Global Growers is a garden and incubator program located outside of Atlanta, Georgia, which offers a range of opportunities to New American farmers. While new farmers often approach opportunities to access land with the idea that the biggest available site is the best site, this isn't always the case. A number of factors, outlined in this fact sheet, can help determine which site is the most appropriate for a new farmer. Global Growers' intake process is intended to match farmers with the opportunity most suited to their abilities and needs, and set the tone for participation in the program.
Site Management
NIFTI Fact Sheet: Global Growers Intake Process
Media:
- Digital Download
NIFTI Fact Sheet: Considerations for High Tunnel Design and Construction
NIFTI Fact Sheet: Considerations for High Tunnel Design and Construction. Compiled from 2017 NIFTI Listserv Contributions.
Crop Plan Class - 1 of 2
Word document class outline of a crop map planning. Class paired with worksheet found in Demo Crop Plan Class 2 of 2. Reviews crop plan as a group focusing on amounts relative to markets, proper use of beds, grouping, row length, spacing and timing. All Regions. English Level: Advanced. Farming Level: Beginning. Literacy Level: Advanced. Key Words: planning, activity.
ALBA/NIFTI Webinar 12 Incubator Land Management and Teaching Ecological Land Use
Media:
- Video
Presented by NIFTI and the Agriculture and Land Based Training Association (ALBA)
This Webinar features
Nathan Harkleroad, Outreach and Education Program Manager at ALBA, who shares how ALBA defines sustainable land management, and how this informs farmer policies and plays out in farmer practices. Nathan will discuss the challenges and lessons learned while implementing a sustainable land management plan with 40 farmers on 150 acres. He will also cover how sustainable land use is incorporated into ALBA's farmer education curriculum.
Dr. Peter Walker, Dean of the Falk School of Sustainability at Chatham University, who focuses on how Chatham incorporates farm and woodland into the campus and educational agenda at Eden Hall, Chatham University's brand new, 388 acre fully sustainable campus. His presentation will describe just what it means to be a sustainable campus, how Chatham is trying to integrate the farm into the teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurial agenda, and what Chatham hopes to do in the future.
Eero Ruuttila, Technical Assistance and Incubator Farm Manager at New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, who presents on fertility management on the incubator site, including specific strategies that he has developed over his 35 year career as an organic farmer and organic food advocate. He will also discuss approaches and challenges related to planning for and teaching long-term soil/fertility management with multiple farmers that have finite time on the farm site.

Intervale Farmer Equipment Company - Fact Sheet
Media:
- Digital Download
A fact sheet from the Intervale Center about their highly regarded “Farmer Equipment Company” a.k.a. IFEC. Farmers who participate in the Intervale's Farms Program cooperatively own and manage equipment and infrastructure on site. This fact sheet explains the history, membership, management, and operations of this innovative model in a concise and accessible format.

NIFTI Rental Agreements Fact Sheet
Media:
- Digital Download
A quick overview of how Farm Incubator Projects establish rental fees for their program participants.

NIFTI Land Trust Fact Sheet
Media:
- Digital Download
A short fact sheet from the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI) on how beginning farmer training programs can partner with land trusts to make farmland more accessible to their participants.
NASAP Land Survey Questions
Survey of questions developed by the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP) to evaluate potential land for beginning farmer training programs.
Example Lease for Farmer Training Program - LSS (2)
Media:
- Digital Download
Sample land lease between Lutheran Social Services, a refugee-focused beginning farmer training program, and a landowner. Agreement delineates specific uses of property in detail and offers sample language for similar agreements.
Example Lease for Farmer Training Program - LSS
Media:
- Digital Download
Sample lease agreement from Lutheran Social Services (LSS) for a parcel hosting one of their training sites for beginning farmers. Includes agreements between the program and the landowner regarding land use and various logistical provisions.
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