Guest blog post from Brittany Hastings, a graduate of the 2011 Farmer Training Program at UVM. This year’s program started in May. Over the course of six months aspiring farmers and food systems advocates engage in a hands-on, skill-based education in sustainable agriculture. The full-time program offers participants the unique opportunity to manage their own growing site, take classes from professors and expert farmers, and rotate as workers and learners on successful, diverse farms in the Burlington area. Participants leave with a Certificate in Sustainable Farming, a deeper understanding of agricultural management and small-scale farming, and the entrepreneurial skills to start their own operation.
Why did you enroll in the UVM Farmer Training Program?
I had been harboring dreams of starting my own farm for much too long, and so when I heard about the program, I jumped at the chance! It seemed like just what I needed, which was an intense approach to all aspects of farming. It was a big change for me, since I had to leave my job and move to a whole new state, but it’s a choice I never regret making.
What were you doing (professionally) before the program?
I was working in the editorial department at an audio book company. My main job was reading over manuscripts and preparing them for our narrators to record, but I also made eBooks and bonus materials. It was lots of time in front of a computer, sitting down, and out of sight of any windows. I think I had to experience that atmosphere first, before I knew it wasn’t for me (although I still love reading!).
What was the most rewarding part of the program?
The sheer volume of farm structures, market outlets, and production techniques we got to experience was very helpful for me. There are so many models of farming out there that we got to see firsthand – I don’t think even a day went by that we didn’t see something new. It really helped me think through what kind of farm I wanted to be a part of, and how to get there.
What was the most challenging part of the program?
Everything went by so fast, I wish I had a rewind button to see things over again. There was a lot of information to absorb, and as I’m farming this year, I’m still unraveling a lot of it.
Favorite memory?
I got to drive a tractor for the first time last summer, which turned out to be lots of fun. There are so many horror stories with tractor rollovers and implements, I was a little hesitant to climb on. I’m definitely the kind of person who can envision all the horrible things that can happen: the transmission blowing up, plowing under a row of cucumbers, mowing down a fellow student. But it was okay! No one was injured, I didn’t destroy the cucumbers, and the tractor saved us tons of time.
What are you doing now with what you learned?
I’m farming a little over a quarter acre, and will be bringing produce to a local farmers market each Friday. I’m starting small, and still learning every step of the way. I’m also working at a local greenhouse, helping them grow some veggies, and learning a ton about all sorts of flowers and perennials. It’s also nice to have a guaranteed income from that, since I’m farming on such a small scale this year. Then I’m also involved in creating an exhibit (on agriculture) for a local museum, and volunteering at a retreat house, helping out with their gardens.
Any advice for beginning farmers?
From one beginning farmer to any others out there – you’ll make mistakes, and probably feel like an idiot at some point, but don’t let that deter you! Keep trying, keep learning, and have fun getting there.
Thinking of farming as a career? Learn more about the Farmer Training Program at UVM.
