CSA Project at Greenbank Farm

The Greenbank Farm Training Center- Program Details 

Overview:
Our program is designed for participants who, through experience, are committed to pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture and desire a formal and thorough academic and experiential education in the business and production aspects of small scale sustainable farming. With an emphasis on biodynamic fresh vegetable production, we will look at all aspects of starting and running a small scale farm from goal setting and business planning to planting, harvesting, and marketing. Students will participate in regular lectures, in-field demonstrations, field trips, research projects, and the hands-on production of a 50-member vegetable CSA during the program's 30-hour week. Our goal is to have participants feel confident in their ability to successfully enter the growing field of sustainable agricultural producers.

Setting:
The Training Center is located on the Greenbank Farm of beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington state. The farm's 150+ acres are publicly owned and include fields and wetlqnds as well as a 10-acre economic development center. Views of the fields, the waters of the Sataoga Passage, and the Cascade Mountains rise from the gardens. Whidbey Island is the longest island in the United States and hosts a mix of forests, fields, coastline and small communities. Home of Ebey's landing, a unique national preservation of farmland, wild lands and historical communities, Whidbey residents are passionate about protecting their island's beauty and natual resources. The city of Seattle is 1.5 hours south by ferry.

Work and Study:
For 20 hours of each 30-hour week, participants will work in the fields, growing vegetables for a local 50-member CSA. This important hands-on aspect of our program allows participants to apply firsthand the knowledge they receive in the classroom, turning ideas into experiences. Participants will be involved in all aspects of the farm operation from tillage through harvest and on through delivery. Observation and record-keeping will be a key activity through each process. Farming is an activity that requires endurance to work outside day after day for eight months. Participants should be physically and mentally able. 

For 10+ hours each week, participants will participate in lectures, in-field demonstrations, and field trips as well as have personal assignments including readings, essays, class presentations, and the creation of a personal farm business and production plan. Curriculum topics include business planning, crop production, land stewardship, equipment operation, marketing and much more. Small scale farming is often a social activity and good interpersonal skills are a key to success. We will focus on team-building and communication skils as we work together in the garden and interact with our collaborators, customers and neighbors. Our goal is to have a working and learning environment that is positive, productive and fun.

Program Details:
Applications due:  February 1st, 2010

Program dates:  March 1st through October 29th, 2010  
                           (35 weeks)

Weekly schedule:
          MTTF:  8-12 Field work
                       1-2:30 Education
          Wed.:  8-12 & 1-2:30 Rotating (field trips, education, 
                      field work)
          Sat.:   OFF
          Sun.: Rotating (8-11, 10-3, or OFF)
Total weekly hours: 30.5

Living stipend: $400/mo. (total of $3200 for 8 month program)
Housing: On-farm housing is not available. We encourage participants in need of housing to apply through the W.I.S.H. program which assists people in finding shared housing. See their application and contact information below. Financial assistance from the Training Center is possible.

Instructor:
Sebastian Aguilar from Port Townsend has been hired as the new Training Center Coordinator for 2010. He and his wife Kelly have three children and have managed farms in New Mexico, Wisconsin and Washington State.  Sebastian's passions for top-quality produce, healthy soils, biodynamics and social outreach guide his farming practices. Sebastian has hosted apprentices on his farms for the past 10 years and always provided them with a weekly afternoon 'farm school' exploring the concepts behind the practical work. On the Aguilar's farm in Port Townsend, they used minimum tillage, cover cropping, compost, and biodynamic preparations to build and maintain healthy soils. They sold produce through the Port Townsend Food Coop, three farmers markets, and a CSA program as well as grew variety trials for the Organic Seed Alliance.

Application:
To apply to our training program, please send a resume along with the Farmer Training Program Application to Sebastian Aguilar or mail to:

                             Greenbank Farm Training Center
                                    765 Wonn Road A-201
                                    Greenbank, WA 98253

To apply for assistance in finding housing on Whidbey Island, please fill out and send the following:

            Whidbey Island Share a Home (WISH) Application

Program funding
The second year of this project is made possible by a grant awarded by the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program and matched by the Northwest Agriculture Business Center. 

For more information please contact :
                                         Sebastian Aguilar
                  Greenbank Farm Training Center Coordinator
                                           360-222-3171
                                    765 Wonn Road A-201
                                    Greenbank, WA 98253