Farming can be a very rewarding pursuit: It can sustain your family and your community, give you independence, stimulate your mind, and feed your body and spirit. It can, however, be very challenging: Disease, weather, and pests can disrupt well-laid plans; There is so much a farmer needs to know about soil health, different crops, nutrition, pest and disease control, marketing, and finances (to name a few) in order to be successful.
Do you think you might have it within you to do the hard work and learn the various aspects of farming? To meet the inevitable challenges with creativity and determination? Commit to Hawaii’s premier beginning farmer training program with the goal of becoming a successful Farmer? If so, then we’re ready to help you! And thank you for joining us in sustaining Hawaii’s future!
The programs below are designed to be taken sequentially.
AgCurious
2 hour seminar
Attract those with interest in getting involved in agricultural production.
Provide them with an overview of the industry in Hawai’i and its importance.
Convey a sense of what is involved in farming, both as a farmer and farm worker, including: challenges and opportunities, costs and benefits, and lifestyle.
Inform participants about various avenues to get started, but especially recruit those who want to know more about what it is like to be a farmer to the next phase (AgXposure).
AgXposure
4 Saturdays
Provide participants with experiences that convey the lifestyle and knowledge areas important to farming to expose them to what life would be like if they were to be a farmer.
Recruit those who want to learn how to be a successful farmer and can make the necessary commitments to the next phase (AgSchool).
AgSchool
1 weeknight & 1 weekend day for 4 months (additional time often necessary to maintain crops, Maui schedule differs)
Participants practice on-farm the techniques related to critical production skills.
Participants learn of the resources available to assist them and/or further their knowledge of farming.
AgPro
1 weeknight & 1 weekend day for 6 months (additional time necessary to maintain crops). Open to select graduates of AgSchool. Not offered at all sites.
Deeper learning on the production topics of AgSchool with emphasis on commercial production, and coverage of business topics for the entrepreneurial farmer including Cost of Production, Crop and Business Planning, and Marketing.
Participants practice on-farm techniques on larger plots and market their crops.
Participants practice techniques related to business management topics and develop a business plan.
Participants learn of resources to assist them and/or further their knowledge of farming and business.
AgIncubator
Participants practice farming their chosen crop on land provided by the program for up to three years.
Continued access to program peers and experts.
Shared equipment and infrastructure.
AgBusiness
Intensive one-on-one business consulting for new and existing ag producers and others in the local food chain.
Applications accepted year-round. GoFarm Hawaii participants automatically accepted. Statewide service area—not limited to GoFarm Hawaii locations. Typically no cost.
Assistance with: Business startup; Business, Marketing, and Strategic Plan development; Applications for loans, leases, and grants; Cost and pricing analyses; Value-added product development and marketing; Accounting; Project Management; Other business needs.
De facto Board of Advisors for entrepreneurs.
