Tools and Resources
Tools and Resources for Working with New Farmers
Policy Tool Kit  (967 KB)
Provides new farmer supporters and public policy educators with ways
to discuss and promote new farmer policies in their own states. Includes
basic information about policy-making and agriculture, examples of
policies that impact new farmers, and innovative ideas that supporters
might want to introduce in their own states (GNF Project/NESFI, 2004).
Access to Financial Resources: Findings and Recommendations (556 KB)
Study commissioned by the GNF Project to promote the establishment
of state-level programs that assist beginning farmers in obtaining
financing via federal-state partnerships, aggie bonds, and/or other
tools and mechanisms, as appropriate, in the Northeast region. (Agricultural & Community
Development Services, LLC, 2004)
Improving Whole Farm Planning through Better Decision-Making
A booklet of short case studies and profiles that share the stories
of 14 new farmers, established farmers, and service providers as they
begin to manage holistically. (The Savory Center, 2004)
On-Line Learning: Sharing What You Know with New Farmers and Agriculture
Service Professionals (270 KB)
A workbook for designing, constructing, and delivering an on-line
course. (GNF Project/NESFI and NewStories, Inc., 2002)
DACUM New Farmer Occupational Profile
A systematically developed profile of the duties and tasks performed
by small scale, diversified, sustainable Northeast farmers. For use
in curriculum development and competency assessment. (New England Small
Farm Institute, 2000)
DACUM Farmer-Mentor Occupational Profile
A systematic listing of duties and tasks performed by experienced
farmers who offer on-farm mentoring or training programs for aspiring
or early-stage farmers. Useful for on-farm mentors and for training
and supporting on-farm mentors. (New England Small Farm Institute,
2000)
Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business
Right for You? Course Delivery Guide for Sponsors, Managers and Instructors.
This Guide is designed to help Explorer course sponsors, managers
and instructors plan and deliver a four-session course using the Exploring
the Small Farm Dream workbook. (New England Small Farm Institute, 2004)
Cultivating a New Crop of Farmers: Is On-farm Mentoring Right for
You & Your Farm?
This Guide is intended for two audiences: established farmers who
want to add a training program to their operations, and prospective
farmers who are at the planning stage and want to include mentoring
in their provisional whole farm plan. The workbook format is designed
to help you decide whether or not hosting full-season trainees is right
for you and your farm. (New England Small Farm Institute, forthcoming)
Cultivating a New Crop of Farmers: Is On-farm Mentoring Right for
You & Your Farm? Workshop Delivery Guide for Sponsors, Managers
and Instructors.
This Guide is designed to help course sponsors, managers, and instructors
plan and deliver a workshop using Cultivating a New Crop of Farmers:
Is On-farm Mentoring Right for You & Your Farm?. The workshop provides
information and encouragement to prospective farm mentors, including
resources to help them assess their personal and farm capacity for
hosting trainees. (New England Small Farm Institute, forthcoming)
The On-Farm Mentor's Guide: Pratical Approaches to Teaching on the
Farm
This Guide covers a wide range of on-farm teaching and training situations.
Contents include recommendations for designing a program and the housing,
recruiting, hiring, and orienting of trainees. The intended audience
is on-farm mentors at all stages of development and experience. (New
England Small Farm Institute, forthcoming)
Introduction to Farming with Growing New Farmers
This on-line clearinghouse (also available as a CD) was developed
by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Washington County. It offers lists
of online and print resources, and suggestions for using your local
library to connect with the agricultural information needed to start
a farm.
Transferring the Family Farm: What Worked, What Didn't for 10 New
Jersey Families
This publication is designed to help farm families in undertaking
the planning needed to ensure they can successfully transfer the farm
to the next generation. Ten real-life profiles, in which families describe
their successes and challenges, as well as what they learned and what
resources proved valuable, provide farm families with information and
ideas to consider as they evaluate and embark on their own transfer
processes (NJ Department of Agriculture/NJ FarmLink).
Conservation Easements: Determining the Impact on a Farm Business
(this is a web course and will open in a separate window)
How will a conservation easement affect your farm business?
The sale (or gift) of an agricultural conservation easement can be a useful
management tool for farm transfers and estate planning, but is a complicated endeavor with many ramifications. This on-line course is designed to guide farmers through the process of assessing the impact of an agricultural
conservation easement (purchase of development rights).
(Wayne County (NY) Planning Commission, 2004).
Holding Ground: A Guide to Northeast Farmland Tenure and Stewardship
This 162-page publication addresses farmland access, transfer, affordability
and stewardship. Holding Ground is a comprehensive guide to secure
and equitable land tenure, particularly on ways to get onto farmland
besides outright purchase. The book is available in hard copy from
the New England Small Farm Institute and the Intervale Foundation (New
England Small Farm Institute, 2004).
Technical Assistance Directory, First Edition (1565 KB)
Created to enhance peer networking and resource-sharing, this Directory
lists GNF Consortium members according to their subject matter expertise,
methods of program development and delivery, and target new farmer
audience. Highlights the expertise and experiences that Consortium
members are willing to share with each other (GNF Project/NESFI, 2004).
Working with New Farmers: Topics in Professional Development (1069 KB)
A series of articles focused on professional training topics identified
by GNF Consortium members (GNF Project/NESFI, 2004). The complete bound text is available
for no charge; email info@northeastnewfarmer.org to request a copy.
The following articles are available for individual download:
What Does the Term "New Farmer" Mean? (196 KB)
Honoring Work: Sharing Works Produced by Growing New Farmers Consortium
Members  (193 KB)
Addressing Gaps in New Farmer Programming (196 KB)
Targeted and Relevant New Farmer Programming (196 KB)
Gathering and Using Case Studies and Profiles in New Farmer Programming (337 KB)
Making Effective Referrals to Help New Farmers (209 KB)
Growing New Farmers Outreach Kit
This kit helps GNF Consortium members spread the word to new farmers
and colleagues about the resources available through the Growing New
Farmers project. The kit includes GNF brochures and magnets, a flier
aimed at new farmer audiences, GNF talking points, a general press
release about GNF, and a press release template that can be personalized
to reflect an individual organization's resources. To receive this
free kit by mail, email info@growingnewfarmers.org.
Effective Referrals Desk Reference (96 KB)
This handy laminate card describes when and how to make an effective
referral for a new farmer. A must-have desk accessory for everyone
who gets calls from new farmers.
GNF Consortium Evaluation Resources:
• Why Evaluate? (80 KB)
• Goal-Based or Goal-Free Evaluation? (56 KB)
• Who Will Use Your Evaluation? (84 KB)
• Meeting the Expectations of Funders and Others (104 KB)
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