A Project of…A Project of…

EcoVillage at Ithaca Center for Sustainability Education EcoVillage at Ithaca Center for Sustainability Education

Center for Transformative Action, Ithaca, New YorkCenter for Transformative Action, Ithaca, New York

Joanna GreenJoanna Green

joannajgreen@gmail.comjoannajgreen@gmail.com

June 25, 2012June 25, 2012

GroundswellGroundswellCenter for Local Food & Farming Center for Local Food & Farming

Groundswell’s Mission…Groundswell’s Mission… … …is to engage diverse learners and empower them is to engage diverse learners and empower them

with skills, knowledge and access to resources so with skills, knowledge and access to resources so they can build sustainable land-based livelihoods they can build sustainable land-based livelihoods and equitable local food systems.and equitable local food systems.

Our programs….

provide intensive hands-on training and education for beginning farmers, community members and students

involve collaboration with local farms, food businesses, organizations, agencies, schools, and colleges

Our Primary Farm Our Primary Farm CampusesCampuses

West Haven Farm at EcoVillage in Ithaca

Kingbird Farm in Berkshire

Northland Sheep Dairy in Marathon

The Good Life Farm in Interlaken

Remembrance Farm in Trumansburg

Sweetland Farm in Trumansburg

Groundswell ProgramsGroundswell Programs Summer Practicum in Sustainable Summer Practicum in Sustainable

Farming & Food JusticeFarming & Food Justice New Farmer Training ProgramsNew Farmer Training Programs

Sustainable Farming Certificate ProgramSustainable Farming Certificate Program Finger Lakes CRAFTFinger Lakes CRAFT Farm Business Planning CourseFarm Business Planning Course Mentor TrainingMentor Training

Farm Enterprise IncubatorFarm Enterprise Incubator

Summer Practicum in Summer Practicum in Sustainable Farming & Sustainable Farming &

Food JusticeFood Justice On-farm experience plus classroom & On-farm experience plus classroom &

field tripsfield trips

Tompkins Cortland Community College Tompkins Cortland Community College Environmental Studies: ENVS 149Environmental Studies: ENVS 149

12-14 students12-14 students

Enrollment options: Enrollment options: 6 credits or non-credit6 credits or non-credit

Instructors from local Instructors from local farms, organizations, farms, organizations, colleges & businessescolleges & businesses

New Farmer Training New Farmer Training GoalGoal

Increase the number, Increase the number, diversity, profitability, and diversity, profitability, and environmental sustainability environmental sustainability of beginning of beginning farmers in farmers in our region. our region.

NFTP VisionNFTP Vision

We are creating an integrated, We are creating an integrated, multicultural social and economic multicultural social and economic

support network for beginning support network for beginning farmers and market gardeners, one farmers and market gardeners, one

that brings together people from that brings together people from different economic backgrounds different economic backgrounds and cultures to learn from one and cultures to learn from one

another and to strengthen our local another and to strengthen our local food system. food system.

Finger Lakes CRAFT Finger Lakes CRAFT Collaborative Regional Alliance Collaborative Regional Alliance

for Farmer Trainingfor Farmer Training

*

CRAFT ElementsCRAFT Elements 7 Mentor Farms7 Mentor Farms Member FarmsMember Farms Farm InternsFarm Interns Beginning FarmersBeginning Farmers Aspiring FarmersAspiring Farmers

7 farm tours, potluck 7 farm tours, potluck gatheringsgatherings

Sustainable Farming Sustainable Farming Certificate ProgramCertificate Program April – November, 100 hoursApril – November, 100 hours

50 Core hours, including 7 CRAFT farm tours

34 Elective hours

16 hours of supervised on-farm work experience

First year target: 12 trainees actual: 24 trainees

Farm Business Planning Farm Business Planning CourseCourse

January through April, launched 2012January through April, launched 2012 8 sessions, 24 hours classroom plus homework8 sessions, 24 hours classroom plus homework

Partners:Partners: Alternatives Federal Credit Union Alternatives Federal Credit Union

Business Cents ProgramBusiness Cents Program

Cornell Cooperative ExtensionCornell Cooperative Extension

2012 Target: 6 trainees 2012 Target: 6 trainees

Actual: 17 traineesActual: 17 trainees

Mentor TrainingMentor Training Farmer to farmer mentor training Farmer to farmer mentor training

and supportand support

Farm Enterprise Farm Enterprise IncubatorIncubator

Affordable access to land, Affordable access to land, infrastructure, and mentoringinfrastructure, and mentoring

10+ acres at EcoVillage, Town 10+ acres at EcoVillage, Town of Ithacaof Ithaca

Fundraising Goal: $45,000 by Fundraising Goal: $45,000 by 2013 2013 For infrastructure: water supply, irrigation, For infrastructure: water supply, irrigation, deer fence, hoop house, toilet and wash deer fence, hoop house, toilet and wash facilities, and multi-purpose shedfacilities, and multi-purpose shed

Ingredients for Success - Ingredients for Success -

Outstanding Partners Outstanding Partners Outstanding farmer-educatorsOutstanding farmer-educators

Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeTompkins Cortland Community College

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins CountyCornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

Cornell University faculty and students Cornell University faculty and students

Ithaca College faculty and studentsIthaca College faculty and students

USDA’s Beginning Farmer and USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development ProgramRancher Development Program

Park FoundationPark Foundation

Alternatives Credit UnionAlternatives Credit Union

Individual and business supporters Individual and business supporters

Program RevenuesProgram Revenues Summer Practicum TuitionSummer Practicum Tuition

$250 - $850 per student$250 - $850 per student

Certificate Program TuitionCertificate Program Tuition $125 - $800 per trainee, sliding scale$125 - $800 per trainee, sliding scale

Farm Business Planning TuitionFarm Business Planning Tuition $50 - $300 per trainee, sliding scale$50 - $300 per trainee, sliding scale

Finger Lakes CRAFT MembershipFinger Lakes CRAFT Membership $25 - $50 per trainee$25 - $50 per trainee

Current StaffingCurrent Staffing Director ½ FTE Director ½ FTE New Farmer Training Coordinator New Farmer Training Coordinator

½ FTE ½ FTE Incubator Development Incubator Development

CoordinatorCoordinator½ FTE½ FTE

Administrative Assistant ½ FTEAdministrative Assistant ½ FTE Mentor farmers and other Mentor farmers and other

instructors are paid as contractorsinstructors are paid as contractors