The local food movement is flourishing and the demand for sustainably-raised food continues to grow.  But lack of knowledge and training in how to successfully operate a farm is keeping many would-be-farmers from pursuing small farm dreams.

College of the Rockies is taking a bold stand to help make sustainable farming more accessible.  The Creston Valley campus’ new Kootenay Farm School is being designed to bring people together to discover, teach, and support agriculture on a human scale.

COTR’s Kootenay Farm School will focus on practical, community-based learning, from evening talks and weekend workshops to a ten-month beginner farmer training program.

“We know that we need a farming crash course in the Kootenays,” says Farm School Coordinator Nigel Francis.  “This will be one of only a handful of similar programs in Canada.  Our goal is to offer an innovative, intensive, comprehensive education for new agricultural entrepreneurs.”

The part-time farmer training program will allow students to experience a full Kootenay growing season and equip themselves with the know-how to start farming.  Instructors and mentor farmers will help students gain footing in plant science, soil stewardship, crop production, animal husbandry, small farm technology, farm planning, and business and marketing fundamentals.

“We will be teaching farming as a science, business, art, and way of life,” Francis continues.  “Our students will get their hands dirty on small farms all over the Kootenays.  They will network with like minds and hopefully build friendships and community.”

Kootenay Farm School will begin offering workshops this fall. Topics include advanced seed saving, permaculture food foresting, four-season harvesting and scaling up production on small farms.  The 10-month program will launch in February 2014.

COTR

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