Beginning Farmer Explorer Course Starts Soon

2021 Beginning Farmer Explorer Course from California Farm Academy – Payment Deadline August 10th, 2021

Sign up soon for the Fall 2021 Beginning Farmer Explorer Course from the California Farm Academy from the Center for Land Based Learning! Designed to help aspiring farmers learn what it takes to start and manage an agricultural business, the Explorer is a seven-week course from August 14th through September 25th, on Saturdays, 9:30am-noon. The course is a combination of field work and coursework; it helps interested adults make the decision as to whether farming is for them, and take the practical next steps.

Beginning Farmer Explorer Course Overview

The 7-week Explorer Course is designed to help aspiring farmers learn what it takes to start and manage an agricultural business, and decide whether this is a path they really want to take. It is created as a decision-making tool; the Explorer course can help you establish a clear vision and goals you will need to guide a new agricultural venture. It will help you identify and assess personal motivations, business and farming skills, and available resources, and help to clarify your values. The goal of Explorer is to help you decide whether starting an agricultural business is right for you, and based on that decision–to help you plan practical next steps.

Classes & Curriculum

The Explorer Curriculum is broken up into four sections as follows:

• Assess Yourself
• Research the Landscape
• Assess Your Resources
• Make Decision & Take Next Steps

Dates & Additional Information

• Fall session will be held from August 14th-September 25th.
• Explorer sessions will be held on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and will be held at the Center for Land-Based Learning campus in Woodland (40140 Best Ranch Road, Woodland, 95776). Some classes can be attended in a hybrid model as appropriate. We will also have one farm tour in Yolo County and one field session in Woodland. The tour and field session will last approximately three to four hours.
• Classes and activities are conducted in English.
• All COVID-19 protocol is followed.

Course Fees

The cost of the 7-week course is $950 (not tax deductible). Fees cover classes, hands-on experience, individual meetings with the Program Manager, & farm visits. 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.