The NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program aims to cultivate the next generation of committed organic farmers in Massachusetts. Through three distinct educational components of the program, as well as educational conference scholarships, we are able to offer young farmers and those who are coming to farming after a diverse range of careers to engage in educational opportunities that are appropriate for where they are in their professional farming development.

Apprenticeship Directory

Updated for 2013, can be found here.

Beginning Farmer Mentoring Program

The NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Mentoring Program pairs seasoned growers with people who have some farming experience but aren't yet running their own farms.  It is a 12-month commitment between mentor and mentee, supported by NOFA/Mass.  By pairing mentees with experienced growers who are not their employers, the program enables aspiring farmers to gain farming experiences, skills, and perspectives that they otherwise wouldn't get in their day-to-day work.

Mentees: for more information, including application requirements and deadlines, click here.

Mentors: for more information, including application requirements and deadlines, click here.

Journeyperson Farmer Training Program

The NOFA/Mass Journeyperson Farmer Training Program offers people who are already pursuing careers as organic farmers in Massachusetts the opportunity to have intensive hands-on menotred training.  The program requires a two-year commitment between the journeyperson farmer and one or more mentors, with support from NOFA/Mass.

Journeyperson farmers: for more information, including application requirements and deadlines, click here.

Journeyperson mentors: for more information, including how to apply, click here.

Resources for Beginning Farmers and Host and Mentor Farms

• Beginning Farmer Scholarships for the NOFA/Mass 2013 Winter Conference, to be held at Worcester State University on January 12, 2013. 

The NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program is supported by an agreement with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Inc. (NOFA-NY) under 2011-00974 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture.