“Farmers do not grow crops, they create the conditions for crops to

grow”- Gareth Morgan

•50% of our farm assets will be transferred

•75% of our retiring farmers don’t have successors

Agriculture Agri-Food Canada, 2006 census data

•

In the next 10 years…

New Entrants bring passion, connections and skills that lead to innovation and renewal.

The Necessary Conditions for Viable, Resilient, and Sustainable Farmers (Based on a Sustainable Livelihoods Framework)

We provide practical support and sector leadership to help more new farmers build the

confidence and capacity necessary to get their farms started and to make their businesses thrive.

Strategic

Initiatives

Training &

Resources

Start-Up Farms

& Seed

Capital

Capacity

Building

Services

FarmStart creates the conditions for a new generation

of entrepreneurial, ecological farmers to grow.

Who we serve (Triangle indicates approximate decrease in

participants at each stage of farm development)

What we do (Triangle indicates increase of investment and

resources per farmer through stages of development )

Intermediate Outcomes

UltimateOutcome

A resilient

and healthy

food system

Organizational Theory of Change

Establishing yrs 5-7

START-UP FARMS TRAINING AND RESOURCES

FarmStart Programs and Services Measurable Farmer Outcomes

Digging into Farming

Skills Building Farm Tours

Start-Up Farms

Seed Capital

Business Development Courses and Workshops

1200 registered users ~ 390 active farm-seekers ~ 150 active farm-listings

Lucky in Land

New farmers Sector Partners

Strategic Partners

Government and

Institutions

General Public

Sector-wide Theory of Change

Direct work with Farmers – 70% of organizational energySector-wide work - 30% of organizational energySector Outcomes

15

15

A new generation of farmers …

Tarrah Young - pastured livestock and winter CSA

Jake Heeramun- Halal meat and market garden

Tamas Dombi - Kind Organics (greenhouse greens)

Louis Canora - Beekeeper

Manmeet and Rupinder Singh - The Healthy Choice Farm

Paul Stewart and Shira Katzberg - Footsteps Organics

New Farmer Spectrum

Beginning Farmer Farm Business Management

• What are the outcomes we seek at each stage? (BLUE)

• What are the biggest educational challenges at that stage? (ORANGE)

• What educational resources/ approaches are needed or work best at each stage? (PINK)