Project Overview
The long-term goal of this three-year Collaborative project is to increase the agricultural production capacity of beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers via farmer-to-farmer mentoring, training and technical assistance on aspects of crop production and marketing necessary to operate successful sustainable farming enterprises, increase farm ownership rates, and promote environmental stewardship. The target audience for this project is the 250+ beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers who farm at Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster MA.
World Farmers is partnering with UMass Extension, Growing Places, Nashoba Regional High School, Lancaster Agriculture Commission, Lancaster Community Center, and Rural Coalition to achieve the objectives in this project. Through these partners’ support, World Farmers has been able to do the following: Provide technical assistance to beginning farmers according to their level of capacity at Flats Mentor Farm; Educate on pest identification and effective organic pest management; Support in soil health rejuvenation; Implement food safety protocols according to Commonwealth Quality; Cultivate innovative marketing strategies; Provide tools and develop skills on financial and risk management; Expand the Farmer-to-Farmer Flats Mentoring model; Embrace the energy of high school youth through an internship program; Assist farmers at the farmers’ markets; Familiarize farmers with USDA programs.
Number of Participants: 300
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