GoFarm Program FAQs

I am interested in your program, what do I do next?

• First, please review the details of our training program here:  GoFarm Training Program
• Second, look at the calendar schedule for the site you are interested in applying to: GoFarm Training Site Calendars
• Third, make sure that you get on the list to be notified when we schedule and open registration for the first required phase, AgCurious, that is open to everyone:  Email Notification List

Will you teach me everything I need to know to be a successful farmer?

• Absolutely not! We will provide a foundation, exposure, training, and resources through our training program and will introduce you to a network that can support your farming career. There will also be many learning opportunities outside of the curriculum that can help develop your area of interest. We hope that you will get enough education, experience, and a network that can support you to achieve your personal goals.

Do you teach organic farming?

• Our program teaches soil-based sustainable farming practices. None of our sites are certified organic and you will learn about various production methods including conventional farming. Almost all of our participants are interested in organic farming methods so we tend to follow organic growing practices in the field. 
• We ask that you be open and respectful to all information so you can make educated decisions as you develop your own business.

Do you teach hydroponics or aquaponics?

• No.  We use soil-based farming systems to teach our curriculum.  
• Many of our alumni have had an interest in hydroponics and aquaponics and have pursued this alongside our training.  Many lessons in soil systems transfer to hydro/aquaponics systems i.e. plant propagation; crop nutrient management; pest and disease management; harvest; business management, etc.
• We have collaborated to provide aquaponics training in the past. You can sign up to be informed of future opportunities and see resources here: GoFish Hawaiʻi 

What kind of physical and learning experience should I expect during AgXposure and AgXcel?

• You should expect an adult learning environment. Participants are responsible for meeting the requirements, should be prepared to reach out when help is needed, and ask questions for clarity. 
• You should expect a very fast-paced learning environment. There will be lectures, homework, quizzes, recordkeeping, and fieldwork. 
• You will be working in the field, be in the sun, get dirty, and should be physically prepared for farm work. You may need to lift up to 50 pounds. It is important that you are healthy and physically prepared to work for hours in the sun. You are responsible for taking steps to maintain hydration, dress appropriately, and excuse yourself if physical demands are too much. 
• You will be working with farm tools and equipment including sharp tools, weed wackers, and tractors. You will be responsible for using these safely. 
• If you are not able or willing to perform specific farm tasks, you may be asked to explore reasonable alternatives that you would deploy in your own farm business.
• You should expect to meet a lot of people and learn about resources and should take advantage of the opportunity to build a new network.

Do you teach business skills?

• Our curriculum is focused on starting a small commercial farm for profit. 
• Business classes are introduced in AgXposure and are covered in-depth in AgXcel.  You will be introduced to basic business concepts, resources, and a network that can support your agricultural endeavors.
• Participants and graduates may get one-on-one consulting and support from the GoFarm Hawaiʻi AgBusiness Team.

Why are cohort sizes so limited and why can’t you run more frequent cohorts?

• Our program funds are limited and the current budget allows support for one Farm Coach at each site. Farm Coaches are unable to manage more than one cohort at a time as it progresses through the phases.
• We value cohort learning but also value the Farm Coach/Instructor to student ratio for optimal learning. Many of our classes include demonstrations and hands-on learning. Larger group sizes make it challenging and unsafe to manage and focus. We have experimented with the optimal class size and have set our numbers based on what we have learned can offer a quality learning experience.

Can we apply with another person?

