In our first monthly update of the year, we have lots of news to share from our snowbound headquarters in Hudson, NY: new staff, new board members, new advisors, and a new guidebook! We also have updates on #FarmingIsPublicService, a rundown of events and conferences, and a reminder about our money-saving member benefits as you order your seeds and supplies.
NEW GUIDE RELEASED FOR FINDING FARMLAND
NYFC was founded by a group of farmers who were struggling to find affordable farmland to start and grow their businesses. Five years later, we know that accessing farmland is still one of the biggest obstacles young farmers face. The good news is that there is a growing movement of land trusts working to keep farmland in the hands of farmers. We have been working closely with groups across the country to support these efforts. We’re excited to have released a new resource designed specifically to help farmers connect and partner with land trusts – A Farmer’s Guide to Working with Land Trusts. This guidebook illustrates the possibilities for potential partnership with a land trust and offers practical information and tools for both approaching your land trust and building the relationship. |
STUDENT LOAN CAMPAIGN BUILDS MOMENTUM
Our #FarmingIsPublicService campaign is picking up steam! We’re calling for farmers to be added to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If added to the program, farmers who make 10 years of income-based payments on their student loans would see the balance of their loans forgiven – just like doctors, nurses, teachers, and government employees. In DC, we have been meeting with Congressional offices and gathering support. Our bill will be introduced later this year. We are now looking for campaign partners. If you work with an organization that wants to help, email eric@youngfarmers.org. It’s not too late to get involved! On our campaign website, you can read farmer stories and tell us your own student loan story. These personal accounts on how student loans impact your ability to farm are critical in helping us make a strong case in DC. |
NYFC GROWS ITS TEAM
Over the past six months, NYFC has added some incredible individuals to our roster of staff, board members and advisors, and we aren’t done yet. Please join us in welcoming our newest teammates: staff members Leanna Mulvihill and Derek Denckla; board members Brian Depew, Clayton Harvey, Jacqueline Lewin and Nicole Shore; and advisory council members Mark Justh, Michel Nischan, Andrew Rotherham and Karen Washington. Welcome to our team! Read their full bios on the blog.
ARE YOU GETTING YOUR NYFC SEED & GEAR DISCOUNTS?
As you buy your seeds, tools and gear for the upcoming season, don’t forget that NYFC members SAVE BIG. Join us for just $20 for the year, or $3 a month and save:
10% off at High Mowing Organic Seeds
5% off at Johnny’s Selected Seeds
35% off at Chelsea Green Publishing
33% off Growing for Market (including print!)
10% off FarmTek and Growers Supply
10% off Working Person Store
Already a member and need updated codes? Email sophie@youngfarmers.org
NYFC IS COMING TO A CONFERENCE NEAR YOU
It’s conference season!
There’s nothing like face-to-face time with like-minded farmers who are at a similar stage in their farm careers. We love creating opportunities for making friends at farming conferences. Thanks to everyone who has joined us thus far.
At the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Conference in Greenville, SC in November, we presented strategies for land access and then gathered everyone to drink homemade ale at the Blue Ridge Brewing Co. NYFC teamed up with Quivira’s New Agrarian Program as well as our local affiliate chapter Rio Grande Farmers Coalition to host a New Agrarian Career Connections event and social, bringing together farmers with prospective mentors and employers. At the Stone Barns Young Farmers Conference in New York, we led a session on how to start an NYFC chapter in your home region—and then contra danced the night away.
At the Southern SAWG conference in Mobile, AL, the Louisiana Young Farmers Coalition gained serious traction with a planning meeting of over 30 farmers. Later that night we gathered 120 farmers from 12 states at Grand Central Bar in downtown Mobile. At the NOFA-NY conference in Saratoga Springs, NY we energized the crowd at our farmer mixer with a screening of our new film, “Young Farmers Speak Up.” At the PASA conference we convened farmers in the “Young Farmer Lounge” for lunch with Clara Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier, followed by a rallying meeting of the Pennsylvania Young Farmers Coalition. And Lindsey led a keynote on the economic challenges facing new growers at Future Harvest CASA.
Want to bring NYFC to your conference? Email sophie@youngfarmers.org.
EVENTS
Brooklyn, NY February 19th Young Farmer Winter Supper
Fundraiser for NYFC and premier of our Bootstrap Farmer Films at Wythe Hotel presented by Etsy and Stonyfield – www.youngfarmers.org/wintersupper
Las Vegas, NV February 19 Family Farm Alliance annual conference
RESILIENT film screening and water stewardship panel
Hartford, CT February 20th: New CT Farmers Alliance 2nd Annual Meeting and HootenanyAthens, GA February 20th: Southeastern Young and Beginning Farmers Alliance Young Farmer Mixer at Georgia Organics
7:30pm at The World Famous. Click here for more info.
Brooklyn, NY February 27th-March 1st Food And Enterprise Summit
In Solidarity,
Lindsey and the NYFC team