Exploring the Small Farm Dream 2023 (BFRDP)

Have you ever thought about starting a farm?  Whether your vision includes making hot sauce, selling cut flowers, or growing the perfect tomato, this course will give you the tools to start making that dream come true. Whether you are thinking of going into farming full-time, part-time, or expanding an existing hobby farm into a business, this course will help you turn your farm dream into an actionable farm plan. 

Participants will discuss current opportunities in small-scale agriculture production; explore personal objectives; assess personal and financial resources; conduct preliminary market research; and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming. Presentations by established farmers and tours of local farms will help participants explore their ideas. This class does NOT cover technical production skills.

Evening classes are online via Zoom from 6-8 PM on March 22, March 29, April 5, and April 12, 2023.  The course will also include an optional daytime farm tour (date & location TBD). Tuition is funded by the Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program grant led by Newark Science & Sustainability.  

About the Instructor: Tomia MacQueen is an Educator (BA), Farmer and Master Gardener specializing in edible gardens. She is the owner of Wildflower Farm and the Founder of Dance for LIFE (Love, Inspiration, Faith and Empowerment) and Gardening for LIFE. Tomia has been an Edible Gardens Consultant for 14 years, and in Dance Ministry for 13 years. Tomia is also a Board member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey and a member of Governance for the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, where she is also Co-Lead for the Value-Added Working Group.

Tomia dedicates herself to imparting healthy habits and positive body image to both her dance and gardening students, and to closing food security gaps through education. When she is not in her garden, out caring for their animals, or teaching, Tomia enjoys cooking, canning and, of course, a very good book. Wildflower Farm produces organically and ethically raised pastured poultry, lamb and vegetables with a truly unique focus on humane animal husbandry and policies.