New Farmer Resources

This is a great time to be farming!

There are an abundance of valuable resources available to farmers including business planning assistance, production techniques, marketing ideas, supplier recommendations, and many more. Valley Food & Farm staff are available for one on one advising as well.

New Farmer
Advising

Learn More

Valley Food & Farm staff are able help with your specific situation or question. We work with farmers who are in the dreaming/planning stage, just starting out, and/or growing their farm business.

Nancy LaRowe, our Valley Food & Farm Coordinator, is our farmer-in-residence.
Give her a call at 802.291.9100 x106 or email, she is happy to help with:

  • Individual consultation, focused on making an action plan to start or enhance your farm business
  • Directing you to resources if you are having trouble figuring out who to call for help in a specific area
  • Linking you to technical assistance within our New Farmer Network for business planning, production assistance, land access, access to capital, legal concerns, and many other topics.

Resources

Beginning Farmer Websites

workinginthefieldVermont New Farmer Project– University of Vermont website that is a rich source of educational information including webinars, fact sheets, the Land Access Database, Toolsheds on Business Management, Marketing, and Production. A great place to start!
Vermont Agency of Agriculture Resource Guide for Vermont’s New and Aspiring Farmers
UNH Resources for Aspiring Farmers
Beginning Farmers.Org– National website with resources and links to excellent information useful to people starting out in agriculture.
Northeast Beginning Farmer Project– Cornell University site run by a team of educators who care deeply about supporting the success of new farmers.
Missouri Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine
Virtual Grange– Online community and hub for beginning farmers, managed by Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.
Farm Hack
ATTRA: Beginning Farmer
USDA New Farmer Website
University of Wisconsin Small Farmer Resources

Organizations and Associations

farmersmarketNOFA-VT
NOFA-NH
New Hampshire Farms Network
Land for Good
Intervale Center
Women’s Agricultural Network (WAGN)
Rural Vermont
Northern Grain Growers Association
Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association
Vermont Grass Farmers Association
Vermont Beef Producers Association
Vermont Fresh Network
Small and Beginning Farmers of New Hampshire
Greenhorns
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program
FarmAid Beginning Farmer Resource Guide
National Good Food Network
Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture
New Hampshire Farm Bureau

Business Planning, Marketing Resources, Access to Capital, etc.

greenhouseUVM Extension Farm Viability
UVM Farmer Training Program
Pricing Your Farm Products
Vermont Fresh Network
Dig In Vermont!
Valley Food & Farm Online Guide
Center for an Agricultural Economy Small Business Agricultural Advising
Vermont Farmers’ Market Association
Vermont Farmers’ Markets
Vermont Small Business Development Center
New Hampshire Farmers’ Market Association
Pam Knights Communications
Rose Wilson
Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program
New Hampshire Small Business Development Center
Upper Valley SCORE
USDA Farm Service Agency Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans
Carrot Project
Yankee Farm Credit
New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s Food and Farm Initiative
Center for Rural Affairs Beginning Farmer Loan Programs
Small Business Administration
Cornell Small Farms Program

Apprenticing, Mentorship & Incubation

North East Workers on Organic Farms (NEWOOF)
NOFA VT Apprentice & Farm Worker Program
NOFA VT Journey Farmer Program
UVM Farmer Training Program
Intervale Farms Project

Research, Innovations, & Technical Support

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Vermont Association of Conservation Districts
UVM Extension
UNH Extension
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship at Cornell University
ATTRA
Farm Hack

Regulations & Other Resources

FSMA On Farm Readiness Review
VT Required Agricultural Practices
UVM Produce Program
New Hampshire Ag Rules and Laws
Vermont Red Meat Slaughter Flow Chart
Vermont Agency of Agriculture Poultry Slaughter FAQ
NOFA VT Farmers’ Market Resources

USDA Slaughter Facilities

Vermont Livestock, Ferrisburgh, VT
Black River Meats, North Springfield, VT
NEK Processing, St. Johnsbury, VT
PT Farm, North Haverhill, NH
The Royal Butcher, Braintree, VT
The Local Butcher, Center Barnstead, NH

Vermont Inspected & Custom Facilities

Brault’s Slaughterhouse, Troy, VT

Publications

chickensNew Hampshire Department of Agriculture Weekly Market Bulletin
Vermont Agency of Agriculture Agriview
Growing for Market
Vermont Local Banquet
Country Folk
On Pasture
Sustainable Vegetable Production from Start-Up to Market– Vern Grubinger
Organic Farmers Business Handbook – Richard Wiswall
The QuickBooks Farm Accounting Cookbook -Mark Wilsdorf

“It’s so amazing to know that there is such a wonderful support network here in the UV to help farmers get on track and stay on track.”

