Community CROPS Growing Farmers Program

Community CROPS provides training to beginning and limited-resource farmers to become independent small farmers. An eight-week course offered February-April covers the basics of starting your own farm business, with an emphasis on selling at farmers' markets.

2010 Growing Farmers Workshops

Scholarships are available on a need basis for workshop fees, transportation and child care. Click here for the scholarship form.

If you or someone you know is interested, or have any questions, please contact Leslie at 402-474-9802 or info@communitycrops.org so we can send you more information. CROPS staff speak English and Spanish.

Click here for a flyer promoting the workshops

Sunset Community Farm Information

For an overview of all the expectations of the farm training program, take a look at the Farm Training Program Diagram.

For some great farm photos, visit the Roundus page.

Some training participants grow on their own land, others farm at the CROPS training farm, Sunset Community Farm (4000 West F Street), just on the west edge of Lincoln.

Past year's participants have grown a wide range of vegetables, as well as raised chickens and bees. Over the last five years, our farmers have grown and sold vegetables to local restaurants, grocery stores, at farmers' markets and through the Nebraska Food Cooperative

More Information about the Growing Farmers Program

Q: How much land do I need to start a farm business?

A: You can start out quite small. Even a 50' X 100' space (5000 sq.ft.) can produce a surprising amount of produce. For example, you could grow several hundred pounds of spinach and lettuce in the spring, over 1000 pounds of tomatoes in the summer, and several hundred bunches of radishes and a few hundred pounds of baby spinach in the fall.

Q: What if I don't have any land?

A: You can find land a few ways. CROPS has a training farm site just west of Lincoln where you can rent a quarter acre plot to start out. Our page about Sunset Community Farm has more information. You can also just start asking around to find someone with space in town or in the country. An average backyard is 1500 sq.ft., and many people in the country have an acre or two to spare. Be sure you ask lots of questions about the site, though, about how to access water, soil quality, etc.

Q: How much money does it take to get started?

A: This obviously depends on your scale of production. For seeds, tools and packing supplies on a small scale, expect to invest at least $500-$1000. Bigger purchases like tractors or greenhouses don't get used enough on a small scale to justify the expense. Plus, you can rent equipment or hire a neighbor to come with a tractor, and avoid the headache of machinery repairs. Over an acre or two, you may want to start thinking about purchasing some of these items.

Q: How much money can I make in small-scale direct-market production?

A: Profits depend on how intensively you farm, and what crops you grow. Things like cut flowers, berries, or salad mix are higher-value crops than sweet corn, melons or potatoes. On a 100' x 100' plot of diverse vegetables, you can make in the range of $5000-$8000 per season. On an acre, you can make between $10,000-$25,000.

Q: How much time does farming take?

A: Starting any new business takes time. Soil that has never had organic matter added will take a few years to reach optimum fertility and texture. Also, establishing your customer base takes work up front. Plan to spend at least 15-20 hours per week on planning, production, marketing and recordkeeping.

Q: Can my kids participate?

A: Definitely! Helping run a farm business is a great way for kids to learn how to handle money, communicate with customers, manage responsibility, and get them outdoors.

Q: What if I don't have much experience growing things?

A: Production is one part of starting a direct-market farm business, but many other skills are needed as well. For example, customer relations, financial planning, marketing and bookkeeping are all essential skills to running a successful direct-market farm enterprise. To gain skills in production, as well as other important skills for running your farm business, sign up for our "Growing Farmers" Winter Workshop series.