Resources / Links

Planting Fresh Seeds Webinar: Resources, Opportunities & Inspiration for Women Farmers and ECOpreneurs This hour-long, four-part recorded webinar is for women interested in launching or already running their own farm or food-based business.

As the number of women-owned businesses and farms continues to grow, opportunity abounds for women of all backgrounds, ages and interests to craft a livelihood that blends meaning with stewarding the planet and transforming our food system.

Come hear the stories of a variety of women farmers and ecopreneurs, share your experience and challenges and connect with other women passionate about organic, local, healthy food. Various grants, start-up assistance, marketing and new business ideas and trends will be discussed. Presented by Lisa Kivirist, Director of the MOSES Rural Women's Project. [Approximately one hour long.]

Websites for Case Studies

Lisa Kivirist Inn Serendipity Farm and Bed & Breakfast (Browntown, WI) Co-Author:  ECOpreneuring, Rural Renaissance, Edible Earth www.innserendipity.com, www.ruralrenaissance.org, www.ecopreneuring.biz Denise O’Brien Rolling Acres Farm (Atlantic, IA) http://rollingacres.wordpress.com/ Charlene Torchia Journey Inn (Maiden Rock, WI) www.journeyinn.net Barb Perkins Vermont Falley Community Farm (Blue Mounds) www.vermontvalley.com Melinda Hemmelgarn Food Sleuth, Journalist & Radio Show Host (Columbia, MO) http://food-sleuth.blogspot.com/ Angie Tagtow Environmental  Nutrition Solutions (Elkhart, IA) www.environmentalnutritionsolutions.com/ Nancy Vail Pie Ranch (Pescadero, CA) www.pieranch.org Kim Marsin & Rachel Reklau Sweet Home Organics (St. Charles, IL) www.sweet-home-organics.com Jodi Bubenzer Sunflower Hill Farm (New Glarus, WI) www.sunflowerhillfarmstead.com Adrienne Fox Powerkraut (Viroqua, WI) www.organicpowerkraut.com Zoe Bradbury Valley Flora Farm (Langlois, OR) www.valleyflorafarm.com Xe Susane Moua City Backyard Farming (St. Paul, MN) www.citybackyardfarming.com

Erin Schneider HIlltop Community Farm (LaValle, WI) www.hilltopcommunityfarm.org Ann Adams & Liz Brensinger Green Heron Tools (New Tripoli, PA) www.greenherontools.com Katie Wied Laughing Sprout Farm (Reedsburg, WI) www.laughingsprout.com Carrie Johnson & Kristi Langhus Argyle Fiber Mill (Argyle, WI) www.argylefibermill.com Diana Kalscheur Murphy Dream Farm (Cross Plaines, WI) www.dreamfarm.biz Jordan Champagne Happy Girl Foods (Big Sur, CA) www.happygirlkitchen.com Gail Myers Farms to Grow (Oakland, CA) www.farmstogrow.org Madeline Rains Crystal Organic Farm (Mansfield, GA) http://crystalorganicfarm.wordpress.com www.barn-raising.blogspot.com Kriss Marion Circle M Farm (Blanchardville, WI) www.circlemfarm.com Gini Knight Sweet Magnolia Farm (Sun Prairie, WI) (On Facebook) Jamie Collins Serendipity Farms (Aromas, CA) www.serendipity-organic-farm.com Anna Chan The Lemon Lady (Concord, CA) www.thelemonlady.blogspot.com

Grants & Resources for Beginning Women Farmers

While there are many different resources out there for beginning farmers, this list uniquely provides a “getting started” synthesis specifically for women in organic and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on beginning farmers in the Midwest.

Federal Farm Bill Programs Part I
Programs with money prioritized for women/socially disadvantaged farmers. First point of contact would be your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) or local USDA office:

• Down Payment Farm Ownership Loan Program: Special loan program to assist beginning farmers and ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged applicants to purchase a farm. Helps transfer land from retiring farmers to new farmers. www.attra.ncat.org/guide/a_m/downpayment.html


• Direct Farm Ownership & Operating Loans: Government loans to farmers and ranchers for farm ownership and operating expenses. www.attra.ncat.org/guide/a_m/direct_farm.html

Federal Farm Bill Programs Part II
Grant programs that typically are the best “points of entry” for beginning farmers and first time grant writers.

• Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG): Grants to help producers move into value-added ag enterprises; provides planning and/or capital investment. Simplified application process for requests less than $50k. Ten percent of the funds are set-aside for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and rancher, which include women info/templates at the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA). www.cfra.org/resources/vapg/fact_sheet


• Organic Certification Cost Share (NOCCSP): Financial assistance to defray certification costs up to 75% of certification costs; $750 annually. www.attra.ncat.org/guide/n_z/noccsp.html


• Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR): Research funding for small businesses; stimulates technological innovations in private sector. More complicated federal grant application, but encourages women-owned businesses to apply. Phase I grants up to $90M. www.attra.ncat.org/guide/n_z/sbir.html

For a complete listing of federal programs for sustainable agriculture, forestry, entrepreneurship, conservation and community development visit:

1. www.attra.ncat.org/guide/ (“Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches & Communities” USDA guide)

2. www.sustainableagriculture.net/publications/grassrootsguide/
(“Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill”, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC))

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
SARE is a USDA program separate from Farm Bill funding. For a full listing of SARE funding opportunities go to www.sare.org/grants/.

• “Producer Grants” ($1k to $15k) directly fund producers to conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers. Grants administered by region. Midwest is part of North Central Region: www.sare.org/ncrsare/cfp.htm


• SARE also has many free/low cost resources for farmers; www.sare.org/coreinfo/farmers.htm

Formal Beginning Farmer Training Programs
While both of these do not have a specific sustainable agriculture focus, many of the participants and much of the information conveyed incorporates this perspective. Typically have a reasonable registration fee – but still don’t forget to inquire about scholarships.

• Farm Beginnings: www.landstewardshipproject.org/fb/whatisfb.html
  A Land Stewardship project initiative, for farmers to “to learn firsthand about values clarification and goal setting, whole farm planning, business plan development, and low-cost, sustainable farming methods.” 36 training hours. Currently offered in 7 states including Midwest: IL (3 locations), WI (Northwest), MN (several locations), SD, ND.


• Annie’s Project: www.extension.iastate.edu/Annie/
  Extension-led program “dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in the modern farm enterprise.” 6 educational sessions. Currently offered in 19 states, including Midwest: IL, IN, MI, WI, NE, ND, SD, OH, IA.

Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT)
www.csalearningcenter.org/what/training/craft
Organized by the Learning Center at Angelic Organics, members ($30) can attend a variety of on-farm field days and workshops (April – Oct) for free. Primarily southern/central WI & northern IL.

Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) www.wfan.org
National network for women in sustainable agriculture. Free quarterly newsletter, listserve (sign-up on website). Organizes annual conference & retreat. Various programs.

Key National Organizations & Resources
These organizations offer free support for beginning farmers and ecopreneur start-ups. Often advocate for sustainable agriculture policy and funding priorities in Washington D.C. Most of these groups have free newsletters and Facebook pages. Sign up on-line.

• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC): www.sustainableagriculture.net/
  Free farmer media training from NSAC: FARM (Farm & Agriculture Resources for Media)


• The White House Project: www.thewhitehouseproject.org


• Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFIA): www.michaelfieldsaginst.org/


• Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA): www.cfra.org


• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA): www.attra.org


• Renewing the Countryside (RTC): www.renewingthecountryside.org

Resources Specific by State

• Wisconsin: Great list from UW Extension/Environmental Resources Center www.uwex.edu/erc/sustainableag/newWIag/

"See Jane Grow" Workshop

At the MOSES 2009 conference, the Rural Women's Project held it's first workshop for women in sustainable agriculture: "See Jane Grow: How Women Ecopreneurs are Leading America's Rural Renaissance." To celebrate, showcase and share the diverse, creative multi-facets of women farmers, rural ecopreneurs and food system activists - the RWP created this handout with a myriad of perspectives from a range of women. These perspectives cross various backgrounds, ages and experience - joined together through a shared love for stewarding the land, growing healthy food and changing our food system for the better.

Download handout [240 KB / 19-page PDF]

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