Crossroad CRAFT TB

 

“I cannot overstate how much their programs have contributed to our success. Before purchasing our farm I participated in Vital Communities’ learning collaborative and attended one of their farmer meet-ups. I learned a lot of different techniques and was exposed to many ideas as I visited area farms and learned directly from the farmers and their employees. This also helped me build up a strong network with other local farmers, both new and experienced. I continue to use the connections I made at those events whenever I encounter a problem.

Those connections also allowed me to expand sales. I began selling my pork through another local farm and that is now my second biggest sales outlet for pork.”

Funding for our new farmer advising is made possible in part with  a Rural Development Enterprise Grant from  USDA Rural Development.

Oppportunities

Farm Worker Learning Collaborative

Educational and social opportunity for future farmers.

Learn More  >

Flavors of the Valley

Annual local foods expo.

Learn More  >

Valley Food & Farm Guide

Free searchable online guide for farms.

Learn More  >

Workplace Markets

Facilitating farm to worksite delivery.

Learn More  >

Farm to School Network

Farm to school connections.

Learn More

Farmer Discussion List

Subscribe and communicate with other farmers.

Find Open Local Businesses and Farms. Search the Vital Communities Guide.

Join our Farmer Discussion

Learn More

Link in to the Upper Valley’s farming community with The Upper Valley Farmer Community Discussion List. To subscribe send a blank message to uvfarming-subscribe@lists.valley.net Subscribers can post a message to this list by simply emailing a message to uvfarming@lists.valley.net

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Valley Food & Farm News

Visit Our Food & Farm Blog

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Calendar

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Vital Communities Program News

Fresh Food Sources: An Update

For an increasing number of families, the cost of putting food on the table is becoming more and more of a burden. If you or someone you know could use a hand, know there are ...more

Theater + Pandemic: Four Upper Valley Theaters' Stories

Remember when performances looked like this? (That's Opera North performing at Blow-Me-Down Farm in summer 2019.) Needless to say, times have changed. How do you do your work when its usual nature involves bringing people into ...more

Get Ready for the Upper Valley E-Bike Library!

Do you wish biking was part of your life? E-bikes can greatly increase that possibility. E-bikes (electric bikes) are like regular bikes but with an electric motor in addition to human-powered pedals, a battery to ...more

Newly Increased Rebates for Home Weatherization

Newly Increased Rebates for Home Weatherization Now's the best time to think about weatherizing your home as both New Hampshire and Vermont state weatherization programs have announced a temporary increase to weatherization rebates.  NH Saves rebates ...more

Questing During Stay at Home Orders

Getting outdoors is good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health, especially during this time of added stress due to COVID-19. We are closely following our state government recommendations in Vermont and New Hampshire regarding ...more

Lend Your Voice to Local/National Commute Survey

The commutes of many Upper Valley residents have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now that workplaces are starting to open back up, transportation planners are interested in understanding the potential ...more

Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers

Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...more

Quest to Refresh Challenge!

Do you need to press the reset/refresh button?  Have you spent too much time behind a screen these days? We have a solution! Take our challenge – Quest to Refresh! Complete five or more Quests ...more

Family Project: Write a Quest for your House!

Over these past few weeks I have experienced waves of anxiety and sadness, and at the same time such gratitude. I can’t imagine going through this crisis in any other part of the world. The ...more

TLC 4WARD Crowdfunding for Businesses

Do you own an Upper Valley business that is suffering due to the effects of the pandemic and could use a little help from your friends? TLC 4WARD Upper Valley is here for you. The Local ...more

Raise Money while Working from Home

Work from home and help raise $500 for Vermont Foodbank. Simply record your telecommute trips in your Go! Vermont account every day that you work from home and when 500 telecommutes have been recorded, we'll ...more

Donation Platform for UV Businesses

Do you own an Upper Valley business that is impacted by Covid-19 and could use a little help from your friends? TLC/4WARD is here to help.  Vital Communities launched The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley in ...more

Give to the Businesses You Love!