• Yes!  We encourage applying as a partnership at all of our sites
• Partnerships are meant for individuals who already know each other and plan on remaining together for all program phases (including, if applicable, developing a farm business together).
• Partners should apply together from the AgXposure phase.
• Each individual should submit an AgXposure application, indicate that they are applying as a partnership, and note their partner’s name.
• Partnerships are limited to 2 individuals.
• Partners are equally responsible for all GoFarm Hawaiʻi requirements.
• Although the partners share responsibility for all assignments, both members should commit to attendance and coursework.
• A partner is not eligible for future program phases, including AgIncubator, individually. Partners in AgXcel must apply to AgIncubator as a partnership.
• Members of a partnership should consider the following:  
  • What are the primary roles and responsibilities of each partner?
  • Do you have a shared vision and are your agricultural goals aligned?
  • What does each partner expect from the other in terms of commitment, time, and money?
  • How much time can each partner put into the program requirements (and eventually, the business)?
  • How will participation fee, plot allocation, and start-up funds be split?
  • How will the team manage communication, planning, assignments, sales, and decision making?
  • How will the team manage disagreements?
  • How will each partner be compensated?
  • Are you willing to give up future GoFarm Hawaiʻi phases if the partnership ends?

Can I start at one GoFarm site and then apply to the next program phase at another GoFarm site?

• No. Please apply to a training site where you can commit to all the program phases you intend to participate in.  
• Since we are set up to share infrastructure and equipment amongst cohort members, it’s important that a student learn the specific details of a site and also develop a relationship with other cohort members and the Farm Coach.  While we use the same/similar curriculum at all of our sites, each site has its unique attributes, details, and protocols. 
• Ideally, you are able to select the site that will best mirror where you plan to farm in the longer term for agronomic similarities, community networking, and understanding the local market options.  
• If you do make a move and are interested in GoFarm Hawaiʻi training again, we ask that you begin with AgCurious.

What if I have to miss some of AgXposure or AgXcel?

• Attendance to all AgXposure days is mandatory.
• If you know that you will miss an AgXposure day, please let us know in your application and we can possibly work something out.  If you plan to miss more than 2, then please consider applying next time when you can fully commit.
• AgXcel attendance is very important.  If you miss a class, it is hard to catch up since we move at a fairly fast pace. We allow for 3 excused absences but if you plan to miss more than this, please consider applying in the future when your schedule allows you to fully commit.  If you are already enrolled, we may ask you to drop the course if you miss more than 3 classes due to safety and the pace of the class.

Do we get paid while we work at farms in AgXposure?  What kind of work will we do at farms that we visit?

• Hosting our large AgXposure group takes much of a farmer’s time and pulls them away from their tasks. Our host farms are gracious enough to share about their business. In exchange for this time, we offer our labor. 
• The type of work the group will do is up to the farmer. It is generally hard to assign technical tasks to a large group of people due to the variety of experience levels and tools. Thus, the class typically provided unskilled labor that can be done in mass (weeding, picking up rocks, pruning, etc.)

Are all of your farm sites fully set up as a working farm?

• Our farm sites are like any farm that is getting off the ground:  all sites start off with a strong base of infrastructure and a variety of tools.  Like any farm, we evolve every year with each cohort in terms of longer-term crops that are planted and maintained; new tools to try out; repair and maintenance needs.  Students gain exposure to what this farm evolution looks like: including hearing about the mistakes made and future dreams held.  In addition to operating on a tight budget, we also try to showcase accessible examples of what beginning farmers with a tight budget may consider for their infrastructure and tools to get started.

Can I get land from the program when I graduate?

• For AgIncubator, there are clear requirements that make a graduate eligible to obtain small plots of land through the program. Acceptance and availability may also be impacted by site capacity.

How much acreage do you need to be profitable?

• Land size, revenue needs, and profitability are not a one size fits all formula. It will depend on the type of crop you decide to grow (i.e. orchard crops may require a lot more than microgreens) and your specific goals. Because each person has different revenue and profit goals, individualized goal setting and business planning are encouraged. 

What are examples of land costs and what is land availability like?

• We have seen land prices from $100/year to $400/month per acre. Land opportunities vary widely and it is important to understand questions such as: Is the land already cleared of trees or has it been recently farmed? Is there water (irrigation and/or potable)?  Is there any other infrastructure (electricity, fencing, etc)?
• There are occasionally some lease lands available through the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, Kamehameha Schools, Agribusiness Development Corporation, and other large landowners. Land access can be competitive and may come with expectations of the lessee to invest in things like irrigation, land preparation, etc.
• Many of our graduates are finding opportunities to lease some private land found via networking with private agricultural landowners that may not be utilizing their entire land or need a farmer to cultivate in order to keep active agricultural tax status. Finding these opportunities many times depends on the farmer developing relationships (i.e. sharing and being clear about your farm goals and what you are looking for; attending community, agricultural resource and association meetings, etc.)

