Internet Resource
for North Carolina Farmers
Organic Farm Networking
Farming is one of those trades that is best learned by doing. Fortunately there are lots of opportunities locally and worldwide to learn the art of organic growing. Apprenticeships and internships allow a potential farmer to work side-by-side with an experienced grower to gain practical, hands-on knowledge. The situations vary greatly, but usually consist of a season-long agreement that the apprentice or intern (interns may receive educational credit) provide 20-40 hours of farm work each week in exchange for a place to sleep and some food from the farm. Stipends are offered by some farms but most are work/trade agreements. After one has learned to farm organically, it may be necessary to secure funding and/or transition assistance.
In order to keep connected, there are plenty of organizations that support organic farmers and lots of opportunities to network with other farmers via listservs and organic farming events.
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publications.
Organic Farming Non-profit Organizations
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
http://www.ssawg.org/
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
http://www.asapconnections.org
Organic Trade Association
http://www.ota.com
Organic Farming Instruction
Organic Growers School
http://www.organicgrowersschool.org/
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/
Organic Farm Events
ATTRA Calendar of Events
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/
SARE Calendar of Sustainable Agriculture Events
http://www.sare.org/events/show_events.asp
The New Farm, Rodale Institute
http://www.newfarm.org/depts/classifieds/events.shtml
Growing Small Farms Calendar of Events
http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms/calendar.html
NC Specialty Crops Program Calendar of Events
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/events/specialtyhort-events-calendar.html
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
Calendar of Events
http://www.asapconnections.org/calendar/calendar.htm
Internships, Apprenticeships and Jobs
Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships
http://www.attrainternships.ncat.org/
Internships/Employment/Opportunities Available
http://www.biodynamics.com/internship.html
The New Farm, Rodale Institute
http://www.newfarm.org/depts/classifieds/opport.shtml
Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
http://www.organicvolunteers.org/
Idealist.org, non-profit jobs
http://www.idealist.org/if/as/Job?sid=
Sustainable Business Network, Green Dream
Jobs
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs/?CFID=16207377&CFTOKEN=69344853
Land Aquisition
The North Carolina Farm Transition Network
http://www.ncftn.org/
Listservs and Newsletters
Growing Small Farms,
small farms and sustainable agriculture,
pastured poultry, beekeping & cutflowers
listservs
http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms/listserve.html
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's
listserv
http://main.nc.us/mailman/listinfo/asap
NC Specialty Crops Program's listserv
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/specialty_crops/#mailing_list
Organic Grower's
School Mailing List
http://www.organicgrowersschool.org