Program Overview
The Explorer Course is designed to orient the farm-curious to the realities of cultivation, animal husbandry, and entrepreneurship. The 4-day crash course will help you decide whether starting an agricultural business is realistic for you and how to take practical next steps. Down-and-dirty farming experience and a field trip are included. Participants who decide to take the plunge can graduate into the Beginning Farmer Training Program and launch their farming journey.
Classes & Curriculum
The Explorer Course includes a hands-on field day, a farm tour, and the opportunity to meet with a panel of farmers and have your questions answered directly.
In addition, you will:
- Assess Yourself
Is starting an agricultural business right for you? Explore your own interests, skills and motivations so you’re better able to answer the question. Identify what it takes to own and operate an agricultural business, including the rewards and risks, and get an introduction to other opportunities in the field of agriculture. - Research the Landscape
We look at specific resources and approaches that will help you with agricultural business and market research. We identify regulatory issues that must be considered and ways to research the market and discover potential revenue streams. - Assess Your Resources
We build an understanding of how to assess and evaluate personal financial resources and what can be invested in business start-up costs and introduce external financial resources available to beginning farmers. You’ll also understand how to inventory and evaluate the physical resources needed for a business start-up. We provide an overview of marketing options for small-scale farmers. - Make Decisions & Take Next Steps
How do you envision your farm? Make a concrete plan for the next 6-12 months to advance your farm dream and identify the additional resources you’ll need to achieve it. If you’re not sure you’re ready to start pursuing it, what will you need to do to help you in your decision? What are other ways that you can pursue your interest in agriculture?
DATES & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fall 2024 classes will take place on October 17, 18, 19 from 9am-4:30pm & November 2 from 9am-12pm.
Application & Admission
- Submit your application
- Inquiry call
- Enrollment
Tuition
The cost of the course is $500 (not tax deductible). Fees cover classes, hands-on experience, individual meetings with the Program Manager, farm visits and opportunities to get advice from working farmers. Necessary machinery, tools and supplies for the activities are provided.
You may pay course fees via check, money order or credit card. Checks should be made payable to the Center for Land-Based Learning. Credit card payments are assessed a service charge of 3.5% of the transaction total. You may pay in full or pay in two installments. To avoid the service charge, please use an alternate form of payment.
A 10% surcharge will be deducted from any refund of fees after a student withdraws from the program. Once class has started, course fees are non-refundable.
Scholarships and veteran assistance are available and we encourage students to apply.
For more information, please contact:
Jon Kupkowski, Beginning Farmer Training Program Manager
(916) 400-9480
jon@landbasedlearning.org
Testimonial
Start your Farming Journey
The Explorer Course did not shy away from sharing the risks, challenges, and hardships that small farmers face, and it was designed to really make us think about our values and goals and where we wanted to take our farm journey, whether that was moving on to start a farm business, work on a farm, or be involved with farming in some other way. Every risk, every challenge, every opportunity that we discussed in class really sparked my interest and I came to realize that, yes, that is what I want for my life, and ultimately it led me to continue my farm journey with CLBL and enroll in the Training Program.