Upcoming Events 

  Exploring The Small Farm Dream: A four-session course for those who are considering farming as a business.

Offered at the UMass Cranberry Station
1 State Bog Road
East Wareham, MA 02538
4 Sessions May 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2007
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Are you, or is someone you know, considering starting an agricultural enterprise in Massachusetts?

. Do you need to test the feasibility of your idea before you invest?
. Is self employment right for you?
. Is there a market for your proposed product or service?
. What regulations will govern your enterprise and impact its cost?
. How will you manage the new risks associated with agriculture?
. How long can you afford to wait to break even- and how much contribution do you expect from this piece of your livelihood?
. Are there others in your family that share your vision and want to join you in its pursuit?
. What are the threats to your success?
. How will you know that you are on a sustainable track?

The Explorer Program is intended for those who are considering
farming as a business. Its purpose is to help pre-venture, aspiring
farmers learn what it would take to start and manage their own
commercial agricultural businesses, and decide whether this is a path
they really want to take.

Explorer makes use of four guided group sessions, an acclaimed workbook, instructors experienced in starting
ag businesses, and extensive supporting resources. It was created as
a decision-making tool to help you establish the 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. 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.

This course is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Agricultural Business Training Program,
in cooperation with the Explorer creator, the New England Small Farm
Institute (NESFI) in Belchertown - with additional support from the
Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP), the
Pilgrim Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council and the
University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station (a facility of UMass
Amherst).

MDAR is underwriting a portion of the course fee, and will be
offering limited additional paid technical assistance to up to four
businesses that complete the course and are ready to move to the next
step in their plan.

Class size is limited to 14 prospective farms to maximize group time,
with the chance for some attendees to bring another person if space
allows.

The registration cost of $125 includes all materials, guest speakers,
access to the in-class library (as well as NESFI's extensive library
in Belchertown), and (for the selected 4 members of the class) an
extra boost from targeted help on a key next step. You should have
email and web access to take this course most effectively!

More information about the basic NESFI Explorer course is available
on their website at:

http://www.smallfarm.org/explorer/index.htm

For a Registration Form, please contact:

Rick Chandler, MDAR, 25 West Experiment Station, UMass, Amherst,
MA 01003

Email: rchandler@umext.umass.edu

Phone: 413-577-0459

NOTES:

If you want to take Explorer but just can't make it to this session
on these dates, contact Rick Chandler at the above address for other
possible sites and dates in 2007-08.

If you would like to take advantage of MDAR's other offerings in
agricultural business planning for established farms, we are
planning to offer our next 10-session NxLevel Course "Tilling the
Soil of Opportunity" in January-March 2008 (The current courses are
already started in Greenfield). Please call Rick to receive
information and registration materials.

Because this course is sponsored and financially supported by a
Massachusetts state agency, If you are from another state or are
planning to farm in another state, we can only put you on a waiting
list in case the course does not fill with in-state
enterprises/residents. If you are then accepted, the fee will be $200
(still subsidized, but less so) and you will not be eligible for the
post course paid technical assistance.

 Last Updated On: 4/22/07