
* Whole group demonstrations, workshops, lectures, discussions
* Investigations and independent projects
* Visits to other New England farms operations
* Guest lecturers and practioners
Organic Farm Crop Production
• Soils and Compost
• Crop Planning
• Soil Tillage and Cultivation
• Growing Methods
• Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling of Vegetable Crops
• Marketing
• Physical and Mental Endurance in the Field
Natural Resource Management
• Tree and Flora Identification
• Field Mapping and Forest Survey
• Forest Woodlot Skills
Practical Skills
• Operation and Maintenance of farm tractors and trucks
• Basic Farm Carpentry
• Post and Beam Timberframing
• Basic Plumbing
• Metal Welding and Cutting
• Chainsaw Operation, Maintenance
• Food Preservation
Animal Husbandry
• Basic Care of Farm Animals
• Pastures and Hay
• Rotational Grazing
• Farm-raised Eggs, Beef, Lamb and Pork
Student initiated Independent Skill Building
Winter Farm Trip to a Tuscan Farm in Italy.
Full farm immersion at Spannocchia Farm (www.spannocchia.org), a beautiful
farm villa in the heart of the Tuscan landscape. Students work on the farm,
participate in educational activities centered on farming life in Tuscany,
local foods, wine and Italian culture.
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Farm Life
Student farmers can expect to work hard in all ways Monday through Friday. Daily starting and ending times vary with the seasons as do the farm tasks at hand. Often workdays end with a family style meal and time enough in the evening for relaxation and study.
In our hand-hewn post and beam farmhouse each student farmer has his or her own simple room and share common living, kitchen and bath areas (participants can arrange off-farm housing). Cooking responsibilities along with daily house, barn and other farm chores are shared. Learning, living and working together as a diverse group requires careful communication, kindness and cooperation. It is our expectation that household members will respect each other and collectively established boundaries.
Student home life is centered in the colonial-era, hand-hewn post and beam
farmhouse. Each student farmer has his or her own comfortable room, shares
common living areas with kitchen and bath facilities. (Off-farm rentals are
possible). Cooking responsibilities and meals are shared by student farmers
during the farm work week, along with daily house and barn chores. Weekend farm
chores are also rotated. Students can expect to be an active participant in a
supportive educational community based on kindness and cooperation.
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Farm Instructors
Responsibility for the curriculum, the farm and the school community is
carefully held by a core staff:
Carlen Adams Rigrod, Farmer-Teacher - After spending eight years
creating and cultivating the beautiful, biodynamic vegetable and fruit
gardens with the visiting children at The Farm School, Carlen brings a
formal academic background and longstanding field experience to the
educational and farming mission of the Practical Farm Training Program.
Jennifer Core, Farmer-Teacher - Having completed her graduate
studies in International Sustainable Development, Jennifer brings her own
farming experience, broad international vision, community mindfulness and
a dynamic approach to Student-Farmers in our Practical Farm Training Program. She
is known for her effervescent love of goats.
Patrick Connors, Farmer-Teacher - Having participated in the
early years of The Practical Farm Training Program as a Student-Farmer, Patrick
has returned to The Farm School after farming at a small educational farm in California.
Patrick brings an excitement for growing at a scale that is accessible for
home gardeners and homesteaders alike.
Nate Frigard,Farmer-Teacher- With a palpable passion for farming Nate holds
the important field crop production piece of our farm operation and curriculum.
Nate brings experience from farms in Virginia and Massachusetts and completed two
seasons at The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems in
Santa Cruz. He demonstrates steady and subtle leadership in sharing his commitment
to growing food and growing farmers.
Chad Mills, Farmer-Teacher - Chad is a natural teacher who brings a wide range
of talents empowering students to learn everything from mechanics and carpentry
to careful animal husbandry and tractor skills. He encourages students to think
resourcefully and solve problems inspiring student-farmers to tackle projects to learn,
work hard and succeed. Chad became a farmer because
he is committed to growing the vegetables
and raising the meat that he eats. Here he provides students with the opportunity
to acquire the skills and confidence that they need to do the same.
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In addition to the above staff, selected specialists lead regular seminars and workshops in their area of farming expertise.
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Costs and Financial Aid
Program Year
In contrast to informal apprentices on individual farms, The Farm School
Practical Farm Training Program is an agricultural educational program
established for the specific benefit of the participants. Tuition is an
important aspect of the economic viability of the program.
Student Farmer Tuition
October - September
$10,000 includes full instructional program, off-farm workshops and seminars and some conference fees as well as full room and board.
College Credit is possible with partnering institutions, please inquire if interested.
Limited financial aid is available. If this is a necessity for you, please be sure to
specify your specific interest on your application.
Participants are responsible for their own personal health insurance.
Application & Selection Process
* Applicants must be college age or older.
* In building our community each year we will be looking for a diverse
group of people who are eager to live and work with others in order to
learn how to farm. Maturity, an ability to encompass other points of
view, and a sense of humor are critical.
* It is important that applicants understand the structure and aims of
the program before they apply. We welcome the opportunity
to answer questions via email: jennifer@farmschool.org. If
email is not a part of your life, feel free to call: 978.249.2656. Once
in touch, we would be happy to discuss a farm visit on pre-arranged
visiting days.
* Once you've determined that The Farm School Practical Farm Training
Program is for you, please complete the application form and email it
to jennifer@farmschool.org or mail to:
The Farm School
488 Moore Hill Road
Athol, MA 01331
Download the application form in pdf format
or
Download the application form in word format
Questions
Please contact Jennifer Core for additional information at 978.249.2656 or email at jennifer@farmschool.org.
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