Do you offer financial assistance for participation fee?

• GoFarm Hawaiʻi offers participation fee assistance to AgXcel applicants for all of our training sites. A 50% fee assistance is available to all veterans. In addition, 50% fee assistance is available based on financial need. 
• Use the chart below to determine need (based on before-tax combined household income). If partners are applying, use combined family incomes and household members.

• Before you apply, consider the reality of farm start-up costs and think about the financial requirements to start your business. Once you complete our training, will you be ready with or willing to apply for capital for start-up costs and land fees? 

Are there other training options? 

• Yes! We realize that we may not be the best fit for everyone. Check out these other options: 
  • The University System offers for-credit training in various agricultural topics. Visit the campus website for more information.
  • The UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources offers a Master Gardeners Program: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/UHMG/
  • Other training opportunities can also be found here.

Is GoFarm Hawaiʻi the right program for me?

We recognize that we are not the right fit for every individual. Please consider the following before you apply:

• You will be exposed to various types of farming operations, will focus on growing many different types of vegetable crops, and may be asked to do things that you don’t intend to implement when you start your own farming business.
• You will be exposed to a lot of information and the pace is fairly quick. In many cases, the content will be basic with the option to get one-on-one assistance and more in-depth knowledge. You will need to initiate this on your own.
• You will need to find customers to purchase Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares.
• You will be in a community environment and will need to share equipment and infrastructure with others. This can also impact access, will require flexibility in scheduling, and may test your patience with others.
• While flexibility is critical to surviving in agriculture and is a regular part of the program, there are also aspects of the program that are very structured. For example,
  • The program is intended to be a thriving and supportive educational community. Participants are expected to abide by the GoFarm Hawaiʻi Student Code of Conduct, farm rules, and COVID-19 guidelines. If you do not follow these, you may be asked to exit the program.
  • During the educational phases, you are not able to select the crops that you grow.
  • During AgXcel students must follow rules, expectations, and a set curriculum to remain with the program or receive a certificate. There are readings, quizzes, recordkeeping, and assignments that must be completed.
  • During AgIncubator, you are expected to meet production and business benchmarks and have specific requirements to remain onsite. There may also be restrictions on the type of crops you can grow.

How and how many participants are selected?

• An application is required for each phase. The acceptance process at each phase is competitive.*
• A team of reviewers are used to select a diverse cohort. The goal is to select individuals who:
  • Have goals that are aligned with the GoFarm Hawaiʻi education program and mission
  • Will use the education to make an impact on the local food system
  • Will also learn from and support each other
• For AgXposure, the information presented in the application will be reviewed by a selection team.
• For AgXcel, in addition to the application, the student’s participation and work in AgXposure is considered by a selection team.
• At most sites, we are able to accept about 20 to AgXposure and 10-12 to AgXcel in each cohort. COVID-19 protocols may affect acceptance numbers.  
• Acceptance to the program is competitive and demand varies per site. In the past year, we have received between 20 and 60 applications for each new cohort.

What should I do if I apply and am not accepted?

• We highly value our small class size as this creates a stronger learning environment. We often are not able to accept all who apply. 
• Take advantage of other learning and networking opportunities. Continue building experience and gaining skills that will help you develop and achieve your agricultural goals.
• Consider some of the other opportunities for education and volunteering at farms here: Other Agricultural Educational Opportunities
• If you are not accepted and feel GoFarm Hawaiʻi is a good fit for you, please consider applying again. A new application will be required – this will give you the opportunity to update your information and share about new experiences and skills. 

GoFarm Hawaiʻi Land Statement