Farm Incubator Program
Since 2016 SAA’s farm has served as an informal incubator for a number of small food and farming businesses launched by former staff and students at SAA. We are now offering a more formal Incubator Farming Program to persons interested in developing their farming vision.
Incubator farming programs provide land at subsidized rates for beginning farmers while they get experience and develop their own methods and vision. Services and equipment are provided to the new farmers, again at subsidized rates. And training classes, workshops and frequent opportunities to consult with the program director and experienced farmers fill in gaps in learning, answer questions and help resolve problems.
Farmers will have three years in the program. Upon “graduation” those who intend to continue farming will have found a long-term location. The program will facilitate and advise farmers’ finding their own land. Though there are no guarantees, SAA is part of a recently formed group of organizations determined to provide more land at affordable rates for farmers in the area.
What we have to offer
The farms that have occupied the SAA field have been informal incubator farms, nurturing outstanding farmers and farm workers while developing the soil and acquiring the tools and facilities necessary for a working market garden. Now we will make the existing space available for up to five such farms, preferably pursuing a variety of projects. That space includes both a developed, fenced field and a two-acre, mature orchard. All new farmers will start out on a half acre.
In addition to Black Dog Farm, the current incumbent and our “anchor farm,” we could accommodate up to 5 farming ventures at this time. We are particularly eager to host a farmer interested in taking on orchard management and creative uses of the orchard. Other farming enterprises could include market gardening, bee keeping, chicken production, medicinal and/or culinary herb production, a plant nursery, and so on.
New farmers will enjoy shared use of resources such as cold storage, tool shed, potting shed, nursery space in a large hoop house, and water and electrical hook-ups. Other equipment and service, including caterpillar tunnels, tractor work, and larger pieces of equipment, will be rented out at reasonable rates.
We will also provide a series of trainings and classes for farmers in the program. The core courses will include orientation to Ridgewood Ranch and the SAA Farm Incubator Program, Creating a Caring Farm Community and Workplace; Record Keeping and Farm Planning; Bookkeeping, Taxes and Regulatory Requirments; Soil Management and Regenerative Organic Practices; “Lean” Farm Organization and Design; and Post-Harvest Handling and Food Safety. A small fee for first-year classes will be part of our “On-Boarding Fee.”
Terms and Fees
Applicants must commit to at least one year farming the land, with the agreement automatically renewing annually for up to three years. Farmers are expected to abide by upkeep and soil management practices specified in their agreement with SAA. They are also expected to attend trainings and workshops that are part of the program and to participate in periodic work parties to contribute to farm and orchard maintenance.
Fees include:
- Land: $20 monthly
- Tool Libaray and Facilities Access: $20 monthly
- Electricity: shared proportionately among farmers, approx. $20 monthly
- Tractor work (optional): $60/hr.
In addition, farmers will pay an “on-boarding” fee of $150 to cover the first month of land and tool access and the workshop series. This fee is due upon acceptance into the program.
Apply Now using the easy form below. We welcome applications from people of color, vets, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
If you have any questions, call or write SAA Director Michael Foley at office@adaptiveagriculture.org or 707 510-7473.