Check out the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)

Posted on August 21, 2009 by in Beginning Farmers, Farming Practices, Farming Resources, First Generation Farmers, Food Systems, Internships, Local Food, Organic, Small Farms, Sustainability, Training Programs, Young Farmers // 2 Comments

The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is a great resource for beginning and aspiring farmers. ALBA ‘generates opportunities for farm workers, limited-resource, and aspiring farmers’. Their mission is ‘to advance economic viability, social equity and ecological land management’. ‘ALBA aims to contribute to a more just and sustainable food system through the development of: 1) human resources that will be tomorrow’s farmers and sustainable agriculture leaders; 2) growing marketing alternatives for small-scale, limited-resource farmers; and 3) the enhancement of biological diversity and protection of natural resources – all necessary components of such a food system’.

Their ‘overall goal is to create greater economic opportunities for small farms while promoting ecological land management and healthy local foods. Objectives accomplished in pursuit of this goal include training in organic farm production, marketing, record-keeping, labor law, pest management and numerous other topics related to operating a small farm business’.