Farm Incubator Project in Humboldt County

 

Cut flowers (Liatrus) in the foreground was one crop that sold, while a new greenhouse was being built by the Jonsteen tree company.

Beginning farmers often struggle to gain access to small parcels of land to test their farming ideas. The UC Farm Incubator Project was based on the concept of incubating new businesses by offering short-term leases, support services and fellow entrepeneurs to work with. Farmland will be preserved in rural communities if it is actively producing food and beginning farmers have successful experiences and can grow their farm business.

 

 
For five years the Humboldt County CE Office held a lease on eight acres of prime farmland owned by the US Forest Service, part of a forest tree nursery. On the farm, eight subleases were created for new growers to test their ideas for crops. Since it is very difficult to find small parcels to rent, these one-acre sites met an important need. With low rent and a cooperative water supply, the UC Farm Incubator Project provided affordable-cost support for these entrepreneurial efforts. Workshops on farm business planning were offered to the participants, and the farm advisor was available for consultation on a myriad of agricultural topics. Crops varied from garlic to quinoa and included iris, hydrangea, vegetables, nursery crops and forest species for sale to tourists.
 

 
As a result of this project, the participants' experiences helped them gain credit and become landowners. Three businesses went on to buy their own farmland. Others benefited by testing their ideas and deciding that farming was not for them, either for personal reasons or as a result of business analysis during the project.

The project ended when the Forest Service ended the lease, as they had new uses for their land. The Farm Incubator project demonstrates a program to help beginning farmers get started.
 

Supporting Unit: Humboldt County CE
 
Deborah Giraud
Plant Science, Community Development, Farm Advisor
UC Cooperative Extension, Humboldt County
5630 South Broadway
Eureka, CA 95503
phone: (707) 445-7351
fax: (707) 444-9334
email: ddgiraud@ucdavis.edu