Wendell Berry once said that by choosing to support a local business in your community, you're essentially telling that business owner, "I want you to exist. I acknowledge that you and I are neighbors and ...more

Five Inspiring Stories

On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more

13th Annual Roundtable - September 15

You're Invited! The 13th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable will be held Tuesday, September 15, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an ...more

Efficient Heating in Vermont

Check out this newly produced, six-minute YouTube video on Efficient Heating in Vermont, created by Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission. The video describes the types and benefits of home heating options and describes the current rebates ...more

Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead

Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more

Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley

Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more

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Staff

Becka Warren

Food & Farm Coordinator

Food & Farm

 802-291-9100 x112

Food & Farm

— Becka Warren, Food & Farm Coordinator

Part of Vital Communities' Food & Farm team since 2012, Becka fosters relationships that keep agriculture a daily part of community life in the Upper Valley. She works with current and future farmers, businesses, schools, and partners across Vermont and New Hampshire to build connections that support farm viability and keep our landscapes working. Becka lived in Seattle for many years, where she worked for the Washington State University Small Farms Program, Cascade Harvest Coalition, Seattle Tilth, and area vegetable farms. Becka is also a writer, founding and writing Ask Umbra at gristmagazine.com until 2009. She holds a BA from Brown University and lives in Hartland, Vermont, with her family.



Beth Roy

Food & Farm Manager

Valley Quest, Food & Farm

 802-291-9100 x105

Valley Quest, Food & Farm

— Beth Roy, Food & Farm Manager

Beth leads Vital Communities' Food & Farm team, including its Upper Valley Farm to School programming, and also oversees Valley Quest. Before joining Vital Communities, Beth Roy worked in the environmental and place-based education fields for 17 years in various positions around New England including at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and as the Director of Education at the Nature Museum in Grafton, Vt. Beth is also on the boards of the Vermont Science Teacher Association (VSTA) and the Vermont State-Wide Environmental Education Programs (SWEEP), a coalition of dozens of individuals and organizations promoting sustainability and environmental education in Vermont. Beth is a New Hampshire native and lives in Hartland, Vt., with her husband and two children. When Beth is not working you will find her exploring the woods around her home with her family or cooking up a new taste test (made of local foods, of course!) for her children.



Doreen Guillette

Assistant to the Executive Director, Flavors Coordinator

Food & Farm

 802-291-9100 x104

Food & Farm

— Doreen Guillette, Assistant to the Executive Director, Flavors Coordinator

Doreen Guillette joined Vital Communities in January 2020 as the Flavors of the Valley Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Director, with many years of administrative and management experience at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, self-employment, and volunteering. An Upper Valley native, Doreen spends most of her time and energy caring for her mini-farm and a large family in Norwich. She is a strong advocate for local community and is president of the Beaver Meadow Chapel, Trustee of the Beaver Meadow Schoolhouse, and Co-Chair of the West Norwich Community Resilience Organization. Doreen enjoys hiking, kayaking, writing poetry, nature photography, and cooking meals that come from her own land.



Nancy LaRowe

Food & Farm and Local First Coordinator

Local First, Food & Farm

 802-291-9100 x106

Local First, Food & Farm

— Nancy LaRowe, Food & Farm and Local First Coordinator

Nancy joined Vital Communities as the Food & Farm Coordinator in 2014. She works to support and grow our local food system and economy. Nancy has lived, worked, and farmed in the Upper Valley for more than 25 years and believes our community is healthier and stronger when our connections to food and the farms that produce it stay vital.

Nancy's informal job title is Farmer-in-Residence: she also runs a pasture-based cattle farm in Norwich. Nancy is on the Board of the Norwich Farmers' Market and a retired Norwich volunteer firefighter and EMT. She loves puttering in the garden, hiking with her dog, and visiting farmers' markets.